Author: claimsbot

1. A separator plate for a PEM fuel cell comprising:
a one-piece metal plate member having an inlet header, an outlet header, and a flow field therebetween;
a first aperture of said inlet header and a second aperture of said outlet header operable to receive a fluid therethrough, said first and second apertures formed entirely through said metal plate member and each having a perimeter with a constant first elevation;
a series of first support elements proximate said first aperture and extending from a first plane to a second elevation defining a second plane;
a second support element located proximate said first aperture and extending from said first plane to said second plane, said second support element bounding said first aperture in a first, second and third direction such that fluid is directed in a fourth direction between said series of first support elements toward said flow field;
a series of third support elements proximate said second aperture and extending from said first plane to said second plane;
a fourth support element located proximate said second aperture and extending from said first plane to said second plane, said fourth support element bounding said second aperture in said second, third and fourth direction such that fluid is directed in said first direction toward said second aperture, wherein said fourth support element includes a plurality of finger portions extending toward said second aperture; and
wherein said first aperture is located between said series of first support elements and said second support element and said second aperture is located between said series of third support elements and said fourth support element.
2. The separator plate of claim 1, wherein said inlet header includes a series of first apertures and said outlet header includes a series of second apertures.
3. The separator plate of claim 2, wherein said second support element extends adjacent to said series of first apertures and said fourth support element extends adjacent to said series of second apertures.
4. The separator plate of claim 2, wherein said series of first and third support elements are arranged in a generally linear pattern along said first plane and said first and second series of apertures are arranged in a generally linear pattern along said first plane and parallel to said series of first and third support elements respectively.
5. The separator plate of claim 2, wherein fluid flows from said flow field to said series of second apertures between said series of third support elements.
6. A separator plate for a PEM fuel cell comprising:
a one-piece metal plate member having an inlet header, an outlet header, and a flow field therebetween;
an inlet aperture of said inlet header and an outlet aperture of said outlet header operable to receive a fluid therethrough, said inlet and outlet apertures each formed entirely through said metal plate member from a lower surface of said metal plate member to an upper surface of said metal plate member, wherein said inlet and outlet apertures each have a first boundary on said upper surface and a second boundary on said lower surface, wherein said first boundary is entirely coplanar and said second boundary is entirely coplanar;
a series of first support elements proximate said inlet aperture and extending from a first plane having a first elevation to a second plane having a second elevation, said series of first support elements directing fluid towards said flow field;
a second support element located proximate said inlet aperture and extending from said first plane to said second plane, said second support element bounding said inlet aperture in a first, second and third direction such that fluid is directed in a fourth direction toward said series of first support elements;
a series of third support elements proximate said outlet aperture and extending from said first plane to said second plane;
a fourth support element located proximate said outlet aperture and extending from said first plane to said second plane, said fourth support element bounding said second aperture in said second, third and fourth direction such that fluid is directed in said first direction toward said outlet aperture, wherein said fourth support element includes a plurality of finger portions extending toward said outlet aperture; and
wherein said inlet aperture is located between said series of first support elements and said second support element and said outlet aperture is located between said series of third support elements and said fourth support element.
7. The separator plate of claim 6, wherein said inlet header includes a series of inlet apertures and said outlet header includes a series of outlet apertures.
8. The separator plate of claim 7, wherein said second support element extends adjacent said series of inlet apertures and said fourth support element extends adjacent said series of outlet apertures.
9. The separator plate of claim 7, wherein said series of first and third support elements are arranged in a generally linear pattern along said first plane and said series of inlet and outlet apertures are arranged in a generally linear pattern along said first plane and parallel to said series of first and third support elements respectively.
10. The separator plate of claim 7, wherein fluid flows from said flow field to said series of outlet apertures between said series of third support elements.
11. A separator plate for a PEM fuel cell comprising:
a one-piece metal plate member having an inlet header, an outlet header, and a flow field therebetween;
said inlet header having a series of first support elements, a second support element and an inlet aperture therebetween;
said outlet header having a series of third support elements, a fourth support element and an outlet aperture therebetween;
wherein said first and second support elements extend from a first plane at a first elevation to a second plane having a second elevation, said second support element bounding fluid from said inlet aperture in a first, a second and a third direction such that fluid is directed in a fourth direction toward said series of first support elements;
wherein said third and fourth support elements extend from said first plane to said second plane, said fourth support element having a plurality of finger portions extending toward said outlet aperture, said fourth support element bounding fluid in said second, third and fourth directions such that fluid is directed in said first direction toward said outlet aperture; and
wherein said inlet and outlet apertures extend entirely through said metal plate member from a lower surface of said metal plate member to an upper surface of said metal plate member, said inlet and outlet apertures having a first boundary on said upper surface and a second boundary on said lower surface, said first boundary being entirely coplanar and said second boundary being entirely coplanar.
12. The separator plate of claim 11, wherein said inlet header includes a series of inlet apertures and said outlet header includes a series of outlet apertures.
13. The separator plate of claim 12, wherein said second support element extends adjacent said series of inlet apertures and said fourth support element extends adjacent said series of outlet apertures.
14. The separator plate of claim 12, wherein said series of first and third support elements are arranged in a generally linear pattern along said first plane and said series of inlet and outlet apertures are arranged in a generally linear pattern along said first plane and parallel to said series of first and third support elements respectively.
15. The separator plate of claim 12, wherein fluid flows from said flow field to said series of outlet apertures between said series of third support elements.

