Abstract: Metal-containing materials, as well as their preparation and use are disclosed. The metal-containing material can be, for example, an antimicrobial material, an anti-biofilm material, an antibacterial material, an anti-inflammatory material, an anti-fungal material, an anti-viral material, an anti-cancer material, a pro-apoptosis material, anti-proliferative, MMP modulating material, an atomically disordered, crystalline material, and/or a nanocrystalline material. In certain embodiments, the metal-containing material is an atomically disordered, nanocrystalline silver-containing material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital x-ray radiographic imaging system. The system is based on a photoconductive detector and an electro-optic light modulator, where the photoconductive detector layer absorbs x-rays that have passed through an object to form an exposure of the object. The absorbed x-rays create a static optical image, which is stored in the electro-optic light modulator, allowing the capture of the optical image to continue over longer time. The optical image is digitized using a scanning system and an external light source. The image is then processed and stored by a computer. After the optical image is recorded, an erasing mechanism is used to reset the system before a new exposure is made.

Abstract: A thin film phosphor for an electroluminescent device, the phosphor being selected from the group consisting of thioaluminates, thiogallates and thioindates having at least one cation selected from elements of Groups IIA and IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements. The phosphor being activated by a rare earth metal and containing oxygen as a partial substitute for a portion of the sulphur in the crystal lattice of the thiogallate, thioindate or thioaluminate. The phosphor is a single phase homogeneous compound and provides improved luminance stability. An electroluminescent device comprising the thin film phosphor is also described and methods of making the phosphor of the invention.

Abstract: An electroluminescent display and driving method is provided wherein the rows of pixels are divided into sub-pixel sets and several different sets of sub-pixels are then addressed from within a larger superset of adjacent sub-pixels. The image data for the addressed sub-pixels is averaged with that for adjacent sub-pixels and is applied to the reduced number of larger sub-pixels in sequence. Consequently, for a given sequence of input frame data sets the time average over one frame for a portion of the sub-pixels at any location of the panel is substantially the same as that for a conventionally addressed sub-pixel in a prior art panel.

Abstract: The present invention provides thioaluminate phosphor compounds BaAl2S4 and BaAl4S7 with novel crystal structures that have higher luminosity and improved colour coordinates. The invention is also directed to rare earth element activated barium thioaluminate phosphor films comprising a phosphor compound having a novel crystal lattice structure that increases the electroluminescent light emission from the film. The phosphor films are for use in electroluminescent displays and in particular, thick film dielectric electroluminescent displays.

Abstract: A miter saw includes a base, a table rotatably attached to the base, a support housing connected to the table, a saw assembly connected to the support housing, the saw assembly comprising a pivot arm, an upper blade guard connected to the pivot arm, a motor attached to the upper blade guard, and a blade driven by the motor, and a dust collector having a main body, wherein at least one slot is disposed on the main body.

Abstract: An electroluminescent display and driving method is provided wherein the rows of pixels are divided into sub-pixel sets and several different sets of sub-pixels are then addressed from within a larger superset of adjacent sub-pixels. The image data for the addressed sub-pixels is averaged with that for adjacent sub-pixels and is applied to the reduced number of larger sub-pixels in sequence. Consequently, for a given sequence of input frame data sets the time average over one frame for a portion of the sub-pixels at any location of the panel is substantially the same as that for a conventionally addressed sub-pixel in a prior art panel.

Abstract: A method for supporting the end-user of a software application program is provided, wherein the end-user is provided the capability of communicating directly with the application program vendor and/or developer to request enhancement, provide comments, report defects and/or to ask questions. Moreover, this method provides an automatic communication that provides the developer of an application program such critical information as usage of program or document information, defects, and user comments. This invention provides a technique that minimizes the load and/or requirements for specially trained customer service personnel while simultaneously decreasing the feed-back lag time, thereby providing information, which is sufficiently timely to aid in the improvement of the quality of application software.

Abstract: A system and method for registering computer software modules to allow or reject it for opportunities of interacting with a computer system, hardware and software and receiving service requests is described. The method is designed to receive the module; to check whether the module contains any suspect “virus type” code; to check the module's version compatibility; to check if the module contains an agreement string, a trademark string and a copyrighted text string. If all checks are valid, the module is registered and permitted to link and receive service requests. If not the module is rejected.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying the status of tasks or processes in a computer system is described. The method is designed to receive the expected time for task completion and by comparing the time used per task computes a task status indicator. The method displays the resulting status to the user in an intuitive manner with four configurations indicating: process running normally, process running intermittently, process stopped normally, and process halted unexpectedly. The device when properly used by the method combine to form a communications device which clearly and easily communicates to the user of the computer system the operational status of the selected program, routine or process and does so without requiring the allocation of significant continuous processing overhead.

Abstract: A system and method for dispatching computer system service requests to multiple service providers in a tiered-parallel fashion such that a request can be satisfied in the shortest time possible by the computer, or module, most available to provide valid responses is described. The method is designed to permit a hierarchal ordering, by tiers, of preferred service providers, where the dispatches are performed in parallel as to providers on the same tier and in serial as to providers on subsequent tiers. This invention improves the speed and reliability of response to service requests for data, or objects, across a computer system network with one or more computer processing units.

Abstract: A device and method for displaying the status of programs or processes in a computer system is described. The device is designed to communicate the status to the user in an intuitive manner with four configurations indicating: process running normally, process running intermittently, process stopped normally, and process halted unexpectedly. The device when properly used by the method combine to form a communications device which clearly and easily communicates to the user of the computer system the operational status of the selected program, routine or process and does so without requiring the allocation of significant continuous processing overhead.