All The Claims

1. A flocculation method, comprising:
intermixing a silicon-containing polymer flocculant with a process stream from a process to digest bauxite ore in an amount effective to thereby flocculate at least a portion of a the suspended solids therein, wherein the suspended solids are selected from the group consisting of calcium aluminosilicate, calcium silicate, calcium titanate and titanium dioxide; and
separating at least a portion of the flocculated suspended solids thus formed.
2. The flocculation method of claim 1, wherein the silicon-containing polymer flocculant comprises a plurality of \u2014Si(OR)3 groups, wherein R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20 alkyl, C1-20 alkenyl, C6-12 aryl, C7-20 aralkyl, a group I metal ion, a group II metal ion, and NR\u20324+; wherein R\u2032 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20 alkyl, C1-20 alkenyl, C6-12 aryl, and C7-20 aralkyl; and wherein R and R\u2032 are independently unsubstituted, hydroxy-substituted, or beta hydroxy substituted.
3. The flocculation method of claim 2, where R is selected from the group consisting of Na+, K+, and NH4+.
4. The flocculation method of claim 1, wherein the silicon-containing polymer flocculant is selected from the group consisting of a silicon-containing polyethyleneimine, a vinyl triethoxysilane copolymer, a copolymer of acrylic acid and triethoxysilylpropylacrylamide, a copolymer of methacrylic acid and triethoxysilylpropylmethacrylamide, a copolymer of acrylic acid and triethoxyvinylsilane, a silicon-containing polysaccharide, a silicon-containing styrenemaleic anhydride copolymer, a silicon-containing maleic anhydridealkyl vinyl ether copolymer, and mixtures thereof.
5. The flocculation method of claim 1, wherein the silicon-containing polymer flocculant is hydroxamated.
6. The flocculation method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the intermixing of the silicon-containing polymer flocculant with the process stream for a process for digesting bauxite ore is conducted in at least one of a washer and a settler.
7. The flocculation method of claim 1, further comprising adding the silicon-containing polymer flocculant to the process stream in an amount in the range of from about 0.1 part per million to about 500 parts per million.
8. The flocculation method of claim 1, wherein the process stream further comprises a suspended mud.
9. The flocculation method of claim 1, further comprising intermixing an anionic polymer with the process stream, wherein the anionic polymer is different from the silicon-containing polymer flocculant.
10. The flocculation method of claim 9, wherein the anionic polymer is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxamated polyacrylamide, a polyacrylate, a poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate), and mixtures thereof.
11. The flocculation method of claim 9, wherein the weight ratio of the amount of said silicon-containing polymer flocculant to the amount of said anionic polymeric flocculant is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:10.
12. The flocculation method of claim 11, wherein the weight ratio is in the range of about 10:1 to about 1:2.
13. The flocculation method of claim 11, wherein the silicon-containing polymer flocculant comprises a plurality of \u2014Si(OR)3 groups, wherein R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20 alkyl, C1-20 alkenyl, C6-12 aryl, C7-20 aralkyl, a group I metal ion, a group II metal ion, and NR\u20324+; wherein R\u2032 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20 alkyl, C1-20 alkenyl, C6-12 aryl, and C7-20 aralkyl; and wherein R and R\u2032 are independently unsubstituted, hydroxy-substituted, or beta hydroxy substituted.
14. The flocculation method of claim 13, where R is selected from the group consisting of Na+, K+, and NH4+.
15. The flocculation method of claim 13, wherein the silicon-containing polymer flocculant is selected from the group consisting of a silicon-containing polyethyleneimine, a vinyl triethoxysilane copolymer, a copolymer of acrylic acid and triethoxysilylpropylacrylamide, a copolymer of methacrylic acid and triethoxysilylpropylmethacrylamide, a copolymer of acrylic acid and triethoxyvinylsilane, a silicon-containing polysaccharide, a silicon-containing styrenemaleic anhydride copolymer, a silicon-containing maleic anhydridealkyl vinyl ether copolymer, and mixtures thereof.
16. The flocculation method of claim 11, wherein the silicon-containing polymer flocculant is hydroxamated.
17. The flocculation method of claim 9, wherein the anionic polymer flocculant has a weight average molecular weight of about 100,000 or greater.