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 method to charge batteries of portable devices simultaneously with supplying power to these devices for their operations is comprising the following steps:
(1) providing a DC power source, a supply regulator, one or more rechargeable batteries, a battery charger controlled by a digital control unit, a voltage comparator, and a capacitor;
(2) setting charge current to charge batteries to a predefined default current level;
(3) delaying process flow for a defined time interval and go then to step (4);
(4) checking if voltage at inputs of said portable device and of said battery charger is lower than a defined threshold voltage, and, if positive, go to step (5) else go to step (7);
(5) checking, if said charge current is zero, and if positive, go to step (3) else go to step (6);
(6) decreasing said charge current and go then to step (3);
(7) checking if said charge current is smaller than said predefined default current level, and if positive, go to step (8), else go to step (3); and
(8) increasing said charge current and go then to step (3).
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said delay time has an order of magnitude of 100 \u03bcsec.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said DC power source has a maximum allowable current limit.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said DC power source is a universal serial bus (USB) port.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein said DC power source is a FirewireIEEE1394 port.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein said DC power source is a current limited wall brick.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein said supply regulator does allow a maximum output current, which is slightly lower than said maximum allowable current limit of said DC power source.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said digital control performs said check if said charge current is zero and sends the result to said digital control unit.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said digital control performs said check if said charge current is smaller than said predefined default current level and sends the result to said digital control unit.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said supply regulator, one or more rechargeable batteries, the battery charger, the digital control unit, and the voltage comparator are integrated in said portable device.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said supply regulator is a linear regulator.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein said supply regulator is a switched regulator.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said digital control controls the battery charger in a way that the current required for the operation of the portable device has precedence over the charging current of the batteries.

1. A method for compressing electronic program guide data to be transmitted in a broadcast network, comprising:
receiving by a computing device at a broadcast server, the electronic program guide data as input data having a plurality of character strings from a plurality of listing data providers;
applying by the computing device, a first layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by preparing a list of unique entries and associated identifications for the input data, the unique entries comprising character strings which are mutually different; and
applying by the computing device, a second layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by providing a compressed list by repeating the following steps for each character string in the list of unique entries:
retrieving a next character string from the list of unique entries;
determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries a largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of a compressed character string from the compressed list;
responsive to determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries which has the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of said compressed character string from the compressed list, identifying said compressed character string from the compressed list as a source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string and determining the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string; and
storing for the next character string: an identification, a reference to the source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, a number of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and the remaining non-shared character string in the compressed list;

