Abstract: This invention relates to acoustic drivers with stationary and moving coils. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces audible sound. The time varying signals correspond to an input audio signal such that the sound corresponds to the input audio signal. Some of the described embodiments include multiple moving coils, multiple stationary coils or both. Some embodiments include feedback for adjusting one or more of the signals based on a characteristic of the acoustic driver. Various compensation and other features of the invention are also described in relation to various embodiments.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for providing password approval on a device. The password approval includes getting the user password, generating at least one symbolically equivalent password and then comparing the at least one symbolically equivalent password with at least one specified forbidden password. The user password is disapproved if one of the symbolically equivalent passwords corresponds to the at least one forbidden password.

Abstract: A modular retractable enclosure is provided. The retractable enclosure includes moveable bays that telescopically retract inside each other. Each bay is made from two or more vertical framing sections and a plurality of first framing members. Each vertical framing section can be made from a plurality of second framing members. Assembly rods are provided to couple the vertical framing sections and are tensioned to load the first framing members in longitudinal compression. The framing members are fastenable to each other. The second framing members can be held together using splice plates. The retractable enclosure may also include a drive system. A related method of constructing a retractable enclosure is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic key and certificate management is disclosed. In particular, a key store in a base computer contains both new and previously viewed cryptographic keys. In one embodiment, for each new key, if a corresponding certificate matches an existing certificate, the new certificate may be automatically downloaded to a mobile communications device without prompting a user.

Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. Embodiments of the apparatus comprise a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet, and includes a suction motor and at least one cleaning stage. An upright section is mounted to the surface cleaning head and comprises at least one cleaning stage having an inlet. An above floor cleaning wand is connectable to the fluid flow path and has an inlet end. A valve is operable between a first position in which the surface cleaning head is in fluid flow communication with the at least one cleaning stage and a second position in which the above floor cleaning wand is in fluid flow communication with the at least one cleaning stage. In some embodiments, the valve is positioned adjacent the inlet of the at least one cleaning stage.

Abstract: A process for separating vapors, for example for separating water from ethanol, uses a gas separation membrane unit. Permeate from the membrane unit is compressed and may be used for example as heating steam for distillation. The membrane unit may have two or more stages. Permeate from a stage may be condensed and used for example as fermentation make up water, compressed and fed to the permeate from an upstream stage or heating steam, or fed to another membrane stage for further dewatering. The gas separation membrane unit may be used to remove water from a fermentation broth that has been partially dewatered, for example by one or more of a distillation column or molecular sieve.

Abstract: A non-cellulose based deformable substrate having at least one fold line is configured to be able to be directly mounted on a frame or included in a publication. The substrate is configured to reduce the propagation of stress along the at least one fold line.

Abstract: A system and method for, on a mobile device having a plurality of communication lines on which outgoing calls may be made, providing a user interface for selecting a calling card to be used in making an outgoing call to a desired phone number. The method includes: associating each calling card in a set of at least one calling card with a communication line; and displaying on a display of the mobile device a line selection menu containing a plurality of card/line identifiers; wherein each card/line identifier is configured to uniquely identify a corresponding associated calling card and communication line combination.

Abstract: A pills counting device is provided. It comprises a tray comprising a base member and a trough member. The device also comprises a lid member mounted on the base member and being movable between two extreme positions. The device also comprises at least one port provided in the tray and/or in the lid member and adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the base member and with an air intake of a vacuum device that can be remotely controlled. When a vacuum is applied to the at least one port, an air stream is established to entrain toward the vacuum device particles that may be present on surfaces of the device. A cleaning method using the aforesaid pills counting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for an area integrated fluence monitoring sensor that can be used to measure a radiation dose. The sensor comprises at least one Gradient Ion Chamber (GIC) comprising an ion chamber having a volume gradient across a length or width thereof, a gas or liquid located within the ion chamber and an electrode to detect ions generated within the gas or liquid when the at least one GIC is subjected to an ionizing radiation beam. Various embodiments are also described herein for an Integral Quality Monitoring system and associated method that can be used to measure and monitor the quality of radiation doses provided by a radiation treatment system.

Abstract: Applicants' teachings relate to a method and device to extract components contained in a fluid. More particularly, the applicants' teachings are directed towards a method and sampling device for quick extraction of targeted components from their in vivo surroundings. In accordance with various embodiments of applicants' teachings a sampling device and method to extract components, such as, for example, analytes, from a fluid is provided. The device is interfaced with a fluid source, such as, for example, but not limited to, a circulatory system of an animal, to enable extraction of target molecules with minimal loss of fluid (e.g., blood) to the source. The device facilitates an interface between the circulatory system of an animal and a suitable sampling probe such as, for example, a solid phase microextraction (SPME) probe. The targeted compounds are desorbed in small volumes of solvents that can be analyzed with highly specific instruments.

