Abstract: A method is provided for carrying out multi-step separations of objects bearing at least two binding sites. In the first step, a first binder/bead composition is bound to objects that bear the first binding site, and then unbound objects, i.e. objects not bearing the first binding site, are separated from bound objects. In the second step, a second binder/bead composition is bound to the remaining objects that bear the second binding site, and then the objects that are bound to both beads are removed from those objects that are bound to only one bead. The beads can differ in magnetic responsiveness, charge, size, color, and the like, and these differences can be used to carry out the separation steps.

Abstract: A method for determining a direct current (DC) level involved in an alternating current signal is provided. The alternating current signal is transmitted from an amplifier to an A/D (analog-to-digital) converter. When any of the extreme values of the alternating current signal is beyond the input range of the A/D converter, the alternating current signal is shifted to make both of the peak and bottom values located within the input range of the A/D converter. Then, the real extreme values are realized according to the shift level(s), the relative peak and bottom values realized after the shifting procedure, and the input range of the A/D converter. Finally, the DC level is determined according to the real peak and bottom values.

Abstract: A safety arrangement in a motor vehicle includes a sensor (10) and a component (17) of the suspension of the vehicle of adjustable length between a front wheel (16) and a fixed part (14) of the vehicle. The component of adjustable length (17) is associated with a chamber (20) to be filled with fluid, there being a fluid outlet (26) which includes a pilot operated diaphragm valve (36).

Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) as a head-rest (5) which is mounted for movement about a horizontal axis defined by a bar (7) depending arms (12) extend downwardly into the back of the seat and carry a pressure plate (13) at a position behind the torso of the occupant of the seat so that pressure applied to the pressure plate (13) will cause the head-rest (5) to move forwardly. The pressure plate (13) is pivotally connected (14, 15, 16, 17) to the arms (12) to enable the arrangement to pivot to the maximum extent in a situation where the rear part of the seat is rigid, for example if the seat is a rear seat in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for automatic processing of electronic communications in a networked computer environment. The invention facilitates the appropriate form of translation of the communication to suit the circumstance. The communication is identified as a foreign language communication, a quotation program is optionally applied to calculate the cost of a human translation and a machine translation program is optionally applied to the foreign language communication. The communication, optional quotation and optional machine translation are forwarded to a recipient. The method is transparent to the sender and receiver.

Abstract: A current detecting circuit for use in a power converter having a control circuit, a switching circuit, a transformer and an energy storage element is disclosed. The current detecting circuit comprises a filter, a rectifier and a differentiator. The filter is electrically connected to the energy storage element for receiving a voltage signal from the energy storage element and filtering the voltage signal to obtain an alternating voltage change value. The rectifier is electrically connected to the filter for rectifying the alternating voltage change value to obtain a half-sine wave voltage change value. The differentiator is electrically connected to the rectifier and the control circuit for performing a differential operation on the half-sine wave voltage change value to obtain a current change value of the energy storage element.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) that is capable of a first stable configuration and a second stable configuration is disclosed. The bistable mechanism (10) has a leg (30, 32) that is coupled on one end by a base member (22, 24) and on the other end by a shuttle (20). The leg (30, 32) stores potential energy as it is deflected. The potential energy stored in the leg (30, 32) has a maximum potential energy position with a low potential energy position on either side of the maximum. An apparatus and method are also disclosed for a latching mechanism (910) and the associated method. The latching mechanism (910) is comprised of a grasping member (932), a lock slider (928), and a detent slider (916). These three members (916, 928, 932) operate together to induce a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration by actuating the lock slider (928) in a single direction.

Abstract: A voltage detecting circuit including an impedance converter, an energy storage element, a current source and a comparing circuit is disclosed. The impedance converter is used for converting a high impedance voltage signal into a low impedance voltage signal. The energy storage element is electrically connected to the impedance converter, and receives the low impedance voltage signal. The current source is electrically connected to the energy storage element, and provides a discharging path of the energy storage element. The comparing circuit is electrically connected to the current source, and receives a voltage signal from the energy storage element. The voltage signal is compared with a predetermined reference voltage value stored in the comparing circuit so as to dynamically control operation of the power converter according to the comparing result.

Abstract: A multifunctional hand tool is disclosed having multiple tool components for use to service and repair sprinkler and irrigation systems. The hand tool includes eight tool implements positioned on four reversible tool couplings. Each one of the four tool couplings are received by an end of one of two reversible servant couplings. The two servant couplings are each received by an end of a master coupling. The master coupling is received by a threaded insert. The insert is then received by a handle. The handle includes a retractable rotary head key for extracting a rotary sprinkler head, a releasable clamp, and a sprinkler nozzle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the spray pattern of a sprinkler nozzle.

