Abstract: The present invention is an Internet wire-mesh merchandising system that comprises a webserver for generating a web presence. Potential customers looking to select and buy wire mesh are allowed to log-on to a website operated by a wire-mesh retailer, distributor, and manufacturer. An HTML product page includes navigation buttons that link to other HTML product pages. Each page further includes JPG or GIF type pictures that allow the shopper to see a particular wire mesh product corresponding to a presently displayed HTML product page. A group of alternate-view buttons link to other pictures of the same product that show variations or different perspectives. A set of four navigation buttons permit the shopper to hyperlink to HTML product pages where the wire mesh is finer, coarser, thinner, and thicker. Once the link is taken, a graphic is presented that corresponds to the selected wire-mesh.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of connecting two semiconductor components comprising the steps of providing in a first main surface of a first semiconductor substrate first component structures including first contact areas, forming in said first semiconductor substrate via holes filled with electrically conductive material and electrically insulated from said first semiconductor substrate, said via holes extending down to the second main surface of the first semiconductor substrate and being connected in an electrically conductive manner to said first contact areas via an electrically conductive connection material on the first main surface of said first semiconductor substrate, forming on the second main surface of the first semiconductor substrate first lands which are connected in an electrically conductive manner to the first contact areas via the electrically conductive material in the via holes, providing on a second semiconductor substrate second component structures including second contac

Abstract: Log indexing apparatus includes a frame and a series of laterally spaced spiral rolls that are inclined from front to back between the infeed and the outfeed, and are also inclined sideways. The spiral rolls are rotated synchronously and are arranged so that the gaps between the flights of the spirals define an upward moving log-receiving trough across the width of the device. The sideways inclination reduces the tendency of the logs to ride on the edges of the flights of the spirals.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically provisioning a user's telephone service (e.g., a complementary network service). A request to add, change or disconnect a service element or feature is received at a web server, telephone server or other entry point (e.g., resubmit server). A generic order object is created to identify the service feature(s) to be affected, how it is to be provisioned, the user's service provider (e.g., LEC (Local Exchange Carrier), wireless carrier) and may provide additional information needed to complete the provisioning. The generic order object is automatically converted into a form specific to the provider. When a response is received from the service provider, the system may update the status of the order to indicate success, notify the user of the order status, re-submit an order that was unsuccessful, notify an operator if intervention is required, initiate resubmission of the order, etc.

Abstract: A sensor component comprises a ceramic support (12) with a metal film (14) applied thereto. At least one connecting wire (16) is electrically connected to the metal film (14) in a contact area (18). A fixing glaze (20) is applied to the metal film (14) and the at least one connecting wire (16) in the contact area (18). The ceramic support (12) has at least one recess (24) in the area of the fixing glaze (20).

Abstract: A railroad switch assembly comprises a basket that directly actuates a torsional assist rod. The basket is located at a lower elevation than the assist rod, preferably in a hollow tie and preferably between the switch machine and the running rail.

Abstract: A device for the contactless detection of a potentially existing essentially edge-free irregularity in a convex surface, which has a structuring that is delimited by edges, comprises a unit for creating a three-dimensional representation of the surface, a unit for extracting the convexity from the three-dimensional representation of the surface and for smoothing the edges of the structuring so as to obtain a convex-free representation of the convex surface which exhibits the irregularity and the structuring, whose edges have now been smoothed, a unit for comparing the convex-free representation with a threshold value so as to identify areal regions of the convex-free representation which are determined by a predetermined relationship to the threshold value, and a unit for analyzing the areas of the identified regions, a region being detected as an irregularity if its area exceeds a predetermined area.

Abstract: Provided are a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for estimating delays of networks. An automated design system comprises a computer configured to identify a critical path in a network, calculate a delay for the technology-mapped version of the network, calculate a delay for the technology-independent version of the network, calculate a scale factor from the technology-mapped and technology-independent delays, and apply the scale factor to all the delays in the technology-independent network.

Abstract: An actuator component for a piezoelectrically-driven microatomizer comprises a diaphragm formed in a semiconductor substrate, a piezoelectric actuator which is arranged on a surface of the diaphragm and by means of which the diaphragm can be caused to vibrate, and a passage formed in the semiconductor substrate and used for supplying a liquid to be atomized from an inlet end to the diaphragm surface located opposite the piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: Entertainment apparatus comprising a book and a mechanical indicator; wherein the book comprises a plurality of bound pages, a first mounting means having a reference means provided in a first predetermined relative position thereto, and a second mounting means having a first magnet provided in a second predetermined relative position thereto, and the mechanical indicator comprises a rotatable member attached to an indicating member and which is selectively rotatable with respect to the indicating member, and a second magnet, and wherein the reference means restricts relative rotation of the rotatable member when the mechanical indicator is mounted on the first mounting member and the indicating member is rotated with respect to the rotatable member, the first and second magnets can interact to rotate the mechanical indicator when the mechanical indicator is mounted on the second mounting means, and the rotatable member does not rotate with respect to the indicating member when the mechanical indicator is rot

Abstract: An access control via properties system provides ACL rules based on the properties associated with the entries, thereby taking advantage of the fact that there are inherent properties associated with each entry and does not require any changes to the schema. Once the server supports the invention, the system administrator creates a few simple ACL rules and is done. The invention structures the ACL rule such that it indicates the attributes that the administrator has selected for user access and specifies the type of access to be granted to a user which can include: read, write, or any other privileges that the system supports. The desired attributes that the user must have to be granted such access is also listed along with the attribute fieldname associated with the desired attributes. The directory server will match the desired attributes within the specified attribute fieldname with the user's attributes and allows access to the directory entry only if the user has the desired attribute values.

