Author: claimsbot

1-17. (canceled)
18. An electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell, comprising:
a reinforce membrane made of nonwoven fibers, the nonwoven fibers having a mass per unit area continuously varying; and
an electrolyte provided in a space among the nonwoven fibers,
wherein the electrolyte membrane has a power generating region and an incapable region for power generating, the incapable region for power generating provided on all outer circumference of the power generating region,
the nonwoven fibers have a non-uniform mass distribution in a plane of the electrolyte membrane, the mass of the nonwoven fibers per unity area ranging from 0.1 mgcm2 to 1.5 mgcm2, and
the nonwoven fibers have a mass per unit area in a region underneath the incapable region for power generating and a region corresponding to at least part of a peripheral portion of the region underneath the incapable region for power generating which is greater than a mass per unit area in a region corresponding to a center portion of the power generating region.
19. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a mass per unit area in a region other than the center portion of the power generating region which is greater than the mass per unit area in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
20. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 19,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a mass per unit area in a region having a width corresponding to 10% of a length of a side of the power generating region which is greater than the mass per unit area in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
21. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a mass per unit area in a region corresponding to a fuel gas inlet of solid fuel cell to which the electrolyte membrane is adapted, the mass per unit area being greater than the mass per unit area in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
22. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 21,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a mass per unit area in a region having a width corresponding to 30% of a length of a side of the power generating region provided with the fuel gas inlet of solid fuel cell to which the electrolyte membrane is adapted, the mass per unit area being greater than the mass per unit area in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
23. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a mass per unit area in a region corresponding to a fuel gas outlet of solid fuel cell to which the electrolyte membrane is adapted, the mass per unit area being greater than the mass per unit area in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
24. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 23,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a mass per unit area in a region having a width corresponding to 30% of a length of a side of the power generating region provided with the fuel gas outlet of solid fuel cell to which the electrolyte membrane is adapted, the mass per unit area being greater than the mass per unit area in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
25. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a mass per unit area in the region underneath the incapable region for power generating and the region corresponding to at least part of the peripheral portion of the region underneath the incapable region for power generating which is smaller than 15 times as great as the mass per unit area in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
26. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a thickness in the region underneath the incapable region for power generating and the region corresponding to at least part of the peripheral portion of the region underneath the incapable region for power generating which is greater than and 15 times or less of a thickness in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
27. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a fiber diameter in the region underneath the incapable region for power generating and the region corresponding to at least part of the peripheral portion of the region underneath the incapable region for power generating which is greater than and 15 times or less of a fiber diameter in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
28. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers have a voidage in the region underneath the incapable region for power generating and the region corresponding to at least part of the peripheral portion of the region underneath the incapable region for power generating which is lower than and 115 times or more of a voidage in the region corresponding to the center portion of the power generating region.
29. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers contain polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer.
30. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the nonwoven fibers are prepared through electrospinning
31. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18,
wherein the electrolyte is a proton conductive ion exchange membrane.
32. A membrane electrode assembly for solid polymer fuel cell, comprising:
the electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell according to claim 18; and
a module having the electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell fixed to a gasket and clamped between separators.
33. A solid polymer fuel cell, including:
at least one cell, the cell being structured with the membrane electrode for solid polymer fuel cell assembly according to claim 32 and a pair of anode separator and cathode separator clamping the membrane electrode assembly for solid polymer fuel cell.

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

1-23. (canceled)
24. A composition for coating walls, facades, or the like, comprising:
at least one binder; and
at least one photocatalytically-active substance adapted to absorb light at one or more absorption wavelengths in the range of about 380 nm to about 500 nm.
25. The composition of claim 24, wherein the ratio of the light absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) for the photocatalytically-active substance to the absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) of the binder at one or more absorption wavelengths in the range of about 380 nm to about 500 nm is greater than about 6.25\xd710\u22123.
26. The composition of claim 25, wherein the ratio is greater than about 1\xd710\u22122.
27. The composition of claim 24, wherein at one or more absorption wavelengths in the range of about 380 nm to about 500 nm, the binder has an absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) of less than about 0.8, and the photocatalytically-active substance has an absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) of more than about 0.005.
28. The composition of claim 27, wherein the absorbance of the binder is less than about 0.5
29. The composition of claim 27, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance has an absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) of more than about 0.01.
