All The Claims

1. A method of separating particles by size, comprising:
loading a set of particles of various sizes and responsive to electromagnetic forces into a starting position upon a separation collection component, wherein the separation collection component has a plurality of conductors each coupled to a current source;
sending a first current through a first set of conductors in a first direction drawing a subset of larger particles from the set of particles toward a first adjacent position to the starting position on the separation collection component;
sending one or more successively lower currents compared to the first current through a second set of conductors in the first direction drawing a subset of smaller particles from the set of particles toward a second adjacent position to the starting position on the separation collection component; and
wherein loading the set of particles further comprises applying a higher current relative to the first current in a second direction through the first set of conductors drawing the set of particles towards the starting position on the separation collection component.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein loading the set of particles further comprises physically placing the set of particles upon the separation collection component.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the separation collection component is a grid having rows and columns of conductors.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the starting position, the first adjacent position and the second adjacent position are selected to intersect with a row conductor or a column conductor on the grid.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the rows of conductors are separated from the columns of conductors by a non-conductive material.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the non-conductive material is selected from a set of materials including: Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, and Aluminum Nitride.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the rows of conductors in the grid are positioned at right angles relative to the columns of conductors.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein the rows are separated by one or more widths and the columns are separated by one or more widths.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein each conductor from the plurality of conductors is each coupled to individual current sources.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of conductors are coupled to one or more current sources through a switching device that shares the one or more current sources among the plurality of conductors.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the starting position, the first adjacent position and the second adjacent position are arbitrary positions on the separation collection component.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of particles are composed of paramagnetic materials.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of particles are composed of magnetic materials.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the magnetic materials include a magnetic coating around a non-magnetic core and non-magnetic coating around a magnetic core.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the current source coupled to each conductor can be varied monotonically.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the higher current in the second direction generates an electromagnetic force opposite in direction from the forces associated with the first current and the successively lower currents applied in the first direction.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the higher current is greater in magnitude compared with the first current and successively lower currents.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the subset of smaller particles include particles having a smaller radius than at least one particle in the set of particles.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein the subset of smaller particles includes particles having a smaller mass than at least one particle in the set of particles.
20. A computer program product for separating particles by size, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:
load a set of particles of various sizes and responsive to electromagnetic forces into a starting position upon a separation collection component, wherein the separation collection component has a plurality of conductors each coupled to a current source;
send a first current through a first set of conductors in a first direction drawing a subset of larger particles from the set of particles toward a first adjacent position to the starting position on the separation collection component;
send one or more successively lower currents compared to the first current through a second set of conductors in the first direction drawing a subset of smaller particles from the set of particles toward a second adjacent position to the starting position on the separation collection component; and
wherein the instructions that load the set of particles further comprises instructions that apply a higher current relative to the first current in a second direction through the first set of conductors drawing the set of particles towards the starting position on the separation collection component.
21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the separation collection component is a grid having rows and columns of conductors.
22. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the rows of conductors are separated from the columns of conductors by a non-conductive material selected from a set of materials including: Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, and Aluminum Nitride.
23. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the separation collection component is an arbitrary arrangement of conductors.
24. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the plurality of conductors are coupled to one or more current sources through a switching device that shares the one or more current sources among the plurality of conductors.
25. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the starting position, the first adjacent position and the second adjacent position are arbitrary positions on the separation collection component.
26. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the set of particles are composed of paramagnetic materials.
27. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the set of particles are composed of magnetic materials.

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 circuit comprising:
a first portion of a content addressable memory (CAM) configured to perform a first inequality operation implemented between 1 to n CAM entries; and
a second portion of the CAM configured to perform a second inequality operation implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries,
wherein the first portion and the second portion are triangularly arranged side by side such that the first inequality operation and the second inequality operation are implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries using the same n wordlines, and
wherein the first inequality operation is a less-than or greater-than operation, and the second inequality operation is a less-than or greater-than operation.
