Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. The lens forming unit may include an LCD filter disposed between activating light sources and a mold assembly. The mold assembly preferably includes two mold members held together by a gasket. The gasket preferably includes four protrusions spaced at 90 degree intervals about the gasket. A lens forming composition may include a first photochromic compound, a second photochromic compound and a light effector. The light effector may alter the color of a lens when exposed to photochromic activating light, when compared to a lens formed from a lens forming composition which does not include a light effector.

Abstract: An axially extended downhole seismic source is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seismic source includes multiple pressure storage chambers, each having an inlet valve and an outlet valve. The inlet valve is coupled between the pressure storage chamber and the interior of the drill string, and the outlet valve is similarly coupled between the pressure storage chamber and the annular space around the drill string. A compressible fluid may be provided in the pressure storage chambers, and pistons may be positioned to contact the compressible fluid. For each pressure storage chamber, an inlet piston contacts the compressible fluid and fluid inside the drill string, while an outlet piston contacts the compressible fluid and fluid in the annular space around the drill string. When the outlet valve is closed, the inlet valve can be opened to allow pressure inside the drill string to compress the compressible fluid inside the pressure storage chamber.

Abstract: A system for supplying pigs to a subsea pig launcher using a system carried and controlled by a remotely operated vehicle. The pigs are carried in racks that hold multiple pigs. The racks are extended and the pigs are allowed to drop into the barrel of the subsea pig launcher. The system is also equipped with a system that retracts the racks if hydraulic and electrical power is lost during the reloading process so that the remotely operated vehicle can be retrieved to the surface safely. The reloading process can be carried out by a remotely operated vehicle support vessel without the need for heavy lifting equipment or a large deck area.

Abstract: A method for ordering electrofacies to assist in identification of mineral deposits is disclosed. Automated ordering of electrofacies allows geologists to draw inferences about the geological settings in which sediment deposit occurred without directly examining core samples or outcrops. The electrofacies order is determined by (a) training a one-dimensional linear self-organizing map to form an initial neural network that includes a plurality of neurons. The number of neurons is small in comparison to the number of electrofacies kernels (i.e., not greater than one-third the number of electrofacies kernels). (b1) A neuron is selected from the initial neural network. In the next step (b2), the processor determines if more than one electrofacies kernel is attached to the neuron. (b3) If more than one electrofacies kernel is attached to the neuron, then the neuron is split into the number of electrofacies kernels attached to the neuron.

Abstract: A media meter mounts to a surface of a removable storage media or other product, and provides a visual indication of one or more parameters of the storage media or other product. The media meter includes circuitry that detects status signals transmitted by rf transmissions or directly connected by wires between an auxiliary memory device mounted on the storage media or product, or receives status signals via rf transmissions directly from the auxiliary memory. As another alternative, the media meter may be integrated with the auxiliary memory to receive status signals directly from the auxiliary memory. The status signals indicate the capacity of the storage media, the number of read and/or write errors that have occurred during back-up and retrieval, the number of times the storage media has been loaded with data or other information, and other dynamically-varying parameters.

Abstract: A multi-ported SRAM memory cell includes a pair of inverters that holds the data bit. The state terminals of the memory cell connect via a separate read and write data path to the bit lines. The read bit lines connect to a pull-down transistor stack. The first transistor in the stack is gated by the word line, and the second transistor is gated by the state terminal of the memory cell. If the word line is asserted and the second transistor is turned on by the state of the memory cell, the bit line is connected to ground, thus pulling the bit line low. Conversely, if the second transmitter is not turned on, the bit line stays at a high voltage level. In a preferred embodiment, the memory cell is isolated from the pull-down transistor stack by an isolation buffer, such as an inverter, which inverts the voltage on the state terminal of the memory cell.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and measuring the buildup of deposits on the inner surface of a pipeline containing flowing fluid comprises (a) transmitting a first acoustic signal into the pipeline through the pipeline wall, (b) receiving echoes of the transmitted signal, and (c) determining from the received echoes how far from the pipeline inner surface the interface between the deposits and the flowing fluid lies. An alternative method for monitoring and measuring the buildup of deposits on the inner surface of a pipeline containing flowing fluid comprises (a) transmitting a first acoustic signal into the pipeline through the pipeline wall, (b) receiving echoes of the signal, and (c) using the Doppler frequency shift of the received echoes to determine how far from the pipeline inner surface the interface between the deposits and the flowing fluid lies.

