Abstract: A group of network devices, such as Ethernet switches, are logically configured as a single cluster, with one commander device and one or more member devices. Each network device capable of belonging to a cluster transmits data packets containing cluster capability information to its neighbors. Each network device capable of belonging to a cluster that receives data packets containing cluster capability information maintains a database containing information about its cluster-capable neighbor devices. The commander device of a cluster is the point-of-contact through which the cluster is managed. The commander device maintains a database of neighbors of the entire cluster. Upon user request, the commander device displays a list of cluster neighbors and notes which ones may be added to the cluster. When the user adds a device to the cluster, that device immediately sends its database of discovered neighbors to the commander device.

Abstract: A crystallizer and method for casting using the crystallizer. The crystallizer mainly includes a plurality of-position-limiting parts (16) on the inner side of the mould seat (6, 7). The inner side of the position-limiting parts (16) is in correspondence with the external periphery of the mould wall (8-1, 9-1) of the film mould (8, 9). A medium channel (17) with a medium-supplying port (5) at its upper end is formed between the adjacent position-limiting parts (16).

Abstract: A servovalve assembly includes a motor having a flapper shaft. A flapper couples to a first end of the flapper shaft such that the flapper shaft orients the flapper between a first nozzle and a second nozzle of the servovalve assembly. An adjustment assembly adjusts a position of the flapper relative to the nozzles of the servovalve. The adjustment assembly enables a servovalve manufacturer to set the flapper of the servovalve at a null position without disassembling the servovalve. Rather, the manufacturer is capable of simply installing the adjustment assembly and deforming an arm portion of the adjustment assembly for proper null position calibration.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques, in a caching device, for providing content, comprising the steps of obtaining content from an origin server, observing an access identifier provided by the origin server in response to a first content request, the access identifier providing an authentication indication for accessing the content obtained from the origin server, receiving a second content request, and one of (i) preventing the origin server from handling the second content request and providing the obtained content when the second content request includes the access identifier, and (ii) forwarding the second content request to the origin server for processing when the second content request does not include the access identifier.

Abstract: A vibration damper for a racquet sport includes a score tallying device for keeping the score of t racquet sport such as tennis. The current score is maintained by an electronic circuit and displayed on an electronic display within the vibration damper. The vibration damper is configured to be attached to the racquet strings. The vibration damper and score keeper is preferably configured so that it displays only legitimate scores of the type of racquet sport for which it is intended.

Abstract: An electronic system includes a chassis, an air flow distribution assembly having a first set of baffles disposed within an intake volume of the chassis and a second set of baffles disposed in proximity to an air outlet of the chassis. The first set of baffles is configured to turn the flow of an air stream approximately 90 degrees, relative to an inlet flow direction of the air stream, toward circuit boards disposed within the chassis. The second set of baffles is configured as a flow splitter that receives the air stream from the circuit boards and partitions the air stream into separate portions prior to the air stream exiting via the air outlet. The use of both the first and second set of baffles redirects and distributes the air stream, flowing into the air inlet, in a substantially even manner across the circuit board component mounting surfaces of the circuit boards disposed within the system.

Abstract: An improved insulating layer for electrosurgical instruments and its use for electrosurgical instruments for reducing smoke generation at a surgical site is disclosed. The insulating layer may include a ceramic material that is substantially sealed with a coating comprising substantially of a material based on polydiorganosiloxanes or derivatives thereof that have been cured. Such an insulating layer may advantageously include one or more insulating materials with pores that have been sealed so as to prevent biological materials from entering the pores with such sealing material preferably containing one or more of silicate materials or materials that form silicates. Heat sinks may be included in various embodiments to establish a thermal gradient away from functional portions of the instrument.

Abstract: An improved redundant computing apparatus includes a chassis assembly configured to (i) mount to a standard electronic equipment rack and (ii) consume substantially 1U of space in a particular direction (e.g., vertical height) within the standard electronic equipment rack. The chassis assembly includes a housing and a midplane disposed within the housing. The apparatus further includes a set of power supply/blower assemblies configured to connect to the midplane of the chassis assembly through a front of the housing in a field replaceable manner, and a set of computing devices configured to connect to the midplane of the chassis assembly through a back of the housing in a field replaceable manner. By way of example, the set of computing devices is adapted to move data into and out of a set of disk drives on behalf of a set of external host computers.

Abstract: An apparatus provisions power from a power budget to remote devices configured to obtain phantom power. The apparatus includes, among other things, a controller which is configured to identify a power demand for a remote device (e.g., a power demand based on an actual cable loss), and generate a comparison between the power demand for the remote device and the power budget of the apparatus. The controller is further configured to allocate power from the power budget provided by the power supply to the remote device when the comparison indicates that the power budget supports the power demand for the remote device, and reject allocation of power from the power budget to the remote device when the comparison indicates that the power budget does not support the power demand for the remote device.

Abstract: Systems for acquiring an approximation of the surface geometry of a 3-dimensional object include a self-powered wireless, non-contact optical scanner, the location and orientation of which may be tracked with respect to an object coordinate system, and a processor configured for projecting a pattern of structured light on the object, moving the pattern with respect to the object, acquiring images of the intersection of the light on the object over time, determining local coordinates of points on the intersection with respect to the pattern, tracking the position of the pattern, transforming the local coordinates to object coordinates, and accumulating the points as a model of the surface of the object. The systems may wirelessly and possibly compactly transmit geometrical data which characterizes an intersection for a given position of the scanner with respect to the object.

