Abstract: The present invention provides a tuning tool for a stringed instrument and methods for tuning a stringed instrument. The tuning tool comprises a knob and a recess in the knob adapted to accept a tuning peg of the stringed instrument. The knob provides increased leverage for tuning the stringed instrument. The recess enables the tuning tool to be temporarily fitted over the tuning peg.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser amplifier system consisting of a solid body, which comprises a laser-active medium, of an excitation source for producing an excited state of the laser-active medium, and of an amplifier radiation field, which repeatedly permeates the solid body and out of which a laser beam can be decoupled. The aim of the invention is to improve a laser-amplifier system of this type so that the highest number of passages of the amplifier radiation field through the solid body can be attained using optical means that are provided in the most simple possible form. To this end, the invention provides radiation field guiding optics which enable the amplifier radiation field to enter the solid body in the form of a number of incident branches with locally different trajectories, and which enable the amplifier radiation field to exit the solid body in the form of at least one emerging branch with a trajectory that differs locally from those of the incident branches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to computer software for initiating actions in response to user input, e.g., on an Internet web page. More particularly, the invention provides an improved event model comprising software components (designated “Fidgets” herein) which use fixed-format text strings to express event actions in a content delivery subsystem. In particular, the present invention provides a method for setting the event target property for a user event without the need to recompile software.

Abstract: Digital content is extracted from single and multiple-program transport streams for subsequent non-real-time (background) transmission in a bandwidth-efficient manner. At an encoder, several null and/or nonessential (N/N) packets (e.g., packets of unused programs) in a transport stream are replaced by an annotation packet (AP) to obtain non-real-time packets. The non-real time packets are inserted into null packet locations (NU) of a real time transport stream. At a decoder, the annotation packets are used to regenerate a specified number of null packets to maintain the original separation of packets of the non-real time data (for timing purposes), allowing existing hardware and/or software to decode the selected program.

Abstract: In order to improve a laser amplifying system comprising a solid-state member having a laser-active medium, a radiation field system determined by an optical guide means for the radiation field and an actively switchable, optical switching element arranged in the radiation field system for influencing the losses in the radiation field system in such a manner that this is suitable for low-amplification laser-active media, it is suggested that the solid-state member be designed like a thin plate, the radiation field system comprise an incoming branch and an outgoing branch which are coupled to one another, on the one hand, and between which, on the other hand, an amplifying radiation field is provided which is formed from a plurality of intermediate branches which extend between two optical beam reversing elements and, for their part, all penetrate the solid-state member in a direction transverse to its flat sides and within an active volume area, and that the active volume area have in directions transverse to

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a high definition television signal (e.g., a high definition MPEG2 data stream) and re-encoding the high definition signal to create a standard definition television signal. In particular, the apparatus involves re-encoding a copy of the high definition (HD) signal into a standard definition (SD) signal and combining both the original signal and the re-encoded standard definition signal into a multiplexed signal. The provision of both an SD signal and an HD signal in the multiplexed signal enables both SD television receivers and HD television receivers to receive content initially provided as an HD signal. The re-encoding may be performed, for example, at a cable television system headend. The HD television signal may contain one or more television services (channels). The apparatus enables backward compatibility between an HD data stream and SD receivers. Legacy SD equipment and new HD equipment can be supported using the same television signal feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleat device for a flexible line and methods for cleating a flexible line. In an example embodiment of the invention, a cleat device for a flexible line is provided. The cleat device includes a base adapted for mounting on a surface. A plurality of spaced apart jam cleats are arranged on the base. Each jam cleat may have at least one open end forming an acute angle. A projection may extend from each end of the base outside of the plurality of jam cleats. A portion of at least one of the projections may extend above the jam cleats and may have a bore therethrough. A cleating method for use with the inventive cleating device is also provided.

Abstract: In order to provide a connecting means for the releasable connection of a first component and a second component, in particular, for the releasable connection of furniture and machine parts, comprising a first connecting element arranged on the first component and a second connecting element arranged on the second component, wherein the first connecting element and the second connecting element are releasably connected to one another in the connected state of the components and one of the connecting elements comprises a retaining part which interacts with the other one of the connecting elements in a retaining position such that any relative movement of the first connecting element and the second connecting element along a direction of connection is prevented and which allows a relative movement of the first connecting element and the second connecting element along the direction of connection in a release position, which makes a reliable releasable connection of two components with one another possible witho

Abstract: The invention provides a network system for laser processing, comprising at least two laser devices and a workstation with a laser processing head which can be operated safely. A first light guide leads from the first laser device to a first connection element, associated with which is a first communication connection element connected to the laser controller of the first laser device. A second light guide leads from the second laser device to a second connection element, associated with which is a second communication connection element connected to the laser controller of the second laser device. The laser processing head can be connected to one of the connection elements by a mating connection part. A safety circuit of the workstation ensures that each laser controller releases the shutter switch only if the safety circuit is connected to the communication connection element connected to the respective laser controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lathe, comprising a machine frame, a first working spindle with a first workpiece receiving means, at least one first tool slide with a tool carrier, a second working spindle with a second workpiece receiving means which faces the first workpiece receiving means, and at least one second tool slide with a tool carrier, The machine frame has an elongated machine base member, having a first support section and a second support section arranged to follow the first support section. Each support section has a base side, a spindle support side located opposite this and two slide support sides located opposite one another and between the base side and the spindle support side. The first working spindle is arranged on the spindle support side of the first support section and the second working spindle is arranged on the spindle support side of the second support section.

