Abstract:
The present invention provides an adjustable support that may be telescopically extendable, coarsely and finely adjustable, and providing a mechanical advantage while being readily transportable. The adjustable support may have two to three telescoping members that nest inside one another when not is use, and may be triangular, rectangular, or circular in cross section. The adjustable support may be used as a traction splint, a walking stick, ski pole, or a crutch.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, which restrains a crossover phenomenon of fuel and a decomposition of a polymer membrane over platinum, and shows outstanding power output and performance characteristics during operation of the fuel cell, and a method for producing the same. The method comprises the steps of blending a polymer matrix with a fluorinated ionomer of 3 to 50 wt % based on a weight of a polymer to produce a blended polymer solution; casting the blended polymer solution into a polymer membrane; and coating the fluorinated ionomer on both sides of the polymer membrane to produce a composite membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane has advantages in that the fuel cell using the polymer electrolyte membrane, which has high energy efficiency, can be inexpensively produced, and so the fuel cell can be applied in various applications such as a power source of a nonpolluting car, on-site generation of electricity, an electric power source of a spacecraft, a portable energy source, and an energy source for military purpose.
Abstract:
An apparatus for three dimensional inspection of an electronic part which has a camera and illuminator for imaging a first view of the electronic part. An optical element is positioned to reflect a different view of the electronic part into the camera, and the camera thus provides an image of the electronic part having differing views of the electronic part. An image processor applies calculations on the differing views to calculate a three dimensional position of at least one portion of the electronic part.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses a permeable mattress, or permeable pillow, which includes a base (1). Cushioning support (3) are attached to the top of the base in a distributed manner, to support a mesh (4) which supports a person, or person's head. Adjacent to the mesh there may be one or more layers of each, or any, of the following; permeable fabric, permeable foam, permeable fibres or perforated rubber. The mattress may be covered in a layer of permeable fabric (6). Any of the layers may be removably attached to the mattress assembly. In a further embodiment of the invention, beneath the base of the mattress, or integral with the base, there may be provided a spill tray that has a contoured structure, to guide fluids such that they flow under gravity into a collecting bowl.
Abstract:
A system and method for issuing an alarm when the separation distance between a monitoring module associated with an object (animate or inanimate) and an alert module exceeds a preset threshold distance thereby forming a leadless electronic tether between the object and the object owner. A monitoring module comprises a portable transmitter provides a signal to an alert module comprising a receiver and a processor. The alert module is adapted to determine a separation distance between the monitoring module and the alert module based on an attribute of the signal. When the separation distance exceeds a predetermined threshold, the alert module issues an alert.
Abstract:
A system and method of detecting and thwarting the use of unauthorized imaging systems at theatrical performances. Sensors are deployed at a theatrical event to detect a focusing signal and/or the RF signal of an unauthorized imaging device. De-focusing signals are used to disrupt the auto focus system of imaging devices that do not use IR focusing systems. A thwarting signal comprising invisible light frequencies may be combined to produce a thwarting signal that is received by the CCD of an imaging device as white light thereby rendering the recorded image unusable.
Abstract:
A power management system for computers compresses contents of system RAM and stores the contents on a non-volatile storage device before power is suspended to a motherboard, which removes power also from RAM. By compression, the capacity required of the non-volatile storage device is minimized. In a variation, zeros are stored in all RAM area used by memory management software before compression and storage on the non-volatile device. In another variation, areas of RAM used by memory management software are identified, and only those areas not used by memory management software are stored on the non-volatile device. The capability is provided in several ways in different embodiments.
Abstract:
A database having information sought by a consumer, a database containing consumer attributes, and a database of advertising messages are made responsive to telephone calls placed to an interactive voice response (IVR) system. Alternatively, the databases can be linked to a web site responsive to consumer input. Either system can deliver the advertising messages to the consumer. The database of consumer attributes contains information already known about the consumer that can be used to decide on which advertising message to deliver. The consumer initiates activity by calling the interactive voice response system or accessing the web site. Software identifies the consumer via the consumer-inputted identification and delivers an advertising message likely appeal to the consumer. The advertising message can include an offer to purchase a product or service. The offer can be taken during the advertising period and recorded so as to be sent to a sponsor. The system then disseminates information sought by the customer, such as student grades. Alternatively, software resident at the Web site reads the identity of the customer who is accessing the Web site and recognizes and ascribes various attributes to the customer. The customer has the opportunity to either view the information or, preferably, interactively respond to the advertisement or offer by seeking additional advertisements or by placing an order for the products or services of the sponsoring vendor.
Abstract:
An Internet Broadcast Search Paradigm (IBSP) is disclosed, which causes a search for information on the world wide web to be distributed to all website computers on a network. The IBSP three basic embodiments: a direct broadcast server, a broadcast server, and a firewall server embodiment. However, other combinations are also possible. The IBSP direct broadcast process involves a client (and user) computer, a website computer, and an IBSP server computer. Each individual user conducts any desired search. In addition, website computers are present and are those computers which typically host and serve a website to the public. In general, there will be a single IBSP server computer although this is not meant as a limitation. In order to speed up the system and to accomplish load balancing, multiple IBSP server computers may be present in the system, although they are not necessarily required.
Abstract:
A memory configuration scheme that enables parallel decoding of a single block of turbo-encoded data is described. In this scheme a single code block is divided into multiple subblocks and decoding is performed on subblocks in parallel. The turbo decoder memory is configured so that subblock decoders can access the common memory resources independently of each other. This scheme is different from existing parallel decoding schemes in that it achieves the parallel implementation by applying multiple decoders to a single code block, not by assigning multiple decoders to multiple code blocks. The advantages of this scheme include minimum memory requirement and minimum decoding latency. The minimum memory requirement results from the fact that it needs memory resources only for a single code block regardless of the number of decoders used. The decoding latency is minimum since decoding of a code block is over when decoding on subblocks is completed.