wherein the compressed list is a binary file, the binary file comprises at its end a sequence of non-shared character strings for entries of the compressed list, wherein the sequence of non-shared character strings separated by a NULL character, and the binary file comprises at its start a sequence of entries with a fixed length format for identification, reference to source of shared consecutive prefix characters, number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and a pointer to associated non-shared character string.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input data comprises title data and synopsis data; and a title list, synopsis list, compressed title list and compressed synopsis list are provided.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressed character string is retrieved from the compressed list in sequence of first to last compressed character string in the compressed list.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input data is provided in XML format.
5. A method for providing electronic program guide data, comprising retrieving data for an entry in the electronic program guide from a compressed list prepared at a broadcast server, the entry in the electronic program guide comprising an identification referring to an entry in the compressed list, the method comprising:
recursively retrieving from the compressed list a non-shared character string, a reference to a source and a number of shared consecutive prefix characters associated with the identification, and
adding in front of the non-shared character string an additional character string comprising the number of shared consecutive prefix characters of the non-shared character string retrieved from the entry in the compressed list associated with the reference, until the entry has been retrieved for which the number of shared consecutive prefix characters is equal to zero;
wherein the compressed listed prepared at the broadcast server comprising:
receiving by a computing device at the broadcast server, electronic program guide data as input data having a plurality of character strings from a plurality of listing data providers;
applying by the computing device, a first layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by preparing a list of unique entries and associated identifications for the input data, the unique entries comprising character strings which are mutually different; and
applying by the computing device, a second layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by providing the compressed list by repeating the following steps for each character string in the list of unique entries:
retrieving a next character string from the list of unique entries;
determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries a largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of a compressed character string from the compressed list;
responsive to determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries which has the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of said compressed character string from the compressed list, identifying said compressed character string from the compressed list as a source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string and determining the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string; and

storing for the next character string: an identification, a reference to the source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, a number of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and the remaining non-shared character string in the compressed list;

wherein the compressed list is a binary file, the binary file comprises at its end a sequence of non-shared character strings for entries of the compressed list, wherein the sequence of non-shared character strings separated by a NULL character, and the binary file comprises at its start a sequence of entries with a fixed length format for identification, reference to source of shared consecutive prefix characters, the number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and a pointer to associated non-shared character string.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the input data comprises title data and synopsis data; and a title list, synopsis list, compressed title list and compressed synopsis list are provided.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the compressed character string is retrieved from the compressed list in sequence of first to last compressed character string in the compressed list.
8. A broadcast server for transmitting electronic program guide data to a plurality of set top boxes via a broadcast network to which the broadcast server is connected in operation, the broadcast server being further connected in operation to one or more listing data providers to receive the electronic program guide data as input data having a plurality of character strings, and the broadcast server being arranged to apply a first layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by preparing a list of unique entries and associated identifications of the plurality of character strings received, the unique entries comprising character strings which are mutually different, and the broadcast server also being arranged to apply a second layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by providing a compressed list to the plurality of set top boxes,
wherein provision of the compressed list is accomplished by the broadcast server by repeating the following steps for each character string in the list of unique entries:
retrieving by a computing device at the broadcast server, a next character string from the list of unique entries;
determining by the computing device, for the next character string in the list of unique entries a largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of a compressed character string from the compressed list;
responsive to determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries which has the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of said compressed character string from the compressed list, identifying said compressed character string from the compressed list as a source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string and determining the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string; and
storing for the next character string: an identification, a reference to the source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, a number of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and the remaining non-shared character string in the compressed list;

