Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely monitoring the amount of fuel in one or more fuel tanks are disclosed. A fuel monitoring device includes a sensor configured to monitor the operation of a valve coupled to an output of a fuel tank and a network and communication system configured to receive data from the sensor related to the operation of the valve and establish communication with one or more remote systems via a communications network. The fuel monitoring device communicates the data related to the operation of the sensor to a remote server system via the communications network. Based on the data received from the fuel monitoring device and one or more remote systems, the remote server system can determine the amount of fuel remaining in the tank, and can predict when the tank will require additional fuel.

Abstract: A vibro-acoustic assembly and related systems and methods for applying a wide range of audio frequencies in one or multiple channels to living beings for wellbeing. The assembly is ergonomic, compact, portable and configured to address physically any area of a user's body while being flexible and easy to use to deliver a wide degree of frequencies/identified targeted programs from a source audio device, such as a smart phone application via wireless transmission.

Abstract: Diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices and methods that include an elongate shaft, a balloon, a plurality of electrodes carried by the balloon, and electronics to electrically connect the electrodes to a proximal end of the shaft. The devices can include a visualization system within the balloon.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for mechanically reducing the volume of the lung. Some embodiments include endobronchially positioning an anchoring device within a lung, the anchoring device comprising at least a distal anchor, expanding at least a portion of the distal anchor to anchor the distal anchor against lung lumen tissue, and tensioning at least a portion of the device to reduce the volume of the lung.

Abstract: Diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices and methods that include an elongate shaft, a balloon, a plurality of electrodes carried by the balloon, and electronics to electrically connect the electrodes to a proximal end of the shaft. The devices can include a visualization system within the balloon.

Abstract: A device for mechanically reducing the volume of a lung, comprising a distal anchor, a proximal anchor, and a tether extending between the distal and proximal anchors, the device configured so that the distance between the anchors measured along the tether can be increased or decreased and maintained after release of a delivery device. Some embodiments are a method of endobronchially deploying an anchoring device within the lung to reduce the lung volume, the anchoring device comprising a distal anchor, a proximal anchor, and a tether extending between the distal and proximal anchors, the device configured such that the distance between the distal and proximal anchors measured along the tether can be increased or decreased and then maintained after release of the anchoring device from a delivery device, reducing the volume of the lung by decreasing the distance between the distal and proximal anchors, and maintaining the decreased distance.

Abstract: A virtual window system that allows a viewer to believe that he or she is looking at an actual window when actually looking at our system attached to a wall. The virtual window system comprises four elements: a processor, a computer, a monitor, and a frame. The processor is a conventional device for controlling information and lighting to achieve specified results. The computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor is configured to transmit a digital image sequence to the monitor. The monitor is in communication with the computer-readable storage medium and the processor and is configured to display the digital image sequence. The frame surrounds the monitor with a back, a front, a top, and sides, and includes at least one light source configured to transmit light into an indoor environment to simulate an actual window.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for defining a first virtual object, wherein the first virtual object includes a first ready state indicator. At least a second virtual object is defined, wherein the at least a second virtual object includes at least a second ready state indicator. The first virtual object and the at least a second virtual object are grouped within a group virtual object.

Abstract: An apparatus for protective headgear is disclosed together with a headgear assembly. The headgear is designed to attenuate shocks, blows and impacts delivered to the front, sides, and back of the head by dissipating the force through deflection, shock absorption, and movement of the structural materials. Reduction and attenuation of head impacts reduces head accelerations and forces that may result in concussions. Methods of using the headgear apparatus and assembly are disclosed.

Abstract: A process used during manufacture of printed circuit boards comprises protecting metal pads and/or through-holes to provide a tarnish-resistant and solderable coating. In the method, the pads and/or through-holes are bright-etched, metal plated, preferably by an immersion process, and treated with a tarnish inhibitor. The tarnish inhibitor may be incorporated into the immersion plating bath. The metal plating is usually with silver or bismuth and the pads and/or through-holes comprise copper.

Abstract: A method is used in managing properties collection. Storage objects for which properties information is to be refreshed are determined. A bulk request for properties information from file systems corresponding to the storage objects is generated and is issued to the file systems. Based on a response to the bulk request, a blocking transaction is used to update a model of the storage objects that is made available to management software.

Abstract: A chute receives contaminant gas-laden dust from a dust collector. At least one gas injector provides an upward flow of purge gas in the chute to release contaminant gas entrained with the dust. Downstream areas are maintained at positive pressure relative to upstream areas. A purge hopper arranged below the chute collects the dust. Dust handling apparatuses allow the upward flow of the purge and contaminant gases. Movable flaps in the dust handling apparatuses include perforations that may be capped to vary the gas flow rate. A dust discharge apparatus discharges washed dust from the purge hopper.

