Author: claimsbot

1. A membrane comprising:
a porous polymeric layer, wherein the porous polymeric layer has an average pore diameter of from about 100 nm to about 500 nm, and wherein the porous polymeric layer comprises a material that has a zeta potential of |20-25| mV, or is essentially charge neutral; and
a polyelectrolyte layer physically adsorbed on the porous polymeric layer, wherein the polyelectrolyte layer comprises at least one polyelectrolyte that has a molecular weight between about 50 kDa to about 1,000 kDa and a counterion to the polyelectrolyte has a positive Jones-Dole B viscosity coefficient;
wherein the membrane has a zeta potential of |\u226750| mV.
2. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the polyelectrolyte layer forms a monolayer on the porous polymeric layer.
3. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the polyelectrolyte layer includes alternating monolayers of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes physically adsorbed on the porous polymeric membrane.
4. The membrane of claim 3, wherein the alternating monolayers of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes are formed by contacting an adsorbed cationic polyelectrolyte monolayer with an aqueous solution of an anionic polyelectrolyte or contacting an adsorbed anionic polyelectrolyte monolayer with an aqueous solution of a cationic polyelectrolyte.
5. The membrane of claim 4, wherein each solution comprises a polyelectrolyte at a concentration of at least 2 mM in terms of repeat unit of the polyelectrolyte.
6. The membrane of claim 4, wherein each solution has a pH from about 3.5 to about 8.5.
7. The membrane of claim 4, wherein each solution is a buffered solution with an ionic strength between about 25 to about 250 mM.
8. The membrane of claim 4, wherein the average thickness of each monolayer is between about 1 nm to about 6 nm.
9. The membrane of claim 4, wherein the zeta potential of the membrane shows less than 25% variation after heating at 50\xb0 C., at pH 8.2 for at least 10 days.
10. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the zeta potential of the membrane is |\u226750| mV for at least seven days during which pumping is continuously applied across the surface.
11. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the material of the porous polymeric layer is selected from the group consisting of poly(olefins), halogenated poly(olefins), poly(cylco olefins), halogenated poly(cylco olefins), poly(styrenes), halogenated poly(styrenes), poly(propylenes), poly(ethylenes), halogenated poly(ethylenes), poly(tetrafluoroethylenes), poly(sulfones), poly(ether sulfones), poly(arylsulfones), poly(phenylene ether sulfones), poly(imides), poly(etherimides), poly(vinylidene fluorides), poly(esters), halogenated poly(esters), poly(ethylene terephthalates), polybutylene terephthalates), poly(carbonates), poly(vinyl halides), poly(acrylics), poly(acrylates), halogenated poly(acrylates), poly(methacrylics), poly(methacrylates), poly(anhydrides), poly(acrylonitriles), poly(ethers), poly(arylene ether ketones), poly(phenylene sulfides), poly(arylene oxides), poly(siloxanes), cellulose acetates, cellulose nitrates, poly(amides), nylon, ceramics and mixtures and co-polymers thereof.
12. The membrane of claim 11, wherein the porous polymeric layer is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or nylon.
13. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the at least one polyelectrolyte is a weak polyelectrolyte.
14. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the at least one polyelectrolyte is a strong polyelectrolyte.
15. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the at least one polyelectrolyte is a cationic polyelectrolyte.
16. The membrane of claim 15, wherein the cationic polyelectrolyte is a polyamine, an alkylated polyamine, a polyammonium salt, a poly(quaternary ammonium salt), a poly(alkylenimine) or mixtures thereof.
17. The membrane of claim 15 wherein the cationic polyelectrolyte is selected from Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMA-Cl); Poly(N,N-dimethyl-3,5-dimethylene piperidinium chloride); Poly(ethylenimine) (PEI); Poly(vinylamine) (PVAH); Poly(N-methyl vinylamine); Poly(allylamine) (PAH); Poly(4-vinyl-1-methylpyridinium bromide); Poly(allylammonium fluoride); Poly(dimethylamine-co-epichlorohydrin), quaternized; Poly(lysine); Poly(N,N,N\u2032,N\u2032-tetramethyl-N-trimethylenehexamethylenediammonium dibromide); Poly(2-(Dimethylamino-ethyl)methacrylate); Poly(2-methacryloyloxy-ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride); Poly(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyl-trimethylammonium chloride); Poly(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl-2-methacryloxyethyl-dimethylammonium chloride) (PCHPMEDMAC); Poly(N-3-(dimethylamino)-propyl methacrylamide); and Poly(3-methacryloylamino-propyl-trimethylammonium chloride).
18. The membrane of claim 15, wherein the counterion to the cationic polyelectrolyte is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic carboxylates, chromate, bicarbonate, sulfate, phosphate, and fluoride.
