Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus comprising:
an electronic component body; and
one or more leads coupled to and extending from the electronic component body,
wherein a first lead of the one or more leads comprises a first leg and a second leg, the first leg and the second leg defining a first acute angle therebetween, the second leg comprising a first portion defining the first acute angle with the first leg, a second portion defining a second acute angle with the first portion, a third portion defining a first obtuse angle with the second portion, and a fourth portion defining a second obtuse angle with the third portion,
wherein the third portion is substantially parallel to the first leg,
wherein a length of the third portion that is substantially parallel to the first leg is substantially equal to a thickness of a substrate to which the electronic component body is to be mounted,
wherein a vertex of the first obtuse angle is to abut the substrate, and
wherein the substrate is to be disposed between the vertex and the electronic component body.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first lead is tin-coated.
3. A method comprising:
bending an electronic component body lead to form a first leg and a second leg, the first leg and the second leg defining a first acute angle therebetween; and
bending the second leg to form a first portion defining the first acute angle with the first leg, a second portion defining a second acute angle with the first portion, a third portion defining a first obtuse angle with the second portion, and a fourth portion defining a second obtuse angle with the third portion,
wherein the third portion is substantially parallel to the first leg,
wherein a vertex of the first obtuse angle is to abut the substrate,
wherein the substrate is to be disposed between the vertex and the electronic component body, and
wherein a length of the third portion that is substantially parallel to the first leg is substantially equal to a thickness of a substrate to which the electronic component body is to be mounted.
4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:
electrically coupling the lead to an electronic component body.
5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the lead is attached to an electronic component body.
6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the electronic component body lead is tin-coated.
7. A method comprising:
placing a lead of an electronic component body into an opening of a substrate, wherein the lead comprises a first leg and a second leg defining a first acute angle therebetween, the second leg comprising a first portion defining the first acute angle with the first leg, a second portion defining a second acute angle with the first portion, a third portion defining a first obtuse angle with the second portion, and a fourth portion defining a second obtuse angle with the third portion,
wherein the third portion is substantially parallel to the first leg,
wherein a vertex of the first obtuse angle is to abut the substrate,
wherein the substrate is to be disposed between the vertex and the electronic component body, and
wherein a length of the third portion that is substantially parallel to the first leg is substantially equal to a thickness of the substrate.
8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:
electrically coupling the lead to the substrate.
9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the lead of the electronic component body is tin-coated.
10. An expansion card comprising:
a circuit board;
a connector coupled to the circuit board, the connector to connect to a motherboard; and
an electronic component body coupled to the circuit board, the electronic component body comprising one or more leads coupled to and extending from the electronic component body,
wherein a first lead of the one or more leads comprises a first leg and a second leg, the first leg and the second leg defining a first acute angle therebetween, the second leg comprising a first portion defining the first acute angle with the first leg, a second portion defining a second acute angle with the first portion, a third portion defining a first obtuse angle with the second portion, and a fourth portion defining a second obtuse angle with the third portion,
wherein the third portion is substantially parallel to the first leg,
wherein a vertex of the first obtuse angle is to abut the substrate,
wherein the substrate is to be disposed between the vertex and the electronic component body, and
wherein a length of the third portion that is substantially parallel to the first leg is substantially equal to a thickness of the circuit board.
11. An expansion card according to claim 10, wherein the first lead is tin-coated.

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 carpet strip, comprising:
a flat base;
a plurality of spikes extending through a lower surface of the base and protruding therefrom at an angle;
a resilient adhesive tape strip comprising two adhesive surfaces, the first adhesive surface permanently adhered to the lower surface of the base, the second adhesive surface covered with a removable protective film.
2. The carpet strip of claim 1, wherein the base is formed from wood.
3. The carpet strip of claim 1, wherein the base is formed from composite material.
4. The carpet strip of claim 1, wherein the base is formed from plastic.
5. The carpet strip of claim 1, wherein the base is formed from metal.
6. A process for manufacturing a carpet strip comprising the steps of:
forming a thin base of material comprising an upper surface and a lower surface;
installing spikes in the lower surface of the base such that the spikes extend through the base and protrude therefrom at an angle;
adhering double-sided adhesive tape to the lower surface of the base, the tape comprising a first and a second adhesive surface, the first adhesive surface adhered to the lower surface of the base, the second adhesive surface covered with a removable protective film;
compressing the base and tape together to affix the tape to the base.
7. The carpet strip of claim 6, wherein the forming the base of thin material step comprises forming the material into a strip.
8. The carpet strip of claim 6, further comprising the step of cutting the base into a plurality of individual strips.
9. The carpet strip of claim 6, wherein the first and second adhesive surfaces comprise rubber adhesive.
10. The carpet strip of claim 6, wherein the double-sided adhesive tape comprises closed cell crosslinked polyethylene foam.
11. The carpet strip of claim 10, wherein the tape is at least 132 inches thick.
12-17. (canceled)
18. The carpet strip of claim 6, further comprising the step of sealing the lower surface of the base with a protective sealant.
