A method is disclosed for assessing an aspect relating to a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician based on an electronic representation of the operation. The operation includes locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of an underground facility within a dig area. A portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. The method includes digitally representing, on a display device, the facility and/or the physical locate mark to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes determining a length associated with a portion of the digitally represented facility and/or physical locate mark in the electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes, based on the determined length, automatically assessing the aspect relating to the operation.

Generating a digital-media-enhanced electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician. The locate and/or marking operation comprises locating and/or identifying, using at least one physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark is electronically rendered on a display device so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation. At least one digital media file representation of a corresponding digital media file relating to at least one aspect of the locate and/or marking operation or an environment of the dig area is also electronically rendered on the display device, so as to generate a digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation. Information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.

A transmission line is provided in which a first portion of the transmission line is configured to be connected to a source, and a second portion of the transmission line is configured to be connected to a load. A capacitive element is coupled to the transmission line and is configured to compensate for an impedance difference between the load and at least one of the source or the transmission line, at a frequency within a frequency bandwidth of the load. A difference between an internal capacitance of the first portion of the transmission line and the second portion of the transmission line substantially matches the capacitance of the capacitive element.

To provide a capacitive device capable of accurately securing a capacitance value, a variable capacitive device capable of sufficiently securing a capacity variability rate, and a resonance circuit that uses the capacitive devices. A capacitive device includes a capacitive device body constituted of a dielectric layer and at least a pair of capacitive device electrodes that sandwich the dielectric layer and cause a desired electric field in the dielectric layer; and stress adjustment portions to adjust a stress caused in the dielectric layer of the capacitive device body.

A system for detecting a short-circuited ultracapacitor cell in a machine is disclosed. The system may have a memory that stores instructions and one or more processors capable of executing the instructions. The one or more processors may be configured to perform cell balancing among ultracapacitor cells arranged within two or more ultracapacitor modules, each ultracapacitor module including at least two ultracapacitor cells connected in series. The one or more processors may be further configured to measure a module voltage generated by each of the plurality of ultracapacitor modules after performing the cell balancing and before applying a load of the machine to the ultracapacitor modules, and determine whether an ultracapacitor cell among the plurality of ultracapacitor cells is short-circuited based on a comparison of the measured module voltages.

Systems and methods to determine cell capacities of a vehicle battery pack. Cell capacities may be determined using state of charge (SOC) estimates for the cells and a charge count for the battery pack. The SOC estimates may be determined when the SOC of the battery pack is below a lower threshold and above an upper threshold. Error values may also be generated for the cell capacity values.

A method for electrically charging a high-voltage battery of a subject vehicle includes resolving a geographic location of the subject vehicle at a remote charging site, electrically charging the high-voltage battery through a connection of the subject vehicle to an electric power outlet at the remote charging site, monitoring cumulative electric power flow to the high-voltage battery of the subject vehicle, communicating the cumulative electric power flow to a central server, and reconciling billing for the cumulative electric power flow between an owner of the subject vehicle and an owner of the remote charging site.

A discharge device actively discharges a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle and comprises a discharge branch of a circuit connected in parallel to the capacitor and including a discharge transistor biased to “conduction” mode when the capacitor must be discharged. A control device is connected to a “gate/base” terminal of and controls the transistor, biasing the transistor to the mode when the capacitor is required to fee discharged. A control transistor maintains the discharge transistor in a “non-conductive” state when the control transistor is in the mode. The control transistor is in the state for the discharge transistor to be in the mode. A safety capacitor is interposed between the terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the terminal, until the discharge transistor is biased to the state.

An article transport facility in which driving electric power can be supplied from an electricity supply line to an article transport vehicle so that it can travel through a crossing portion properly regardless of whether it is traveling along a first path or a second path. The switching device of the article transport facility is configured to switch a position change rail to a first position and a second position. The electricity supply line is supported by a first travel rail such that electric power can be supplied to the article transport vehicle traveling along the first travel rail and along the position change rail in the first position and is supported by the second travel rail such that electric power can be supplied to the article transport vehicle traveling along the second travel rail and along the position change rail in the second position.

