Abstract: A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasable attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.

Abstract: A top case assembly for a portable computer is disclosed. The assembly may include an integral unified (e.g., homogenous) top case formed from a single part. The integral top case provides an enclosure, frame and cosmetic exterior of the portable computer. The integral top case also serves as the primary structure of the portable computer. The assembly may include a variety of subassemblies such as keyboards, touchpads, circuit boards, and drives that are carried by the underside of the integral top case. The integral top case may be formed from aluminum slab that has been machined to form walls, openings, attachment areas and cosmetic areas of the top case.

Abstract: A control system (1) for a complex process, particularly for controlling a combustion process in a power plant, a waste incinerator plant, or a cement plant, has a controlled system (14) and at least one controller (36), wherein the control system (1) is divided hierarchically into various levels (10, 20, 30, 40). The first level (10) represents the complex, real process to be controlled and is implemented by the controlled system (14). The second level (20) represents an interface to the process and is implemented by a process control system. The third level (30) represents the control of the process and is implemented by the at least one active controller (36). The fourth level (40) represents a superordinate overview and is implemented by a principal controller (44).

Abstract: A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion.

Abstract: In connection with a semiconductor device in which a conductive member is coupled to the surface of a bonding pad exposed from an opening formed in a passivation film, there is provided a technique able to suppress the occurrence of a crack in the passivation film. A second planar distance between a first end of an electrode layer and a first end of a pad is greater than a first planar distance between the first end of the electrode layer and a first end of an opening. Since the second planar distance between the first end of the electrode layer and the first end of the pad is long, even when a coupled position of wire is deviated to the first end side of the electrode layer, stress caused by coupling of the wire to a stepped portion of the electrode layer can be prevented from being transmitted to the first end portion of the pad.

Abstract: A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for quickly and easily authenticating large computer program. The system operates by first sealing the computer program with digital signature in an incremental manner. Specifically, the computer program is divided into a set of pages and a hash value is calculated for each page. The set of hash values is formed into a hash value array and then the hash value array is then sealed with a digital signature. The computer program is then distributed along with the hash value array and the digital signature. To authenticate the computer program, a recipient first verifies the authenticity of the hash value array with the digital signature and a public key. Once the hash value array has been authenticated, the recipient can then verify the authenticity of each page of the computer program by calculating a hash of a page to be loaded and then comparing with an associated hash value in the authenticated hash value array.

Abstract: A wooden cable reel has a drum made of a plurality of staves and flanges secured at the ends of the drum. A steel support ring is rolled from a strip to have a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the drum and the ends of the strip are welded together. The support ring extends around the interior of the drum intermediate its ends and is secured to the drum from the inside by fasteners extending through the ring and into the interior surface of the drum. The support ring resists inwardly directed forces applied to the drum when cable is wound onto the reel and thus prevents the drum from deforming or collapsing.

Abstract: A digital phase detector circuit and corresponding monitor and control logic is presented. The digital phase detector has two storage elements, where the data input of the first storage element receives a first clock signal and the data input of the second storage element receives a second clock signal. A time shifter shifts the second clock signal by a shift period, and transmits the shifted signal to the clock input of the storage elements. The signals applied to the data inputs are transmitted from the storage elements when the clock input receives the shifted second clock signal from the time shifter. A monitor and control module samples the data output from the storage elements after each shifted second clock signal is transmitted by the time shifter. The sampling of the output data provides the data used to determine the time relationship between the first and the second clock signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aesthetically treating cellulite skin by lipotomy, and to a device for implementing said method.

Abstract: A cutting insert of the present invention has a body, auxiliary cutting edges of a convex curve shape and main cutting edges. The body has a top surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces connecting the top and bottom surfaces, and corner surfaces connecting the adjacent side surfaces. The auxiliary cutting edges are formed at intersections between the top and bottom surfaces and the side surfaces. The main cutting edges are formed at intersections between the top and bottom surfaces and the corner surfaces. The main cutting edge in the top surface extends from an end of an adjacent auxiliary cutting edge to its center in a direction toward the bottom surface and from the center to an end of another adjacent auxiliary cutting edge in a direction away from the bottom surface.

Abstract: Methods, Integrated Circuits (IC) and computer programs for decoding contacts in a digital resistive screen overlay (DRSO) are presented. The method includes coupling in succession columns of the DRSO to a first voltage while floating a remainder of the columns. Further, the method includes the operation of checking during a sampling time if each row of the DRSO is connected through closed switches in the DRSO to the column coupled to the first voltage. The sampling time is configured such that the sampling time for a given row is previous to the arrival time of a signal that started with the coupling of a column and that propagated to the given row through more than one closed switch in the DRSO.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a capacitive decoupling module and method for an integrated circuit that features providing multiple capacitive elements to decouple the power rails from the integrated circuit. The multiple capacitive elements are spaced-apart, along a first direction, from the integrated circuit. A first set of capacitive elements is closer to the integrated circuit than a second set of capacitive elements. The first set has a smaller capacitance than the second set.

Abstract: An aircraft cargo restraint has a base configured for attachment to a cargo deck. A housing is rotatably mounted to the base about a first axis and is movable between an erect position and a stowed position. A head is movably disposed in the housing, and is movable between an extended position and a contracted position in directions that are substantially parallel to the first axis. The restraint includes a lock configured to releasably secure the housing in the erect position when the head is in the contracted position, and to permit movement of the head from the erect position to the stowed position when the head is in the extended position.

Abstract: More than one embodiment of a blank and carton are provided. In one embodiment, a blank forms a carton with an opening flap that forms a display header for the carton. The opening flap is defined along a tear line pattern in a side panel and an overlapped and adhered end flap configuration, with the overlapped portion defined along a fold line. The opening flap is foldable along the fold line to dispose interior surfaces of the overlapped end flaps in facing relationship with one another. A portion of the opening flap extends into the carton interior, and can be received into two tuck-in flaps formed in another side panel. A display header is formed of the exposed portion of the opening flap when the opening flap is oriented in a display configuration. In another embodiment, only one tuck-in flap is included.

Abstract: Handshaking circuits are provided in a communications cable and in a device operable to be mated with the communications cable. Before a device can utilize the power supply signal of such a communications channel, the two handshaking circuits must sufficiently identify one another over a power supply signal with a decreased voltage. The decreased voltage allows for a cable plug to be provided with a safe, protected power that cannot cause harm to a human. The decreased voltage also reduces the chance that a device can receive a primary power supply signal from the cable before the device sufficiently identifies itself. Accordingly, a laptop may be connected to a portable music player, but the voltage of the power supply signal provided by the laptop to the cable may be decreased on-cable until the handshaking circuit of the portable music player sufficiently performs a handshaking operation with a on-cable handshaking circuit.