18. The flocculation method of claim 9, wherein the anionic polymer flocculant has a weight average molecular weight of about 1,000,000 or greater.
19. The flocculation method of claim 9, wherein the anionic polymer flocculant has a weight average molecular weight of from about 5,000,000 to about 30,000,000.
20. The flocculation method of claim 11, wherein the anionic polymeric flocculant is a hydroxamated polymer.
21. The flocculation method of claim 20, wherein the anionic polymeric flocculant is a hydroxamated polyacrylamide.
22. The flocculation method of claim 11, wherein the anionic polymeric flocculant is selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylate, a poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate), and mixtures thereof.
23. The flocculation method of claim 11, wherein the anionic polymeric flocculant comprises at least about 50% anionic recurring units.

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 electrowetting optical device comprising:
a cell surrounded by a light-incident surface, a light-exit surface, and a plurality of side surfaces;
an electrode portion formed along the light-incident surface, the electrode portion including at least two electrodes;
an insulation layer covering at least a portion of the electrode portion;
an oil layer within the cell, the oil layer contacting the insulation layer;
an aqueous solution layer filled in the cell, the aqueous solution layer contacting the oil layer; and
a light source emitting light onto the light-incident surface.
2. The electrowetting optical device of claim 1, wherein the electrodes of the electrode portion are arranged along the light-incident surface at intervals.
3. The electrowetting optical device of claim 1, wherein the insulation layer is hydrophobic.
4. The electrowetting optical device of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution layer is a light-transmitting layer, and the oil layer is a light-blocking layer.
5. The electrowetting optical device of claim 4, wherein the aqueous solution layer is transparent or is formed of an aqueous solution including one of a red color, a green color, and a blue color.
6. The electrowetting optical device of claim 1, wherein the electrode portion is a first electrode portion and the insulation layer is a first insulation layer, the electrowetting optical device further comprising:
a second electrode portion formed along a first side surface of the plurality of side surfaces, the second electrode portion including at least two electrodes; and
a second insulation layer covering at least a portion of the second electrode portion, the second insulation layer contacting the aqueous solution layer.
7. The electrowetting optical device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of electrodes of the second electrode portion are arranged along the first side surface at intervals.
8. The electrowetting optical device of claim 6, wherein the second insulation layer is hydrophilic.
9. An electrowetting optical device comprising:
a cell surrounded by a light-incident surface, a light-exit surface, and a plurality of side surfaces;
an electrode portion formed along the light-incident surface and including at least two electrodes;
an insulation layer covering at least a portion of the electrode portion;
an oil layer within the cell, the oil layer contacting the insulation layer;
an aqueous solution layer filled in the cell, the aqueous solution layer contacting the oil layer;
a power source connected to the aqueous solution layer and the electrode portion, the power source applying a voltage to the electrode portion;
a controller controlling the voltage applied to the electrode portion to apply the voltage to the electrodes of the electrode portion in a particular order; and
a light source emitting light onto the light-incident surface,
wherein the controller controls the voltage applied to the electrode portion to apply the voltage sequentially to the electrodes of the electrode portion from a first side to a second side of the electrode portion or from a central portion to opposite sides of the electrode portion, so as to move the oil layer toward one side or opposite sides of the cell to control an amount of an incident light passing through the cell.
10. The electrowetting optical device of claim 9, wherein the electrodes of the electrode portion are arranged along the light-incident surface at intervals.
11. The electrowetting optical device of claim 9, wherein the insulation layer is hydrophobic.
12. The electrowetting optical device of claim 9, wherein the aqueous solution layer is a light-transmitting layer, and the oil layer is a light-blocking layer.
13. The electrowetting optical device of claim 12, wherein the aqueous solution layer is transparent or is formed of an aqueous solution including one of a red color, a green color, and a blue color.
14. The electrowetting optical device of claim 9, wherein the electrode portion is a first electrode portion and the insulation layer is a first insulation layer, the electrowetting optical device further comprising:
a second electrode portion formed along a first side surface of the plurality of side surfaces and including at least two electrodes; and
a second insulation layer covering at least a portion of the second electrode portion, the second insulation layer contacting the aqueous solution layer.