A turf cutter device, an infill extractor/collector device, and a turf wind-up device are used to facilitate the cost-effective removal of an infilled synthetic turf and the subsequent installation of a new turf at the same site, with minimal subsurface disruption. An infill extractor/collector device mounted on a motorized vehicle moves a relatively narrow strip of filled artificial turf from the surface, in front of the vehicle, and directs the strip to an infill removal station. The infill removal station inverts the strip and redirects the strip back toward the front of the vehicle, after agitating the strip to extract the infill. After redirecting the strip toward the front of the vehicle, the vehicle drives over the unfilled strip. Meanwhile, the extractor/collector device moves the extracted infill rearwardly to a bag located in a trailer. The turf cutter device is used prior to infill extraction, while the turf wind up device may be used before or after infill extraction, depending on whether infill extraction takes place at the field or at a remote site, respectively.

The present invention provides grain-drying facilities which can effectively use the heat energy of a biomass combustion hot-air that has been generated in a biomass combustion furnace. The grain-drying facilities adopt technical means of providing the grain-drying facilities 1 which include: a biomass combustion furnace 3 provided with a heat exchanger 24 for generating hot air on the basis of a combustion heat of a biomass fuel and an outside air which has been taken in from the outside; and a circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 provided with a grain-drying portion 7 to which the hot air that has been generated in the biomass combustion furnace 3 is supplied through a pipe 15 for supplying the hot air, wherein the above described circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 has a grain-heating portion 6 which has a plurality of heating pipes 6a for heating the grains in the above described grain storing/circulating tank 5, and also has an air-exhaust fan 14 that is communicated with an exhaust side opening 6c that is located in one end side of each of the heating pipes 6a, and has a pipe 11 for supplying an exhaust hot-air, which communicates the exhaust hot-air sent from the above described biomass combustion furnace 3 with a supply side opening 6b that is located in the other end side of the heating pipe 6a.

A novel method and apparatus for performing the method is disclosed the apparatus comprises a laser (17), at least one ink jet print head (14), means for holding a transparent substrate having a transparent conductive layer, means (22) for adjusting the relative positions of the laser and at least one ink jet print head to the transparent conducting layer (2) and a controller to control the laser and ink jet print head whereby in a first step to inkjet print one or more coarse metal borders (15) onto the deposited TCM layer and in a second step by means of a single laser ablation process, ablating tracks in both the metal border and underlying TCM layer to form a plurality of discrete electrical busbars (12) and optionally also to form electrodes in the remainder of the TCM layer.

A bound system including a plurality of pages and a cover and/or divider including a bound outer edge and a plurality of free outer edges. The cover and/or divider may be bound to the plurality of pages along the bound edge. The cover and/or divider may include one or more discreet tabs extending generally outwardly relative to one of the edges. Each tab may be integrally formed from a single piece of material with the rest of the cover and/or divider. Each tab further may have an opening formed therethrough and is configured to receive at least part of a binding device therethrough to thereby couple the cover and/or divider to the binding device.

In a swash plate type variable capacity compressor that changes a stroke of a piston by controlling the pressure of a crank chamber (6), lubrication oil contained in refrigerant gas is maximally prevented from being circulated outside the compressor. Some of discharged refrigerant gas in a discharge chamber (22) flows into the crank chamber (6) through a communication passage (25) (25a and 25b) and a control valve (27), while some of the discharged refrigerant gas flows out to a suction chamber (21) from the crank chamber (6) through a second communication passage (26) and an orifice (28), and the pressure of the crank chamber (6) is controlled through a balance between an inflow amount and an outflow amount. Oil storage chamber (30) extends downstream of the control valve (27) on the first communication passage (25) to separate oil and store the separated oil. Oil return passage (31) returns the oil stored in the oil storage chamber (30) to the crank chamber (6).

