Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A contactless transaction card assembly comprising:
a contactless transaction module including a module body and a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit provided on the module body; and
an antenna unit having an antenna operatively aligned and in electrical engagement with the integrated circuit for transmitting information to and from the integrated circuit via electromagnetic signals, and wherein the antenna unit is separable from and subsequently re-engageable with the integrated circuit by a user.
2. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit includes a substrate upon which the antenna is supported, wherein the substrate and the antenna supported thereon are physically separable from the contactless transaction module.
3. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is one of a multilayer film, a flexible film laminate, or a single layer of a flexible film.
4. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is a filament or a wire made of a conductive material.
5. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is formed as a continuous line of printed conductive ink.
6. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is formed as a lithographically defined continuous strip of a conductive material deposited onto the antenna unit.
7. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is a support film having an adhesive applied on at least a portion of a surface of the film.
8. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive enables the support film to be adhered securely to and be cleanly removable from a carrier surface and the contactless transaction module a plurality of times.
9. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 1, wherein the module body is sized and shaped like a standard plug-in sized SIM card.
10. A contactless transaction card assembly comprising:
a contactless transaction module including a module body and a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit provided on the module body; and
an antenna unit having an antenna which is separate from the card and which transmits information to and from the integrated circuit via electromagnetic signals when the antenna is operatively aligned into electrical engagement with the integrated circuit.
11. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 10, wherein the antenna unit includes a support element upon which the antenna is provided, wherein the support element and the antenna provided thereon are physically separate from the contactless transaction module.
12. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 11, wherein the support element is one of a multilayer film, a flexible film laminate, or a single layer of a flexible film.
13. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 11, wherein the antenna is a filament or a wire made of a conductive material.
14. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 11, wherein the antenna is formed as a continuous line of printed conductive ink.
15. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 11, wherein the antenna is formed as a lithographically defined continuous strip of a conductive material deposited onto the antenna unit.
16. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 11, wherein the support element is a support film having an adhesive applied on at least a portion of a surface of the film.
17. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive enables the support film to be adhered securely to and be cleanly removable from a carrier surface and the contactless transaction module a plurality of times.
18. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 11, wherein the support element is a carrier device having a holder into which a contactless transaction module can be placed.
19. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 18, wherein the holder is configured such that when a contactless transaction module is placed therein, the integrated circuit becomes electrically engaged with the antenna to enable transmission of electromagnetic signals to and from the integrated circuit.
20. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 19, wherein the carrier device is a carrier card.
21. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 20, wherein the carrier device is a cover for a portable electronic device.
22. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 10, wherein the module body is sized and shaped like a standard plug-in sized SIM card.
23. A contactless transaction module consisting essentially of:
a card having an asymmetrical shape to for indicating a proper orientation when the card is inserted into a holder; and
an integrated circuit chip provided on the card and having leads for being placed into electrical engagement with an antenna, wherein the integrated circuit is capable of receiving and transmitting information stored in the chip via electromagnetic transmission.
24. The contactless transaction module according to claim 23, wherein the asymmetrical shape includes a corner of the card being cut at an angle.
25. The contactless transaction module according to claim 23, wherein the card is sized and shaped like a plug-in sized SIM card.
26. A transmission device for transmitting information to and from a contactless transaction module, consisting essentially of:
an antenna for transmitting information in the form of electromagnetic signals between a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip and a transaction reader, the antenna having a defined set of contact points at which a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip can electrically engage the antenna; and
a support element on which the antenna is supported, the support element being configured to enable the antenna to become aligned with and electrically engaged with a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip for enabling the antenna to transmit information to and from the integrated circuit chip via electromagnetic signals.
27. The transmission device according to claim 26, wherein the support element is one of a multilayer film, a flexible film laminate, or a single layer of a flexible film.
28. The transmission device according to claim 27, wherein the support element has an adhesive backing, the adhesive enabling the film to be adhered securely to and cleanly removable from a support surface a plurality of times.
29. A carrier for a contactless transaction card assembly, comprising:
a support device;
at least one holder for a contactless transaction card provided on a surface of the support device; and
an antenna for transmitting information in the form of electromagnetic signals between a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip on a contactless transaction card and a transaction reader, the antenna being mounted on the support device and having predetermined contact points which are located so as to become aligned with and electrically engaged with an integrated circuit chip of a contactless transaction card inserted into the holder.
30. The carrier according to claim 29, wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a portable electronic andor communication device.
31. The carrier according to claim 30, wherein the support device is a cover which fits over the housing of a mobile telephone or a battery pack thereof.
32. The carrier according to claim 30, wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a laptop or notebook computer.
33. The carrier according to claim 30, wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a handheld or palmtop computer.
34. The carrier according to claim 29, wherein the support device is a carrier card.
35. The carrier according to claim 29, wherein the holder is configured to accommodate a contactless transaction card which is sized and shaped like a standard plug-in sized SIM card.
36. The carrier according to claim 29, wherein the at least one holder is a plurality of contactless transaction card holders, wherein one of the holders is located so that when a contactless transaction card is inserted into that holder, an integrated circuit chip of the inserted contactless transaction card becomes aligned with and electrically engaged with the predetermined contact points of the antenna to thereby enable electromagnetic transmission of information to and from the integrated circuit chip.
37. The carrier according to claim 29, wherein the at least one holder is a plurality of contactless transaction card holders, the carrier further comprising a plurality of antennas corresponding in number to the number of contactless transaction card holders and located so that when a contactless transaction card is inserted into each respective holder, an integrated circuit chip of each respective inserted contactless transaction card becomes aligned with and electrically engaged with the predetermined contact points of a corresponding antenna to thereby enable electromagnetic transmission of information to and from the respective integrated circuit chip.
38. A carrier for a plug-in sized contactless-type integrated circuit card, comprising:
a support device;
at least one holder for a contactless transaction card provided on a surface of the support device; and
an indicator on the support device for indicating an proper position at which predetermined contact points of an antenna is to be placed, such that when an antenna is placed at the proper position, such predetermined contact points of the antenna will be located so as to become aligned with a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip of a contactless transaction card inserted into the holder to thereby enable transmission of information in the form of electromagnetic signals between the contactless transaction card placed in the holder and a transaction reader.
39. The carrier according to claim 38, wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a portable electronic andor communication device.
40. The carrier according to claim 39, wherein the support device is a cover which fits over the housing of a mobile telephone or a battery pack thereof.
41. The carrier according to claim 39, wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a laptop or notebook computer.
42. The carrier according to claim 39, wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a handheld or palmtop computer.
43. The carrier according to claim 38, wherein the support device is a carrier card.
44. The carrier according to claim 38, wherein the holder is configured to accommodate a contactless transaction card which is sized and shaped like a standard plug-in sized SIM card.
45. The carrier according to claim 38, wherein the at least one holder is a plurality of contactless transaction card holders, wherein one of the holders is located so that when an antenna is placed at the indicated position and a contactless transaction card is inserted into that one holder, an integrated circuit chip of the inserted contactless transaction card becomes aligned with and electrically engaged with the predetermined contact points of the antenna to thereby enable electromagnetic transmission of information to and from the integrated circuit chip.
46. The carrier according to claim 38, wherein the at least one holder is a plurality of contactless transaction card holders, the carrier further comprising a plurality of indicators on the support device for indicating respectively proper positions at which predetermined contact points of a corresponding number of antenna are to be placed, the number of indicator locations corresponding in number to the number of contactless transaction card holders, the indicators being located so that when a respective antenna is placed at each indicated position and a contactless transaction card is inserted into each corresponding holder, an integrated circuit chip of each respective inserted contactless transaction card becomes aligned with and electrically engaged with the predetermined contact points of a corresponding antenna to thereby enable electromagnetic transmission of information to and from the respective integrated circuit chip.
47. A contactless transaction card assembly comprising:
a carrier card;
at least one contactless transaction module each including a module body and a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit provided on the module body, each contactless transaction module being mounted on the carrier card; and
at least one antenna unit each having an antenna operatively aligned and in electrical engagement with the integrated circuit of a corresponding contactless transaction module for transmitting information to and from the integrated circuit via electromagnetic signals, and wherein each antenna unit is separable from and subsequently re-engageable with the respective integrated circuit by a user.
48. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 47, wherein each contactless transaction module is mounted in the carrier card by virtue of the respective module body of each module being die cut into the carrier card.
49. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 47, further comprising at least one holder formed on the carrier card, wherein a respective holder is provided for each of the at least one contactless transaction modules.
50. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 49, wherein each holder is formed so that the corresponding contactless transaction card is frictionally held in the respective holder.
51. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 49, wherein each contactless transaction card is detachably and reattachably mounted in a corresponding holder.
52. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 47, wherein the at least one contactless transaction card is a plurality of contactless transaction cards and the at least one antenna unit is one antenna unit, such that the antenna of the antenna unit is operatively but separably aligned with the integrated circuit of only one of the plurality of contactless transaction cards at a time, and wherein the plurality of contactless transaction cards are interchangeably connectable to the antenna of the antenna unit.
53. The contactless transaction card assembly according to claim 47, wherein the at least one contactless transaction card is a plurality of contactless transaction cards and the at least one antenna unit is a plurality of antenna units corresponding in number to the number of contactless transaction cards, such that the antenna of each antenna unit is operatively but separably aligned with the integrated circuit of a corresponding one of the plurality of contactless transaction cards.