Abstract: An apparatus for varying localized absorption and scattering coefficients at a tissue measurement site in a controlled and reproducible manner during optical sampling of a tissue volume by controlling the pressure applied to a tissue measurement site by a spectroscopic analyzer allows applied pressure to be maintained at a constant level, or the applied pressure may be varied in a controlled, reproducible manner as a function of time. A rest for receiving a body part holds the body part in a fixed position and at a fixed elevation. A mechanical system advances a fiber optic probe until it makes contact with the body part with a constant amount of pressure. The applied force is supplied by a counterweight on a single arm balance. A temperature control allows the temperature of the fiber optic probe to be equilibrated with the temperature in the immediate vicinity of the tissue measurement site.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved race detection and expression is disclosed. The race detection method and apparatus disclosed herein detects races statically by analyzing the circuits, which are usually written in a hardware description language (HDL), such as VHDL or Verilog. Compared with known simulation approaches, the inventive method and apparatus has at least the following advantages: no test vectors are required; all potential races can be detected; and in simulator approaches, if the right test vectors are not provided, then the races cannot be found (the invention avoids this last constraint).

Abstract: An analog video tagging and encoding system. The invention inserts an analog tag frame into the analog video stream such that the luminance values are made to approach zero, i.e., black, allowing a potential tag frame to be quickly identified. Tag information is then encoded as a structured color pattern into the chrominance portions of the frame and contains program start/stop information, program segment identification, or data downloads. The color pattern is chosen such that when it is converted into digital form according to the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard, the digital signal so produced may be easily and minimally parsed to recognize the presence or absence of a tag within a normal frame time period.

Abstract: A gateway architecture for data communication over bandwidth-constrained and charge-by-use networks (10) uses a C_Gate application (14) located between a client application (12) and a bandwidth-constrained network (22), and an S_Gate application (20) located between the bandwidth-constrained network (22) and an Internet server (26), to send and receive data in an efficient manner across the bandwidth-constrained network (22) by converting the native protocols of the client application (12) and the Internet server (26) to a bandwidth-efficient protocol. The C_Gate application (14) and S_Gate application (20) also act to reconvert data packets from the bandwidth-efficient protocol back to the native transport protocols for data communication to the Internet server (26) and the client application (12).

Abstract: A method for electronic reduction of the contrast of video images as early as during recording provides electronic brightening of the shaded zones of a video image in a camera as early as during recording while maintaining the detail contrast even in the brightened regions. A blurred diffuse image of the motif is produced on the image sensor in the camera by the objective and the electronically alterable diffusion element, and is stored in a frame store. The black and white contrast of the mask is determined in the evaluation circuit, and a control variable is generated pixel-by-pixel from this. The focused video image which is subsequently produced on the image sensor when the diffusion element is switch to be crystal-clear is read and is amplified or attenuated pixel-by-pixel such that the shadowed parts are brightened and/or the bright zones are attenuated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for functionally verifying an integrated circuit design. A hardware-oriented verification-specific object-oriented programming language is used to construct and customize verification tests. The language is extensible, and shaped to provide elements for stimulating and observing hardware device models. The invention is platform and simulator-independent, and is adapted for integration with Verilog, VHDL, and C functions. A modular system environment ensures interaction with any simulator through a unified system interface that supports multiple external types. A test generator module automatically creates verification tests from a functional description. A test suite can include any combination of statically and dynamically-generated tests. Directed generation constrains generated tests to specific functionalities. Test parameters are varied at any point during generation and random stability is supported.

Abstract: A translation management system in a computer environment. A preferred embodiment of the invention automatically detects when a document, data stream, or non-text file in the master language has been updated and notifies the user which corresponding documents, data streams, or non-text files in the other languages require translation which are then staged and dynamically routed and sequenced to individual translation resources where the actual translation is performed. Management status, reporting, scheduling, and accounting information is sent to the user as the translation process ensues. The user is notified of the completion of translation and the invention coordinates the delivery of the translated documents, data streams, or non-text files back to the user's site for installation and optional review.

Abstract: In a method of producing a micromechanical structure for a micro-electromechanical element, a first intermediate layer, which is applied to a first main surface of a first semiconductor wafer, is structured in a first step so as to produce a recess. The first semiconductor wafer is then connected via the first intermediate layer to a second semiconductor wafer in such a way that a hermetically sealed cavity is defined by the recess. Finally, one of the wafers is thinned from a surface facing away from said first intermediate layer so as to produce a diaphragm-like structure on top of the cavity. At least one further intermediate layer is provided between the two semiconductor wavers which, prior to the connection of the two semiconductor wafers, is structured in such a way that the structure formed in said at least one further intermediate layer and the recess in said first intermediate layer define the cavity.