One embodiment relates to an apparatus, comprising logic, at least partially incorporated into hardware, to receive a plurality of notifications from each of a plurality of notification sources, determine a ranking score for each notification relative to any other notification received from the same notification source, and determine a notification class for each ranked notification relative to the ranked notifications from all notification sources based upon at least one blending attribute and at least one user contextual state.

Disclosed are a Chinese website classification method and system based on characteristic analysis of a website homepage. The method specifically comprises the following steps: S1, crawling website content; S2, labeling a website type; S3, extracting website information; S4, calculating a weight and representing the weight in the form of a characteristic vector; and S5, classifying the website by comparing the characteristic vector. By utilizing the above Chinese website classification method and system, the noise interference can be alleviated to the greatest extent by only extracting a title and meta-information of the website; by means of pre-processing and characteristic vector expression, the characteristics of the website are accurately expressed with the vector, so that the accuracy of classification is increased; and since only the title and meta-information of the website need to be processed, the quantity of data to be processed is small, and the processing speed is high.

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine a profile model for a page that is accessible through the social networking system, the profile model describing one or more modal characteristics of users of the social networking system that have fanned the page. A determination can be made that the page should be recommended to a first user of the social networking system based at least in part on the profile model. At least one page recommendation that references the page can be provided to the first user.

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine respective geographic locations of a set of users associated with a page that is accessible through a social network. At least one centroid for the page can be generated based at least in part on the respective geographic locations of the set of users. At least one area of influence of the page can be determined based at least in part on the centroid. At least one page recommendation can be presented to one or more users in the set of users based at least in part on the area of influence of the

The invention relates to a computer implemented method of storing/recovering in/from a storage data structure a multitude of sequences that have been aligned with a reference data structure. The information of the sequences is stored in different sections. Each section comprises data streams comprising specific data of the sequences having a reference position in the reference position range associated with the data stream. In a first section, the length of the sequences is stored. In a second section, the mutations of a sequence with respect to the reference sequence are stored. In a third section, consensus based quality values are linked with positions in the reference sequence. In a fourth section, the sequence identifiers are stored. The storage data structure has a format which is optimized for viewer, re-alignment, variant calling and other post-processing tools.

A self-monitoring time series database system which enforces usage policies is described. A time series database system receives an alert trigger condition for a system user, wherein the system user is associated with multiple time series data points corresponding to multiple subsystems of the time series database system. The time series database system aggregates the multiple time series data points in an internal time series data point, which is internal to the time series database system, associated with the system user. The time series database system evaluates whether the internal time series data point associated with the system user meets the alert trigger condition. The time series database system reduces a level of access by the system user to the time series database system in response to an evaluation that the internal time series data point associated with the system user meets the alert trigger condition.

Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation while reducing or mitigating emissions during power generation. Recycled exhaust gas from a power generation combustion reaction can be separated using a staged complementary swing adsorption process so as to generate a high purity CO2 stream while reducing/minimizing the energy required for the separation and without having to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas. This can allow for improved energy recovery while also generating high purity streams of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Systems and methods for using pressure swing adsorption to separate and/or capture resulting emissions are provided. A stream of recycled exhaust gas is passed into a first swing adsorption reactor comprising a first adsorbent material which adsorbs CO2. An enriched N2 stream is recovered from a forward end of the first swing adsorption reactor. The pressure in the first swing adsorption reactor is reduced. The first swing adsorption reactor is purged with a portion of the first N2 stream recovered from the first swing adsorption reactor. The first purge output is passed to a second swing adsorption reactor comprising a second adsorbent material which adsorbs CO2. A second N2 stream is recovered from the second swing adsorption reactor. The pressure in the second swing adsorption reactor is reduced. The second swing adsorption reactor is purged with a steam purge.

A staged complementary pressure swing adsorption system and method for low energy fractionation of a mixed fluid. Two beds in a four-column PSA system are selective for component A, and another two columns are selective for component B. The cycle creates an intermittent A and B product, using the purge effluent from the complementary product fed at an intermediate pressure. This intermittent product is used as purge gas for low-pressure purged elsewhere in the cycle using appropriate storage tanks. The use of an intermediate pressure in this cycle enables continuous production of purified component A and B without the use of compressors. Columns may also be configured to enable pressure to equalize between complementary columns.