19. The carpet strip of claim 1, wherein the lower surface is coated with a protective sealant.
20. The carpet strip of claim 1, wherein the resilient adhesive tape strip comprises closed cell crosslinked polyethylene foam.

1. A system for determining a minimum asset value for exercising a contingent claim of an option including one or more contingent claims exercisable at one or more of a plurality of decision points that includes an expiration exercise point and one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point, the system comprising:
a processor configured to determine a present value distribution of contingent future benefits attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim of the option at the expiration exercise point, the present value distribution comprising a distribution of contingent future benefits discounted according to a first discount rate,
wherein the processor is configured to determine present values of respective exercise prices required to exercise one or more contingent claims of the option at the expiration exercise point and at least one of the one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point, the present values of respective exercise prices comprising respective exercise prices discounted according to a second discount rate,
wherein the processor is configured to define a payoff value as a function of an asset value at a selected decision point before the expiration exercise point, the payoff value being defined based upon the present value distribution of contingent future benefits and present values of respective exercise prices, the present value distribution of contingent future benefits being correlated with the asset value at the selected decision point, and
wherein the processor is configured to solve the function for a root thereof, the root being selected as the minimum asset value for exercising the contingent claim of the option at the selected decision point.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive selection of substantially equal first and second discount rates.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive selection of a second discount rate less than the first discount rate.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor being configured to define a payoff value includes being configured to define a payoff value as a function including an expected value of the difference between the present value distribution of contingent future benefits at the expiration exercise point and the present value of the exercise price at the expiration exercise point, less the present values of respective exercise prices at at least one of the one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the processor being configured to define a payoff value as a function including an expected value of the difference includes being configured to limit the difference to a minimum predefined value.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to define the payoff value as a function further based upon one or more minimum asset values for respective one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point.
7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, for the one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point, respective one or more distributions of contingent future value attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim at the respective one or more decision points, the one or more distributions of contingent future value also being correlated with the asset value at the selected decision point, and
wherein the processor being configured to define a payoff value includes being configured to condition the payoff value on a comparison of the one or more distributions of contingent future value, and respective one or more minimum asset values for the one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor being configured to determine present values of respective exercise prices includes being configured to determine respective exercise prices discounted according to a second discount rate that is unequal the first discount rate.
9. A method of determining a minimum asset value for exercising a contingent claim of an option including one or more contingent claims exercisable at one or more of a plurality of decision points that includes an expiration exercise point and one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point, the method comprising:
determining a present value distribution of contingent future benefits attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim of the option at the expiration exercise point, the present value distribution comprising a distribution of contingent future benefits discounted according to a first discount rate;
determining present values of respective exercise prices required to exercise one or more contingent claims of the option at the expiration exercise point and at least one of the one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point, the present values of respective exercise prices comprising respective exercise prices discounted according to a second discount rate;
defining a payoff value as a function of an asset value at a selected decision point before the expiration exercise point, the payoff value being defined based upon the present value distribution of contingent future benefits and present values of respective exercise prices, the present value distribution of contingent future benefits being correlated with the asset value at the selected decision point; and
solving the function for a root thereof, the root being selected as the minimum asset value for exercising the contingent claim of the option at the selected decision point,
wherein at least determining a present value distribution of contingent future benefits and determining present values of respective exercise prices are performed by a processor configured to perform at least determining a present value distribution of contingent future benefits and determining present values of respective exercise prices.
10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising:
selecting substantially equal first and second discount rates.
11. A method according to claim 9 further comprising:
selecting a second discount rate less than the first discount rate.
12. A method according to claim 9, wherein defining a payoff value comprises defining a payoff value as a function including an expected value of the difference between the present value distribution of contingent future benefits at the expiration exercise point and the present value of the exercise price at the expiration exercise point, less the present values of respective exercise prices at at least one of the one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein defining a payoff value as a function including an expected value of the difference includes limiting the difference to a minimum predefined value.
14. A method according to claim 9, wherein defining a payoff value comprises defining a payoff value as a function further based upon one or more minimum asset values for respective one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point.
15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising:
determining, for the one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point, respective one or more distributions of contingent future value attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim at the respective one or more decision points, the one or more distributions of contingent future value also being correlated with the asset value at the selected decision point,
wherein defining a payoff value includes conditioning the payoff value on a comparison of the one or more distributions of contingent future value, and respective one or more minimum asset values for the one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point.
16. A method according to claim 9, wherein determining present values of respective exercise prices includes determining respective exercise prices discounted according to a second discount rate that is unequal the first discount rate.