A carbon exchanging system for a carbon-arc weather resistance testing apparatus having a carbon drive system including a reversible motor for automatically moving upper and lower arc producing carbons toward and away from each other along a vertical line for keeping the discharge current and voltage substantially constant. The carbon exchanging system has remotely operable upper and lower carbon chucks for holding the upper and lower carbons, a carbon replacing device having a remotely operable exchanging chuck and a drive for moving the exchanging chuck along a path of movement toward and away from the upper and lower carbon chucks when they are in position on the vertical line, a shifting device for shifting the carbon drive system and the carbon replacing means relative to each other for moving the upper and lower chucks and the exchanging chuck laterally relative to the vertical line, a carbon supply adjacent the path of movement of the exchanging chuck for holding replacement carbons and moving them into position opposite a position of the exchanging chuck along the path, and a moving device for moving the exchanging chuck and the carbon supply relative to each other in a direction toward and away from each other. The system can also include a control device for automatically controlling the operation thereof.

A power tool has an electric motor that includes a commutator, with which at least one commutator brush is acted upon with spring force via at least one commutator spring in the direction of a non-rotatable collector of the commutator. At least one auxiliary tool for adjusting the commutator spring is located on a component of the power tool.

A device and method to facilitate wearing of jewelry items which have hoop and clasp closures, comprising: a base or clamp for stabilizing the device on a surface; a wire guide member protruding from the base and affixed securely thereto, the wire guide having hook at its opposite end for engaging a distal hoop or link on an unclasped jewelry item, thereby permitting a person to: a. engage one end of a jewelry object with a device, b. open a complementary jewelry clasp with one or both free hands, c. position a wrist or neck within the bight of the jewelry item, d. close the clasp upon the hoop link, and e. slidably remove the clasped jewelry item from the device.

A facility for grinding inorganic material include a roller press, a first static separator having an intake supplied with raw material, a dynamic separator having an intake connected to a first output of the first static separator, a ventilation circuit provided through the first static separator and the dynamic separator, and a second static separator having an intake that is connected to an output of the roller press. The first static separator includes two outputs, one for low-granulatory matter and one for larger granulatory matter, whereby the second output is connected to the roller press. The dynamic separator further includes a first output for particles having the desired granulometry and a second output for matter with larger granulometry connected to an intake of the roller press. The ventilation circuit participates in the separation, drying, and transport of low-granulometry particles.

Methods for preventing or reducing the formation of scale in a wet-process phosphoric acid production process by intermixing a water-soluble functional organic reagent with a phosphoric acid at one or more step of the phosphoric acid production process in an amount sufficient to prevent or reduce at least one species of scale are provided.

Systems for treating biomass for the production of ethanol are disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product. The systems comprise a filter configured to remove particulate matter to provide a filtered component and an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. Methods for treating for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product are also disclosed. The methods include the steps of filtering a liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.

A semi-automated system suitable for use in a hospital setting for filling patient-specific liquid prescriptions to be administered by oral syringes on a just-in-time basis. The system enables hospital pharmacists to simplify and streamline their task, increasing the number of prescriptions that can be filled in a day, improving patient safety and care by minimizing medication errors and the consequences that ensue.

There are provided a dividing wall distillation column for producing high-purity acrylic acid, and a fractional distillation method using the same. The dividing wall distillation column includes a condenser, a reboiler and a main column having a dividing wall. Here, the main column is divided into a column-top zone, an upper feed zone, an upper outflow zone, a lower feed zone, a lower outflow zone and a column-bottom zone. Accordingly, since one distillation column can be used to realize the same effect as that obtained from the use of two distillation columns, the dividing wall distillation column can have an effect of reducing the costs of equipment to produce high-purity acrylic acid, as well as an energy-reducing effect, compared to a conventional process system.

A method for producing a wood wool construction element. This method comprises the steps of dispersing at least a part of a mixture of wood wool and a hydraulic binder in a mold so as to obtain a layer of the mixture with a height that is less than the height of side walls of said mold. Said mixture is at least partially hardened after which a subsequent layer of mixture is provided. The thickness of a construction element may well exceed 30 cm, for example 40 cm, 50 cm or even 60 cm. Also, an element obtained with such method is described, as well as a production facility.

A wood lathe includes an axial moving unit with a movable seat, which is sleeved movably on a driving rod and a guide rod that are parallel to each other. A driving gear is disposed rotatably on the movable seat, and engages a gear-engaging member of the driving rod. When an actuator member is rotated, the gear rotates synchronously therewith so as to move the movable seat on the driving rod. A sample bar and a bar blank are held on a bed of the lathe. A blade is carried on the movable seat for cutting the bar blank. A tracing unit is disposed on the movable seat so that a groove pattern on the sample bar is traced mechanically and is duplicated on the bar blank.

