All The Claims

1-8. (canceled)
9. A parking lock mechanism for a vehicle transmission comprising:
a mechanical locking device (15);
a movable thrust element (6) being actively connected to the mechanical locking device (15) in such a manner that when the movable thrust element (6) is moved to a first position, the thrust element (6) moves the mechanical locking device (15) to an unlocked condition and when the movable thrust element (6) is moved to a second position, the thrust element (6) moves the mechanical locking device (15) to a locked condition;
a parking lock actuation device (1) with a first movable output element (5);
an emergency actuation device (12) with a second movable output element (11); and
a first elastic element (8),
the first output element (5) being connected, via the first elastic element (8), with the thrust element (6) such that movement of the first output element (5) is transmittable, via the first elastic element (8), to the thrust element (6), and the second output element (11) being directly connected to the thrust element (6),
the thrust element (6) having a recess (7) and the first elastic element (8) being at least partially arranged therein in such a manner that a first side (8A) the first elastic element (8) is in contact with a first wall (7A) of the recess (7) and an opposite, second side (8B) the first elastic element (8) is in contact with the first output element (5).
10. The parking lock mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the thrust element (6) is connected to a selector disk (10) for selecting one of gears and gear ratios of the vehicle transmission, and the selector disk (10) is connected to the mechanical locking device (15).
11. The parking lock mechanism according to claim 9, wherein an end area of the first output element (5) is arranged between the elastic element (8) and a second wall (7B) of the recess (7), opposite the first wall (7A) of the recess (7), in such a manner that movement of the first output element (5) in a first direction (9A) is transmittable to the thrust element (6) by the first elastic element (8), and movement in a second direction (9B) is transmittable to the thrust element (6) directly by the second wall (7B).
12. The parking lock mechanism according to claim 9, wherein:
the parking lock mechanism has a second elastic element (14) arranged at least partially in the recess (7), which with a first side (14A) is in contact with a second wall (7B) of the recess (7), opposite the first wall (7A) of the recess (7), and with a second side (14B) is in contact with the first output element (5), and
an end area of the first output element (5) is arranged between the first and the second elastic elements (8, 14) in such a manner that movement of the first output element (5), in a first direction (9A), is at least partially transmittable via the first output element (5) to the thrust element (6) and movement, in a second direction (9B), is at least partially transmittable by the second elastic element (14) to the thrust element (6).
13. The parking lock mechanism according to claim 9, wherein one of the parking lock actuation device (1) and the emergency actuation device (12) comprises an actuator (2) for moving the first output element (5) or the second output element (11), respectively.
14. The parking lock mechanism according to claim 13, wherein the actuator (2) is one of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator and an electro-mechanical actuator.
15. The parking lock mechanism according to claim 9, wherein one of the parking lock actuation device (1) and the emergency actuation device (12) is designed such that movement of either the first or the second output elements (5, 11), respectively, is produced manually by a vehicle operator.
16. A parking lock mechanism in combination with one of an automatic transmission, automated gearshift transmission and a dual-clutch transmission of either a passenger vehicle or a utility vehicle, the parking lock mechanism comprising:
a mechanical locking device (15);
a movable thrust element (6) being actively connected to the mechanical locking device (15) in such a manner that when the movable thrust element (6) is moved to a first position, the thrust element (6) moves the mechanical locking device (15) to an unlocked condition and when the movable thrust element (6) is moved to a second position, the thrust element (6) moves the mechanical locking device (15) to a locked condition;
a parking lock actuation device (1) with a first movable output element (5);
an emergency actuation device (12) with a second movable output element (11); and
a first elastic element (8),
the first output element (5) being connected, via the first elastic element (8), with the thrust element (6) such that movement of the first output element (5) is transmittable, via the first elastic element (8), to the thrust element (6), and the second output element (11) being directly connected to the thrust element (6),
the thrust element (6) having a recess (7) and the first elastic element (8) being at least partially arranged therein in such a manner that a first side (8A) the first elastic element (8) is in contact with a first wall (7A) of the recess (7) and an opposite, second side (8B) the first elastic element (8) is in contact with the first output element (5).
