Abstract: A zoom lens includes a housing, a rotatable adjustment member, a spring member and a lens barrel. The rotatable adjustment member has a ring body rotatably coupled to an inner bottom surface of the housing in such a manner that the ring body is axially moveable relative to the housing when the ring body is rotated. The spring member is a non-planar ring member having two first opposite end portions stopped at an inner top surface of the housing, and two second opposite end portions stopped at a step of the ratable adjustment member. The lens barrel is disposed through an axial hole of the housing and connected to the rotatable adjustment member such that the lens barrel is synchronously movable with the rotatable adjustment member.

Abstract: A method for transforming a starting data structure into a resultant data structure is provided. The data structures may be embodied in any language or format, including the Extensible Markup Language (XML). The starting data structure is separated into segments. The transformation may be analyzed to determine which loops are top level and separable. The starting data structure may be analyzed to estimate the most costly loop, then separated along the most costly loop. Segments are transformed independently, and transformed segments are recombined to create the resultant data structure.

Abstract: A novel composition of recycled thermal-plastic damping material is disclosed. The damping property of the composition remains good from low-frequency vibrations (1 Hz) to high-frequency vibrations (50 Hz) at general operational temperatures. The composition can further be processed by injection molding machines since it is thermal-plastic.

Abstract: A high speed computer processor system has a high speed interface for a graphics processor. A preferred embodiment combines a PowerPC microprocessor called the Giga-Processor Ultralite (GPUL) 110 from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) with a high speed interface on a multi-chip module.

Abstract: A reinforcing member for a badminton racquet wherein the racquet extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a frame having a tubular hoop portion supporting a string bed and a tubular handle portion. The reinforcing member includes a generally T-shaped body having first and second sections. The first section has an outer surface that defines a first cross-sectional area measured about a longitudinal plane positioned generally perpendicular to the string bed. The second section longitudinally and outwardly extends from the first section. The second section has an outer surface that defines a second cross-sectional area measured about a transverse plane. The first cross-sectional area is at least 50 percent greater than the second cross-sectional area. The first and second sections are configured for placement within the hoop and handle portions of the frame, respectively.

Abstract: Insertion of a wax guard with a bridge into the receiver tube of a hearing instrument may be accomplished with a tool that grasps the wax guard securely, inserts the wax guard into the tube, and then slides off of the wax guard, leaving the wax guard within the tube.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed that provides a method for facilitating communication with a Fiber Channel controller. Initially, a data structure is defined that includes a Fiber Channel attribute value, which defines a particular functionality of a Fiber Channel controller. Although the data structure can include a plurality of Fiber Channel attributes, preferably at least one Fiber Channel attribute is defined in the data structure. A user is then enabled to modify the Fiber Channel attribute value. Further, during operation of the Fiber Channel controller, a modification request can be received from a code segment to alter the Fiber Channel attribute. The functionality of the Fiber Channel controller is then altered based on the Fiber Channel attribute value.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed that provides device information using a Fibre Channel network. Initially, device information is obtained for a device coupled to a Fibre Channel based network, and an address database is constructed that includes a device entry for the device. Preferably, the device entry includes a port target identifier and a logical unit identifier for the device, and associates the previously obtained device information with the port target identifier and the logical unit identifier. A request is then received for the device information that typically includes the port target identifier and the logical unit identifier. The device information associated with the port target identifier and the logical unit identifier is then returned in response to the request.

Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, improved shuttlecocks are provided by applying innovative packaging. The improved shuttlecocks are packaged in a suitably humid environment to prevent the moisture within the feathers of the shuttlecock from evaporating off. The packaging is substantially air tight and includes a humidity control mechanism. In one embodiment the package comprising a humidifying disc in the shuttlecock packaging. The humidifying disc includes a plurality of openings to allow for moisture to pass from the disc to the internal environment of the packaging and comprises a foam or sponge pad moistened with water and propylene glycol. The humidity within the packaging is held at a generally fixed level. In one embodiment, the relative humidity can be held at least about 20%. In a further embodiment, the relative humidity can be held at about 50%.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a basic input/output system updating method that divides a memory in an electronic device into a system program area and a boot program area, wherein a basic input/out system (BIOS) program is stored in the said system program area and an initialization sequence is stored in the boot program area. When the initialization sequence in the said system program area is destroyed and the BIOS program is lost, the invention enables a user to toggle a switch to a closed position to connect the said microprocessor to the said boot program area to read the initialization sequence stored therein.