A cutter head for surfacing a flitch, the cutter head including a shaft, a blade non-rotatably mounted on the shaft, wherein the flitch is surfaced by rotating the blade, a bushing including a bore, wherein the shaft runs through the bore, wherein a flange is eccentrically formed about the bore, a guide mounted on the flange of the bushing, wherein the flange axially offsets the guide with respect to the shaft, wherein the guide is arranged to support the cutter head against the flitch while the cutter head is surfacing the flitch, and wherein a radial distance between a tip of the blade and the guide determines a cutting depth of the cutter head, and wherein due to the guide being mounted on the eccentrically formed flange, the radial offset is determined based on a rotational orientation of the bushing about the shaft.

A capacitive transparent conductive film comprises: a transparent substrate, comprises a first surface and a second surface which is opposite to the first surface; a light-shield layer, formed at the edge of the first surface of the transparent substrate, the light-shield layer forms a non-visible region on the first surface of the transparent substrate; and a polymer layer, formed on the first surface of the transparent substrate, and covering the light-shield layer, the surface of the polymer layer is patterned to form a meshed trench, the trench is filled with conductive material to form a sensing region on the surface of the polymer layer. The capacitive transparent conductive film can effectively protect the conductive material and has low cost and good conductivity. A preparation method of the capacitive transparent conductive film is also provided.

An insert which is useable with a baby bottle, a baby bottle including an insert, and a method of feeding an infant that serves to pace the infant's feeding rhythm. Generally, these devices and methods will be of use for a preterm infant, but that is by no means limiting because full term infants could also benefit from these devices and methods. The device generally cues the infant to swallow and breathe after each 1-4 sucks by stopping the flow of the fluid from the bottle after the infant has sucked sufficiently. Once the baby breathes, the bottle resets for the next repetition.

The amusement ride 1 comprises a track 2 and a vehicle 3 being moveable along the track 2 at a velocity v. Within the vehicle 3 a video camera 4 is installed. The video camera 4 takes a video film of the face of a passenger received within the vehicle 3 during a ride. A sender 5 transmits the data 6 to a facial expression recognition system 7. The result 10 of the process carried out by facial expression recognition system 7 may be downloaded from a server 11 by a client 13.

Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve that can suppress a decrease in the efficiency by reducing the amount of leakage in the valve without requiring severe accuracy of the components, avoid possible operation failures, and suppress the influence on the sliding resistance as well as the influence on the control characteristics. A main valve element of a valve element or a valve body is provided with a flexible or elastic sealing member. The sealing member is adapted to, when the valve orifice is closed by the main valve element, abut an end portion on the higher pressure side in a gap between sliding surfaces that is formed between the main valve element and a guide hole into which the main valve element is adapted to be slidably fitted and inserted, and thus seal the gap between the sliding surfaces.

Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve where a valve body can be easily machined and the machining time and machining cost can be reduced without a decrease in the valve closing property or a decrease in the slidability of the valve element due to shaft misalignment. The valve body includes a support member having formed therein a valve orifice and a guide hole into which the valve element is adapted to be slidably fitted and inserted; and a body member having formed therein a Ps inlet/outlet port, a Pd introduction port, and a Pc inlet/outlet port. The support member is fixedly inserted into a recess hole provided in the body member. In addition, a chip sealing portion (pocket portion) for sealing chips of the body member and/or the support member is provided between the body member and the support member.

Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve where a decrease in the sealability or the operability due to shaft misalignment can be effectively suppressed without requiring high dimensional accuracy. The dimensions and the shape of each part are designed such that when the sub valve element closes the in-valve release passage, the tapered portion (sub valve element portion) provided at the lower end portion of the sub valve element enters the release through-hole of the in-valve release passage, and the sub valve element is thus aligned with the main valve element by the tapered portion.

Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve where the size of a plunger can be reduced, the machining and assembly process can be simplified, weight reduction can be achieved, and cost reduction can also be achieved, for example. The plunger has a slit through which a valve element is assembled to the plunger by being inserted from a lateral side. The slit serves as a flow path for releasing the pressure Pc in the crank chamber to the suction chamber of the compressor from the Ps inlet/outlet port when the sub valve element has opened the in-valve release passage.

