Abstract:
A method of operating a metallurgical furnace, and a furnace apparatus capable of using this method, in which coal is pulverized in a pulverizer vessel by interparticle collisions in at least one stream of gaseous medium, to produce ultrafine pulverized coal and feeding a mixture of the ultrafine pulverized coal and gaseous medium directly and continuously from the pulverizer vessel to the metallurgical furnace.
Abstract:
A method representing an object appearing in still or video image for use in searching, wherein the object appears in the image with a first two-dimensional outline, by processing signals corresponding to the image, comprises deriving a view descriptor of the first outline of the object and deriving at least one additional view descriptor of the outline of the object in a different view, and associating the two or more view descriptors to form an object descriptor.
Abstract:
An online auction process for derivative securities is used to determine a fair market value of an asset or benefit provided to others, such as employee stock options. In one embodiment, the derivative securities track the intrinsic value realized by employees when exercising the employee stock options granted to them by their employers. The derivative securities may include rules for handling modifications to an employee stock option grant and/or rules for handling forfeitures of some or all of the employee stock options.
Abstract:
Degradable, polymeric fiber-based, three-dimensional braided scaffolds for use as graft materials in ligament and tendon repair, reconstruction and replacement are provided. Also provided are methods for preparing these scaffolds.
Abstract:
In general, the present invention converts speech, preferably recorded on a portable recorder, to text, analyzes the text, and determines voice commands and times when the voice commands occurred. Task names are associated with voice commands and time segments. These time segments and tasks may be packaged as time increments and stored (e.g., in a file or database) for further processing. Preferably, phrase grammar rules are used when analyzing the text, as this helps to determine voice commands. Using phrase grammar rules also allows the text to contain a variety of topics, only some of which are pertinent to tracking time.
Abstract:
Audible media among different channels is recorded and analyzed to identify repeated instances of the same media item, either within a channel or from channel to channel, over a span of time. Such media items are identified as possible advertisements. A verification process is performed to determine which of these advertisement candidates are in fact advertisements. Once advertisements are so identified, audio from various sources is monitored to identify subsequent occurrences of that advertisement by matching the monitored audio against the stored signatures. In such a manner, advertisement flighting (broadcasts) as well as user exposure to advertisements can be detected and tracked.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first semiconductor layer on a front side of the semiconductor substrate. Additional semiconductor layers may be formed on a font side of the first semiconductor layer. The substrate is subsequently removed. In some embodiments, one or more additional semiconductor layers may be formed on the back side of the first semiconductor layer after the semiconductor substrate has been removed. Additionally, in some embodiments, a portion of the first semiconductor layer is removed along with the semiconductor substrate. In such embodiments, the first semiconductor layer is subsequently etched to a known thickness. Source regions and device electrodes may be then be formed.
Abstract:
A device for placing food on a floor within reach of one or more animals that are feeding along a feeding rail. The device is mounted on or near the feeding rail and has an extendable and retractable arm connected to a plow. The arm is storable above the floor and does not have moving parts located on the floor. The device may move along the length of the feed rail, as well.
Abstract:
A method facilitates fabricating a gas turbine engine combustor. The method comprises coupling a venturi to a primary swirler, and coupling the venturi to a secondary swirler such that a gap is defined between a portion of the venturi and a portion of one of the primary swirler and the secondary swirler.
Abstract:
A power distribution/generation system is disclosed for supplying electrical power to a number of sites (32, 33, 34), one or more of which has a generator (53, 1) such as a Stirling engine (1) which is capable of generating electrical power. The generators (53, 1) are linked together on a local network that is connectable to an external power grid (31). A controller (35) can hold the distribution of power so that a site is supplied with electrical power from the local network if its power demand exceeds the power generated by the generators in that network. However, if the total power demand of all the sites in the network exceeds the total power available from the generators in that network, then the controller (35) causes power to be drawn from the grid (31) instead.