All The Claims

1. A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device comprising:
a panel on which images are implemented;
a backlight device below the panel and providing light; and
a polarizer comprising a linear-polarizing layer over the panel that linear-polarizes light from the backlight device and a circular-polarizing layer over the linear-polarizing layer that circular-polarizes the linear-polarized light.
2. The LCD device of claim 1, wherein the linear-polarizing layer includes a Poly-Vinyl-Alcohol (PVA) layer.
3. The LCD device of claim 2, wherein the circular-polarizing layer includes a Quarter Wave Plate (QWP).
4. The LCD device of claim 3, wherein the polarizer is configured in sequence of an adhesion layer (PSA) onto a liquid crystal panel, a lower Tri-Acetyl-Cellulose (TAC) on the adhesion layer, a PVA layer on the lower TAC, an upper TAC on the PVA layer and a QWP on the upper TAC.
5. The LCD device of claim 3, wherein the polarizer is configured in sequence of an adhesion layer (PSA) onto a liquid crystal panel, a lower TAC on the adhesion layer, a PVA on the lower TAC, a QWP on the PVA and an upper TAC on the QWP.
6. The LCD device of claim 5, wherein the upper TAC includes a low reflective layer.
7. A method of manufacturing a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device comprising:
providing a panel on which images are implemented;
providing a backlight device below the panel and providing light; and
forming a polarizer comprising a linear-polarizing layer disposed over the panel that linear-polarizes light from the backlight device and a circular-polarizing layer disposed over the linear-polarizing layer that circular-polarizes the linear-polarized light.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the linear-polarizing layer includes a Poly-Vinyl-Alcohol (PVA) layer.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the circular-polarizing layer includes a Quarter Wave Plate (QWP).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the polarizer includes forming an adhesion layer (PSA) onto a liquid crystal panel, forming a lower Tri-Acetyl-Cellulose (TAC) on the adhesion layer, forming a PVA layer on the lower TAC, forming an upper TAC on the PVA layer and forming a QWP on the upper TAC.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the polarizer includes forming an adhesion layer (PSA) onto a liquid crystal panel, forming a lower TAC on the adhesion layer, forming a PVA on the lower TAC, forming a QWP on the PVA and forming an upper TAC on the QWP.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the upper TAC includes a low reflective layer.

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 process for the acetylation of wood pieces in a refiner in which pieces having a moisture content of 2% to 10% are introduced into the refiner in the presence of an acetylation fluid at a temperature in the range of 120 C to 170 C and refined for a period of 0.5-60 minutes to pieces of a reduced geometry having an acetylated weight percent gain of 10% to 30%.
2. The process of claim 1 in which the moisture content of the wood pieces is 2%-5%
3. The process of claim 1 in which the acetylation fluid is at a temperature in the range 140 C to 170 C.
4. The process of claim 1 in which the wood pieces are refined for a period of 1-60 minutes.
5. The process of claim 1 in which the wood pieces are acetylated prior to their introduction into the refiner.
6. The process of claim 1 in which the acetylation fluid is pressurised up to 6 bar.
7. The process of claim 1 in which the acetylated wood pieces of reduced geometry are further acetylated and refined.
8. The process of claim 1 in which the wood pieces comprise chips and the wood pieces of a reduced geometry comprise fibres.
9. The process of claim 1 in which the acetylation fluid comprises acetic anhydride.
10. The process of claim 1 in which the acetylation fluid comprises a mixture of acetic anhydride and acetic acid.
11. The process of claim 10 in which the mixture of acetic anhydride and acetic acid is in the ratio of 90% anhydride to 10% acid.
12. Acetylated wood geometries according to claim 1.
13. Engineered board products comprising the acetylated wood geometries claimed in claim 12.