Abstract: In order to produce a bone screw having a screw body which is provided with an external thread and which comprises a flow-through mechanism for bone cement that is used for the production of a cement jacket around the bone screw, such that the bone screw will be anchored in a highly stable manner after being implanted in a bone and especially after being implanted in a bone of reduced quality, it is proposed that the flow-through mechanism should comprise at least one longitudinal recess which is formed in the screw body such that it extends transversely relative to the radial direction and/or transversely relative to the peripheral direction.

Abstract: In order for a unit for irradiating a workpiece with ultraviolet radiation, with at least one UV radiation source and at least one transporting device, it being possible by means of the transporting device for the workpiece to be fed from a charging location of the unit to an irradiating zone and to be transported from the latter to a removal location of the unit, to be developed in such a way that the unit can be operated more easily, it is proposed according to the invention that the unit has a common charging and removal location and the workpiece can be moved back and forth between the common charging and removal location and the irradiating zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for addressing pixels in a display. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for addressing pixels in a display using one or more movable mechanical scanning mechanisms. The mechanical scanning mechanisms and one or more stationary addressing elements provide electrical field addressing for control of the desired pixel(s) in a display.

Abstract: In order to design a lathe comprising a machine frame, a first working spindle for a first workpiece held on the machine frame, at least one first tool carrier for the machining of the first workpiece, a second working spindle for a second workpiece which can be brought from a coaxial position into a non-coaxial position in a transverse direction in relation to the first working spindle, and a first tool carrier on the front side associated with a first working space, and a second tool carrier on the front side associated with a second working space, in such a manner that it is possible for machining operations on the first workpiece and the second workpiece to be as flexible as possible, it is suggested that the first tool carrier on the front side and the second working spindle be movable in the transverse direction relative to one another controlled by a machine control.

Abstract: In order to improve a laser amplifying system, comprising a solid-state member which has flat sides located opposite one another, is of a plate-like design and comprises a laser-active medium, a laser radiation field passing through the solid-state member, a pumping radiation field pumping the laser-active material, a cooling device which absorbs heat from the solid-state member via a first flat side by means of a fluid cooling medium flowing in it, and a reflector for the laser radiation field arranged on the first flat side, of the generic type in such a manner that the solid-state member may be arranged and aligned in as optimum a manner as possible it is suggested that a support with a stable shape be provided for the solid-state member, this support having the laser radiation field passing through it and being transparent for it, that the solid-state member be supported areally on a support surface of the support with a stable shape with its second flat side and be arranged so as to be defined in its sha

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for requesting and receiving print jobs over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at a location which may be unspecified, and which may be remote from the source of the print job. A spooling server is used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. A printer polling device, which may be used at a location remote from the client device, is capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify whether any print jobs associated with the printer polling device are available for printing at a printer currently associated with the polling device. The spooling server need not initiate contact with the printer through a firewall, since it is polled by the printer polling device. Thus, network security is maintained.

Abstract: A system for coding of digital video images such as bi-directionally predicted video object planes (B-VOPs), in particular, where the B-VOP and/or a reference image used to code the B-VOP is interlaced coded. For a B-VOP macroblock which is co-sited with a field predicted macroblock of a future anchor picture, direct mode prediction is made by calculating four field motion vectors, then generating the prediction macroblock. The four field motion vectors and their reference fields are determined from (1) an offset term of the current macroblock's coding vector, (2) the two future anchor picture field motion vectors, (3) the reference field used by the two field motion vectors of the co-sited future anchor macroblock, and (4) the temporal spacing, in field periods, between the current B-VOP fields and the anchor fields.

Abstract: A motion estimation and compensation technique is provided for interlaced digital video such as video object planes (VOPs). Predictor motion vectors for use in differentially encoding a current field coded macroblock are obtained using the median of motion vectors of surrounding blocks or macroblocks. When a surrounding macroblock is itself interlaced coded, an average motion vector for that macroblock is used, with fractional pixel values being mapped to the half-pixel. When the current block is not interlaced coded but a surrounding block is, the field motion vectors may be used individually or averaged. In a repetitive padding technique for an interlaced coded VOP, the even and odd lines of the VOP and surrounding block are grouped. Within each field, exterior pixels are padded by setting them to the value of the nearest boundary pixel, or to an average of two boundary pixels. The lines are then reordered to provide a single padded reference VOP image.