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. A plant base combination, comprising:
at least two plant bases, wherein each plant base comprises a base section with a seat for a plant pot, and wherein each plant base furthermore includes a tail section that extends in the horizontal direction from a rear of the base section;
a channel with a base and longitudinal side walls; and
a conveyor belt extending over the base of the channel;
wherein the tail section of each of the plant bases has a rear with a central portion and a longitudinal section adjacent the central portion, wherein the longitudinal section extends further to the rear than the central portion, and wherein the front of the base section, the rear of the tail section and the width of the channel are so sized that the front of the base section of the plant base approaching from behind can come alongside the longitudinal section of the plant base located in front of it so as to push said longitudinal section of the front plant base against the longitudinal side wall of the channel and to hold it pressed against said longitudinal side wall.
2. The plant base combination according to claim 1, wherein a plant pot is arranged in the seat of each plant base.
3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the plant bases have, on both longitudinal side walls, a longitudinal section extending further to the rear relative to the central portion and wherein said longitudinal sections, or at least the rear ends thereof, are able to swing outwards in the transverse direction from an initial position against a spring force that tends to swing the longitudinal sections back into the initial position.
4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the longitudinal side walls of the channel is provided with a run-up guide extending along said longitudinal side wall, such that the longitudinal section of the plant base that is pressed against this creeps upward along said longitudinal side wall.
5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein both longitudinal side walls are provided with said run-up guide.
6. A plant base comprising a base section with a seat for a plant pot, wherein the plant base includes a tail section that extends in the horizontal direction from a rear of the base section, combined with a channel and conveyor belt combination of claim 1.