15. The electrowetting optical device of claim 14, wherein the electrodes of the second electrode portion are arranged along the first side surface at intervals.
16. The electrowetting optical device of claim 14, wherein the second insulation layer is hydrophilic.
17. The electrowetting optical device of claim 14, wherein the second electrode portion is connected to the power source.
18. A method of controlling a voltage of an electrowetting optical device, the method comprising:
supplying a voltage to a first electrode portion including at least two electrodes formed along a light-incident surface; and
supplying a voltage to a second electrode portion including at least two electrodes formed along a first side surface of side surfaces extending from opposite sides of the light-incident surface, to move an oil layer contacting the first and second electrode portions in a particular direction,
wherein the voltage supplied to the first electrode portion is supplied sequentially to the electrodes of the first electrode portion from a first side to a second side of the first electrode portion or from a central portion to first and second sides of the first electrode portion, and the voltage supplied to the second electrode portion is supplied sequentially to the electrodes of the second electrode portion from a first side of the second electrode portion adjoining the first electrode portion to a second side of the second electrode portion, to shift the oil layer contacting the first electrode portion toward the second electrode portion.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
sequentially switching off the electrodes of the first electrode portion from the second side to the first side of the first electrode portion or from the first and second sides to the central portion of the first electrode portion; and
sequentially switching off the electrodes of the second electrode portion from the second side to the first side of the second electrode portion when sequentially switching off the electrodes of the first electrode portion, to shift the oil layer contacting the second electrode portion toward the first electrode portion.
20. A method of controlling movement of a light-blocking oil layer in an electrowetting optical device, the electrowetting optical device including a cell surrounded by a light-incident surface, a light-exit surface, and a plurality of side surfaces, the method comprising:
forming an electrode portion along the light-incident surface, the electrode portion including at least two electrodes;
covering at least a portion of the electrode portion with an insulation layer;
contacting the insulation layer with the oil layer; and,
sequentially applying voltage to the electrodes of the electrode portion from a first side to a second side of the electrode portion or from a central portion to the first and second sides of the electrode portion to selectively move the oil layer away from a section of the electrode portion and allow light to pass through the cell.

1. An adjustable rackmount assembly, comprising:
a support member;
a bracket positionable beside the support member for supporting one end of the support member in a rack;
a pin configured to extend from the support member and through the bracket for positioning the support member relative to the bracket; and
a spring fastener, engageable with an end of the pin, for retaining the pin in the bracket.
2. The assembly recited in claim 1 wherein the spring fastener includes a spring clip for clipping to an end of the pin.
3. The assembly recited in claim 2 wherein the spring clip is substantially U-shaped with a hole through at least one arm thereof for receiving the pin.
4. The assembly recited in claim 3 wherein the hole comprises a keyhole slot.
5. The assembly recited in claim 4 wherein the one arm includes a bulge, adjacent to a wide portion of the keyhole slot, for abutting a surface of the bracket.
6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein another arm of spring clip includes an opening, aligned with a narrow portion of the keyhole slot, for receiving the end of the pin extending from the keyhole slot.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the pin includes a groove for engaging with a wall of the opening in the other arm.
8. The assembly recited in claim 7 wherein the other arm further includes a lip at a free end thereof for guiding the pin into the opening.
9. The assembly recited in claim 8 wherein the one arm of the spring clip includes a bulge, adjacent to a wide portion of the keyhole slot, for abutting a surface of the bracket.
10. An adjustable rackmount assembly, comprising:
a support member;
first means, positionable beside the support member, for supporting one end of the support member in a rack;
second means, configured to extend from the support means and through the first means, for positioning the support member relative to the bracket; and
means for clipping to an end of second means and retaining the second means in the first means.
11. The assembly recited in claim 10 wherein said clipping means further comprises a substantially U-shaped spring clip with a first arm and a second arm.
12. A assembly recited in claim 11 wherein the first arm comprises
a keyhole slot for receiving the second means; and
a bulge, adjacent to a wide portion of the keyhole slot, for abutting the first means.