30. The composition of claim 29, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance has an absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) of more than about 0.02.
31. The composition of claim 27, wherein at one or more absorption wavelengths in the range of about 400 nm to about 450 nm, the binder has an absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) of less than about 0.8, and the photocatalytically-active substance has an absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) of more than about 0.005.
32. The composition of claim 24, wherein the binder includes at least one organic component andor at least one inorganic component.
33. The composition of claim 24, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance includes a semiconductor.
34. The composition of claim 33, wherein the semiconductor comprises titanium dioxide.
35. The composition of claim 34, wherein the titanium dioxide is present essentially in an anatase phase.
36. The composition of claim 34, wherein the titanium dioxide includes one or more additives selected from sulfur and carbon, the additive disposed essentially on a surface layer of the titanium dioxide particles.
37. The composition of claim 33, wherein the semiconductor includes one or more additives selected from sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon.
38. The composition of claim 37, wherein the additive is sulfur or carbon, and wherein the photocatalytically-active substance includes about 0.05 to about 4 percent by weight of the additive.
39. The composition of claim 38, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance includes about 0.05 to about 2 percent by weight of the additive.
40. The composition of claim 39, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance includes about 0.4 to about 1.5 percent by weight of the additive.
41. The composition of claim 24, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance includes one or more additives selected from sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon.
42. The composition of claim 41, wherein the additive is sulfur or carbon, and wherein the photocatalytically-active substance includes about 0.4 to about 0.8 percent by weight of the additive.
43. The composition of claim 24, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance exhibits a peak at a bond energy of about 285.6 eV having an intensity greater than an intensity of the oxygen 1s peak at about 530 eV, as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
44. The composition of claim 24, further comprising one or more additives selected from the group comprising a dispersing agent, a thickening agent, an anti-foaming agent, a pigment, a filler, a hydrophobization agent, and a microbiocide.
45. The composition of claim 24, wherein the composition is a supercritical composition in which a solid fraction including solids is adjusted to a liquid fraction such that the solids are incompletely wetted.
46. The composition of claim 24, further comprising one or more adsorption agents selected from the group comprising activated charcoal, silicic acid, microsilica, silica gel, zeolite, bentonite, diatomaceous earth, and foamed glass.
47. The composition of claim 24, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance exhibits essentially one signal for a g value of about 1.97 to about 2.05, as measured by electron spin resonance at a temperature of about 5 K
48. The composition of claim 47, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance exhibits essentially one signal for a g value of about 2.002 to about 2.004, as measured by electron spin resonance at a temperature of about 5 K.
49. The composition of claim 24, wherein the Kubelka-Munk function F (R00) proportional to the absorbance for the photocatalytically active substance at or about 500 nm is about 50% of the value at or about 400 nm, and at or about 600 nm is about 20% of the value at or about 400 nm.
50. The composition of claim 24, wherein the light absorbance (Kubelka-Munk function F (R00)) for the photocatalytically-active substance at or about 500 nm is about 50% of the value at or about 400 nm, and at or about 600 nm is about 20% of the value at or about 400 nm.
51. The composition of claim 24, wherein the composition has a photoactivity of at least about 20%.
52. The composition of claim 51, wherein the composition has a photoactivity of at least about 40%.
53. The composition of claim 52, wherein the composition has a photoactivity of at least about 50%.
54. The composition of claim 24, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance exhibits substantially no carbonate bands as measured by a selected one or more of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy.
55. The composition of claim 24, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance has a specific surface of about 100 to about 250 m2g.
56. The composition of claim 55, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance has a specific surface of about 130 to about 200 m2g.
57. The composition of claim 56, wherein the photocatalytically-active substance has a specific surface of about 130 to about 170 m2g.
58. A method for making a coating composition, comprising:
providing a photocatalytically-active substance; and
dispersing the photocatalytically-active substance in a binder to produce an intermediate product.
59. The method of claim 58, wherein said providing the photocatalytically-active substance comprises providing a titanium-containing compound.
60. The method of claim 59, wherein said providing the titanium-containing compound comprises providing a titanium-containing compound dissolved in a solvent.
61. The method of claim 60, wherein said providing the titanium-containing compound dissolved in a solvent comprises providing a titanium-containing compound dissolved in water.
62. The method of claim 59, further comprising:
mixing the titanium-containing compound with an organic carbon compound;
heating the mixture at a temperature of about 500\xb0 C. or less and about 150\xb0 C. or more.
