Abstract: A help interface capable of receiving user-defined queries in a natural language and selecting the most appropriate answer from a plurality of potential answers, includes facilities for parsing and storing the character string content of the query in a buffer. Lists of punctuation characters as well as single and multiple word character strings are successively compared with the content of the buffer to eliminate punctuation, superfluous words, location reference words, and to identify synonyms to base words meaningful in the selection of an appropriate answer. The identified base words are used as references into a predefined rule set which inherently matches the base word with a potential answer and assigns a value based on the relationship of the potential answer to the base word. The cumulative values of all potential answers are computed and ranked with the highest ranking value presented to the user as a response to the query.

Abstract: An adjustable retractor is disclosed comprising an inner ring, an outer ring spaced from the inner ring, and an elongate sleeve open at opposite ends. The sleeve is provided and extends between the inner and outer rings and is connected at the opposite ends to the rings. The outer ring is provided with a pre-loaded rotational torque to assist with rotation of the outer ring about its central axis to roll the sleeve about the outer ring to adjust sleeve length. The outer ring may be formed in a mobius configuration to provide the pre-loaded rotational torque. The outer ring has a cross-sectional shape that may have numerous different configurations. The mobius configuration may include the cross-sectional shape having an outer circumference offset by a predetermined amount about the central axis of the outer ring proceeding longitudinally along the central axis from one location on the outer ring to another location on the outer ring. A method of adjusting a retractor is also disclosed.

Abstract: An x-ray diffraction analysis system provides the automated x-ray diffraction analysis of a plurality of samples in a multiple-cell sample holder. The system includes x-ray source, a detector, a movable sample support and a retractable x-ray shield. The retractable shield is movable between a retracted position, in which optical positioning equipment may be used to locate each sample in the proper testing position, and an extended position, in which stray x-ray energy is blocked. The x-ray energy blocked by the shield includes x-rays diffracted from samples closer to the x-ray source than the sample under test, and x-rays from the source directed toward samples further from the source than the sample under test. Automated movement of the sample support and shield allows for an automated routine to sequentially position each sample, move the shield into the extended position and perform the desired analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus that simulates punting and place kicking of a ball includes a prosthetic leg having a mechanism in the foot region to seat a ball. The leg is pivotally-mounted to a frame and mechanically coupled with a foot pedal. Downward force on the foot pedal is translated to the leg causing the leg to whip upward and launching the ball with proportional force and speed. In one embodiment, the frame is collapsible/expandable and includes a roller to facilitate transportation. In another embodiment, the leg is formed of pliable material to eliminate the risk of injury in the event of collision therewith.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus and method are provided in which the rate of material flow during an injection cycle is controlled. According to one preferred embodiment, an injection molding apparatus is provided that includes a manifold, at least one injection nozzle coupled to the manifold, an actuator, and a valve pin adapted to reciprocate through the manifold and the injection nozzle. The valve pin has a first end coupled to the actuator, a second end that closes the gate in a forward position, and a control surface intermediate said first and second ends for adjusting the rate of material flow during an injection cycle. Retracting the valve pin tends to decrease the rate of material flow during the injection cycle and displacing the valve pin toward the gate tends to increase the rate of material flow during the injection cycle.

Abstract: A navigation system for a digital versatile disc system includes multiple synchronized threads, each of which separately performs a single task so that several tasks can be performed concurrently. In one embodiment, a stream parser thread, a navigation thread and a user interface thread are always created when the DVD player begins operation. In addition, a highlight thread may also be created if the DVD data stream contains highlight information. The stream parser thread receives the DVD data stream and extracts navigation commands and DVD content data from the stream. The navigation commands are sent to the navigation thread for processing, but the content data is sent to system decoders for display. The navigation thread operates separately from the stream parser thread and processes the retrieved navigation commands to select portions of the DVD data stream for display.

Abstract: A group of protocols is described that establish an information bus. The protocols allow various applications and components to plug into the information bus. As a member of the bus, each application or component can exchange information with any other application or component in a structured way. The information bus is especially useful in interconnecting Java beans and applets in a Java virtual machine and in a distributive computer environment. An object oriented computer system having multiple participants is disclosed that utilizes a communications bus for sharing data between the multiple participants. The communications bus comprises membership generator logic, data event builder logic, data notification logic, and data control logic. The membership generator logic is configured to grant each requesting participant membership to the communications bus. The data event builder logic is configured to prepare data events occurring the computer system.

