Author: claimsbot

1. A method of operating an electronic billboard, the method comprising:
detecting a mobile electronic device within a predetermined distance of the electronic billboard;
establishing an ad hoc wireless connection with the mobile electronic device; and
transmitting location-specific data that is associated with a geographic location of the electronic billboard to the mobile electronic device over the ad hoc wireless connection.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the mobile electronic device further comprises:
receiving a signal from the mobile electronic device; and
determining a traveling vector for the mobile electronic device based on the signal,
wherein establishing the ad hoc wireless connection comprises establishing the ad hoc wireless connection based on the traveling vector.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific data comprises advertising content, and further comprising:
dynamically altering pricing information included in the advertising content based on real-time supply and demand conditions at a business establishment associated with the advertising content.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving user andor device information from the mobile electronic device over the ad hoc wireless connection,
wherein transmitting the location-specific data comprises transmitting targeted advertising content to the mobile electronic device over the ad hoc wireless connection responsive to receiving the user andor device information.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
updating displayed location-specific data responsive to receiving the user andor device information.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving vehicular information from a plurality of mobile electronic devices within the predetermined distance of the electronic billboard over a respective plurality of ad hoc wireless connections thereto; and
generating traffic data based on the received vehicular information,
wherein transmitting the location-specific data comprises transmitting the traffic data to the mobile electronic device.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving user andor device information from a plurality of mobile electronic devices that pass within the predetermined distance of the electronic billboard over a respective plurality of ad hoc wireless connections thereto; and
storing the received user andor device information in a database.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving device identification information from the mobile electronic device over the ad hoc wireless connection; and
providing information indicating a presence of the mobile electronic device within the predetermined distance of the electronic billboard to a fixed network access point responsive to receiving the device identification information.
9. An electronic billboard configured to carry out the method of claim 1.
10. A computer program product for operating an electronic billboard, the computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium including computer readable program code therein, the computer readable program code configured to carry out the method of claim 1.
11. A method of operating a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting an electronic billboard within a predetermined distance of the mobile electronic device;
establishing an ad hoc wireless connection with the electronic billboard;
receiving location-specific data that is associated with a geographic location of the electronic billboard from the electronic billboard over the ad hoc wireless connection; and
displaying the location-specific data.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the location-specific data further comprises:
integrating the location-specific data with currently-displayed content.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the location-specific data is associated with a specific video layer, and wherein integrating the location-specific data comprises:
providing the location-specific data as a text andor image overlay on at least a portion of the currently-displayed content.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the location-specific data comprises location-specific advertising data, wherein the currently-displayed content includes other advertising data that is tagged with metadata, and wherein integrating the location-specific data comprises:
replacing the other advertising data in the currently displayed content with the location-specific advertising data based on the metadata.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the location-specific data comprises receiving an offer for locally available goods andor services, and further comprising:
transmitting an acceptance andor counteroffer to the electronic billboard over the ad hoc wireless connection responsive to receiving the offer.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
transmitting user andor device information to the electronic billboard over the ad hoc wireless connection;
wherein receiving the location-specific data comprises receiving targeted advertising from the electronic billboard responsive to transmitting the user andor device information.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
updating a database stored in the mobile electronic device with the location-specific data responsive to receiving the location-specific data.
18. The method of claim 11, Her comprising:
establishing a second ad hoc wireless connection with at least one other mobile electronic device within a predetermined distance of the mobile electronic device; and
relaying the received location-specific data to the at least one other mobile electronic device over the second ad hoc wireless connection.
19. A mobile electronic device configured to carry out the method of claim 11.
20. A computer program product for operating a mobile electronic device, the computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium including computer readable program code therein, the computer readable program code configured to carry out the method of claim 11.

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 infusion device apparatus for delivering a medication fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
an inlet in the housing for receiving the fluid;
an outlet in the housing for discharging the fluid;
a piston channel within the housing through which the fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet; and
an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator defining a piston chamber for storing fluid received through the inlet when the actuator is in the retracted position, the actuator driving the fluid stored in the piston chamber toward the outlet when the actuator transitions from the retracted position to the forward position, the actuator comprising:
an armature; and
a piston having an overall length along an axial direction and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the piston coupled to the armature and axially moveable within the piston channel with the armature, the housing having defined therein a first fluid chamber above the piston channel, and the housing having defined therein a second fluid chamber below the piston channel, the first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and the inlet end of the piston located in the first fluid chamber, the second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the outlet and the outlet end of the piston being in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber, and the piston having a groove in an outer surface from its inlet end to its outlet end to form a flow path between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber for conducting fluid from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the groove is a helical groove around the piston.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the helical groove has between 1 and 7, inclusive, turns around the piston.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the helical groove includes 2-5 turns around the piston.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a hemispherical cross-section.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the groove has rounded edges.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a depth between 0.001 inch and 0.004 inch, inclusive.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a width of between 0.002 inch and 0.006 inch, inclusive.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a pitch of between 0.006 inch and 0.050 inch, inclusive.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a cross-sectional area of between 0.00001 square inches and 0.00003 square inches, inclusive.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a depth that is between 1.5-6% of the diameter of the piston, inclusive.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a width that is between 3-30% of the diameter of the piston, inclusive.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a pitch that is between 8-70% of the diameter of the piston, inclusive.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a cross-sectional area of between 0.2-0.6% of the area of the piston, inclusive.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove is configured to convert laminar flow to turbulent flow when the actuator is transitioning from the retracted position.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove is one of a plurality of helical grooves around the piston.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of helical grooves includes first and second oppositely wound helical grooves.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coil located within the housing and in a position relative to the armature to generate an electromagnetic field upon energization sufficient to cause the armature and piston to move from a quiescent position to the forward position.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a valve member located on the opposite end of the piston channel relative to the armature, wherein the piston chamber is located between the piston and the valve member.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for urging the piston and armature toward the retracted position.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the urging means includes a spring.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, further including an adjuster for enabling adjustment of the piston chamber volume.