Abstract: An anti-theft security holder for cylindrical articles includes a support member, and EAS marker and an outer sleeve is disclosed. The support member is preferably shaped to receive the cylindrical item in a seated position and the EAS marker may be supported within the support member such that is sandwiched between the support member and the cylindrical article during use. An outer sleeve, for example a plastic shrink-wrapped sleeve, may be used to secure the support member to the cylindrical article. In one embodiment, the side walls are rigid and are supported at an angle such that a gap is formed between a portion of the article and the base so that the EAS member fits with the gap.

Abstract: A medical imaging system is provided which includes a signal generator configured to obtain a trigger signal corresponding to a timing of interest, imaging equipment configured to obtain a plurality of images of a feature of interest, and a processor programmed to correlate the plurality of images with the trigger signal. Also provided is a method of correlating a plurality of medical images by obtaining a trigger signal of a timing of interest, obtaining a plurality of images of a feature of interest, and correlating the plurality of images with the trigger signal.

Abstract: A video transmission system for facilitating transmission of video and control signals, particularly infrared remote control signals, between different locations in a residence using existing telephone wiring. Simultaneous transmission of signals of both types over active telephone lines is possible without interference with telephone communications. Transmission succeeds without requiring special treatment of the video signals beyond RF conversion, despite signal attenuation inherent in transmission over the telephone line media. Two or more video sources may be tied into the system, and selected as desired. Remote control signals generated in one room may be utilized without requiring a clear line of sight between the remote control device and the receiver.

Abstract: A content delivery network has a content switch that intercepts content requests transmitted toward the origin server. The content switch distinguishes the content request as originating either external to the content delivery network or from within the content delivery network. The content switch forwards external requests to a content router, within the content delivery network and forwards internal requests to the origin server. Devices external to the content delivery network do not access the content carried by the origin server directly and, therefore, the content delivery network does not require the origin server alter its content when storing the content on a content server within the content delivery network. Use of the content switch, therefore, minimizes or eliminates the time, effort, and expense of rewriting content cached from the origin server to the content server within the content delivery network.

Abstract: A vibration damper for a racquet sport includes a score tallying device for keeping the score of t racquet sport such as tennis. A rotating score indicator is provided with allowed score values for indicating the current score by rotation of the indicator by a user. Alternatively, the current score is maintained by an electronic circuit and displayed on an electronic display within the vibration damper. The vibration damper is configured to be attached to the racquet strings. The vibration damper and score keeper is preferably marked so that it displays only legitimate scores of the type of racquet sport for which it is intended.

Abstract: Conventional schedulers propagate entries by either polling until an entry is ready, or alternatively, by attaching a so-called “readiness time” to entries. A scheduler which recognizes the readiness time avoids consuming a parent schedule with polling, or with burdening entries with a future readiness time. The system of the present invention employs a deferral queue for deferring entries in response to pop requests from a parent schedule. The child schedule defers entries via the deferral queue when it is not ready to push an entry to the parent schedule, and sets the readiness time corresponding to the entry. Upon the expiration of the readiness time, the child schedule redetermines whether to push the deferred entry corresponding to the deferral queue or optionally to push an interim entry having since arrived. Accordingly, a child schedule receiving a pop requests retains the ability to push an entry at an earlier or later readiness time, and further retains the ability to reconsider which entry to push.

Abstract: An improved front panel assembly is capable of being used with an electronic equipment rack. The improved front panel assembly includes a cover, an attachment subassembly configured to attach the cover to the electronic equipment rack, and a metallic EMI shield. The cover includes (i) a central portion configured to separate an external space in front of the electronic equipment rack and an internal space within the electronic equipment rack, and (ii) side portions which extend around a periphery of the metallic EMI shield. The side portions are configured to elevate and support the central portion from the metallic EMI shield. The central portion and the side portions define a top slot which extends horizontally along a top outer edge of the central portion and a bottom slot which extends horizontally along a bottom outer edge of the central portion.

Abstract: A system transmits a plurality of media programs in a network. In one embodiment of the invention, a media program distribution system determines a first resource attribute of a first media program and a second resource attribute of a second media program. The distribution system compares the first resource attribute with the second resource attribute to determine a relative value. In turn, the media server assigns a first distribution resource to the first media program and a second distribution resource to the second media program in response to the relative value and applies one of a plurality of transmission modes to each media program in response to the resource attribute and distribution resource type. Examples of distribution resources include unicast, multicast and broadcast channels. Examples of transmission modes include various protocols such as error checking protocols and encoding mechanisms such as codecs.

Abstract: Methods for acquiring an approximation of the surface geometry of a 3-dimensional object include projecting pattern of structured light on the object, moving the pattern with respect to the object, acquiring images of the intersection of the light on the object over time, determining local coordinates of points on the intersection with respect to the pattern, tracking the position of the pattern, transforming the local coordinates to object coordinates, and accumulating the points as a model of the surface of the object. The methods include a step for wirelessly and possibly compactly transmitting geometrical data which characterizes an intersection for a given position of the scanner with respect to the object. Systems for embodying the method include a self-powered wireless, non-contact optical scanner, the location and orientation of which may be tracked with respect to an object coordinate system.