13. The assembly recited in claim 12 wherein the second arm comprises
an opening, aligned with a narrow portion of the keyhole slot, for receiving the second means; and
a lip, arranged at a free end of the second arm, for guiding the second means into the opening.
14. The assembly recited in claim 13 wherein the second means further comprises a groove that is engageable with a wall of the opening.
15. A rack, comprising:
a base;
a plurality of columns extending from the base;
a support member, having a plurality of holes arranged along its length, extending between two of the columns;
a bracket positioned beside the support member for securing one end of the support member to one of the two columns, the bracket having a plurality of slots arranged end-to-end and separated by a displacement between adjacent ends of each of the slots;
a mounting pin assembly having two pins extending from one side of a yoke and separated by twice the displacement between adjacent ends of the slots, each pin extending through a hole in the support member and a slot in the bracket for positioning the support member relative to the bracket; and
a spring clip engaged with the pins for retaining the pins in the bracket and the support member.
16. The rack recited in claim 15 wherein the spring clip is substantially U-shaped with two arms, each arm having two holes aligned with corresponding holes in the other arm and each pin extending through a hole in each arm.
17. The rack recited in claim 16 wherein each of the holes in a first one of the arms of the clip comprises a keyhole slot with a narrow portion aligned with the corresponding hole in the other arm.
18. The rack recited in claim 17 wherein said first arm of the clip includes a bulge adjacent to a wide portion of the keyhole slot and abutting the bracket.
19. The rack recited in claim 18 wherein each of the pins includes a circumferencial groove for receiving an edge of the first arm inside the narrow portion of the corresponding keyhole slot.
20. The rack recited in claim 19 wherein a second arm of the clip includes a lip, adjacent to each of the holes in the second arm, for sliding over ends of the pins.

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 balanced filter comprising:
a package having an input ground metal pattern and an output ground metal pattern; and
a filter chip having an inphase filter and an antiphase filter, which filters are mounted on the package,
at least one of the inphase and antiphase filters having an input ground terminal connected to the input ground metal pattern and an output ground terminal connected to the output ground metal pattern, the input and output ground terminals of said at least one of the inphase and antiphase filters being separate from each other on the filter chip.
2. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter chip is facedown bonded to a die attach surface of the package on which surface the input and output ground metal patterns are provided.
3. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the filter chip has a piezoelectric substrate on which the inphase and antiphase filters are formed; and
each of the inphase and antiphase filters has input and output IDTs respectively connected to the input and output ground terminals.
4. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inphase and antiphase filters have input ground terminals separate from each other on the filter chip, and output ground terminals separate from each other on the filter chip.
5. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inphase and antiphase filters have input ground terminals connected on the filter chip.
6. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inphase and antiphase filters have output ground terminals connected on the filter chip.
7. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input ground metal pattern comprises first and second portions separate from each other, the first portion being coupled to the input ground terminal of the inphase filter, the second portion being coupled to the input ground terminal of the antiphase filter.
8. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the output ground metal pattern comprises third and fourth portions separate from each other, the third portion being coupled to the output ground terminal of the inphase filter, the fourth portion being coupled to the output ground terminal of the antiphase filter.
9. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the first metal pattern comprises a first portion and a second portion separate from the first portion; and
the second metal pattern comprises a third portion and a fourth portion separate from the third portion,
the first portion being coupled to the input ground terminal of the inphase filter,
the second portion being coupled to the input ground terminal of the antiphase filter,
the third portion being coupled to the output ground terminal of the inphase filter,
the fourth portion being coupled to the output ground terminal of the antiphase filter.
10. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the other one of the inphase and antiphase filters has input and output ground terminals respectively connected to the input and output ground metal patterns separate from each other on the die-attach surface of the filter chip.
11. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth portions are connected in a portion of the package other than the die attach surface.
12. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth portions are connected on a backside of the package.
13. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the input and output ground metal patterns on the die attach surface of the package are isolated from each other within the package.
14. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inphase and antiphase filters include respective surface acoustic wave resonators connected to respective input terminals.
15. The balanced filter as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the inphase and antiphase filters is a double-mode surface acoustic wave filter having one input IDT and two output IDTs.