17. A parking lock mechanism for a vehicle transmission, the parking lock mechanism comprising:
a mechanical locking device (15);
a thrust element (6) being axially slidable between first and second positions, the thrust element (6) being connected to the mechanical locking device (15) such that movement of the thrust element (6) to the first position biases the mechanical locking device (15) to an unlocked condition and movement of the thrust element (6) to the second position biases the mechanical locking device (15) to a locked condition, and the thrust element (6) includes a recess (7);
a parking lock actuation device (1) comprising a first output element (5) having an end located within the recess (7) of the thrust element (6);
a first elastic element (8) being located within the recess (7) of the thrust element (6) such that a first end (8A) of the first elastic element (8) contacts a first wall (7A) of the recess (7) and a second end (8B) of the first elastic element (8) contacts the end of the first output element (5), the first elastic element (8) biasing the end of the first output element (5) toward a second wall (7B) of the recess (7), which is opposite the first wall (7A) of the recess (7), such that movement of the first output element (5) being transmitted, via the first elastic element (8), to the thrust element (6); and
an emergency actuation device (12) comprising a second output element (11) being directly connected to the thrust element (6) such that the thrust element (6) being movable by the emergency actuation device (12) via the second output element (11) between the first and the second positions.

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 nanocluster source comprising:
a cooled aggregation chamber;
a magnetron arranged to sputter a target, said magnetron in communication with said cooled aggregation chamber such that sputtered atoms of said target are received within said cooled aggregation chamber;
a vacuum source in communication with said cooled aggregation chamber;
a source of at least one noble aggregation gas in communication with said cooled aggregation chamber; and
a source of hydrogen gas in communication with said cooled aggregation chamber.
2. A nanocluster source according to claim 1, wherein said magnetron is arranged within said cooled aggregation chamber.
3. A nanocluster source according to claim 1, wherein said source of hydrogen gas is in communication with said magnetron.
4. A nanocluster source according to claim 1, wherein said target is a silicon wafer.
5. A nanocluster source according to claim 1, wherein said vacuum source is arranged to produce a base pressure of about 1\xd710\u22126 Ton or less and a working pressure in the range of 1\xd710\u22121 Ton to 5\xd710\u22121 Torr within said cooled aggregation chamber.
6. A nanocluster source according to claim 1, wherein said source of hydrogen gas is a source of molecular hydrogen.
7. A nanocluster source according to claim 1, wherein said source of hydrogen gas is arranged to provide hydrogen gas of less than 1% of the flow rate of the total aggregation gasses provided by said source of at least one noble aggregation gas and said source of hydrogen gas.
8. A nanocluster source according to claim 7, wherein the nanocluster source produces substantially amorphous silicon nanoclusters
9. A nanocluster source according to claim 1, wherein said source of hydrogen gas is arranged to provide hydrogen gas of greater than 1% of the flow rate of the total aggregation gasses provided by said source of at least one noble aggregation gas and said source of hydrogen gas.
10. A nanocluster source according to claim 9, wherein the nanocluster source produces substantially crystalline silicon nanoclusters.
11. A nanocluster source according to claim 1, wherein said source of hydrogen gas is arranged to provide hydrogen gas of 1%-5% of the flow rate of the total aggregation gasses provided by said source of at least one noble aggregation gas and said source of hydrogen gas, and wherein the nanocluster source produces substantially crystalline silicon nanoclusters.
12. A method of producing nanoclusters, comprising:
sputtering a target;
providing at least one noble aggregation gas;
providing a hydrogen gas;
sweeping, by said provided at least aggregation gas and said hydrogen gas, the sputtered atoms of the target through an aggregation zone; and
maintaining a working pressure within the aggregation zone,
whereby said sputtered atoms aggregate to produce nanoclusters within the aggregation zone.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said sputtering comprises:
bombarding the target with ions of said provided at least one noble aggregation gas accelerated to a kinetic energy greater than 200 eV in the presence of said provided hydrogen gas.
14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the target is a silicon wafer.
15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said maintained working pressure is in the range of 1\xd710\u22121 Torr to 5\xd710\u22121 Torr.
16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said provided hydrogen gas is molecular hydrogen gas.
17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said provided hydrogen gas is less than 1% of the total flow rate of said provided at least one noble aggregation gas and said hydrogen gas.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said produced nanoclusters are substantially amorphous silicon nanoclusters.