19. The membrane of claim, wherein 15 the counterion to the cationic polyelectrolyte is univalent.
20. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the at least one polyelectrolyte is an anionic polyelectrolyte.
21. The membrane of claim 20, wherein the anionic polyelectrolyte is a polycarboxylic acid or a polysulfonic acid.
22. The membrane of claim 20, wherein the anionic polyelectrolyte is selected from the group consisting of Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA); Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA); Poly(itaconic acid); Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS); Poly(vinylphosphonic acid); Poly(vinylsulphonic acid); Poly(aspartic acid); Poly(glutamic acid); Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (NaPSS); Poly(anetholesulfonic acid); Poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate); Poly(1,4-phenylene ether-sulfone sulfonic acid); and Poly(1,4-phenylene ether ether ketone sulfonic acid).
23. The membrane of claim 20, wherein the counterion to the anionic polyelectrolyte is Li+, Na+, tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl ammonium or bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium-tris(hydroxymethyl)methane.
24. The membrane of claim 20, wherein the counterion to the anionic polyelectrolyte is univalent.
25. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the polyelectrolyte layer includes at least one cationic polyelectrolyte and at least one anionic polyelectrolyte.
26. The membrane of claim 1 wherein the average pore diameter of the porous polymeric layer is between about 100 nm to about 300 nm.
27. The membrane of claim 1, wherein the membrane is a component in an electroosmotic pump.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An oil candle apparatus comprising:
a metal heat sink disposed in a seated position along a bottom interior surface of a container having a quantity of lamp oil disposed within said container,
wherein said heat sink is disposed at least partially within said lamp oil;
a wick holder; and
a wick.
2. The oil candle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat sink and the wick holder are both comprised of metal.
3. The oil candle apparatus of claim 2 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, gold, silver, brass, steel, and mixtures thereof.
4. The oil candle apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least two different types of metal are used.
5. The oil candle of claim 4 wherein said at least two different types of metal used are not an alloy.
6. The oil candle apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wick holder is comprised of a non-metal.
7. The oil candle apparatus of claim 6 wherein said wick holder is comprised from a material selected from at least one member of the group consisting of ceramic, thermostable plastics, glass, rock, concrete, and composite materials.
8. The oil candle apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heat sink is comprised of at least one wire, wherein said at least one wire is disposed to secure said wick holder.
9. The oil candle apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heat sink is comprised of at least one sheet of metal having upper and lower surfaces.
10. The oil candle apparatus of claim 9 wherein said wick holder is disposed through an opening in said sheet of metal and having two opposing openings of said wick holder such that said two openings are essentially planar to said upper and lower surfaces.
11. The oil candle of claim 1 wherein said heat sink comprises a combination of wires, sheets, or thickened metal.
12. The oil candle of claim 1 wherein said wick is comprised of metal fibers.
13. An oil candle apparatus comprising:
a metal heat sink disposed in a seated position along a bottom interior surface of a container having a quantity of lamp oil disposed within said container,
wherein said heat sink is disposed at least partially within said lamp oil, wherein said heat sink is shaped to form a wick holder; and
a wick.
14. The oil candle apparatus of claim 13 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, gold, silver, steel, brass, and mixtures thereof.
15. The oil candle of claim 14 wherein at least two different types of metal are used and selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, gold, silver, steel, brass, and mixtures thereof not as an alloy.
16. The oil candle apparatus of claim 15 wherein said wick holder is comprised of a non-metal.
17. The oil candle apparatus of claim 16 wherein said wick holder is comprised of ceramic or other non-combustible material.
18. The oil candle apparatus of claim 13 wherein said heat sink is comprised of at least one sheet of metal.
19. The oil candle of claim 1 wherein said wick is comprised of metal fibers.
20. The candle of claim 1 comprising more than one wick holder.

1. A combustion air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine comprising:
exhaust guiding means for guiding exhaust from the internal combustion engine;
exhaust purification means, arranged downstream of the exhaust guiding means, for purifying the exhaust;
fresh air supplying means for supplying fresh air to the exhaust guiding means at a fresh air supplying position upstream of the exhaust purification means;
exhaust air-fuel ratio sensing means for detecting an exhaust air-fuel ratio of the exhaust at a location between the exhaust purification means and the fresh air supplying position;
exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor activation determining means for determining whether or not the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensing means is active; and
combustion air-fuel ratio control means for controlling a combustion air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine based on the exhaust air-fuel ratio that is detected by the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensing means by controlling the fresh air from the fresh air supplying means to the exhaust guiding means when warming up of the exhaust purification means is requested,
the combustion air-fuel ratio control means further performing a function of open controlling the combustion air-fuel ratio in a combustion chamber to be a primary combustion air-fuel ratio which is between a theoretical air-fuel ratio and a combustion limit air-fuel ratio that is richer than the theoretical air-fuel ratio upon the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor activation determining means determining the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensing means to be inactive, and
the combustion air-fuel ratio control means further performing a function of feedback controlling the combustion air-fuel ratio to be a secondary combustion air-fuel ratio that is richer than the primary combustion air-fuel ratio and upon the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor activation determining means determining the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensing means to be active.