An apparatus and method for flow management and CO2-recovery from a CO2 containing hydrocarbon flow stream, such as a post CO2-stimulation flowback stream. The apparatus including a flow control zone, a gas separation zone, a pretreatment zone, and a CO2-capture zone. The CO2-capture zone is in fluid communication with the pretreatment zone to provide CO2-capture from a pretreated flowback gas stream and output a captured CO2-flow stream. The CO2-capture zone includes a flow splitter to direct a first portion of the pretreated flowback gas stream to a CO2-enricher to provide an enriched CO2-stream for mixing with a second portion of the pretreated flowback gas to form a mixed stream. The CO2-capture zone further includes at least one condenser to output the captured CO2-flow stream.

A conditioning device for a forage harvester is equipped with a first roller, profiled in the axial direction, and a second roller, also profiled in the axial direction. The two rollers are rotated, around their axes, in opposite directions and are aligned parallel to one another. An element, profiled, in the axial direction, in a manner complementary to the profile of the first roller and adjacent to the circumference of the first roller, for the removal of crop residues from the roller, extends in a circular arc over a part of the circumference of the first roller.

An apparatus for forming a water storage material from a biomass input material using supercritical or subcritical fluid processing, the water storage material capable of absorbing a liquid and releasing the liquid. The apparatus utilizes supercritical fluid processing, subcritical fluid processing, charring, or a combination thereof. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control the apparatus. The apparatus further including a processing station configured to hold the biomass input material, and to use the biomass input material for processing into the water storage material.

A mower carrying a rotary cutting deck has a height of cut system for adjusting the vertical position of the deck relative to the mower frame for changing or adjusting the height of cut. The height of cut system comprises a pair of parallel cross shafts that carry a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages that connect to the deck, the cross shafts and linkages pivoting jointly with one another and with a pivotal control lever. One of the cross shafts carries a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the deck. The control lever is maintained in a plurality of adjusted pivotal positions by a height selection bracket fixed to the frame with the height selection bracket being capable of having its position changed or adjusted relative to the frame by a single adjustment bolt. Each suspension linkage has its effective length adjusted by turning a threaded adjuster carried at the upper end of a connecting rod that is part of each linkage to allow the deck to be leveled relative to a reference plane. The adjustment of the height selection bracket is accomplished without affecting the length adjustments previously made to any of the suspension linkages.

A semiconductor device has a plurality of semiconductor die. A first prefabricated insulating film is disposed over the semiconductor die. A conductive layer is formed over the first prefabricated insulating film. An interconnect structure is formed over the semiconductor die and first prefabricated insulating film. The first prefabricated insulating film is laminated over the semiconductor die. The first prefabricated insulating film includes glass cloth, glass fiber, or glass fillers. The semiconductor die is embedded within the first prefabricated insulating film with the first prefabricated insulating film covering first and side surfaces of the semiconductor die. The interconnect structure is formed over a second surface of the semiconductor die opposite the first surface. A portion of the first prefabricated insulating film is removed after disposing the first prefabricated insulating film over the semiconductor die. A second prefabricated insulating film is disposed over the first prefabricated insulating film.

A method of making a semiconductor device can include providing a wafer comprising a plurality of semiconductor die, wherein each semiconductor die comprises an active surface and a backside opposite the active surface. A photosensitive layer can be formed over the wafer and on a backside of each of the plurality of semiconductor die within the wafer with a coating machine. An identifying mark can be formed within the photosensitive layer for each of the plurality of semiconductor die with a digital exposure machine and a developer, wherein a thickness of the identifying mark is less than or equal to 50 percent of a thickness of the photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer can be cured. The wafer can be singulated into a plurality of semiconductor devices.