Abstract: A method for increasing the readability of a machine-readable graphical code on a printing surface is provided. The method includes receiving a graphical code image. The graphical code image is an electronic representation of a graphical code. The graphical code image includes a white region and a non-white region adjacent to the white region. The method also includes determining a size increase of the non-white region. The size increase indicates how much the size of the non-white region will increase when the graphical code image is printed on the printing surface. The method also includes creating a size compensated graphical code image by reducing the size of the non-white region by an amount that will substantially compensate for the size increase of the non-white region.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for use in a charging device of a portable electronic apparatus is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a switch circuit being controlled via a control end thereof so as to result in a variable current on the primary winding, a rectification circuit electrically connected to the secondary winding, and proceeding a charging operation in response to an induced current, and a micro-controller electrically connected to the switch circuit and generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to the control end in response to the charging operation. In addition, a method for operating a voltage regulator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A structure for vertically housing an electronic component is disclosed as including a bottom support member and a top support member. The top support member is substantially parallel to the bottom support member. An open space is formed between the top support member and the bottom support member whereby the electronic component may be placed into the open space in a vertical orientation. A ventilating structure is disposed outside of the open space and is capable of channeling air into a middle portion of the electronic component in the open space.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printhead for raising its product acceptance rate and improving its quality is provided. The method of manufacturing printheads includes steps of providing a base layer, forming a pattern layer on the base layer by a semi-conductor manufacturing process, forming a dry film of a channel barrier layer having an ink channel, a flow channel and plural ink cavities on the pattern layer; and adhering a nozzle plate on the dry film of the channel barrier layer by thermal compression. The pattern layer further includes a flow pattern and a base pattern surround a central location reserved for the ink channel, wherein the base pattern comprises at least a heating layer and a passivation layer, and the flow pattern is made of the same material and at the same height as the base pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically generating a textual description for a visual data representation is provided. The method accesses a data set and visual template associated with a visual data representation. A textual description template is also accessed. The visual template is interpreted using the textual description template and data from the data set. As the visual template is interpreted, a textual description is generated corresponding to the visual data representation. The system and method may be initiated by a user request or a command based on some other event such as the passage of time, a change to data in the data set, or the like. The textual description may be generated dynamically in response to a request or previous to, and in anticipation of, a request from a user.

Abstract: An enhanced apparatus and method for cleaning, drying, and disinfecting brine shrimp eggs is provided. The apparatus may have a blower and a furnace that provide pressurized, dry air to a screening device. The screening device may include a vibrating screen designed to release detritus while retaining viable cysts. The dry air may convey the cysts upward and suspend them within a containment vessel. The containment vessel may have a lower, narrow section and an upper, wide section; the larger airflow velocity within the narrow section suspends the brine shrimp eggs while the remaining detritus moves upward, into the wide section, in which the airflow velocity is lower. The air suspension rapidly dries the cysts to maintain a high percentage of viable eggs. Ultraviolet lights disinfect the cysts within the narrow section. An extractor with a cyclone separator draws material from the wide section and removes viable eggs from the detritus.

Abstract: A system for adding a post-collation operation to an imaging job is disclosed. The system includes a computing device with executable instructions. The executable instructions are executable on the computing device and are configured to implement a method for adding a post-collation operation to the imaging job. The imaging job is received downstream from an origination point of the imaging job and upstream from a job interpreter/rasterization process in an imaging device. New commands are inserted into the imaging job that relate to a post-collation operation. Another use of the method for multi-job interleaving is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting a sheet material includes a platform; a rail structure secured onto the platform; a sliding member sliding along the rail structure; a pressing plate disposed under the rail structure and engaging with the sliding member for pressing the sheet material against the platform in response to an external force, wherein a gap exists between the pressing plate and the platform for receiving the sheet material before the external force is exerted; an elastic member connected with and disposed between the rail structure and the pressing plate to keep the gap between the pressing plate and the platform by a recovery force thereof when the external force is released; and a cutting member carried by the sliding member for cutting the sheet material sustained on the platform.

Abstract: Permeable and elastic pavement blocks comprising waste-polyurethane chips, which use a binder specially developed to secure the binding between an upper polyurethane-chip layer and a lower permeable-concrete layer as well as the binding among the waste-polyurethane chips, resulting in excellent strength and durability, and use recycled polyurethane chips to provide elasticity and permeability suitable for sports activities, walking, and outdoor exercises the like.

Abstract: A gravure printing element is fabricated using a negative-working thermally-imageable coating that is exposed using commercially available diode lasers, the coating being insensitive to ultraviolet light, daylight or visible light, and developable using aqueous media. A gravure etch mask is formed on a printing precursor by applying a coating of thermally-imageable material, curing the coating, imagewise illuminating the cured coating with a laser and removing with a developer the areas of the coating that were not illuminated. The masked precursor is then chemically etched to produce a gravure printing element.

Abstract: A gasifier is disclosed combining a fixed bed gasification section where coarse fuel is gasified and an entrained flow gasification section where fine fuel is gasified. The fixed bed section includes upper and lower sections. Coarse fuel is devolatilized in the upper fixed bed section and subjected to elevated temperatures sufficient to crack and destroy tars and oils in the effluent gases. The entrained flow gasification section is disposed in a lower plenum adjacent the lower fixed bed section. A plurality of injection ports are configured to introduce oxygen, steam, or air into different sections of the gasifier to control temperature and operating conditions. Activated carbon may be formed in the upper fixed bed section and in the entrained flow section. The activated carbon may be used as a sorbent to remove pollutants from the effluent gases. The gasifier may be used with various coarse and fine fuel feedstocks.