Abstract: A method is used in managing consistency groups in storage systems. A consistency group is created from a set of snapshot mount points. A snapshot mount point is a logical object accessible for using a replica of a logical volume. An operation is performed on the consistency group.

Abstract: A banker's card game in which: a player plays two double denomination playing cards from a deck of mutually different cards, and the player has a first hand value that is the sum of a) the designated value of the first playing field of the first card and the designated value of the first playing field of the second card and has a second hand value comprised of the sum of a) the designated value of the second playing field of the first card and b) the designated value of the second playing field of the second card; and a banker plays a third double denomination playing card and a fourth double denomination playing card from the deck under the same rules; and the player's first hand value is played/compared against the banker's initial hand value and the player's second hand value is played/compared against the banker's further hand value.

Abstract: This invention provides a playing card apparatus for holding and dispensing a plurality of playing cards. The apparatus may be a card shoe or an automated shuffler. It has a delivery aperture at a dispensing end for dispensing playing cards individually, the dispensing end having a platform that extends from the delivery aperture for supporting cards being manually removed, the platform being shaped and being of sufficient height to allow a card dealer to insert their thumb or finger below a corner of the card as the card is dispensed. This allows the dealer to grip and pull the card away substantially without flexing the card at all and thereby avoiding risk of disclosing the front face of the card while dispensing the card for dealing it. The cards are held and dispensed in portrait orientation, with a short edge of the card leading. The apparatus enables the storage and delivery of playing cards in a highly efficient continuous and secret manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a deck of double denomination playing cards, there being 1,378 cards in the deck, with each card having a front playing face divided into a first playing field and a second playing field whereby the deck has a total of 1,378 first playing fields and 1,378 second playing fields, with each playing field containing one of four non-denominational suits selected from the group comprising: Hearts; Clubs; Diamonds; and Spades, with each playing field further containing one of thirteen value designations selected from the group comprising: 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; Jack; Queen, King; and Ace, whereby each playing field contains a said non-denominational suit and a said value designation. In the deck the first and a second (e.g. ‘top’ and ‘bottom’) playing field of any of the double denomination cards are separate entities in their own right.

Abstract: A process used during manufacture of printed circuit boards comprises protecting metal pads and/or through-holes to provide a tarnish-resistant and solderable coating. In the method, the pads and/or through-holes are bright-etched, metal plated, preferably by an immersion process, and treated with a tarnish inhibitor. The tarnish inhibitor may be incorporated into the immersion plating bath. The metal plating is usually with silver or bismuth and the pads and/or through-holes comprise copper.

Abstract: A process used during manufacture of printed circuit boards comprises protecting metal pads and/or through-holes to provide a tarnish-resistant and solderable coating. In the method, the pads and/or through-holes are bright-etched, metal plated, preferably by an immersion process, and treated with a tarnish inhibitor. The tarnish inhibitor may be incorporated into the immersion plating bath. The metal plating is usually with silver or bismuth and the pads and/or through-holes comprise copper.

Abstract: In PCB manufacture, the pads and/or through-holes of a bare board are protected prior to mounting of other components by a silver plating process. The silver plate is applied from a plating composition by a replacement process in which silver ions oxidized copper and deposit a layer of silver at the surface. In the aqueous plating composition the silver ions are maintained in solution by the incorporation of a multidentate complexing agent. The compositions may contain a silver tarnish inhibitor and are free of reducing agent capable of reducing silver ions to silver metal, halide ions and substantially free of non-aqueous solvent. Surface mounted components can be soldered direct to the silver coated contact using any commercially available solder. Silver does not deposit onto solder mask, but only onto metal which is less electropositive than silver.

Abstract: In PCB manufacture, the pads and/or through-holes of a bare board are protected prior to mounting of other components by a silver plating process. The silver plate is applied from a plating composition by a replacement process in which silver ions oxidized copper and deposit a layer of silver at the surface. In the aqueous plating composition the silver ions are maintained in solution by the incorporation of a multidentate complexing agent. The compositions may contain a silver tarnish inhibitor and are free of reducing agent capable of reducing silver ions to silver metal, halide ions and substantially free of non-aqueous solvent. Surface mounted components can be soldered direct to the silver coated contact using any commercially available solder. Silver does not deposit onto solder mask, but only onto metal which is less electropositive than silver. REEXAMINATION RESULTS The questions raised in reexamination proceedings Nos. 90/012,336 and 90/009,934, filed Jun. 4, 2012 and Aug.