Abstract:
A pitcher for keeping beverages cooled for protracted periods, having a pitcher lining and a pitcher wall sealingly attached to form a cavity there between. A freezable substance is disposed within the cavity. The cavity extends continuously between the bottom walls of the pitcher lining and the pitcher wall allowing for complete cooling through the floor area of the pitcher. In an alternate embodiment an insulating layer is provided between the freezable substance and the inner surface of the sidewalls and bottom wall of the pitcher shell. The insulating layer further retards warming and reduces condensation.
Abstract:
To adjust operating characteristics of a first antenna and a second antenna to receive a magnetic signals transmitted by a third antenna, a first magnetic signal from the first antenna. The first magnetic signal is received at the third antenna. A second magnetic signal is transmitted from the second antenna. The second magnetic signal is received at the third antenna. A gain of the first antenna is adjusted in response to an indication of signal quality of the first magnetic signal received at the third antenna. A gain of the second antenna is also adjusted in response to an indication of signal quality of the second magnetic signal received at the third antenna.
Abstract:
An entertainment console installed in a vehicle includes a docking bay for docking portable entertainment devices, such as portable media players (PMPs). A base of the console may be attached to the passenger compartment ceiling, with a display that can be flipped down from the base. A docked PMP can be played through the console. Video may be rendered on the console screen, while audio may be played through the console speaker(s), headphone jacks available on the console, or the speakers of the vehicle's audio system. Power for the PMP's operation is provided by the vehicle's electrical system. The console may also include additional docking bay(s), enabling simultaneous docking of multiple PMPs that may be played at the same time. A presentation from one PMP (e.g., a DVD player) can also be recorded on another PMP (e.g., a hard drive-based player). The screen may rotate around the vertical axis.
Abstract:
An antenna disposed within a shielded enclosure, the antenna being disposed adjacent an electromagnetically transmissive closure member which covers a non-shielded aperture in the shielded enclosure. The electromagnetically transmissive closure member may, depending upon its dielectric properties, provide electromagnetic amplification for the antenna disposed thereunder to increase the effective signal propagation or reception.
Abstract:
A system displays video to a user and has a display device with a field of pixels. It displays video to the user in the form of a series of discrete sequential frame images each made up of a first predetermined number of bit planes in which the pixels of the display are either off or have a color and intensity that is uniform over the field of pixels. The apparatus detects when a movement condition is present, such as rapid head movement or an object in the video crossing the display rapidly, in which condition the user's eye may tend to track across the display device at a rate at which perception of the video displayed may be reduced in quality, and it generates a condition-present signal when such a movement condition is detected. Responsive to generation of said condition-present signal, the apparatus causes the display device to display the frame images using fewer bit planes for each frame image than when said movement condition is not detected. Display with the original number of bit planes returns when the movement condition is over.
Abstract:
A system and method for managing imaged documents includes a manager computer with a scanner and a database connected thereto. The manager computer includes a program for managing the imaged documents. Information within one or more predetermined zones within an imaged document is read and compared against a database of reference information so as to record each document as a “Main Document” or an “Attachment.” For freight documents, “Main Documents” are classified as an “Accounting Copy” or a “Delivery Receipt,” and Bill-of-Lading numbers are read and checked for validity; invalid numbers are flagged for manual recording. Optical character recognition or manual entry is used for textual information, or bar code recognition is used to read bar code information in the zones. Batches of documents are prepared in related document groupings for automated grouping of the electronic image records under related tracking numbers. Users with different authorizations can access and retrieve particular documents using a computer over the Internet.
Abstract:
An array of photoconductive elements comprises an array of radiation detectors; an electrical lead connected to the array of radiation detectors; at least one amplifier receptive of an output signal of the array of radiation detectors; a summation device receptive of an output signal of the at least one amplifier; and a positive feedback loop for reducing crosstalk by directing an output signal of the summation device to the at least one amplifier. A circuit processes the outputs of the array of radiation detectors. The photoconductive elements may be operated in a constant voltage mode or a constant current mode.
Abstract:
A plasma mass spectrometer comprises a plasma torch (1) for generating ions from a sample introduced into a plasma (2), a nozzle-skimmer interface (3,5) for transmitting said ions into a first evacuated chamber (11), ion guiding means (12), an apertured diaphragm (18) dividing said first evacuated chamber (11) from a second evacuated chamber, and an ion mass-to-charge ratio analyzer in the second chamber for producing a mass spectrum. The ion guiding means comprises a multipole rod-set (13,14,15), means for applying an AC voltage between rods in the set, and means (22) for introducing into said ion guiding means an inert gas selected from the group comprising helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and nitrogen so that the partial pressure of said inert gas inside said rod-set is at least 10−3 torr. Interfering peaks in the spectrum, such as Ar+, are thereby reduced.
Abstract:
A releasable locking latch assembly for an endgate of a pickup truck, which includes a handle for rotating the mechanisms of the locking latch assembly resulting in the retraction of one or more cables further resulting in the release of an endgate. The locking latch assembly includes a locking finger for impeding the movement of the locking latch assembly in a locked position and a lock for rotatably engaging the locking finger into and out of the locked position.
Abstract:
A switching circuit for a reluctance machine includes one or more half-bridge converter modules including serially connected switches connected between power rails +V.sub.dc and -V.sub.dc. A pair of capacitors are also connected between the power rails, and the phase winding of the machine is connected at one end between transistors and at the other end between the capacitors. The switches act as separate power circuits, alternately conducting to excite the phase winding either during alternate phase conduction periods or during alternate groups of phase periods. The half-bridge modules are commercially readily available as cost-effective preassembled items.