Abstract:
A method and system for efficiently retrieving secured data by securely pre-processing provided access information, provides data store security based on only a single piece of access information, which is generally public, such as the proper name of a business or individual that is used to retrieve mailing address information. The access information is hashed for access to a secured data store and efficient access and low data storage for permutations of input access information are provided by verifying the presence of an entry for the hashed access information in a look-up table. If an entry is found, the data store is accessed using the hashed access information, but if an entry is not found, another look-up table corresponding to another information type may be tried or the input access information permuted and retried.
Abstract:
A transparent electromagnetic shield to protect solar panels and the like from dust deposition. The shield is a panel of clear non-conducting (dielectric) material with embedded parallel electrodes. The panel is coated with a semiconducting film. Desirably the electrodes are transparent. The electrodes are connected to a single-phase AC signal or to a multi-phase AC signal that produces a travelling electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic field produced by the electrodes lifts dust particles away from the shield and repels charged particles. Deposited dust particles are removed when the electrodes are activated, regardless of the resistivity of the dust. Electrostatic charges on the panel are discharged by the semiconducting film. When used in conjunction with photovoltaic cells, the power for the device may be obtained from the cells themselves. For other surfaces, such as windshields, optical windows and the like, the power must be derived from an external source. One embodiment of the invention employs monitoring and detection devices to determine when the level of obscuration of the screen by dust has reached a threshold level requiring activation of the dust removal feature.
Abstract:
A control system is provided for operating a washing machine through a cycle of operations and for ensuring that an access door is closed and locked during predetermined portions of the cycle and for ensuring that sensor switches are properly operable. A microcontroller-based programmer controls the washing machine through the cycle of operations. A first switch is actuatable by the access door for enabling energization of the washing machine upon movement of the access door to the closed position and a latch mechanism is energizable by the programmer for positioning the latch mechanism to effect the locking of the access door in the closed position if the first switch is closed. A second switch is in circuit with the programmer and is operable from a first to a second posture upon locking of the access door to provide a door-latched signal to the programmer. The programmer is further operable for effecting a signal to the second switch and for receiving a verification signal with the second switch in the first posture to confirm the proper operability of the second switch upon receiving the door-latched signal. The programmer is operable for verifying the second posture of the second switch throughout at least preselected portions of the cycle of operations and is operable for terminating operation of the washing machine upon detecting an inoperable second switch or an unlatched access door.
Abstract:
A transporter is provided for bulk mail, and the like, in the form of a wheeled rack. The wheeled rack is constructed to have a lower shelf and an intermediate shelf, both of which are hinged to the frame of the rack, and both of which may be turned up to an upright position when the rack is not in use to enable the rack to be nested into other like racks so as to conserve space. The rack also has upper and lower extensible gates which are hinged to the forward edge of the intermediate shelf, and which may be turned to an upright position within the rack with the intermediate shelf when the rack is not in use. The gates, moreover, may be turned and extended to enclose the upper and lower portions of the open front of the rack, and locked in place, when the intermediate shelf is turned down to its operative, load-supporting position.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for determining secondary address information. In one implementation, a method is provided that uses a data processing apparatus. According to the method, a code word is created for a business name and a building default extended delivery code. A data table is searched using the code word and secondary address information is revealed when a match is found between the code word and data stored in the data table.
Abstract:
A computer-implemented method represents a list of informational items using a bit array. The method converts an informational item to a cryptographic value using a cryptographic algorithm and extracts a plurality of n-bit samples from the cryptographic value. The n-bit samples includes at least a first field and a second field. The first field identifies a group of bits of the bit array and the second field identifies one or more individual bits within the group of bits. The individual bits are set to a pre-determined value according to the first field identifying the group of bits and the second field identifying the individual bits within the group of bits.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for determining secondary address information. In one implementation, a method is provided that uses a data processing apparatus. According to the method, a code word is created for a business name and a building default extended delivery code. A data table is searched using the code word and secondary address information is revealed when a match is found between the code word and data stored in the data table.
Abstract:
A high yield method for fermenting carbohydrate to ethanol, comprising a) treating carbohydrate with a composition containing 10-90 wt. % of an aldehyde selected from the group consisting of an formaldehyde, para-formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and mixtures thereof, 1-50 wt. % of a surfactant having an I JLB from 4 to 18, 0-20 wt. % of an antimicrobial terpene, or essential oils, 1-50 wt. % of organic acids selected from C1-24 fatty acids, their salts, and glyceride esters thereof, and 1-50 wt. % water, b) fermenting said carbohydrate in the presence of yeast in a fermentation broth, and c) isolating ethanol in a higher yield than would be obtained without step a).