22. An infusion device for delivering a fluid, the infusion device comprising:
a housing;
an inlet chamber, formed in the housing, for receiving the fluid;
an outlet chamber, formed in the housing, for discharging the fluid;
a piston channel formed within the housing and extending from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber, the inlet chamber located above the piston channel and the outlet chamber located below the piston channel;
an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator comprising an armature located within the inlet chamber and further comprising a grooved piston coupled to the armature and axially moveable within the piston channel, the grooved piston having an inlet end, an outlet end, an outer surface, and a groove in the outer surface that forms a flow path for the fluid between the inlet end and the outlet end; and
a valve assembly having a valve that seals the piston channel from the outlet chamber when the actuator is in the retracted position;
wherein the valve, the grooved piston, and the piston channel together define a piston chamber when the actuator is in the retracted position, the piston chamber being configured to store the fluid received from the inlet chamber via the groove;
wherein movement of the actuator from the retracted position to the forward position reduces volume of the piston chamber, and increases pressure within the piston chamber to open the valve such that the fluid stored in the piston chamber is discharged into the outlet chamber, the groove having a number of turns, a depth, a width, and a pitch that inhibits back leakage of the fluid from the piston chamber during the movement of the actuator from the retracted position to the forward position; and
wherein movement of the actuator from the forward position to the retracted position causes the valve to close, and creates negative pressure which draws the fluid from the inlet chamber, through the groove, and into the piston chamber for a next discharging operation.
23. The infusion device of claim 22, wherein the fluid is a protein drug, and wherein the groove is configured and dimensioned to provide the first flow path in the presence of heavy protein deposits on surfaces of the piston channel, the heavy protein deposits being caused by the protein drug.
24. An implantable infusion device for delivering a fluid protein drug to the body of a patient, the implantable infusion device comprising:
a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing;
an inlet chamber, formed in the housing, for receiving the fluid protein drug;
an outlet chamber, formed in the housing, for discharging the fluid protein drug;
a piston channel formed within the housing and extending from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber, the inlet chamber located above the piston channel and the outlet chamber located below the piston channel;
an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator comprising an armature located within the inlet chamber and further comprising a grooved piston coupled to the armature and axially moveable within the piston channel, the grooved piston having an inlet end, an outlet end, an outer surface, and a groove in the outer surface that forms a first flow path for the fluid protein drug between the inlet end and the outlet end;
an annulus between the grooved piston and the piston channel, the annulus forming a second flow path for the fluid protein drug between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber; and
a valve assembly located within the housing, the valve assembly having a valve that seals the piston channel, the first flow path, and the second flow path from the outlet chamber when the actuator is in the retracted position;
wherein the valve, the grooved piston, and the piston channel together define a piston chamber when the actuator is in the retracted position, the piston chamber being configured to store fluid received from the inlet chamber via the groove and the annulus;
wherein movement of the actuator from the retracted position to the forward position reduces volume of the piston chamber, and increases pressure within the piston chamber to open the valve such that the fluid stored in the piston chamber is discharged into the outlet chamber; and
wherein movement of the actuator from the forward position to the retracted position causes the valve to close, and creates negative pressure which draws the fluid protein drug from the inlet chamber, through the groove, and into the piston chamber for a next discharging operation, the groove being configured and dimensioned to provide the first flow path in the presence of heavy protein deposits in the second flow path, the heavy protein deposits being caused by the fluid protein drug.
25. The implantable infusion device of claim 24, wherein the groove has a number of turns, a depth, a width, and a pitch that inhibits back leakage of the fluid from the piston chamber during the movement of the actuator from the retracted position to the forward position.

1. A method of implanting a workpiece comprising:
implanting a workpiece such that said workpiece has a dose at a center different from a dose at a periphery; and
growing a compound semiconductor on said workpiece after said implanting.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said implanting uses ions comprising oxygen, silicon, nitrogen, germanium, or carbon.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said dose at said center is higher than said dose at said periphery.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said dose at said center is lower than said dose at said periphery.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said implanting comprises:
performing a first ion implant into said workpiece to form a first plurality of lines;
rotating said workpiece; and
performing a second ion implant into said workpiece to form a second plurality of lines thereby forming a grid with said first plurality of lines and said second plurality of lines.