17. A computer program product for determining a minimum asset value for exercising a contingent claim of an option including one or more contingent claims exercisable at one or more of a plurality of decision points that includes an expiration exercise point and one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
a first executable portion configured to determine a present value distribution of contingent future benefits attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim of the option at the expiration exercise point, the present value distribution comprising a distribution of contingent future benefits discounted according to a first discount rate;
a second executable portion configured to determine present values of respective exercise prices required to exercise one or more contingent claims of the option at the expiration exercise point and at least one of the one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point, the present values of respective exercise prices comprising respective exercise prices discounted according to a second discount rate;
a third executable portion configured to define a payoff value as a function of an asset value at a selected decision point before the expiration exercise point, the payoff value being defined based upon the present value distribution of contingent future benefits and present values of respective exercise prices, the present value distribution of contingent future benefits being correlated with the asset value at the selected decision point; and
a fourth executable portion configured to solve the function for a root thereof, the root being selected as the minimum asset value for exercising the contingent claim of the option at the selected decision point.
18. A computer program product according to claim 17 further comprising:
a fifth executable portion configured to receive selection of substantially equal first and second discount rates.
19. A computer program product according to claim 17 further comprising:
a fifth executable portion configured to receive selection of a second discount rate less than the first discount rate.
20. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the third executable portion being configured to define a payoff value includes being configured to define a payoff value as a function including an expected value of the difference between the present value distribution of contingent future benefits at the expiration exercise point and the present value of the exercise price at the expiration exercise point, less the present values of respective exercise prices at at least one of the one or more decision points before the expiration exercise point.
21. A computer program product according to claim 20, wherein the third executable portion being configured to define a payoff value as a function including an expected value of the difference includes being configured to limit the difference to a minimum predefined value.
22. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the third executable portion is configured to define the payoff value as a function further based upon one or more minimum asset values for respective one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point.
23. A computer program product according to claim 22 further comprising:
a fifth executable portion configured to determine, for the one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point, respective one or more distributions of contingent future value attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim at the respective one or more decision points, the one or more distributions of contingent future value also being correlated with the asset value at the selected decision point,
wherein the third executable portion being configured to define a payoff value includes being configured to condition the payoff value on a comparison of the one or more distributions of contingent future value, and respective one or more minimum asset values for the one or more decision points between the selected decision point and the expiration exercise point.
24. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the second executable portion being configured to determine present values of respective exercise prices includes being configured to determine respective exercise prices discounted according to a second discount rate that is unequal the first discount rate.

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 positive electrode active material for a secondary battery, represented by the following formula (I):
Lia(FexNiyMn2-x-y-zAz)O4\u2003\u2003(I)

wherein 0.2<x\u22661.2, 0<y<0.5, 0\u2266a\u22661.2 and 0<z\u22660.3; A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, K and Ca; and where 0<x+y<0.7.
2. The positive electrode active material for a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein x in the formula (I) is 0.2<x\u22660.6.
3. The positive electrode active material for a secondary according to claim 1, wherein y in the formula (I) is 0<y\u22660.3.
4. The positive electrode active material for a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein A in the formula (I) is at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, Mg and Al.
5. The positive electrode active material for a secondary battery according to claim 1, having a charge-discharge region due to valence change of Fe between trivalence and quadrivalence.
6. A positive electrode for a secondary battery comprising the positive electrode active material for a secondary battery according to claim 1.
7. A secondary battery comprising the positive electrode for a secondary battery according to claim 6.
8. A positive electrode for a secondary battery, the positive electrode comprising:
a positive electrode active material represented by the following formula (I):
Lia(FexNiyMn2-x-y-zAz)O4\u2003\u2003(I)
wherein 0.2<x\u22661.2, 0<y<0.5, 0\u2266a\u22661.2 and 0<z\u22660.3; A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, 8, Na, Mg, Al, K and Ca; and wherein 0 <x+y <0.7.
9. The positive electrode according to claim 8, wherein x in the formula (I) is 0.2 <x 0,6.
10. The positive electrode according to claim 8, wherein y in the formula (I) is 0 <y <0.3.
11. The positive electrode according to claim 8, wherein A in the formula (I) is at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, Mg and Al.
12. The positive electrode according to claim 8, wherein the positive electrode active material has a charge-discharge region due to valence change of Fe between trivalence and quadrivalence.
13. The positive electrode according to claim 8, further comprising a conductivity-imparting agent.
14. A secondary battery, comprising:
a positive electrode comprising a positive electrode active material, the positive electrode active material represented by the following formula (I):
Lia(FexNiyMn2-x-y-zAz)O4\u2003\u2003(I)
wherein 0.2<x\u22661.2, 0<y<0.5, 0\u2266a\u22661.2 and 0<z\u22660.3; A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, K and Ca; and where 0<x+y<0.7.
15. The secondary battery according to claim 14, wherein x in the formula (I) is 0.2 <x 0.6.
16. The secondary battery according to claim 14, wherein y in the formula (I) is 0 <y <0.3.
17. The secondary battery according to claim 14, wherein A in the formula (I) is at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, Mg and Al.
18. The secondary battery according to claim 14, wherein the positive electrode active material has a charge-discharge region due to valence change of Fe between trivalence and quadrivalence.
19. The secondary battery according to claim 14, wherein the positive electrode comprises a conductivity-imparting agent.