19. A method according to claim 12, wherein said provided hydrogen gas is greater than 1% of the total flow rate of said provided at least one noble aggregation gas and said hydrogen gas.
20. A method according to claim 12, wherein said provided hydrogen gas is 1%-5% of the total flow rate of said provided at least one noble aggregation gas and said hydrogen gas.
21. (canceled)

1. A method executed by at least one processor comprising the steps of:
receiving first historical location information identifying a first location area at which a first user was present at a first time;
receiving second location information identifying a second location area at which a second user was present at a second time;
determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular location area;
determining that a characteristic related to the first user corresponds to a preference related to the second user;
in response to determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the particular location area and in response to determining that the characteristic related to the first user corresponds to the preference related to the second user, causing information related to the first user to be presented to the second user, the information related to the first user comprising the first location area of the first user relative to the second location area of the second user.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the particular location area comprises determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular location type.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein causing information related to the first user to be presented to the second user comprises causing information related to the first user to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is less than a time threshold, the information related to the first user comprising the particular location type.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the same location area comprises comparing the first historical location information and the second location information to a database, the database correlating location information with points-of-interest.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving information indicating preferred location information of the second user;
receiving third location information related to a third user;
comparing the third location information to the preferred location information;
in response to comparing the third location information to the preferred location information, causing information related to the third user to be presented to the second user.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving sets of historical location information, each set of historical location information related to a respective user of a plurality of users;
determining a plurality of places based on the sets of historical location information;
determining a number of users associated with a first place of the plurality of places based on the sets of historical location information;
receiving third location information related to the second user;
comparing the plurality of places to the third location information; and
in response to comparing the plurality of places to the third location information, causing the first place and the number of users associated with the first place to be presented to the second user.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second location information is passively sent from a device associated with the second user after the second user arrives at a location associated with the second location information.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first historical location information and the second location information are determined to each correspond to the particular location area in response to determining that a difference between the first historical location information and the second location information is less than a distance threshold.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the notification to be presented to the second user comprises causing the notification to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is greater than a time threshold.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises information related to a difference between the second time and the first time.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises information related to a distance calculated using the first historical location information and the second location information.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the same location area comprises determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular business.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the notification to be presented to the second user comprises causing the notification to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is less than a time threshold.
14. A system comprising:
an interface configured to:
receive first historical location information identifying a first location area at which a first user was present at a first time; and
receive second location information identifying a second location area at which a second user was present at second time; and

at least one processor configured to:
determine that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular location area;
determine that a characteristic related to the first user corresponds to a preference related to the second user; and
in response to determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the particular location area and in response to determining that the characteristic related to the first user corresponds to the preference related to the second user, cause information related to the first user to be presented to the second user, the information related to the first user comprising the first location area of the first user relative to the second location area of the second user.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the particular location area by determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular location type.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause information related to the first user to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is less than a time threshold, the information related to the first user comprising the particular location type
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the same location area by comparing the first historical location information and the second location information to a database, the database correlating location information with points-of-interest.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the interface is further configured to:
receive information indicating preferred location information of the second user; and
receive third location information related to a third user; and

the at least one processor is further configured to:
compare the third location information to the preferred location information; and
in response to comparing the third location information to the preferred location information, cause information related to the third user to be presented to the second user.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the interface is further configured to:
receive sets of historical location information, each set of historical location information related to a respective user of a plurality of users; and
receive third location information related to the second user; and

the at least one processor is further configured to:
determine a plurality of places based on the sets of historical location information;
determine a number of users associated with a first place of the plurality of places based on the sets of historical location information;
compare the plurality of places to the third location information; and
in response to comparing the plurality of places to the third location information, cause the first place and the number of users associated with the first place to be presented to the second user.
20. The system of claim 14, wherein the second location information is passively sent from a device associated with the second user after the second user arrives at a location associated with the second location information.
21. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine that the first historical location information and the second location information correspond to the particular location area in response to determining that a difference between the first historical location information and the second location information is less than a distance threshold.
22. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the notification to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is greater than a time threshold.
23. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification comprises information related to a difference between the second time and the first time.
24. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification comprises information related to a distance calculated using the first historical location information and the second location information.
25. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the same location area by determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular business.
26. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the notification to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is less than a time threshold.
27. At least one computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to:
receive first historical location information identifying a first location area at which a first user was present at a first time;
receive second location information identifying a second location area at which a second user was present at a second time;
determine that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular location area;
determine that a characteristic related to the first user corresponds to a preference related to the second user; and
in response to determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the particular location area and in response to determining that the characteristic related to the first user corresponds to the preference related to the second user, cause information related to the first user to be presented to the second user, the information related to the first user comprising the first location area of the first user relative to the second location area of the second user.
28. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions are configured to determine that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the particular location area by determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular location type.
29. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions are configured to cause information related to the first user to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is less than a time threshold, the information related to the first user comprising the particular location type.
30. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions are configured to determine that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the same location area by comparing the first historical location information and the second location information to a database, the database correlating location information with points-of-interest.
31. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions are further configured to:
receive information indicating preferred location information of the second user;
receive third location information related to a third user;
compare the third location information to the preferred location information; and
in response to comparing the third location information to the preferred location information, cause information related to the third user to be presented to the second user.
32. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions are further configured to:
receive sets of historical location information, each set of historical location information related to a respective user of a plurality of users;
receive third location information related to the second user;
determine a plurality of places based on the sets of historical location information;
determine a number of users associated with a first place of the plurality of places based on the sets of historical location information;
compare the plurality of places to the third location information; and
in response to comparing the plurality of places to the third location information, cause the first place and the number of users associated with the first place to be presented to the second user.
33. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the second location information is passively sent from a device associated with the second user after the second user arrives at a location associated with the second location information.
34. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions are configured to determine that the first historical location information and the second location information correspond to the particular location area in response to determining that a difference between the first historical location information and the second location information is less than a distance threshold.
35. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the notification to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is greater than a time threshold.
36. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the notification comprises information related to a difference between the second time and the first time.
37. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the notification comprises information related to a distance calculated using the first historical location information and the second location information.
38. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions are configured to determine that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to the same location area by determining that the first historical location information and the second location information each correspond to a particular business.
39. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the notification to be presented to the second user in response to determining that the difference between the second time and the first time is less than a time threshold.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A hand-held, portable dispensing device for dispensing liquids in a curtain spray pattern, the device comprising an elongated tubular body having an open end and a closed end; wherein said open end is adapted to be connected to a flexible hose for supplying pressurized liquid to said tubular body; wherein said tubular body includes a plurality of openings spaced therealong on one side of said tubular body enabling egress of said liquid; wherein the ratio of the total area of said openings to the interior cross-sectional area of said tubular body is in the range of 0.03 to 5.
2. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said openings have a diameter in the range of 0.01 to 0.05 inch.
3. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the centerlines of said openings are spaced twice as far apart as the diameter of said openings.
4. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inside diameter of said tubular body is in the range of about 0.25 to 1.5 inches.
5. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said openings are aligned in a straight line.
6. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said openings are arranged in parallel rows.
7. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said openings are staggered.
8. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tubular body includes a flat exterior surface, and said openings are located in said flat exterior surface.
9. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an adjustable valve connected to said handle and said tubular body for controlling flow of liquid through said tubular body.
10. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tubular body is straight.
11. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tubular body includes a curved section.
12. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a quick coupler means between said valve and said tubular body.
13. A hand-held, portable dispensing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closed end comprises a cap member detachably secured to said tubular body.
14. A hand-held, portable dispensing device for dispensing a curtain of liquid, the device comprising:
(a) a first elongated tubular body having an open end which is adapted to be connected to a flexible hose for supplying pressurized liquid to said tubular body, said first tubular body further comprising an elongated slotted opening along one side of said body enabling egress of said liquid; and
(b) a second elongated tubular body having an internal diameter larger than the outside diameter of said first tubular body; wherein said second tubular body includes a plurality of first openings spaced therealong for enabling egress of pressurized liquid; wherein said second tubular body is coaxial with and encloses said first tubular body.
15. A device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said second tubular body further includes a plurality of second openings spaced along said body for enabling egress of pressurized liquid; wherein said second openings are separated from said first openings by seal means positioned around said slotted opening and between said first and second tubular bodies; and wherein said second tubular body is axially movable relative to said first tubular body.