wherein the compressed list is a binary file, the binary file comprises at its end a sequence of non-shared character strings for entries of the compressed list, wherein the sequence of non-shared character strings separated by a NULL character, and the binary file comprises at its start a sequence of entries with a fixed length format for identification, reference to the source of shared consecutive prefix characters, a number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and a pointer to associated non-shared character string.
9. The broadcast server of claim 8, wherein the input data received from the one or more listing data providers comprises title data and synopsis data, and a compressed title list and compressed synopsis list are broadcast by the broadcast server using the broadcast network.
10. The broadcast server of claim 8, wherein the broadcast server is arranged to retrieve the compressed character string from the compressed list in sequence of first to last compressed character string in the compressed list.
11. A set top box for decoding data received in a compressed list from a broadcast server utilized with a broadcast network, the set top box decoding the data received in the compressed list from the broadcast server for display on a television set connectable to the set top box, the set top box comprising a processor arranged to retrieve data from the received data for an entry in an electronic program guide from the compressed list prepared at the broadcast server, the entry in the electronic program guide comprising an identification referring to an entry in the compressed list, wherein the processor is further arranged to recursively retrieve from the compressed list a non-shared character string, a reference to a source and a number of shared consecutive prefix characters associated with the identification, and to add in front of the non-shared character string an additional character string comprising the number of shared consecutive prefix characters of the non-shared character string retrieved from the entry in the compressed list associated with the reference, until the entry has been retrieved for which the number of shared consecutive prefix characters is equal to zero;
wherein the compressed listed prepared at the broadcast server comprising:
receiving by a computing device at the broadcast server, electronic program guide data as input data having a plurality of character strings from a plurality of listing data providers;
applying by the computing device, a first layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by preparing a list of unique entries and associated identifications for the input data, the unique entries comprising character strings which are mutually different; and
applying by the computing device, a second layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by providing the compressed list by repeating the following steps for each character string in the list of unique entries:
retrieving a next character string from the list of unique entries;
determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries a largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of a compressed character string from the compressed list;
responsive to determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries which has the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of said compressed character string from the compressed list, identifying said compressed character string from the compressed list as a source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string and determining the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string; and

storing for the next character string: an identification, a reference to the source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, a number of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and the remaining non-shared character string in the compressed list;

wherein the compressed list is a binary file, the binary file comprises at its end a sequence of non-shared character strings for entries of the compressed list, wherein the sequence of non-shared character strings separated by a NULL character, and the binary file comprises at its start a sequence of entries with a fixed length format for identification, reference to source of shared consecutive prefix characters, the number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and a pointer to associated non-shared character string.
12. The set top box of claim 11, wherein the input data received from the plurality of listing data providers comprises title data and synopsis data; and a compressed title list and compressed synopsis list are broadcast by the broadcast server using the broadcast network.
13. The set top box of claim 11, wherein the broadcast server is arranged to retrieve the compressed character string from the compressed list in sequence of first to last compressed character string in the compressed list.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
receiving by a computing device at a broadcast server, electronic program guide data as input data having a plurality of character strings from a plurality of listing data providers;
applying by the computing device, a first layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by preparing a list of unique entries and associated identifications for the input data, the unique entries comprising character strings which are mutually different; and
applying by the computing device, a second layer of compression of the electronic program guide data by providing a compressed list by repeating the following steps for each character string in the list of unique entries:
retrieving a next character string from the list of unique entries;
determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries a largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of a compressed character string from the compressed list;
responsive to determining for the next character string in the list of unique entries which has the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters in common with consecutive prefix characters of said compressed character string from the compressed list, identifying said compressed character string from the compressed list as a source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string and determining the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters for the next character string; and
storing for the next character string: an identification, a reference to the source of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, a number of the largest number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and the remaining non-shared character string in the compressed list;