63. The method of claim 62, wherein said heating comprises heating the mixture at a temperature of about 400\xb0 C. or less.
64. The method of claim 63, wherein said heating comprises heating the mixture at a temperature of about 300\xb0 C. or less.
65. The method of claim 62, wherein said heating comprises heating the mixture at a temperature of about 200\xb0 C. or more.
66. The method of claim 58, wherein said dispersing comprises dispersing the photocatalytically-active substance in an inorganic binder to produce an intermediate produce.
67. The method of claim 58, further comprising mixing the intermediate product with another binder.
68. The method of claim 67, wherein the other binder is an organic material.
69. A method for coating a surface comprising:
providing a coating material including:
at least one binder; and
at least one photocatalytically-active substance adapted to absorb light at one or more absorption wavelengths in the range of about 380 nm to about 500 nm; and
coating a surface with the coating material.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein said providing the coating material comprises providing a coating material selected from the group comprising a paint, a plaster, a varnish, and a glaze.
71. The method of claim 69, wherein said coating comprises coating a surface selected from the group comprising masonry, a plaster surface, paintwork, wallpaper, wood, metal, glass, ceramic, a thermal insulation composite system, an interior facade, and an exterior facade.

1. A reflector apparatus for reflecting heat back downward upon a surface of heated asphalt, said apparatus comprising:
a mobile trailer comprising a frame and having a front, a rear, a bottom, a top, a front trailer hitch coupler mounted to said front, and a rear trailer hitch coupler mounted to said rear;
at least one heat reflector attached to said bottom of said mobile trailer, wherein said heat reflector is manufactured of a heat reflective material, is dimensioned to cover a substantial portion of said bottom of said mobile trailer, and comprises a body and a pair of wings extending downward from said body and terminating at a pair of terminal edges;
wherein said at least one heat reflector is attached to said bottom of said mobile such that said terminal edges of said wings are disposed proximate to the surface of the heated asphalt and define a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane formed by the surface of the heated asphalt.
2. The reflector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat reflector is manufactured of aluminum and is removably attached to said bottom of said mobile trailer
3. The reflector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one means for adjusting a distance between said pair of terminal edges of said heat reflector and the surface of the heated asphalt.
4. The reflector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mobile trailer further comprises a pair of central wheels attached to said bottom of said mobile trailer and disposed substantially centrally between said front and said rear thereof, a pair of front caster wheels disposed proximate to said front of said mobile trailer and a pair of rear caster wheel disposed proximate to said rear of said mobile trailer.
5. The reflector apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein a weight of said mobile trailer is distributed substantially evenly between a front portion of said trailer in front of said drive wheels and a rear portion of said trailer behind said drive wheels, and
wherein said front caster wheel and said rear caster are dimensioned and disposed such that said front and rear caster wheels do not contact the surface of heated asphalt when the surface of heated asphalt is substantially level.
6. The reflector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
an infrared chamber attached to said bottom of said mobile trailer, said infrared chamber having a bottom surface; and
a control box in electrical communication with said infrared chamber, said control box comprising controls for controlling a flow of fuel to said infrared chamber;
wherein said at least one heat reflector is removably attached to said bottom surface of said infrared chamber.
7. The reflector apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of C-shaped straps, wherein said plurality of C-shaped shaped straps are dimensioned to extend from the terminal edges of the heat reflector to the top surface of the infrared chamber to removably attach said heat reflector to said bottom surface of said infrared chamber.
8. The reflector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rear trailer hitch coupler comprises a hitch ball.
9. The reflector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wings of said heat reflector are each disposed at an angle of between 30\xb0 and 60\xb0 relative to said body of said heat reflector.
10. A heat reflector kit for mounting on a mobile trailer comprising a frame having a front, a rear, a bottom and a top, to form a reflector apparatus for reflecting heat back downward upon a surface of heated asphalt, wherein said heat reflector kit comprises:
at least one heat reflector for attachment to said bottom of said mobile trailer, wherein said heat reflector is manufactured of a heat reflective material, is dimensioned to cover a substantial portion of said bottom of said mobile trailer, and comprises a body and a pair of wings extending downward from said body and terminating at a pair of terminal edges; and
means for removably attaching said at least one heat reflector to the bottom of the mobile trailer such that said terminal edges of said wings are disposed proximate to the surface of the heated asphalt and define a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane formed by the surface of the heated asphalt.