Abstract: A system that is suitable for extracting plasma from blood received from a blood supply is provided. The system comprises a housing, an inlet opening for receiving the blood, a filtration chamber comprising a membrane, and a plasma compartment. The membrane forms a barrier between the blood and the plasma extracted from the blood, and the plasma compartment collects the plasma extracted from the blood. In some embodiments, the system comprises a plasma flow path compression chamber for pulling plasma across the membrane. In some embodiments, the system comprises a blood flow path compression chamber for facilitating blood flow. Some embodiments of the system further comprise means for measuring plasma and blood analytes using spectroscopic and biosensor techniques.

Abstract: A method for detecting and diagnosing disease states in a body part is described. The method starts with a preparatory step of modeling the body part as a grid of many finite elements, then calculating an electrical property between two finite elements at which current from two corresponding electrodes flows through the body part. This is termed the weight (influence) of the element. With this baseline information, electrical impedance measurements made at the plurality of electrodes on the periphery of the body part can be used in a diagnostic module to calculate a Weighted Element Value (WEVal) for each element. In a preferred embodiment of invention, the difference in WEVal magnitude between corresponding elements of homologous body parts serves as an indicator of the presence of disease.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a security encoding to be applied to a message being sent by a user of a computing device, such as a mobile device, for example. In one broad aspect, the method comprises determining, at the computing device, whether a general message encoding configuration setting thereon indicates that the security encoding to be applied to the message is to be established by a policy engine; if the general message encoding configuration setting on the computing device indicates that the security encoding to be applied to the message is to be established by the policy engine, determining the security encoding to be applied to the message by querying the policy engine for the security encoding to be applied to the message; applying the determined security encoding to the message; and transmitting the message to which the security encoding has been applied to the at least one recipient. In one embodiment, the policy engine is a PGP Universal Server.

Abstract: A system and method for searching and retrieving certificates, which may be used in the processing of encoded messages. In one embodiment, a certificate synchronization application is programmed to perform certificate searches by querying one or more certificate servers for all certificate authority (CA) certificates and cross-certificates on the certificate servers. In another embodiment, all certificates related to an identified certificate are retrieved from the certificate servers automatically by the certificate synchronization application, where the related certificates comprise at least one of one or more CA certificates and one or more cross-certificates. Embodiments of the invention facilitate at least partial automation of the downloading and establishment of certificate chains, thereby minimizing the need for users to manually search for individual certificates.

Abstract: A diamine absorbent that contains heat stable salts is regenerated using an ion exchange process wherein the concentration of heat stable salts in the feed stream provided to the cation exchange unit is limited.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling data communications between a server and a client device, such as a mobile device. Embodiments relate generally to a technique where stop data is provided to the client device. This stop data can be transmitted (e.g. by the client device) to the server. When processed by the server, the stop data indicates to the server that at least some of the encrypted data received by the client device from the server was not decrypted using the second key (e.g. as may be the case when the second key has been deleted). Upon receiving the stop data, the server may, for example, withhold the transmission of data encrypted with the first key to the client device until the second key is restored on the client device. In one embodiment, the stop data is provided to the client device in an encoded (e.g. encrypted) form.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a user with the ability to select from a list of available services that can be used on a mobile device. The services include device-based services and device-network based services. The activation, usage tracking and deactivation of a selected service can be conducted at a central location. Some of the services can be provided by different carrier network providers and in different geographical areas. The service selection can be performed from the mobile device, thus providing the user with maximum flexibility as to when and where the user requests the service.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system, method, and user interface for searching for messages with attachments on mobile devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a messaging application is programmed such that, in operation, a user is presented with a search screen in which the user may define search parameters for a search. A search parameter associated with an option to search for messages of a specified type is provided, and more specifically, an option to search for messages (e.g. electronic mail messages) having one or more attachments is made available to the user.

Abstract: A resistor assembly for use at microwave frequencies, has a substrate with first and second contacts or metalizations at either end of the substrate. A third contact or metallization is provided on one side of the substrate generally in the middle thereof. First and second resistors, as thin film resistors, are provided on the substrate extending between the first and second contacts and the third, central contact. A third resistor is provided on the other side of the substrate, connecting the first and second contacts, so as to form a delta configuration of three resistors. This then provides a resistor configuration that can be used to implement a three port Wilkinson splitter or combiner.