2. A combustion air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine comprising:
an exhaust passage where exhaust from the internal combustion engine is guided;
an exhaust purification catalyst arranged downstream of the exhaust passage;
a fresh air supplying device arranged upstream of the exhaust purification catalyst to supply fresh air to the exhaust passage;
an exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor disposed between the exhaust purification catalyst and the fresh air supplying device and arranged to detect an exhaust air-fuel ratio of the exhaust;
an exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor activation determining unit that determines whether or not the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor is active; and
a combustion air-fuel ratio control unit configured to control a combustion air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine based on the exhaust air-fuel ratio that is detected by the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor by controlling the fresh air from the fresh air supplying device to the exhaust passage when warming up of the exhaust purification catalyst is requested,
the combustion air-fuel ratio control unit open controlling the combustion air-fuel ratio to a primary combustion air-fuel ratio which is between a theoretical air-fuel ratio and a combustion limit air-fuel ratio that is richer than the theoretical air-fuel ratio upon the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor activation determining unit determining the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor to be inactive, and
the combustion air-fuel ratio control unit feedback controlling the combustion air-fuel ratio to a secondary combustion air-fuel ratio that is richer than the primary combustion air-fuel ratio upon the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor activation determining unit determining the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor to be active.
3. The combustion air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, further including
an air amount detection unit that detects fresh air amount supplied to the exhaust passage, and a combustion air-fuel ratio estimation unit that estimate the combustion air-fuel ratio based on current fuel supply amount and the fresh air amount detected by the fresh air amount detection unit.
4. The combustion air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, further including
an operation condition determination unit that detects whether an operating condition of the internal combustion engine is stationary or non-stationary, wherein when the operation condition determination unit determines that the operating condition is non-stationary, even if the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor is active, the combustion air-fuel ratio control unit open-controls the combustion air-fuel ratio to be the primary combustion air-fuel ratio.
5. The combustion air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 4, further including
an intake air amount detection unit that detects an intake air amount to the internal combustion engine, wherein the operation condition determination unit determines that the operating condition is non-stationary when a change rate of the intake air amount to the internal combustion engine is at or greater than a predetermined value.
6. The combustion air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein
the combustion air-fuel ratio control unit includes a change rate limiting unit that limits a change rate of the combustion air-fuel ratio when open control or feedback control is carried out.
7. An air-fuel ratio controlling method for an internal combustion engine, including an exhaust purification catalyst that is arranged in an exhaust passage where exhaust from the internal combustion engine flows, a fresh air supplying device that supplies fresh air upstream of the exhaust purification catalyst, an exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an exhaust air-fuel ratio between the exhaust purification catalyst and the fresh air supplying device in the exhaust passage, the air-fuel ratio controlling method comprising:
determining whether or not the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor is active;
determining timing of a request for warming up the exhaust purification catalyst;
setting a combustion air-fuel ratio to a primary combustion air-fuel ratio, which is between a theoretical air-fuel ratio and a combustion limit air-fuel ratio, which is richer than the theoretical air-fuel ratio and allows stable combustion in an open control, while supplying fresh air from the fresh air supplying device to the exhaust passage, when warming up of the exhaust purification catalyst is required, and the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor is inactive; and
setting the combustion air-fuel ratio to a secondary combustion air-fuel ratio, which is richer than the primary combustion air-fuel ratio and close to the combustion limit air-fuel ratio in a feedback control, while supplying fresh air from the fresh air supplying device to the exhaust passage, when the warming up of the exhaust purification catalyst is required, and the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor is active.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An inputoutput (IO) circuit comprising:
an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit electrically coupled with an output node of the IO circuit;
at least one inductor and at least one loading electrically coupled in a series fashion and between the output node of the IO circuit and a power line; and
a circuitry electrically coupled with a node between the at least one inductor and the at least one loading, wherein the circuitry is operable to increase a current flowing through the at least one inductor during a signal transition.
2. The IO circuit of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises at least one pre-driver stage having at least one output node, and the at least one output node of the at least one pre-driver stage is electrically coupled with at least one input node of a driver stage.