2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the CAM is n+1 bits wide or the CAM includes an additional row per pair of the first inequality operation and the second inequality operation.
3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein a first output of the first portion and a second output of the second portion are ANDed together to produce a range-match function.
4. A circuit comprising:
a first portion of a content addressable memory (CAM) configured to perform a first inequality operation implemented between 1 to n CAM entries; and
a second portion of the CAM configured to perform a second inequality operation implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries,
wherein the first portion and the second portion are triangularly arranged side by side such that the first inequality operation and the second inequality operation are implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries using the same n wordlines, and
further comprising a first set of search lines configured to broadcast search data to the first portion and a second set of search lines configured to broadcast the search data to the second portion, wherein at least one cell of the CAM comprises both the first set of search lines and the second set of search lines running through the at least one cell.
5. The circuit of claim 4, further comprising:
a wire track running through each of the 1 to n CAM entries implemented in the first portion and the second portion;
a first matchline in each wire track and configured to indicate a match or mismatch for each of the 1 to n CAM entries implemented in the first portion; and
a second matchline in each wire track configured to indicate a match or mismatch for each of the 1 to n CAM entries implemented in the second portion.
6. A circuit comprising:
a first portion of a content addressable memory (CAM) configured to perform a first inequality operation implemented between 1 to n CAM entries, wherein the 1 to n CAM entries of the first portion are read from left to right; and
a second portion of the CAM configured to perform a second inequality operation implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries, wherein the 1 to n CAM entries of the second portion are read from right to left,
wherein the second portion is flipped 180\xb0 and triangularly arranged side by side the first portion.
7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the CAM is n+1 bits wide or the CAM includes an additional row per pair of the first inequality operation and the second inequality operation.
8. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the first inequality operation and the second inequality operation are implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries using the same n wordlines.
9. The circuit of claim 6, further comprising:
a first matchline configured to indicate a match or mismatch for each of the 1 to n CAM entries implemented in the first portion; and
a second matchline configured to indicate a match or mismatch for each of the 1 to n CAM entries implemented in the second portion.
10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the first matchline and the second matchline are located in a same wire track.
11. The circuit of claim 6, further comprising a first set of search lines configured to broadcast search data to the first portion and a second set of search lines configured to broadcast the search data to the second portion.
12. The circuit of claim 11, wherein at least one cell of the CAM comprises both the first set of search lines and the second set of search lines running through the at least one cell.
13. The circuit of claim 11, wherein at least one column of the CAM comprises both the first set of search lines and the second set of search lines running through the at least one column.
14. The circuit of claim 11, wherein:
at least one column of the CAM comprises both the first set of search lines and the second set of search lines running through the at least one column;
a left most column of the CAM comprises only the first set of search lines; and
a right most column of the CAM comprises only the second set of search lines.
15. A method comprising:
performing a first inequality operation implemented between 1 to n content addressable memory (CAM) entries using a first portion of a CAM; and
performing a second inequality operation implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries using a second portion of the CAM,
wherein the first inequality operation and the second inequality operation are performed between the 1 to n CAM entries using the same n wordlines, and
wherein the first inequality operation is a less-than or greater-than operation, and the second inequality operation is a less-than or greater-than operation.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein:
the performing the first inequality operation comprises reading the 1 to n CAM entries from left to right; and
the performing the second inequality operation comprises reading the 1 to n CAM entries from right to left.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein:
the performing the first inequality operation comprises obtaining a first output; and
the performing the second inequality operation comprises obtaining a second output; and
the first output and the second output are ANDed together to produce a range-match function.
18. A method comprising:
performing a first inequality operation implemented between 1 to n content addressable memory (CAM) entries using a first portion of a CAM; and
performing a second inequality operation implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries using a second portion of the CAM,
wherein the first inequality operation and the second inequality operation are performed between the 1 to n CAM entries using the same n wordlines, and
further comprising:
broadcasting search data to the first portion using a first set of search lines; and
broadcasting the search data to the second portion using a second set of search lines.