wherein the compressed list is a binary file, the binary file comprises at its end a sequence of non-shared character strings for entries of the compressed list, wherein the sequence of non-shared character strings separated by a NULL character, and the binary file comprises at its start a sequence of entries with a fixed length format for identification, reference to source of shared consecutive prefix characters, a number of shared consecutive prefix characters, and a pointer to associated non-shared character string.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the input data comprises title data and synopsis data; and a title list, synopsis list, compressed title list and compressed synopsis list are provided.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the compressed character string is retrieved from the compressed list in sequence of first to last compressed character string in the compressed list.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising computer-executable instructions for retrieving data for an entry in the electronic program guide from the compressed list, the entry in the electronic program guide comprising an identification referring to an entry in the compressed list, and for:
recursively retrieving from the compressed list a non-shared character string, a reference to a source and a number of shared consecutive prefix characters associated with the identification,
adding in front of the non-shared character string an additional character string comprising the number of shared consecutive prefix characters of the non-shared character string retrieved from the entry in the compressed list associated with the reference, until the entry has been retrieved for which the number of shared consecutive prefix characters is equal to zero.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the input data is provided in XML format.

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 light emitting device comprising:
a light emitting structure comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive type semiconductor layer;
a first electrode disposed on the first conductive type semiconductor layer;
a second electrode disposed on the second conductivity type semiconductor layer; and
a low temperature oxide film disposed on the light emitting structure, with an irregular thickness,
wherein the low temperature oxide film comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being disposed on an entire top surface of the light emitting structure and having a uniform thickness, and the second layer being disposed on an entire top surface of the first layer and having an irregular thickness.
2. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein unevenness is formed on a surface of the low temperature oxide film.
3. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the low temperature oxide film is disposed at least one of a surface of the first conductive type semiconductor layer and a surface of the second conductive type semiconductor layer.
4. The light emitting device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a passivation layer disposed on a lateral surface of the light emitting structure.
5. The light emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the passivation layer is in contact with a lateral surface and a portion of a top surface of the low temperature oxide film, and
wherein another portion of the surface of the low temperature oxide film is opened.
6. The light emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the passivation layer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a silicon oxide (SiO2) layer, an oxinitride layer, an aluminum oxide layer and a nitride layer.
7. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the low temperature oxide film is formed on at least two layers.
8. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the first layer is different from that of the second layer.
9. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the thickness of the first or the thickness of the second layers is 1 micrometer to 5 micrometers.
10. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the low temperature oxide film comprises a transmissive material.
11. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the low temperature oxide film comprises silicon oxide.
12. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the low temperature oxide film is deposited at 400\xb0 C. to 450\xb0 C.
13. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the low temperature oxide film is 1 micrometer to 10 micrometers.
14. The light emitting device according to claim 4, wherein a material composing the passivation layer is different from a material composing the low temperature oxide.
15. A lighting system comprising:
a light emitting device package comprising:
a package body;
a first lead frame and a second lead frame disposed on the package body; and
a light emitting device disposed on the package body, to be electrically connected with the first lead frame and the second lead frame, the light emitting device comprising a light emitting structure comprising:
a first conductive type semiconductor layer;
an active layer and a second conductive type semiconductor layer;
a first electrode disposed on the first conductive type semiconductor layer;
a second electrode disposed on the second conductive type semiconductor layer; and
a low temperature oxide film disposed on the light emitting structure, with an uneven thickness,
wherein the low temperature oxide film comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being disposed on an entire top surface of the light emitting structure and having a uniform thickness, and the second layer being disposed on an entire top surface of the first layer and having an irregular thickness;
a circuited board on which the light emitting device package is connectedly disposed; and
an optical member to transmit light emitted from the light emitting device package.
16. The lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the low temperature oxide film is disposed on the molding part.
17. The lighting system according to claim 15, further comprising:
a phosphor layer coated on the light emitting device,
wherein the low temperature oxide film is disposed on a surface of the phosphor layer.
18. The a lighting system according to claim 15, further comprising:
a lens disposed on the molding part,
wherein the low temperature oxide film is disposed on the lens.
19. The lighting system according to claim 15, wherein a top surface of the second layer has a pattern, and the pattern has an irregular height from a top surface of the first layer.
20. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a top surface of the second layer has a pattern, and the pattern has an irregular height from a top surface of the first layer.