1. A spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system comprising:
a base, a stationary shaft connected to the base, a hub rotatably supported with respect to the shaft, a first bearing plate and a second bearing plate that are disposed at a mutual spacing about the shaft and connected to the hub, a bushing that is disposed between the first bearing plate and the second bearing plate and separated from the first bearing plate by a first gap at least partly filled with bearing fluid and separated from the second bearing plate by a second gap at least partly filled with bearing fluid, a first stopper plate and a second stopper plate that are fixedly connected to the shaft, the first stopper plate abutting one side of the first bearing plate and separated from the first bearing plate by a first bearing gap filled with bearing fluid, the second stopper plate abutting one side of the second bearing plate and separated from the second bearing plate by a second bearing gap filled with bearing fluid, a first fluid dynamic bearing system which is disposed about the first bearing plate, a second fluid dynamic bearing system which is independent of the first fluid dynamic bearing system and which is disposed about the second bearing plate, and an electromagnetic drive system.
2. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that the bushing is fixedly connected to the shaft.
3. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that the bushing is fixedly connected to the hub.
4. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first fluid dynamic bearing system and the second fluid dynamic bearing system consists of a radial and an axial bearing, and is spatially separated and sealed towards the interior of the motor by said bushing disposed between the first bearing plate and the second bearing plate.
5. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that a first radial bearing is formed between the inside diameter of the first bearing plate and the shaft with the aid of an appropriate first bearing pattern and in that a second radial bearing is formed between the inside diameter of the second bearing plate and the shaft with the aid of an appropriate second bearing pattern.
6. A spindle motor according to claim 5, characterized in that the first bearing pattern and the second bearing pattern are formed as symmetric or asymmetric groove patterns.
7. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that a first axial bearing is formed between the opposing surfaces of the first bearing plate and the abutting first stopper plate with the aid of an appropriate first bearing pattern and in that a second axial bearing is formed between the opposing surfaces of the second bearing plate and the abutting second stopper plate with the aid of an appropriate second bearing pattern.
8. A spindle motor according to claim 7, characterized in that the first bearing pattern and the second bearing pattern are formed as symmetric or asymmetric groove patterns.
9. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that in the first bearing plate at least one recirculation channel is provided that connects the opposing end faces of the first bearing plate to each other and in that in the second bearing plate at least one recirculation channel is provided that connects the opposing end faces of the second bearing plate to each other.
10. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that a first reservoir having a conical cross-section is provided between the first stopper plate and the hub, the first reservoir being connected to the first bearing gap, and in that a second reservoir having a conical cross-section is provided between the second stopper plate and the hub, the second reservoir being connected to the second bearing gap.
11. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that the first bearing gap is sealed by an active pumping seal that is formed by a first narrow gap provided with suitable pumping patterns formed between the bushing and the hub and in that the second bearing gap is sealed by an active pumping seal that is formed by a second narrow gap provided with suitable pumping patterns formed between the bushing and the hub.
12. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that the first bearing gap is sealed by an active pumping seal that is formed by a first narrow gap provided with suitable pumping patterns formed between the outside diameter of the first stopper plate and the corresponding inside diameter of the hub and in that the second bearing gap is sealed by an active pumping seal that is formed by a second narrow gap provided with suitable pumping patterns formed between the outside diameter of the second stopper plate and the corresponding inside diameter of the hub.
13. A spindle motor according to claim 1, characterized in that a first tapered reservoir for the first fluid dynamic bearing system is disposed adjoining the first gap between the bushing and the hub in the region of the interior of the motor and in that a second tapered reservoir for the second fluid dynamic bearing system is disposed adjoining the second gap between the bushing and the hub in the region of the interior of the motor.