1. A method of chemical analysis comprising: a) introducing an analyte fluid having a flow to a surface of a sample chip through a microfluidic device comprising i) a fluid inlet having a semi-circular groove and ii) a flow chamber comprising an inner wall having an inlet end, wherein the fluid inlet is in communication with the flow chamber and wherein the inner wall at the inlet end is curved and has a radius similar to the radius of semi-circular groove; b) maintaining the flow of the analyte fluid such that the analyte fluid forms a pattern on the surface of the sample chip, the pattern approximating the semi-circular groove; c) maintaining the flow of the analyte fluid so that a linear fluid front forms on the surface of the sample chip at the inlet end; and d) maintaining the flow so that the linear fluid front moves along the surface of the sample chip.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet and the flow chamber comprise separate layers.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet and the flow chamber comprise a single layer.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radius of the inner wall is from about 105% to about 107% larger than the radius of the groove.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the width of the groove is from about 350 micron to about 500 micron and the radius of the groove is from about 1.8 cm to about 2 cm.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the depth of the fluid inlet is from about 20 microns to about 40 microns.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the depth of the flow chamber is from about 13 microns to about 20 microns.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a fluid outlet end having a fluid outlet, wherein the inner wall at the outlet end tapers toward the fluid outlet.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the length of the flow chamber is from about 4 cm to about 4.5 cm and the width of the flow chamber is about 1.4 cm to about 1.6 cm.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the volume of the flow chamber is from about 6 \u03bcL to about 10 \u03bcL.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the flow chamber has a fluid exchange volume between about 80% and about 130% of the flow chamber volume.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the depth of the fluid inlet is about 20 microns to about 40 microns, the semi-circular groove has a width of about 350 micron to about 500 micron and a radius of about 3.5 mm to about 4 mm, the depth of the flow chamber is about 13 microns to about 20 microns, and the flow chamber has a length of about 3.5 cm to 4 cm and a width of about 1.4 cm to about 1.6 cm.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the flow has a rate of about 180 \u03bcLmin to about 600 \u03bcLmin and a pressure of about 5 to about 30 PSI.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface of the sample chip comprises an analysis area that is at least 1.5 sq. cm.
15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein analysis area is a microarray comprising analysis spots.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one analysis spot comprises a biomolecule.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the biomolecule is a polypeptide or a polynucleotide.
18. The method claim 15, wherein the microarray comprises a plurality of polypeptides, polynucleotides, or both.