1. Composition for the oxidation dyeing of human keratin fibres, and in particular of human keratin fibres such as the hair, comprising, in a medium that is suitable for dyeing:
4,5-diamino 1-hydroxyethyl pyrazole, andor the addition salt thereof with an acid and
at least one mineral compound chosen from silicas, aluminium oxides or hydroxides, aluminium, magnesium and iron hydrosilicates alone or as a mixture, and zinc salts; the said composition not containing a combination of an oxidation base of the 4,5-diaminopyrazole type, a zinc salt and a derivative of 1,4-diazacycloheptane or a salt thereof, having the following formula:
in which R1, R2, R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, denote a hydrogen, a C1\u2013C4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, or a C2\u2013C4 dihydroxyalkyl;
Z1 and Z2, which may be identical or different, denote hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, a C1\u2013C4 alkyl, a C1\u2013C4 hydroxyalkyl, a C1\u2013C4 aminoalkyl, a C1\u2013C4 alkoxy, a C2\u2013C4 dihydroxyalkyl or an allyl group;
R5 and R6, which may be identical or different, denote a hydrogen or a C1\u2013C4 alkyl.
2. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the silica(s) is(are) chosen from crystalline or microcrystalline silicas and non-crystalline silicas.
3. Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the non-crystalline silica is vitreous silica.
4. Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the non-crystalline silica is chosen from amorphous silicas such as colloidal silicas, silica gels, precipitated silicas and fumed silicas.
5. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the aluminium hydroxides are chosen from the compounds of composition Al (OH)3 and the compounds of composition AlOOH.
6. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the aluminium oxides are chosen from activated aluminas and calcined aluminas.
7. Composition according to claim 6, characterized in that the activated alumina is \u03b1 alumina.
8. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrosilicates are chosen from kaolinite, dicktite, nacrite, halloysite-endellite, pyrophyllite, beidellite, talc, chrysotile, montmorillonite, saponite, nontronite, sauconite, amesite, chamosite and illite.
9. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the zinc salts are chosen from the salts obtained with a mineral acid.
10. Composition according to claim 9, characterized in that the zinc salts are chosen from zinc chloride, sulphate, nitrate, orthophosphate, ortho-hydrogen phosphate, ortho-dihydrogen phosphate, carbonate and hydrogen carbonate.
11. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the zinc salts are chosen from the salts obtained with an organic acid.
12. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the mineral compound(s) represent(s) from 0.00001% to 10% by weight approximately relative to the total weight of the dye composition.
13. The composition of claim 1, wherein said 4,5-diamino 1-hydroxyethyl pyrazole andor the corresponding addition salt(s) with an acid represent from 0.0005% to 12% by weight relative to the total weight of the dye composition.
14. The composition of claim 13, wherein said 4,5-diamino 1-hydroxyethyl pyrazole andor the corresponding addition salt(s) with an acid represent from 0.005% to 6% by weight relative to the total weight of the dye composition.
15. The composition of claim 1, wherein that the weight ratio of the mineral compound(s) to the 4,5-diamino 1-hydroxyethyl pyrazole andor the addition salt(s) with an acid is between 0.001 and 100.
16. The composition of claim 1, wherein said addition salts with an acid are selected from the group consisting of hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, sulphates, tartrates, lactates and acetates.
17. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one coupler.
18. The composition of claim 17, wherein said coupler(s) represent(s) from 0.0001% to 10% by weight approximately relative to the total weight of the dye composition.
19. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional oxidation base other than the pyrazoles defined in claims 1 to 12.
20. The composition of claim 19, wherein said additional oxidation base(s) represent(s) from 0.0005% to 12% by weight approximately relative to the total weight of the dye composition.