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. A scroll structure of a rotary machine, comprising:
a scroll main body that entirely covers an area surrounding an annular channel extending in a circular shape about a rotational axis in a rotating portion of the rotary machine and a cylindrical channel extending from the annular channel and extending towards the rotating portion;
a casing constituting an outer shape of the rotary machine and accommodating the scroll main body therein; and
a fitting portion that supports the scroll main body with respect to a support portion, so as to enable expansion and contraction of the scroll main body in a radial direction centered on the rotational axis,
wherein the fitting portion includes:
a turbine portion-side restraining portion that restrains movement of the scroll main body along the rotational axis, with respect to the support portion, and
a casing-side restraining portion that restrains movement of the scroll main body along the rotational axis, with respect to the support portion,

wherein each of the turbine portion-side restraining portion and the casing-side restraining portion comprises:
a ring which is provided on the scroll main body,
a ring which is provided on the support portion,
protrusions which are disposed on the ring on the scroll main body, and which protrude in a radial direction;
a groove which is disposed on the ring which is provided on the support portion, the groove being open in the radial direction and into which the protrusions are fitted, and
depressions which are formed in the ring which is provided on the support portion and which are formed in one wall of a pair of wall portions defining the groove and through which the protrusions pass by moving relative to the one wall, along the rotational axis, and

wherein the turbine portion-side restraining portion and the casing-side restraining portion are disposed on opposite sides of the cylindrical channel.
2. A rotary machine comprising:
the scroll structure according to claim 1; and
a turbine into which or from which a working fluid flows, between the turbine and the scroll structure, and which extracts a rotational driving force from the supplied working fluid.
3. A scroll structure of a rotary machine, comprising:
a scroll main body that entirely covers an area surrounding an annular channel extending in a circular shape about a rotational axis of a rotating portion of the rotary machine and a cylindrical channel extending from the annular channel and extending towards the rotating portion;
a casing constituting an outer shape of the rotary machine and accommodating the scroll main body therein; and
a fitting portion that supports the scroll main body including the annular channel and the cylindrical channel with respect to the casing, so as to enable expansion and contraction of the scroll main body in a radial direction centered on the rotational axis, with respect to the casing, whilst restraining movement of the scroll main body along the rotational axis,
wherein the fitting portion includes:
a turbine portion-side restraining portion that restrains movement of the scroll main body along the rotational axis, with respect to the casing,
a casing-side restraining portion that restrains movement of the scroll main body along the rotational axis, with respect to the casing,
a horizontal restraining portion that is disposed above the annular channel that restrains movement of the scroll main body in a horizontal direction with respect to the casing, and
a vertical restraining portion that is disposed diagonally below the annular channel and that restrains movement of the scroll main body in a vertical direction with respect to the casing,

wherein the casing-side restraining portion comprises:
protrusions which are disposed on the casing and which protrude in a radial direction; and
depressions which are disposed on the scroll main body, and which are open in the radial direction and into which the protrusions are fitted, and

wherein the turbine portion-side restraining portion and the casing-side restraining portion are disposed on opposite sides of the cylindrical channel.