Abstract: A method and single chip device having limited on-chip memory for processing and reordering out-of-order TCP segments in a high-speed TCP communication system, wherein in-order TCP segments are forwarded on to an appropriate application, includes storing a first out-of-order TCP segment in the limited on-chip memory, the first out-of-order TCP segment defining a SACK region, determining the gap between a last-received in-order TCP segment and the SACK region, for each later-received out-of-order TCP segment that is contiguous with but non-cumulative with the SACK region, storing said later-received out-of-order TCP segment in the limited on-chip memory of the high-speed TCP receiving device; and expanding the SACK region to include said later-received out-of-order TCP segment, and when the gap between the last received in-order TCP segment and the SACK region is filled, forwarding each out-of-order TCP segment included within the SACK region on to the appropriate application.

Abstract: This is a type of body support cervical vertebrae pillow, including pillowcase and pillow, and has the following features: the pillowcase as mentioned is in barrel shape, and the pillow inside is made of far infrared material. The barrel-shaped pillowcase as mentioned is made of net material, and there is a band oillet on each edge of the openings by its two ends, and there is an opening lock band through the oillet. The far infrared material as mentioned is of tube type rubber segments that contain far infrared ceramic powder. This utility model may be put beneath the cervical vertebrae while in sleep, in a vehicle, in an airplane or during a break while working, and it will effectively improve blood circulation at the cervical vertebrae and relax the muscles through the action of far infrared emitted from the pillow, so as to fulfill the purpose of relief, prevention, and supplementary treatment of cervical spondylosis.

Abstract: The dimensions of a hearing instrument can be minimized by positioning the internal components in a configuration that occupies the least amount of volume. A pocket for situating the microphone on a diagonal aids in decreasing the required size of the instrument's shell and facilitates assembly.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed for a layer structure that facilitates configuring a Fiber Channel driver. In one embodiment, the layer structure includes a hardware layer directory that includes code for communicating with a Fiber Channel controller. In addition, a wrapper layer directory is included in the layer structure. The wrapper layer directory includes code for communicating with the code associated with the hardware layer directory, and also includes a wrapper header file that defines a particular value setting in a first state, such as a compiler directive set a particular value. The layer structure further includes a global header directory that defines a group of value settings. The group of value settings is defined for the code associated with each of the hardware directory and the wrapper layer directory. The particular value setting in the first state is also included in the group of value settings.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed that maps a Fibre Channel address to a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) address. A data port is detected on a computer network system and a port target identifier is assigned to the detected data port. Next, a device coupled to the data port is detected and a logical unit identifier is assigned to the detected device. In addition, an Arbitrated Loop Physical Address (AL_PA) is obtained for the device. Further, an address database is constructed that includes a device entry for the detected device. The device entry includes the port target identifier and the logical unit identifier that were assigned to the data port and device. In addition, the device entry associates the AL_PA to the port target identifier and the logical unit identifier of the device.

Abstract: A space-saving electrical contact assembly for a hearing instrument faceplate can be fashioned by physically conforming the configuration of individual contacts to the battery and the battery door in the faceplate. By providing each contact of the assembly with an interconnected terminal, the wiring of the assembly is reduced.

Abstract: The dimensions of a hearing instrument can be minimized by positioning the internal components in a configuration that occupies the least amount of volume. A pocket for situating the microphone on a diagonal aids in decreasing the required size of the instrument's shell and facilitates assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides an input/output (I/O) port assembly of a notebook computer connectable to a monitor or a television (TV), which comprises an image processor, an I/O port, and a signal transmission circuit interconnected between the image processor and the I/O port. When I/O port of the computer is coupled to monitor or TV, signal transmission circuit generates different signal voltage states. As such, image processor can output a correct signal to the coupled monitor or TV based on a change of the signal voltage states. With this, the computer is connectable to monitor or TV via a single I/O port and an adapter connected between the I/O port and monitor or TV.

Abstract: The invention provides an input/output (I/O) port assembly of a notebook computer connectable to a monitor or a television (TV), which comprises an image processor, an I/O port, and a signal transmission circuit interconnected between the image processor and the I/O port. When I/O port of the computer is coupled to monitor or TV, signal transmission circuit generates different signal voltage states. As such, image processor can output a correct signal to the coupled monitor or TV based on a change of the signal voltage states. With this, the computer is connectable to monitor or TV via a single I/O port and an adapter connected between the I/O port and monitor or TV.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a basic input/output system updating method that divides a memory in an electronic device into a system program area and a boot program area, wherein a basic input/out system (BIOS) program is stored in the said system program area and an initialization sequence is stored in the boot program area. When the initialization sequence in the said system program area is destroyed and the BIOS program is lost, the invention enables a user to toggle a switch to a closed position to connect the said microprocessor to the said boot program area to read the initialization sequence stored therein.