6. A method of implanting a workpiece comprising:
implanting a workpiece to form at least three implanted regions that are adjacent, wherein a first distance between a first implanted region and a second implanted region is different from a second distance between said second implanted region and a third implanted region; and
growing a compound semiconductor on said workpiece after said implanting.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said implanting comprises:
performing a first ion implant into said workpiece to form a first plurality of lines;
rotating said workpiece; and
performing a second ion implant into said workpiece to form a second plurality of lines thereby forming a grid with said first plurality of lines and said second plurality of lines.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein said implanted regions are lines.
9. The method claim 8, wherein said lines form a grid.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein said implanted regions are circles.
11. The method of claim 6, wherein said implanting use ions comprising oxygen, silicon, nitrogen, germanium, or carbon.
12. An implanted workpiece comprising:
a workpiece with a plurality of implanted regions, said implanted regions forming a plurality of discrete regions between said implanted regions that are surrounded by said implanted regions; and
a compound semiconductor layer disposed on said workpiece.
13. The implanted workpiece of claim 12, wherein said implanted regions have a dose at a center of said workpiece and a dose at a periphery of said workpiece, said dose at said center of said workpiece being higher than said dose at said periphery of said workpiece.
14. The implanted workpiece of claim 12, wherein said implanted regions have a dose at a center of said workpiece and a dose at a periphery of said workpiece, said dose at said center of said workpiece being lower than said dose at said periphery of said workpiece.
15. The implanted workpiece of claim 12, wherein said implanted regions are lines that form a grid across a surface of said workpiece.
16. The implanted workpiece of claim 12, wherein said implanted regions are circles across a surface of said workpiece.
17. The implanted workpiece of claim 12, wherein said implanted regions comprise at least a first implanted region, second implanted region, and third implanted region that are adjacent, wherein a first distance between said first implanted region and said second implanted region is different from a second distance between said second implanted region and said third implanted region.
18. The implanted workpiece of claim 12, wherein said implanted regions comprise oxygen, silicon, nitrogen, germanium, or carbon.
19. The implanted workpiece of claim 12, wherein said workpiece comprises silicon, sapphire, or SiC.
20. The implanted workpiece of claim 12, wherein said compound semiconductor comprises GaN.

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 of casting metal strip comprising introducing molten metal between a pair of chilled casting rolls forming a nip between them to form a casting pool of molten metal supported on the rolls and confined at the ends of the nip by pool confining end closures, rotating the rolls so as to cast a solidified strip delivered downwardly from the nip, transporting the strip away from the nip, inspecting the strip as it is transported away from the nip to determine a pattern of thickness variations along the strip due to eccentricities of the casting roll surfaces, and imposing a pattern of speed variation on the rotation of the casting rolls determined by said pattern of thickness variations so as to reduce the amplitude of the thickness variations.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pattern of thickness variations is a regularly repeating pattern.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strip is inspected by an inspection means which produces signals indicative of the frequency and amplitude of repeating thickness variations and the speed of the casting rolls is varied in accordance with those signals.
4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pattern of imposed speed variations comprises a single variation for each revolution of the casting rolls.
5. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pattern of imposed speed variations includes more than one variation for each revolution of the casting rolls.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolls are rotated by electric drive motor means and the pattern of imposed speed variations is imposed by feeding said signals directly to the drive motor means.
7. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the imposed speed variation is applied at an initial timing phase relative to the rotation of the rolls and the phase is then varied to minimise the amplitude of the thickness variations.
8. A method as claimed claim 1 which further includes the step of varying the average speed of rotation of the rolls throughout the cast to maintain a constant average thickness of the strip.
9. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rolls are rotated by electric drive motor means and the pattern of imposed speed variations is imposed by feeding said signals directly to the drive motor means at an initial timing phase relative to the rotation of the rolls and the phase is then varied to minimise the amplitude of the thickness variations.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, which includes the step of varying the average speed of rotation of the rolls throughout the cast to maintain a constant average thickness of the strip.
11. Apparatus for casting metal strip comprising a pair of parallel casting rolls forming a nip between them;
a metal delivery system for delivering molten metal into the nip to form a casting pool of molten metal supported above the nip;
a pair of pool confining end closures disposed one at each end of the pair of casting rolls;
roll drive means to rotate the rolls in opposite directions to deliver a cast strip downwardly from the nip;
strip transport means to transport the strip away from the nip;
strip inspection means to inspect the strip as it is transported away from the nip to determine a pattern of thickness variations along the strip due to eccentricities of the casting roll surfaces; and
control means to impose a pattern of speed variations on the rotation of the casting rolls determined by said pattern of thickness variations so as to reduce the amplitude of the thickness variations.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inspection means is operable to generate signals indicative of the frequency and amplitude of the thickness variations and the control means is effective to control operation of the roll drive means in response to those signals.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the roll drive means comprises electric motor means and the control means is effective to feed said signals to the electric motor means.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control means is operable to vary the timing phase of the imposed speed variations relative to the rotation of the rolls.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control means is operable to vary the timing phase of the imposed speed variations relative to the rotation of the rolls.