The invention provides methods and compositions for increasing the strengthening effect of a starch coating on paper. The method involves contacting the starch with a synthetic polymer before the starch is cooked. This changes how the starch gelatinizes and how the polymer gets distributed on the paper resulting in greater paper surface strength.

An electronic key may include a partial capacitor comprising a capacitive metal plate in communication with a processor. The capacitive metal plate of the partial capacitor is configured to form a capacitor with a corresponding capacitive metal plate of a lock when brought into proximity with the metal plate of the lock. Data may be transferred from the key to the lock using a capacitor formed by combining the two metal plates, wherein a common ground is established between the metal plate of the key and the metal plate of the lock through a parasitic capacitance present between the key and lock circuitry.

A composition comprising a refrigerant and a lubricant is disclosed, wherein the refrigerant comprises (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R32, R152a, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; the lubricant comprises (iii) a hydrocarbon-based lubricant component; and (iv) a synthetic lubricant component; and the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total lubricant. Also disclosed are methods of replacing refrigerants in refrigeration or air conditioning systems containing a refrigerant comprising a CFC or HCFC and a lubricant. The methods involve adding to the system (a) a replacement refrigerant comprising (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R152a, R32, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; and (b) a synthetic lubricant component; wherein after refrigerant replacement the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total amount of lubricant in the system.

An ice making device may include an ice tray, a water-supply part for supplying water to the ice tray, an electrostatic capacity sensor having two or more electrodes attached to the ice tray, a water quantity detecting section for detecting a water quantity in the ice tray on a basis of variation of an electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor, and an ice frozen detecting section for detecting water supplied to the ice tray having been frozen on the basis of the variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. A control unit for the ice making device controls the water-supply part, an ice tray drive part and an ice detecting part on the basis of variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor.

A dishwashing detergent composition is provided for consumer use for in cleaning of alkaline sensitive metals such as aluminum or aluminum containing alloys. The compositions include alternatives to sodium tripolyphosphate and/or other phosphorus containing raw materials, while retaining cleaning performance and corrosion prevention. According to the invention, a phosphinosuccinic acid oligomer or mixture thereof is used as a corrosion inhibitor and can be included for aluminum protection in a number of different detergent compositions.

Materials and methods for treating and preventing American Foulbrood disease in honeybees, such as materials and methods for using phage lysin enzymes to lyse Paenibacillus larvae, are provided herein.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for modifying a predetermined nucleic acid sequence. A programmable nucleoprotein molecular complex containing a polypeptide moiety and a specificity conferring nucleic acid (SCNA) which assembles in-vivo, in a target cell, and is capable of interacting with the predetermined target nucleic acid sequence is provided. The programmable nucleoprotein molecular complex is capable of specifically modifying and/or editing a target site within the target nucleic acid sequence and/or modifying the function of the target nucleic acid sequence.

A plasma processing chamber having capacitive and inductive coupling of RF power. An RF power source is connected to an inductive coil and to a top electrode via a variable capacitor to control the ratio of power applied to the coil and electrode. The bottom electrode, which is part of the chuck holding the substrates, is floating, but has parasitive capacitance coupling to ground. No RF bias is applied to the chuck and/or the substrate, but the substrate is chucked using DC power. In a system utilizing the chamber, the chuck is movable and is loaded with substrates outside the chamber, enter the chamber from one side for processing, exit the chamber from an opposite side after the processing, and is unloaded in an unloading chamber. The chuck is then transported back to the loading chamber. Substrates are delivered to and removed from the system using conveyor belts.

A composition of matter comprising: a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium, and one or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi that is placed in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows the microorganisms in the composition of matter to colonize said plant root; and a method for increasing plant yield comprising: placing a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium, and one or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows the microorganisms in the composition of matter to colonize said plant root.

The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least one fluoroolefin and an effective amount of a stabilizer comprising at least one ascorbic acid, terephthalate, or nitromethane, or mixtures thereof. The stabilized compositions may be useful in cooling apparatus, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, chillers and heat pumps, as well as in applications as foam blowing agents, solvents, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishants, and sterilants.