A semiconductor package is provided, including: an insulating base body having a first surface with an opening and a second surface opposite to the first surface; an insulating extending body extending outward from an edge of the first surface of the insulating base body, wherein the insulating extending body is less in thickness than the insulating base body; an electronic element having opposite active and inactive surfaces and disposed in the opening with its inactive surface facing the insulating base body; a dielectric layer formed in the opening of the insulating base body and on the first surface of the insulating base body, the insulating extending body and the active surface of the electronic element; and a circuit layer formed on the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the electronic element. The configuration of the insulating layer of the invention facilitates to enhance the overall structural rigidity of the package.

A manufacturing method of a package substrate is provided. The method includes forming a first circuit layer on a carrier. A passive component is disposed on the first circuit layer and the carrier. A dielectric layer is formed on the carrier to embed the passive component and the first circuit layer in the dielectric layer. A second circuit layer is formed on the dielectric layer. The carrier is removed from the dielectric layer. A manufacturing method of a chip package is also provided.

A method of forming image sensor packages may include performing a molding process. Mold material may be formed either on a transparent substrate in between image sensor dies, or on a removable panel in between transparent substrates attached to image sensor dies. Redistribution layers may be formed before or after the molding process. Mold material may be formed after forming redistribution layers so that the mold material covers the redistribution layers. In these cases, holes may be formed in the mold material to expose solder pads on the redistribution layers. Alternatively, redistribution layers may be formed after the molding process and the redistribution layers may extend over the mold material. Image sensor dies may be attached to a glass or notched glass substrate with dam structures. The methods of forming image sensor packages may result in hermetic image sensor packages that prevent exterior materials from reaching the image sensor.

A first photoresist pattern and a second photoresist pattern are formed over a substrate. The first photoresist pattern is separated from the second photoresist pattern by a gap. A chemical mixture is coated on the first and second photoresist patterns. The chemical mixture contains a chemical material and surfactant particles mixed into the chemical material. The chemical mixture fills the gap. A baking process is performed on the first and second photoresist patterns, the baking process causing the gap to shrink. At least some surfactant particles are disposed at sidewall boundaries of the gap. A developing process is performed on the first and second photoresist patterns. The developing process removes the chemical mixture in the gap and over the photoresist patterns. The surfactant particles disposed at sidewall boundaries of the gap reduce a capillary effect during the developing process.

An image forming apparatus includes a first casing, a second casing, an arm, a guide unit, a support part, and an urging member. The second casing is supported on the first casing and configured to pivot relative to the first casing. The arm has a first end portion rotatably coupled to one of the first casing and the second casing and a second end portion slidably coupled to the other of the first casing and the second casing. The guide unit is provided at the other of the first casing and the second casing and configured to slidably guide a shaft. The guide unit includes a first guide and a second guide. The support part supports the first guide such that the first guide is movable toward and away from the second guide. The urging member is configured to urge the first guide toward the second guide.

A process for advantageously efficiently treating a sulfureous combustible effluent stream by recovering the sulfur in elemental form comprises a step of combustion of the sulfureous combustible effluent stream with an oxidant gas in excess, and then a step of post-combustion of the effluents from the combustion step with an acidic gas. The stream of the post-combustion effluents, free of chemical compounds that are harmful to the efficacy of the Claus catalysts, is treated in a Claus unit, which performs the recovery of the sulfur in elemental form.

An image displaying device includes: a display section cyclically switching a plurality of image streams, thereby time-divisionally displaying the plurality of image streams, each of the plurality of image streams being provided for corresponding one of a plurality of shutter mechanisms performing opening-closing operations at timings different from each other; and a dithering processing section performing a dithering process on a plurality of input images by using a plurality of masks, each of the plurality of masks having a pattern of two-dimensionally-arranged grayscale values, the pattern differing from a pattern of another mask, and then supplying a plurality of resultant images produced through the dithering process to the display section. The dithering processing section controls the dithering process in such a manner that the plurality of masks are sequentially and cyclically switched in synchronization with shutter open timings for each of the shutter mechanisms.

