Abstract: A thin film manipulation method comprising: wetting a textured surface of a thin film manipulator with a liquid, the textured surface comprising peaks separated by valleys, the liquid forming capillary bridges between the peaks of the textured surface; picking up a thin film by contacting the thin film with the wetted textured surface to adhere the thin film to the wetted textured surface by capillary action of the capillary bridges with the thin film; and releasing the adhered thin film from the thin film manipulator. Also disclosed is a thin film manipulator.

Abstract: A method, a client terminal and a computer program for presenting on a display a (X)HTML document which includes a table. The table in the (X)HTML document is examined and determined to be a true table or a non-true table. If the table is determined to be a true table, the content of the table, including its table structure, is presented on the display. If the table is determined to be a non-true table, the table is formatted by rejecting the table structure, and the content of the table is presented as a linear structure on the display. The invention is particularly suitable for presenting HTML documents, including tables, on a client terminal with a display with a limited number of horizontal pixels, such as a mobile telephone or a PDA.

Abstract: A lifting body aircraft suitable for atmospheric flight and/or as a reentry vehicle. The craft has a substantially flat upper surface, a lower surface with a doubly convex first section and a flat sloping second section. Chines may be provided between the upper and lower surfaces. The doubly convex first section allows the craft to have its center of gravity forward of its longitudinal center line. The flat sloping second half of the lower surface and the substantially flat upper surface form the aft end of an airfoil. A pair of vertical stabilizers enhance stability and include rudders which, along with a pair of elevons, provide steerage. The craft may glide or it may have an engine or rockets for thrust. The result is an extremely stable lifting body design that is well suited for launch or conventional take off, insertion, orbital operations, reentry, atmospheric flight, and conventional landings.

Abstract: A lifting body aircraft suitable for atmospheric flight and/or as a reentry vehicle. The craft has a substantially flat upper surface, a lower surface with a doubly convex first section and a flat sloping second section. The doubly convex first section allows the craft to have its center of gravity forward of its longitudinal center line. The flat sloping second half of the lower surface and the substantially flat upper surface form the aft end of an airfoil. A pair of vertical stabilizers enhance stability and include rudders which, along with a pair of elevons, provide steerage. The craft may glide or it may have an engine or rockets for thrust. The result is an extremely stable lifting body design that is well suited for launch or conventional take off, insertion, orbital operations, reentry, atmospheric flight, and conventional landings.

Abstract: An aircraft passenger boarding bridge includes a cab portion which can slide laterally and includes retractable floor members to allow a single bridge system to be used for both commuter aircraft and jet airplanes.

Abstract: A cab connected to an aircraft boarding bridge walkway apron end having a forward frame section supporting a passenger floor, the section can be moved laterally relative to the apron end, and the floor having floor panels that can be retracted or extended forward of a fixed floor panel leading edge, as well as having their side edges tilted to accommodate aircraft stairwell rail handles or to better position the frame adjacent the aircraft passenger boarding door threshold A cab connected to an aircraft boarding bridge walkway apron end having a forward frame section supporting a passenger floor that can be moved laterally relative to the walkway apron end, or laterally relative to the aircraft cabin door, or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, and the floor having floor panels that can be retracted or extended forward of a fixed floor panel leading edge, as well as having their side edges tilted to accommodate aircraft stairwell rail handles or to better position the frame adjacent the aircraf