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. In a handheld computing device that includes a backlit display having a variable-intensity backlight, user data input means, and a function key, the user data input means comprising a thumbwheel, a method for controlling an intensity of light produced by the backlight comprising the steps of:
(1) setting the intensity to a first level sufficient for viewing information on the display under first ambient lighting; and
(2) upon activation of the function key, setting the intensity to a second level sufficient for viewing information on the backlit display under second ambient lighting different than the first ambient lighting;
the method further comprising decreasing the intensity from one of the first intensity level and the second intensity level in accordance with a user rotation of the thumbwheel.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first intensity level setting step comprises setting the intensity to the first level upon exit of the handheld computing device from an inactive state.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the handheld computing device exits the inactive state upon activation of one of the function key and the user data input means.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the handheld computing device exits the inactive state upon occurrence of a trigger event.
5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first intensity level setting step further comprises gradually increasing the intensity from a minimum intensity level to the first level upon the exit from the inactive state.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of gradually increasing the intensity comprises gradually increasing the intensity upon the activation of the one of the function key and the user data input means.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the activated user data input means comprises one of a data input key, and the thumbwheel.
8. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of setting the intensity to a minimum intensity level upon expiry of a predetermined elapsed time of non-activity from the user data input means.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the minimum intensity level setting step comprises gradually decreasing the intensity to the minimum level upon the expiry of the predetermined elapsed time.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined elapsed time is determined in accordance with activity of a software application provided on the handheld computing device.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of setting the intensity to a second level comprises gradually transitioning the intensity from the first intensity level to the second intensity level.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the user data input means includes a backlit keyboard, and the method further comprises the step of illuminating the backlit keyboard upon activation of the function key.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first ambient lighting is brighter than the second ambient lighting.
14. A handheld computing device, comprising:
a backlit display having a variable-intensity backlight;
user data input means, the user data input means comprising a
thumbwheel,
a function key; and
data processing means coupled to the backlit display, the user data input means and the function key, the data processing means being configured to perform the steps of:
(1) setting the intensity to a first level sufficient for viewing information on the display under first ambient lighting; and
(2) upon activation of the function key, setting the intensity to a second level sufficient for viewing information on the backlit display under second ambient lighting different than the first ambient lighting,
the data processing means being further configured to perform the step of decreasing the intensity from one of the first intensity level and the second intensity level in accordance with a user rotation of the thumbwheel.
15. The handheld computing device according to claim 14, wherein the user data input means includes a backlit keyboard, and the data processing means is configured to perform the step of illuminating the backlit keyboard upon activation of the function key.
16. The handheld computing device according to claim 15, wherein the first ambient lighting is brighter than the second ambient lighting.
17. The handheld computing device according to claim 14, wherein the data processing means is configured to perform the first intensity level setting step upon exit of the handheld computing device from an inactive state.
18. The handheld computing device according to claim 17, wherein the handheld computing device is configured to exit the inactive state upon activation of one of the function key and the user data input means.
19. The handheld computing device according to claim 17, wherein the handheld computing device is configured to exit the inactive state upon occurrence of a trigger event.
20. The handheld computing device according to claim 17, wherein the data processing means is configured to perform the first intensity level setting step by gradually increasing the intensity from a minimum intensity level to the first level upon the exit from the inactive state.
21. The handheld computing device according to claim 20, wherein the data processing means is configured to perform the gradually increasing step by gradually increasing the intensity upon the activation of the one of the function key and the user data input means.
22. The handheld computing device according to claim 21, wherein the activated user data input means comprises one of a data input key, and the thumbwheel.
23. The handheld computing device according to claim 17, wherein the data processing means is further configured to perform the step of setting the intensity to a minimum intensity level upon expiry of a predetermined elapsed time of non-activity from the user data input means.
24. The handheld computing device according to claim 23 wherein to data processing means is configured to perform the minimum intensity level setting step by gradually decreasing the intensity to the minimum level upon the expiry of the predetermined elapsed time.
25. The handheld computing device according to claim 23 wherein the handheld computing device includes at least one software application, and the data processing means is configured to determine the extent of the predetermined elapsed time in accordance with activity of the at least one software application.
26. The handheld computing device according to claim 15, wherein the backlit display comprises a reflective LCD panel, and the function key comprises a backlight key.
27. The handheld computing device according to claim 15, wherein the backlit display comprises a transmissive LCD panel, and the function key comprises a power switch.
28. The handheld computing device according to claim 15, wherein the handheld computing device comprises a wireless handheld computing device.
29. A computer-readable medium including computer processing instructions for a processing unit of a handheld computing device, the handheld computing device including a backlit display having a variable-intensity backlight, user data input means, and a function key, the user data input means comprising a thumbwheel, the computer processing instructions when executed by the processing unit causing the handheld computing device to perform the steps of:
(1) upon exit of the handheld computing device from an inactive state, setting the intensity to a first level sufficient for viewing information on the display under first ambient lighting; and
(2) upon activation of the function key, setting the intensity to a second level sufficient for viewing information on the backlit display under second ambient lighting different than the first ambient lighting;

the computer processing instructions further causing the handheld computing device to decrease the intensity from one of the first intensity level and the second intensity level in accordance with a user rotation of the thumbwheel.
30. The computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the first intensity level setting step further comprises gradually increasing the intensity from a minimum intensity level to the first level upon the exit from the inactive state.
31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the step of gradually increasing the intensity comprises gradually increasing the intensity upon the activation of the one of the function key and the user data input means.
32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 29, further comprising the step of setting the intensity to a minimum intensity level upon expiry of a predetermined elapsed time of non-activity from the user data input means, and the minimum intensity level setting step comprises gradually decreasing the intensity to the minimum level upon the expiry of the predetermined elapsed time.
33. The computer-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the predetermined elapsed time is determined in accordance with activity of a software application provided on the handheld computing device.