Abstract: A group of protocols is described that establishes an information bus. The protocols allow various applications and components to plug into the information bus. As a member of the bus, each application or component can exchange information with any other application or component in a structured manner. The information bus is especially useful in interconnecting Java beans and applets in a Java virtual machine and in a distributive computer environment.

Abstract: A cryogenic transfer vial for storing and loading a crystal sample on a goniometer includes a cryogen retainer that inhibits spillage of the cryogen when the vial is inverted during sample loading and retrieval. The retainer may be an adsorptive material located in a region of the vial near a sample location, or may be a baffle arrangement within the vial for containing the cryogen.

Abstract: PCI load/store operations and DMA operations are implemented via work queue pairs in a message-passing, queue-oriented bus architecture. PCI address space is divided into segments and, each segment, in turn, is divided into regions. A separate work queue is assigned to each segment. A first portion of a PCI address is matched against the address ranges represented by the segments and used to select a memory segment and its corresponding work queue. An entry in the work queue holds a second portion of the PCI address which specifies a region within the selected segment that is assigned to a specific PCI device. In one embodiment, PIO load/store operations are implemented by selecting a work queue assigned to PIO operations and creating a work queue entry with the PCI address of a register on a PCI device and a pointer to the PIO data. The work queue entry is sent to a PCI bridge where the PCI address is extracted and used to program the appropriate device register with the data using the data pointer.

Abstract: The method entails unwinding portion of film stored in roll form. The film is made of a heat-sealable single- or multilayer flexible material. The flaps for the unwound portion are folded until they are side by side or overlapped along a narrow band. The resulting new lateral edges are folded further so as to form longitudinal accordion-like portions and the bottom is then formed with a transverse heat-sealed portion which is produced simultaneously with a median cut relative to the heat-sealed portion, successively separating two pairs of adjacent containers. The heat-sealed bottom is inserted into the container by an extent which is equal to half the width of the lateral accordion-like portion and a longitudinal heat-sealed portion is then produced in the region where the flaps lie side by side and/or overlap, blocking the bottom and the accordion-like portion, simultaneously with a complete or partial cutting of the longitudinal heat-sealed portion.

Abstract: In a distributed computer system, a data set having a plurality of data rows is extended by adding an additional column to the data set and assigning a persistent partition ID to each of the plurality of data rows in the additional column. The extended data set can then be queried by a plurality of queries, each of which has conditions that select the same rows from the data set and each of which has different partition ID information. The partition ID information forms a different result set from the selected rows so that the result set of each query forms a non-overlapping, transferable result set partition. Together, the result set partitions form the complete result set. The result set partitions can be transferred in parallel through the computer system to increase the system throughput.

Abstract: An enhanced scan chain architecture includes scan cells capable of holding two sets of state data associated with the functional blocks, or “modules,” of a system (e.g., an integrated circuit, a multi-chip module, a printed circuit board, and the like), thereby rendering state data associated with a module accessible. The scan chains are employed, during normal operation, to manage (e.g., save, restore, swap, etc.) state data during multi-tasking and/or testing. Control logic redirects the input of the chain, or selected portions thereof, to a source of saved state when initiating or restoring a task; and/or redirects the output of the chain, or selected portions thereof, to a storage source when one task is interrupted and/or another task is resumed.

Abstract: A heater assembly for mounting around a fluid flow channel in an injection molding apparatus, the heater assembly comprising: an inner tube comprising a first heat conductive material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the inner tube having a selected longitudinal length, an inner surface, an outer surface; a first ring having an inner surface engaged around the outer surface of the inner tube along short selected length of the longitudinal length of the inner tube, the first ring comprising a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion; a heater mechanism that heats the inner tube to a selected elevated temperature.

Abstract: An air vent comprises a vent assembly including an electrically-conductive screen mounted inside an enclosure constructed of panels. One or more of the panels has an array of holes through it. The holes are configured and sized to prevent an appendage, such as a finger from penetrating the enclosure. However, the collective hole area is sufficient to permit adequate airflow. The conductive screen covers the holes and provides for EMI suppression.

Abstract: A message generated by an originator participant is entered into a “bottle” that passes the message from participant to participant. The bottle may be a hand-held device that is capable of directly communicating with another such device. When the originator is located close enough to another participant who also has such a hand-held device, the devices communicate and the message is passed from the originator to the other participant. The bottle may be a hand-held device that is capable of communicating with a central base station, such as a pager or cell phone or a computer that communicates with the base station via the Internet. When the originator enters a message into the device, a program at the base station selects a participant from the list to receive the message and the message is sent to the other participant.