11. The heat reflector kit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said heat reflector is manufactured of aluminum.
12. The heat reflector kit as claimed in claim 10 further comprising means for adjusting a distance between said pair of terminal edges of said heat reflector and the surface of the heated asphalt.
13. The heat reflector kit as claimed in claim 10 wherein each said wings of said heat reflector are each disposed at an angle of between 30\xb0 and 60\xb0 relative to said body of said heat reflector.
14. A heater system for attachment to a vehicle having a rear trailer hitch to preheat a joining area of a first layer of asphalt prior to joining with said second layer of asphalt, said heater system comprising;
a plurality of heaters wherein each of said heaters comprises:
a mobile heater trailer comprising a frame having a front, a rear, a bottom and a top, a front trailer hitch coupler mounted to said front and a rear trailer hitch coupler mounted to said rear, wherein said front trailer hitch coupler of one heater is dimensioned to mate with said rear trailer hitch coupler of another heater;
an infrared chamber attached to said mobile heater trailer for generating heat;
a source of fuel in communication with said infrared chamber; and
a control box in electrical communication with said infrared chamber, and said source of fuel, said control box comprising controls for controlling the flow of fuel from said source of fuel to said infrared chamber; and

at least one reflector apparatus comprising:
a mobile reflector trailer comprising a frame and having a front, a rear, a bottom, a top, a front trailer hitch coupler mounted to said front, and a rear trailer hitch coupler mounted to said rear, wherein said front trailer hitch coupler of one reflector apparatus is dimensioned to mate with said rear trailer hitch couplers of said heaters;
at least one heat reflector attached to said bottom of said mobile reflector trailer, wherein said heat reflector is manufactured of a heat reflective material, is dimensioned to cover a substantial portion of said bottom of said mobile reflector trailer, and comprises a body and a pair of wings extending downward from said body and terminating at a pair of terminal edges;
wherein said at least one heat reflector is attached to said bottom of said mobile reflector trailer such that said terminal edges of said wings are disposed proximate to the surface of the heated asphalt and define a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane formed by the surface of the heated asphalt;
wherein said front trailer hitch coupler of one of said plurality of heaters is attached to said rear trailer hitch coupler of said vehicle, wherein said front trailer hitch coupler of a first of said at least one reflector apparatus is attached to one of said plurality of heaters and wherein said rear trailer hitch coupler of said first of said at least one reflector apparatus is attached to said front trailer hitch coupler of another of said plurality of heaters.
15. The heater system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said heater system comprises six heaters and two reflector apparatus;
wherein a front trailer hitch coupler of a first heater is attached to said rear trailer hitch coupler of said vehicle, a front trailer hitch coupler of a second heater is attached to a rear trailer hitch coupler of said first heater, a front trailer hitch coupler of a first reflector apparatus is attached to a rear trailer hitch coupler of said second heater, a front trailer hitch coupler of a third heater is attached to a rear trailer hitch coupler of said first reflector apparatus, a front trailer hitch coupler of a fourth heater is attached to a rear trailer hitch coupler of said third heater, a front trailer hitch coupler of a second reflector apparatus is attached to a tear trailer hitch coupler of said fourth heater, a front trailer hitch coupler of a fifth heater is attached to a rear trailer hitch coupler of said second reflector apparatus, and a front trailer hitch coupler of a sixth heater is attached to a rear trailer hitch couplet of said fifth heater.
16. The heater system as claimed in claim 14 wherein at least one of said reflector apparatus comprises a means for adjusting a distance between said pair of terminal edges of said heat reflector of said reflector apparatus and the surface of the heated asphalt.
17. The heater system as claimed in claim 14 wherein a width of said mobile heater trailer is substantially equal to a width of said mobile reflector trailer.
18. The heater system as claimed in claim 14 wherein at least one reflector apparatus comprises an infrared chamber attached to said bottom of said mobile trailer, said infrared chamber having a bottom surface and a control box in electrical communication with said infrared chamber and comprising controls for controlling a flow of fuel to said infrared chamber; and wherein said at least one heat reflector of said reflector apparatus is removably attached to said bottom surface of said infrared chamber.
19. The heater system as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a plurality of C-shaped straps, wherein said plurality of C-shaped shaped straps are dimensioned to extend from the terminal edges of the heat reflector to the top surface of the infrared chamber to removably attach said heat reflector to said bottom surface of said infrared chamber.