Subsea high voltage connection assembly (10) comprising a first section (100) having a first section body (104) to which a set of first connector(s) (111) is arranged and a second section (200) having second section body (204) to which a set of second connector(s) (211) is arranged. The assembly (10) further has a section body movement arrangement (103, 400, 9, 123) adapted to move one of the section bodies (104, 204) towards and away from the other section body, between a disengaged position and an engaged position. Further, the assembly (10) has a connector movement arrangement (105, 400). Also disclosed are a method and a subsea high voltage wet mate connector assembly.

Methods and systems for detection of an occupancy status of a space monitored by a system (100) are described herein. The method comprises detecting a magnetic field value at the space by a magnetic field sensor (210) of a sensing device (104). The detected magnetic field value with a reference magnetic field value, to determine a magnetic occupancy status (MOS) of the space. The MOS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space. The change in the occupancy status is indicative of one of a change from empty to occupied occupancy status, and a change from occupied to empty occupancy status. Further, when the MOS indicates the change in the occupancy status of the space, a radar sensor (212) of the sensing device (104) is activated to determine a radar occupancy status (ROS) by generating at least one radar reading from the radar sensor (212). The ROS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space. Thereafter, the change in the occupancy status of the space is established when the ROS indicating the change in the occupancy status of the space is in agreement with the MOS. Further, the established change of the occupancy status in the space is communicated to a central unit (102) of the system (100).

Certain novel formulations of plant growth media additives that act in such a manner as to permit proper amounts of moisture to contact root systems in order to reduce hydrophobicity within said media. The inventive formulation comprising multi-branched surfactant compounds with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic constituents within each branch attached to a polyfunctional base compound permit effective moisture penetration through plant growth media for sustained seedling and plant growth therein. Such multi-branched wetting agents provide sustained moisture penetration over a sustained period of time, since the individual branches of such compounds may become dissociated from its base polyfunctional compound. Since such branches include both hydrophobic and hydrophilic constituents themselves, and thus act as wetting agents, even after degradation of the initial surfactant compound, repeated wetting and moisture penetration, at least, are permitted. Methods of treating plant growth media with such compounds and formulations thereof are also contemplated within this invention.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a neonicotinoid-based compound having a high degree of insecticidal activity, a surfactant, and an organic solvent, which is capable of demonstrating stable effects and in which the types and amounts of surfactant and organic solvent are adjusted so as to prevent chemical damage in numerous types of trees. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for preventing damage to trees by harmful insects of numerous types of trees by injecting this composition into a tree trunk and allowing the chemical to circulate within the tree body.

A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

'Long, Tall’ Marcia Ball comes to The Freight in support of her latest album. Marcia Ball has been on the road, playing good-time music, for as long as she can remember. "When the hippie culture started emerging, I dropped out of college and got a chance to play piano in a rock and roll band," Ball said from her home in Austin, Texas.…

A method of forming a material for reversible hydrogen storage within a storage tank includes charging a mixture of a metal amide and a metal hydride to the storage tank, and chemically reacting the mixture at a reaction condition within the storage tank to form a thermally conducting composite material situated in the storage tank and for reversibly storing hydrogen. The composite material includes a three-dimensional and interconnected framework including a conductive metal. A method for reversibly storing hydrogen includes providing a storage tank and in situ chemically forming a composite material by charging a mixture of a metal amide and a metal hydride to the storage tank and chemically reacting the mixture at a reaction condition to form a thermally conducting composite material including a metal hydride and a substantially unreactive elemental metal framework. Hydrogen is absorbed into the composite material and is desorbed from the composite material.

An on-board hydride storage system and process are described. The system includes a slurry storage system that includes a slurry reactor and a variable concentration slurry. In one preferred configuration, the storage system stores a slurry containing a hydride storage material in a carrier fluid at a first concentration of hydride solids. The slurry reactor receives the slurry containing a second concentration of the hydride storage material and releases hydrogen as a fuel to hydrogen-power devices and vehicles.

A method for controlling the effective heat transfer from a storage unit (1). During gas release from storage material (3) in the storage unit the storage material is heated by a heater (2). During re-saturation of the storage material (3) with gas the heater is off. Controlling of the effective heat transfer from the storage unit (1) is performed, during gas release, by ceasing convection of a convection gas and, during re-saturation, by performing or enabling convection of a convection gas to cool the storage unit (1).

