Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a stacked device having a first epitaxial region and a second epitaxial region vertically displaced from the first epitaxial region. The first epitaxial region comprising an asymmetric profile with a horizontal protrusion.

Abstract: In the present invention the camera of a student's mobile communications device sends a live image of the student's paper through an image-sharing subsystem to the instructor's personal computing or mobile communications device. An annotation subsystem allows the instructor to mark said image of the student's paper, and a background-subtraction subsystem allows a background-free image of the instructor to appear on said image of the student's paper. A screen-sharing subsystem transmits a combined image of the student's paper and the instructor and his or her markings back to the student's device. Mounting the student's device above the paper on which he or she is working allows the student to see the instructor and the instructor's markings overlaid on the student's paper, giving the impression that the instructor is present and collaborating on the student's work.

Abstract: In the present invention the camera of a student's mobile communications device sends a live image of the student's paper through an image-sharing subsystem to the instructor's personal computing or mobile communications device. An annotation subsystem allows the instructor to mark said image of the student's paper, and a background-subtraction subsystem allows a background-free image of the instructor to appear on said image of the student's paper. A screen-sharing subsystem transmits a combined image of the student's paper and the instructor and his or her markings back to the student's device. Mounting the student's device above the paper on which he or she is working allows the student to see the instructor and the instructor's markings overlaid on the student's paper, giving the impression that the instructor is present and collaborating on the student's work.

Abstract: Remote collaboration, particularly synchronous collaboration, between parties in separate locations can be enhanced by providing the opportunity for both parties to “write” on a paper medium or other surface. This is particularly useful in an instructor/student tutoring session. Both the student and instructor may have workstations with video conferencing and screen-sharing capabilities. Advantageously the student station can take advantage of a mobile communication device with a camera for imaging an object that the student may write on, for example, writing on paper with a pen. The instructor station may have an interactive whiteboard and a projector. Video conferencing capabilities are used to transmit an image of the student writing to the instructor which image may be displayed to the instructor through projection onto an interactive whiteboard surface. The interactive whiteboard allows the instructor to “virtually” mark the projection of the paper using for example a stylus and an infrared sensor.

Abstract: This innovation, the “Input number”, is simply a second number assigned to a financial account that can only be used to credit deposits in that account. For example: an utility company may advertize an Input number to which all customers can direct their monthly payments, without the utility having knowledge of the customers various debit card account numbers.

Abstract: An arrangement whereby the shaft of a pump is positioned against the edge, of a flywheel of a stationary or portable engine, with direct contact between the flywheel edge and the pump shaft, such that rotation of the flywheel imparts rotation to the shaft and thus powers the pump. A housing or similar support structure holds the pump in position against the flywheel edge. The arrangement eliminates the conventional need for a belt connection between the engine and the pump.

Abstract: Remote collaboration, particularly synchronous collaboration, between parties in separate locations can be enhanced by providing the opportunity for both parties to “write” on a paper medium or other surface. This is particularly useful in an instructor/student tutoring session. Both the student and instructor may have workstations with video conferencing and screen-sharing capabilities. Advantageously the student station has a camera such as a document camera for imaging an object that the student may write on, for example, writing on paper with a pen. The instructor station may have an interactive whiteboard and a projector. Video conferencing capabilities are used to transmit an image of the student writing to the instructor which image will be displayed to the instructor through projection onto an interactive whiteboard surface. The interactive whiteboard allows the instructor to “virtually” mark the projection of the paper using for example a stylus and an infrared sensor.

Abstract: A wheel frame for use with in-line roller skates, and in particular, in-line roller skates with eccentrically mounted, single pivot wheel frames. The eccentrically mounted frame is configured such that the moment arm of the front wheel about the pivot point of the frame is greater than the moment arm of the rear wheel about the pivot point.

Abstract: An array antenna is provided wherein each adjacent pair of a plurality of antenna elements in such array antenna have a common, conductive wall having a castellated radiating edge. Radio frequency energy resistive material is disposed within slots formed in the radiating edge. With such arrangement, electrical coupling between the adjacent pair of antenna elements is reduced thereby improving the gain of the antenna at the lower frequency operating band of the antenna. Further, the electric field distribution is redistributed by the slotted radiating edge from a cosine distribution associated with a linear edge to a more flattened, uniform distribution to increase the effective aperture of the element in the H-plane.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna is provided comprising: a waveguide section; first means for establishing radio frequency energy in such waveguide section having a first linear polarization with an electric field disposed normal to opposing wide walls of the waveguide section; a planar microwave circuit means, for establishing a second linear polarization having an electric field disposed perpendicular to the electric field of the first linear polarization, such microwave circuit means being disposed within the waveguide between the wide walls and relative to the feed means to provide the first linear polarization and the second linear polarization with substantially coincident phase centers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the microwave circuit means includes a strip conductor feed separated from a ground plane conductor by a dielectric, such ground plane conductor having a notch formed therein and fed by the strip conductor.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna element is provided comprising a waveguide having disposed within and adjacent to a rearward portion of such waveguide a ridge, such ridge having a relatively narrow forward portion and a plurality of feeds, disposed within the waveguide, for coupling energy from a plurality of sources to a relatively wider, rearward portion of the ridge. The waveguide has a pair of opposing, relatively wide upper and lower walls and a pair of opposing, relatively narrow side walls. The relatively wider, rearward portion of the ridge tapers to the narrower forward portion of the ridge in a plane parallel to the upper and lower walls of the waveguide. The narrow portion of the ridge tapers towards one of the wider walls as such ridge extends from the rearward portion of the waveguide to the forward portion of the waveguide.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna comprising a waveguide having opposing relatively wide, upper and lower wall portions, a pair of opposing, relatively narrow side wall portions, and a relatively narrow rear wall portion, such portions being connected to provide a cavity having an open end disposed opposite the rear wall portion, the separation between the side wall portions decreasing as such side wall portions extend towards the rear wall portion. The waveguide includes a ridge disposed within the cavity, the decreasingly separated side wall portions of the waveguide being disposed between the ridge and the rear wall portion of the waveguide. The ridge is coupled to a coaxial transmission line. With such arrangement the decreasingly separated side wall portions of the waveguide improve the impedance matching between the coaxial transmission line and the ridged waveguide antenna element, thereby increasing the operating bandwidth of the ridged waveguide antenna element.

Abstract: Apparatus for magnetically treating seeds comprises a magnet for producing a unipolar magnetic field, an enclosed generally cylindrical housing having a closable access opening therein in which said seeds are placed for treatment, drive means associated with the housing for rotating said housing and imparting rolling and tumbling motion to the seeds within the housing, the housing being disposed with respect to the magnet such that the seeds move through the magnetic field as they roll and tumble. By magnetically treating the seeds in a unipolar magnetic field while rolling and tumbling the seeds, the characteristics of plants grown therefrom are favorably altered.

Abstract: A method for converting a high magnetic retentivity, high magnetic conductivity aluminum, nickel, cobalt and iron alloy to a substantially magnetically non-retentive alloy comprises heating the alloy to a temperature in the range 1400.degree. - 1500.degree. F. for about 30 minutes and quenching the heated alloy in a room temperature liquid coolant.

Abstract: A method of altering the physical properties of materials by applying to the materials in their fluid states the magneto magnetic energy of the north and/or south pole of a magnet. Application of the magnetic north pole to molten metal causes the cooled metal to exhibit a smoother, finer surface, a finer grain structure and increased break strength.