20. A method of joining a new layer of asphalt to a previously laid layer of asphalt, said method comprising the steps of:
preheating a surface of a joining area of the previously laid layer of asphalt to a temperature between a predetermined minimum bonding temperature and a predetermined danger temperature, said danger temperature being below an ignition temperature of said asphalt;
placing said new layer of asphalt adjacent to said previously laid layer of asphalt such that a joint is formed between said new layer of asphalt and said previously laid layer of asphalt;
cooling said new layer of asphalt and said joint to a temperature sufficient to allow said new layer of asphalt and said joint to be rolled;
breakdown rolling said new layer of asphalt and said joint;
post-heating said new layer of asphalt and said joint to a temperature between said predetermined minimum bonding temperature and said predetermined danger temperature;
re-cooling said new layer of asphalt and said joint to a temperature sufficient to allow said new layer of asphalt and said joint to be rolled; and
finish rolling said new layer of asphalt and said joint.

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 improving performance of a data storage device, the method comprising:
identifying at least one isochronous request among a plurality of requests to be issued to the data storage device;
assigning a completion deadline to the at least one isochronous request; and
communicating at least one of the plurality of requests, the at least one isochronous request, and the completion deadline to the data storage device to allow prioritization, by the data storage device, of the at least one of the plurality of requests and the at least one isochronous request based upon the completion deadline.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a process of a system of the data storage device to identify the at least one isochronous request.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sorting the at least one isochronous request in a queue to improve throughput of processing commands by the data storage device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the at least one isochronous request and assigned completion deadline to the data storage device comprises communicating the at least one isochronous request and assigned completion deadline to a controller of the data storage device.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the at least one isochronous request comprises determining the at least one isochronous request issues from a process which generates isochronous requests.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the at least one isochronous request comprises collecting request information from a software layer which has information which characterizes a request as an isochronous request.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of requests comprises at least one asynchronous request.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the assigning the completion deadline comprises prioritizing the at least one isochronous request and the at least one asynchronous request.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the prioritizing the at least one isochronous request and the at least one asynchronous request comprises sorting a high priority asynchronous request in at least one queue.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning the completion deadline comprises associating the completion deadline based on one of knowledge of process which issues the at least one isochronous request, quantity of concurrent requests at a predetermined time, and type of environment which generates the at least one isochronous request.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the at least one isochronous request and assigned completion deadline comprises transferring the at least one isochronous request and the assigned completion deadline to a device driver of the data storage device.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the issuing the isochronous request comprises issuing the isochronous request if the second deadline value is less than a threshold value equal to a sum of a seek time, a rotational delay time, a first transmission time, and a product of a second transmission time and a number of outstanding requests.
13. An apparatus improve performance of a data storage device, comprising:
a request identifier to identify an isochronous request in a plurality of requests to be issued to the data storage device;
a logic module to assign a completion deadline to the isochronous request; and
a communication module to communicate the isochronous request, the completion deadline, and at least one of the plurality of requests to a controller of the data storage device to allow the data storage device to prioritize the at least one of the plurality of requests and the at least one isochronous request based upon the completion deadline.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a monitor module to monitor a system process operating in the system and determine if the system process issues isochronous requests.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising random access memory, wherein the data storage device comprises one of a serial hard disk drive, a parallel hard disk drive, an optical storage drive, a digital versatile disc drive, and a flash memory drive.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data storage device comprises logic to compare the isochronous request with pending requests in at least one drive queue and sort the requests based on at least one of geometry of the data storage device, completion deadline, and priority information for asynchronous requests.
17. A machine-accessible medium containing instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
identifying at least one isochronous request among a plurality of requests to be issued to a data storage device;
assigning a completion deadline to the at least one isochronous request; and
communicating the at least one isochronous request, the completion deadline, and at least one of the plurality of requests to the data storage device to allow prioritization, by the data storage device, of the at least one of the plurality of requests and the at least one isochronous request based upon the completion deadline.
18. The machine-accessible medium of claim 17, further comprising monitoring a process of a system via a background application to identify the at least one isochronous request.
19. The machine-accessible medium of claim 17, further comprising sorting the at least one isochronous request and a high priority asynchronous request in at least one queue to improve throughput of processing the at least one isochronous request and the asynchronous request by the data storage device.