The tank is of the type including a container (4) for housing hydrogen, and metallic hydride placed inside the container. According to one aspect of the invention, it includes at least one solid body (6) formed of a compacted material including metallic hydride and a matrix. Application in particular for tanks for internal combustion engines or for fuel cells, in particular for motor vehicles, as well as for any stationary or mobile application using hydrogen.

A combination handle clamp, beverage bottle and can opener having a generally curved shaped body and integral attachment point to allow connection to other personal item such as a key ring. A secondary and tertiary integral curved section form a pair of loading points for fixing open a handle-trigger assembly and incorporate a gripping edge to facilitate opening a crimped or vacuum sealed bottle top. The tertiary curved section additionally functions as a second clamp position for the larger handles and also doubles as a pry mechanism to assist opening a pop-top can. The said gripping edge of the invention which contacts with said bottle top to be constructed of a durable material that won't abrade from its intended use.

A hydrogen storage tank by absorption into a hydrogen storage material, the tank having a longitudinal axis and including an enclosure and an inner structure provided within the enclosure. The inner structure includes a plurality of stages and a heat exchange system within the inner structure, each stage including a plurality of compartments distributed into a plurality of rows directed along the longitudinal direction, each compartment having a semi-cylindrical shape, and each compartment containing a hydrogen storage material, wherein the material has been introduced through the opening.

Provided is a conductive roller coating composition which can reduce degradation of toner during durable printing when used for a developing roller, and a developing roller and image formation device using the same. In a conductive roller coating composition containing a resin component including a polyol and an isocyanate, and microparticles, a Tg of the microparticles is −13° C. or less. In a developing roller including: a shaft 1; and an elastic layer 2 supported on an outer periphery of the shaft 1, an outer periphery of the elastic layer 2 is coated with the conductive roller coating composition.

An anchor layer formation composition, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-attached optical film, and an image display device are provided, in which the composition includes an oxazoline group-containing polymer and an ionic compound including a cation component and a sulfonyl group-containing anion component and is capable of forming an anchor layer that can improve the adhesion between a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and an optical film when interposed therebetween, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-attached optical film has high durability and good reworkability and allows the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to resist chipping, and the image display device has the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-attached optical film.

A method for providing a randomized card engine for use in wagering card games which thwarts advantage play methods in live or electronic gaming formats, which includes the steps of shuffling, or simulating the shuffling of, a plurality of standard decks of physical playing cards to form a set of playing cards in a randomly-ordered condition, dividing the set of randomly-ordered playing cards into a plurality of subsets, and providing each subset of the plurality of subsets for independent use in a respective card wagering game.

A wheel game apparatus comprising an inner ring mounted for rotational motion about a central shaft having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, a central cone mounted for rotational motion about the shaft in an axial adjacent position to the upper side of the inner ring and including a plurality of markers thereon, and aligning and engagement features whereby the cone can be rotated relative to the inner ring such that each of the markers will align with a slot and the cone will remain engaged while the inner ring is rotated.

A method of automatically generating a calibration file for a card handling device comprises automatically generating a calibration file stored in memory of a main control system for a card handling device. Automatically generating the calibration file comprises identifying at least one parameter associated with a rank area around a rank of at least a portion of the card, identifying at least one parameter associated with a suit area around a suit of the at least a portion of the card, and storing the at least one parameter associated with the rank area and the at least one parameter associated with the suit area in the calibration file. Additionally, a method of automatically generating deck libraries for one or more decks of cards comprises automatically generating a plurality of master images for the cards of the first deck type using the parameters from the calibration file.

The invention relates to a device for cooling hot gases generated by an internal arc in high voltage metal-enclosed switchgear and controlgear or prefabricated high voltage/low voltage stations. This device comprises a metal foam cooling filter having a honeycomb structure.

Generally discussed herein are devices and methods for thermal management of a component. An apparatus can include a phase change material substantially at a phase transition temperature of the phase change material, a component near, on, or at least partially in the phase change material, and a heat removal device to transfer heat energy away from the phase change material and maintain the phase change material substantially at the phase transition temperature.