21. The composition of claim 1, wherein it has a pH of between 3 and 12.
22. The composition of claim 1, wherein it is in the form of liquids, creams or gels or in any other form that is suitable for dyeing keratin fibres, and especially human hair.
23. Process for dyeing keratin fibres, and in particular human keratin fibres such as the hair, comprising the step of applying the composition of claim 1 to said fibres, and wherein the colour is revealed at acidic, neutral or alkaline pH using an oxidizing agent.
24. The process of claim 23, wherein said oxidizing agent is chosen from hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, alkali metal bromates, persalts such as perborates, percarbonates and persulphates, and peracids.
25. A process for dyeing keratin fibres, and in particular human keratin fibres such as the hair, comprising the steps of applying to said fibres a composition containing at least one mineral compound as defined in claim 1 in a first stage, applying to said fibres a composition containing said 4,5-diamino 1-hydroxyethyl pyrazole as defined in claim 1 in a second stage, the application of said composition containing said mineral compound(s) possibly being followed by a rinsing step, and wherein the colour is developed using an oxidizing agent.
26. A multi-compartment device comprising a first compartment containing said dye composition of claim 1 and a second compartment containing an oxidizing composition.
27. A multi-compartment device comprising a first compartment containing said mineral compound as defined in claim 1, a second compartment containing said 4,5-diamino 1-hydroxyethyl pyrazole as defined in claim 1, and a third compartment containing an oxidizing composition.
28. The composition of claim 12 wherein the mineral compound(s) represent(s) from 0.001% to 5% by weight approximately relative to the total weight of the dye composition.
29. The composition of claim 12 wherein the mineral compound(s) represent(s) from 0.001% to 3% by weight approximately relative to the total weight of the dye composition.
30. The composition of claim 15 wherein the weight ratio of the mineral compound(s) to the 4,5-diamino 1-hydroxyethyl pyrazole andor the addition salt(s) with an acid is between 0.001 and 10.

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 thrust bearing assembly comprising:
a thrust bearing including an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between first and second ends and extending axially between opposite edges and having thrust flanges extending radially from said outer surface thereof forming thrust surfaces and one of said thrust flanges having hydrodynamic features and said other thrust flange being free of hydrodynamic features;
a main bearing including an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between first and second ends and extending between opposite edges;
a thrust flange having hydrodynamic features thereon abutting one of said edges of said main bearing and extending radially outwardly from said outer surface thereof forming a thrust surface and positioned opposite said flange of said thrust bearing free of hydrodynamic features; and
wherein the other of said edges of said main bearing opposite said flange of said thrust bearing having hydrodynamic features is free of a flange, such that said thrust bearing assembly has only three of said thrust flanges in total.
2. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an orientation device positioning said thrust bearing, said main bearing, and said thrust flange in a single orientation such that said flanges with hydrodynamic features are axially spaced from each other.
3. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said orientation device is further defined as locating lips extending from said thrust bearing and said main bearing.
4. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said orientation device is further defined as a tab extending from said thrust flange of said main bearing.
5. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said free edge is spaced inward from the opposite thrust surface of said thrust bearing.
6. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said free edge has a substantially narrower width than said thrust surfaces.
7. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thrust flange of said main bearing is further defined as a thrust washer formed as a separate structure from that of said main bearing.
8. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 7 further comprising interlocks between said main bearing and said thrust washer for holding said thrust washer relative to said main bearing and preventing rotation thereof.
9. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main bearing and said thrust flange of said main bearing are formed as one piece.
10. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thrust bearing and said flanges are formed as one piece.
11. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said thrust flanges include oil grooves formed thereon.
12. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a bearing material disposed on said inner surface of said thrust bearing.
13. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a bearing material disposed on said inner surface of said main bearing.