Disclosed are thermite charges for use in well perforation and downhole fracing. The thermite charges have a core, and optionally a case, where at least one of the core and the case includes thermite material.

The invention relates to a method for obtaining high-tenacity aramid yarn, wherein the yarn is made of a copolymer obtained from a mixture of monomers comprising DAPBI, an aromatic para-diamine, and an aromatic para-diacid, wherein the yarn is heated in at least two process steps, characterized in that in a first step the yarn is heated at a temperature of 200 to 360° C. at a tension of at least 0.2 cN/dtex, followed by a second step wherein the yarn is heated at a temperature of 370 to 500° C. at a tension of less than 1 cN/dtex. The invention further pertains to a multifilament aramid yarn spun from a sulfuric acid spin dope and having a tenacity of at least 2500 mN/tex.

Apparatuses, components, devices, methods, and systems for determining jaw movement are provided. An example patient assembly for capturing motion data of a patient includes a clutch configured to be worn by the patient on a dentition of the patient. The clutch includes a dentition coupling device configured to couple to the dentition of the patient and includes an extension member configured to protrude through the patient's mouth. The clutch also includes a position indicating system rigidly connected to the dentition coupling device. An example position indicating system emits a plurality of light beams. Some examples also include an imaging system and a motion determining device. An example imaging system captures a plurality of image sets that each include at least one of a plurality of screens upon which the light beams project. An example motion determining device processes the captured image sets to determine the motion of the patient's dentition.

A method for forming a friction facing comprises placing a bonding powder mix in to a die, and placing a performance powder mix in to the die. Pressing the performance powder mix and the bonding powder mix creates a compact. Sintering the compact forms a friction facing. A clutch disc assembly can be formed. A clutch disc can comprise a mounting hole for securing a friction facing and a backer plate can comprise a pass-through hole. A mounting mechanism joins the mounting hole to the pass-through hole. The mounting mechanism comprises a head-height for a portion of the mounting mechanism that is mounted near the sintered compact. The bonding layer comprises a thickness corresponding to the head-height of the mounting mechanism.

The present invention relates to dyes of the formula (I) in which R1 to R10, D1 and D2 are defined as given in claim 1, a process for preparing them, and their use for dyeing and printing hydroxyl- and/or carboxamido-containing materials.

As associative thickener obtainable by free radical polymerization, the preparation thereof and the use thereof in paper coating slips are described. The associative thickener is formed from (a) acid monomers selected from ethylenically unsaturated C3- to C8-carboxylic acids, (b) associative monomers of the general formula H2C═CR1—COO-(EO)n—(PO)m—R2, in which R1 is hydrogen or methyl, n is a number of at least two, m is a number from zero to 50, EO is an ethylene oxide group, PO is a propylene oxide group and R2 is a C8-C30-alkyl group or a C8-C30-alkaryl group, and (c) nonionic, copolymerizable monomers differing from a) and b), the reaction product having been reacted, after the polymerization, with initiators forming nonionic radicals.

A loop filter with an active discrete-level loop filter capacitor can be used in a VCO (such as for CDR). A loop filter capacitor function is simulated by sensing input loop filter current (such as with a current mirror and source follower in the input leg), and forcing back a loop filter (VCO) control voltage. Loop filter voltage control is provided using a VDAC with a discrete-level VDAC feedback voltage, incremented/decremented based on the sensed loop filter current. In one embodiment, the VDAC voltage is provided as the non-inverting input to an amplifier, with the inverting input providing the control voltage, forced to the VDAC feedback voltage. The VDAC feedback voltage can be provided by increment/decrement comparators based on a voltage deviation on a C2 capacitor (from a reference voltage) that receives the sensed loop filter current (effectively multiplying the C2 capacitance to provide a simulated loop filter capacitance).

In accordance with an embodiment, an adjustable capacitance circuit comprising a first branch comprising plurality of transistors having load paths coupled in series with a first capacitor. A method of operating the adjustable capacitance circuit includes programming a capacitance by selectively turning-on and turning-off ones of the plurality of transistors, wherein the load path of each transistor of the plurality of transistors is resistive when the transistor is on and is capacitive when the transistor is off.