3. The IO circuit of claim 2, wherein the at least one pre-driver stage comprises:
a first pre-driver stage that is electrically coupled with the node between the at least one loading and the at least one inductor, and electrically coupled with the driver stage; and
a second pre-driver stage that is electrically coupled with the node between the at least one loading and the at least one inductor, and electrically coupled with the first pre-driver stage.
4. The IO circuit of claim 3, wherein during the signal transition a first current flows through the driver stage, a second current flows through the first pre-driver stage, a third current flows through the second pre-driver stage, and the first, second and third currents are substantially equal to each other.
5. The IO circuit of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises at least one level shifter having at least one output node, and the at least one output node of the at least one level shifter is electrically coupled with at least one input node of a driver stage.
6. The IO circuit of claim 5, wherein the at least one level shifter comprises:
a first level shifter that is electrically coupled with the node between the at least one inductor and the at least one loading, and electrically coupled with the driver stage; and
a second level shifter that is electrically coupled with the node between the at least one inductor and the at least one loading, and electrically coupled with the first level shifter.
7. The IO circuit of claim 6, wherein during the signal transition a first current flows through the driver stage, a second current flows through the first level shifter, a third current flows through the second level shifter, and the first, second and third currents are substantially equal to each other.
8. The IO circuit of claim 6, wherein during a steady state a current flowing through the first and second level shifters is substantially zero.
9. The IO circuit of claim 8, wherein the ESD protection circuit has a parasitic capacitance of about 400 femtofarads (fF) or more, and the at least one inductor has an inductance of about 0.1 nanohenry (nH) or less.
10. An inputoutput (IO) circuit comprising:
a driver stage comprising:
a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit electrically coupled with a first output node of the driver stage;
a second ESD protection circuit electrically coupled with a second output node of the driver stage;
a first inductor and a first resistor electrically coupled in a series fashion and between the first output node of the driver stage and a power line; and
a second inductor and a second resistor electrically coupled in a series fashion and between the second output node of the driver stage and the power line; and

a first circuit electrically coupled with a first node between the first inductor and the first resistor and a second node between the second inductor and the second resistor, a first output node of the first circuit and a second output node of the first circuit are electrically coupled with a first input node and a second input node of the driver stage, respectively; and
a second circuit electrically coupled with the first node between the first inductor and the first resistor and the second node between the second inductor and the second resistor, a first output node of the second circuit and a second output node of the second circuit are electrically coupled with a first input node of the first circuit and a second input node of the first circuit, respectively.
11. The IO circuit of claim 10, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit comprise a pre-driver stage or a level shifter.
12. The IO circuit of claim 10, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit each are operable to increase a current flowing through the first inductor or the second inductor during a signal transition.
13. The IO circuit of claim 10, wherein during the signal transition a first current flows through the driver stage, a second current flows through the first circuit, a third current flows through the second circuit, and the first, second and third currents are substantially equal to each other.
14. The IO circuit of claim 10, wherein during a steady state a current flowing through the first and second circuits is substantially zero.
15. The IO circuit of claim 10, wherein the first and second ESD protection circuits each have a parasitic capacitance of about 400 femtofarads (fF) or more, and the first and second inductors each have an inductance of about 0.1 nanohenry (nH) or less.
16. An inputoutput (IO) circuit comprising:
a driver stage comprising:
a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit electrically coupled with a first output node of the driver stage;
a second ESD protection circuit electrically coupled with a second output node of the driver stage;
a first inductor and a first resistor electrically coupled in a series fashion and between the first output node of the driver stage and a power line; and
a second inductor and a second resistor electrically coupled in a series fashion and between the second output node of the driver stage and the power line; and

a first level shifter electrically coupled with a first node between the first inductor and the first resistor and a second node between the second inductor and the second resistor, a first output node of the first level shifter and a second output node of the first level shifter are electrically coupled with a first input node and a second input node of the driver stage, respectively, wherein during a signal transition the first level shifter is operable to increase a current flowing through the first or second inductor; and
a second level shifter electrically coupled with the first node between the first inductor and the first resistor and the second node between the second inductor and the second resistor, a first output node of the second level shifter and a second output node of the second level shifter are electrically coupled with a first input node of the first level shifter and a second input node of the first level shifter, respectively, wherein during the signal transition the second level shifter is operable to increase a current flowing through the first or second inductor.
17. The IO circuit of claim 16, wherein during the signal transition a first current flows through the driver stage, a second current flows through the first level shifter, a third current flows through the second level shifter, and the first, second and third currents are substantially equal to each other.
18. The IO circuit of claim 16, wherein the first and second ESD protection circuits each have a parasitic capacitance of about 400 femtofarads (fF) or more, and the first and second inductors each have an inductance of about 0.1 nanohenry (nH) or less.
19. The IO circuit of claim 16, wherein during a steady state a current flowing through the first and second level shifters is substantially zero.