14. A thrust bearing assembly comprising:
a first main bearing including an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between first and second ends and extending between opposite edges;
a pair of first thrust washers abutting said edges of said first main bearing and extending radially outwardly from said outer surface thereof forming thrust surfaces;
wherein one of said first thrust washers has hydrodynamic features and the other of said first thrust washers is free of hydrodynamic features;
a second main bearing including an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between first and second ends and extending between opposite edges;
a second thrust washer having hydrodynamic features and abutting one of said edges of said second main bearing and extending radially outwardly from said outer surface thereof forming a thrust surface and positioned opposite said first thrust washer of said first main bearing free of hydrodynamic features; and
wherein the other of said edges of said second main bearing opposite said first thrust washer having hydrodynamic features is free of a thrust washer such that said thrust bearing assembly has only three of said thrust surfaces in total.
15. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 14 further comprising an orientation device positioning said first and said second main bearings and said first pair and said second pair of thrust washers in a single orientation such that said washers with hydrodynamic features are axially spaced from each other.
16. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said orientation device is further defined as locating lips extending from first and said second main bearings.
17. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said orientation device is further defined as tabs extending from said first pair and said second pair of thrust washers.
18. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said free edge is spaced inward from the opposite thrust surface of said thrust bearing.
19. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said free edge has a substantially narrower width than said thrust surfaces.
20. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second thrust washer and said second main bearing are separate from one another.
21. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 20 further comprising interlocks between said second main bearing and said second thrust washer for holding said second thrust washer relative to said second main bearing and preventing rotation thereof.
22. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second main bearing and said second thrust washer are formed as one piece.
23. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said pair of first thrust washers and said first main bearing are separate from one another.
24. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 23 further comprising interlocks between said first main bearing and said pair of first thrust washers for holding said first thrust washers relative to said first main bearing and preventing rotation thereof.
25. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said thrust washers include oil grooves formed thereon.
26. A thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a bearing material disposed on said inner surface of said main bearings.
27. An engine assembly for use in a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
an upper support surface and a lower support surface;
a shaft received within said upper support surface;
a thrust bearing assembly rotatably supporting said shaft between said upper support surface and said lower support surface comprising;
a thrust bearing including an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between first and second ends and extending axially between opposite edges and having one thrust flange with hydrodynamic features and another thrust flange free of hydrodynamic features, both extending radially from said outer surface thereof forming thrust surfaces;
a main bearing including an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between first and second ends and extending between opposite edges;
a thrust flange having hydrodynamic features abutting one of said edges of said main bearing and extending radially outwardly from said outer surface thereof and positioned opposite said thrust flange of said thrust bearing free of hydrodynamic features such that said thrust flange forms a thrust surface; and
wherein the other of said edges of said main bearing opposite said flange of said thrust bearing having hydrodynamic features is free of a flange, such that said thrust bearing assembly has only three of said thrust flanges in total.
28. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said free edge is spaced inward from the opposite thrust surface of said thrust bearing.
29. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said free edge has a substantially narrower width than said thrust surfaces.
30. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said thrust flange of said main bearing is further defined as a thrust washer formed as a separate structure from that of said main bearing.
31. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 30 wherein said thrust washer and said main bearing are separate from one another.
32. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 30 further comprising interlocks between said main bearing and said thrust washer for holding said thrust washer relative to said main bearing and preventing rotation thereof.
33. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 30 wherein said main bearing and said thrust washer are formed as one piece.
34. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said thrust bearing and said flanges are formed as one piece.
35. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said upper support surface is further defined as an engine block.
36. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said lower support surface is further defined as a bearing cap.
37. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said shaft is further defined as a crankshaft.
38. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said thrust bearing assembly further comprises an orientation device positioning said thrust bearing, said main bearing, and said thrust flange in a single orientation such that said flanges with hydrodynamic features are axially spaced from each other.
39. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 38 wherein said orientation device is further defined as locating lips extending from said thrust bearing and said main bearing.
40. An engine assembly as set forth in claim 39 wherein said orientation device is further defined as a tab extending from said thrust flange of said main bearing.