A Rack Information Handling System (RIHS) has a liquid cooling subsystem that provides cooling liquid to liquid cooled (LC) nodes received in chassis-receiving bays of a rack. Leak collection structures are positioned to receive cooling liquid that leaks from the liquid cooling subsystem. Liquid sensors detect a presence of leaked cooling liquid in the leak collection structures. A leak detection subsystem responds to a detected presence of liquid by providing a leak indication. In one or more embodiments, the liquid cooling subsystem has a liquid rail formed by more than one rack interconnections vertically aligned in a rear section of the rack that are connected by modular rail conduits for node-to-node fluid transfer. The leak collection structures include a pipe cover received over at least one modular rail conduit. A liquid cavity of each pipe cover spills over into another lower pipe cover at a rate that can be correlated to severity of the leak.

A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a high-voltage tolerance circuit are provided. The DAC includes a high-voltage tolerance circuit. The high-voltage tolerance circuit is configured to generate a reference voltage, and select the reference voltage or a first power-source voltage to control the node voltage of each branch of an operational amplifier circuit of the high-voltage tolerance circuit according the logical signal level of an input signal.

Typically, complex systems require a separate and expensive equalizer at the output of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Rather than providing a separate equalizer, the effective Signal Transfer Function (STF) of a Multi-stAge noise SHaping (MASH) ADC can be modified by leveraging available digital filtering hardware necessary for quantization noise cancellation. The modification can involves adding calculations in the software previously provided for computing digital quantization noise cancellation filter coefficients, where the calculations are added to take into account equalization as well. As a result, the signal transfer function can be modified to meet ADC or system-level signal-chain specifications without additional equalization hardware. The method is especially attractive for high-speed applications where magnitude and phase responses are more challenging to meet.

The disclosure relates to a circuit for stabilizing a digital-to-analog converter reference voltage. One example embodiment is a circuit for stabilizing a voltage on a reference node. The circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter that includes an array of capacitors and arranged for: receiving an input voltage via an input node, receiving a voltage via a reference node and a digital-to-analog code via a controller node, and outputting a digital-to-analog output voltage. The circuit also includes a capacitive network on the reference node comprising a fixed capacitor arranged to be pre-charged to an external reference voltage and a variable capacitor arranged to be pre-charged to an external auxiliary voltage. Further, the circuit includes a measurement block. In addition, the circuit includes a calibration block arranged for determining an updated setting of the variable capacitor based on the digital-to-analog code and the measured voltage on the reference node.

A process for producing granules containing one or more complexing agent salts of the general formula from an aqueous starting solution, containing the one or more complexing agent salts in a concentration of from 10 to 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous starting solution, in a jet apparatus.

An electrical voltage-generating piezoelectric device comprising at least a first blade (1) with a curved portion (10) defining a first arm (11) and a second arm (12) of the blade, the first arm (11) being intended to be fastened to a fixed support, the second arm (12) being substantially flat and having a free end (120) designed to oscillate around its resting position under the effect of mechanical force, at least one piezoelectric element (31) resting upon one of the main surfaces (14) of the second arm (12) of the first blade. The device also includes a second blade (2) identical in structure to the first blade (1), the first arms (11, 21) of the first and second blades (1, 2) being fastened together on all or part of their surfaces and being fixed relative to each other.

A system and method provides a piezoelectric stack arrangement for reduced driving voltage while maintaining a driving level for active piezoelectric materials. A stack arrangement of d36 shear mode single crystals of both air X-cut and Y-cut ±1:45° (±20°) arrangement are bonded with discrete conductive pillars to form a shear crystal stack. The bonding area between the neighboring crystal parts is minimized. The bonding pillars are positioned at less than a total surface are of the single crystal forming the stack. The stack fabrication is facilitated with a precision assembly system, where crystal parts are placed to desired locations on an assembly fixture for alignment following the preset operation steps. With the reduced clamping effect from bonding due to lower surface coverage of the discrete conductive pillars, such a piezoelectric d36 shear crystal stack exhibits a reduced driving voltage while maintaining a driving level and substantial and surprisingly improved performance.