Abstract: A networking card has a plurality of pages for bearing at least one of a greeting or other message, a drawing and an object added to the networking card by successive recipients of the networking card. The networking card can be purchased by an initial sender. That person can add a message to a first page of the card and then send it to a first recipient. The first recipient in turn can add his or her own message to the networking card, for example on a second page of the networking card, and then send the card on to a second recipient. The process can be repeated until for example all of the pages have been used.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided for allowing various devices to communicate data over standard twisted pair wire within a confined region, such as a home environment. The methods and arrangements employ radio frequency (RF) communication techniques to modulate and transmit data signals over existing twisted pair phone lines at RF frequencies. The RF transmitted data can be detected over limited distances by other similarly configured devices. The RF transmitted data is then received and demodulated to regenerate the original data. The methods and arrangements also allow the data transmission to be conducted in accordance with conventional CSMA/CD techniques/protocols. Thus, for example, Ethernet network configured devices can be seamlessly interconnected using the methods and arrangements of the present invention without requiring that additional and/or upgraded wiring be installed in the home environment.

Abstract: A system and method is described for safely and economically providing up to 1800 watts to downhole equipment over existing logging cables. In one embodiment, the system includes a standard multiconductor logging cable which supports orthogonal signal transmission modes on circumferentially spaced insulated conductors. A high-power power source on the surface is coupled to the insulated conductors in the cable to drive a power signal on the lowest impedance signal transmission mode. Bearing in mind that high-power electrical currents can present a safety hazard, system safety may be enhanced by the addition of a reliable current imbalance detector configured to shut down all power sources when currents in the insulated conductors don't add up to zero. The system may further include multiple power sources operating on different independent signal transmission modes, and may also include multiple telemetry channels which share the power transmission modes via frequency multiplexing.

Abstract: A system to mount several electronic devices within a one EIA unit high rackspace is presented. The system includes a mounting chassis that is securely fastened to a standard 19″ EIA electronics rack. The chassis includes dividers that define at least two full length ports in which the electronic devices are slidably engaged. Furthermore, each port defined by the mounting tray includes hot-pluggable, blind-mate sockets to receive corresponding hot-pluggable, blind-mate connectors upon each electronics package. These packages are engaged and disengaged to and from the ports within the rack at will, thus allowing for more servers to be efficiently and accessibly stored within the confines of a 1-U rackspace with interchangeability than was previously possible.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying requests to main memory as non-cacheable in a computer system with multiple processors includes a main memory, memory cache, processor and cache coherence directory all coupled to a host bridge unit (North bridge). The processor transmits requests for data to the main memory via the host bridge unit. The host bridge unit includes a cache coherence controller that implements a protocol to maintain the coherence of data stored in each of the processor caches in the computer system. A cache coherence directory is connected to the cache coherence controller. After receiving the request for data from main memory, the host bridge unit identifies requests for data to main memory as cacheable or non-cacheable. If the data is non-cacheable, then the host bridge unit does not request the cache coherence controller to perform a cache coherence directory lookup to maintain the coherence of the data.

Abstract: A computer system having thermal control logic that efficiently cools the computer system. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the thermal control logic couples to a CPU module and a fan. The CPU module includes a pair of temperature response elements. One temperature response element located near or on the CPU core logic or die on which the CPU is fabricated. The other temperature response element is located near or on an exterior surface of the CPU module. The thermal control logic monitors the temperature of recorded by each temperature response element and controls the speed of the fan and the frequency of the CPU core clock independently. Preferably, the thermal control logic adjusts the fan speed as a function of the temperature recorded by the temperature element adjacent an exterior surface of the CPU module. The thermal control logic also adjusts the frequency of the CPU clock signal as a function of the temperature recorded by the temperature response element adjacent the CPU core.

Abstract: An improved underfill adhesive encapsulant with fluxing activities containing an epoxy resin or a mixture of epoxy resin. An anhydride is used as the curing agent to harden the epoxy resin. A hydroxyl-containing fluxing precursor compound is added to the encapsulant composition to react with the anhydride curing agent to produce an active fluxing agent under typical reflow conditions. The use of a fluxing precursor gives improved reliability compared to conventional fluxing agents used in existing no-flow underfill encapsulants. A suitable catalyst such as imidazole, imidazole derivative or metal acetylacetonate is provided in the present encapsulant at concentrations that give good curing kinetics. A thermoplastic is optionally included to allow the cured encapsulant to be reworked.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is a battery fuel gauge for a cache card comprising a charging circuit for charging at least one battery and a decrementor circuit for counting the amount of time system power is removed from the battery.

Abstract: An adaptable luggage cart or suitcase handle that is configured to accommodate an assortment of positions is presented. The adaptable handle includes secondary grip extensions that exist within the contours of a traditionally-shaped luggage cart handle and are capable of attaining a more comfortable, extended grasping position than a traditional handle. The extended position of the convertible handle allows the user to switch from a palms-down or a palms-up grasping position to a palms-inward position that emulates the grip a snow skier makes on a ski pole. Furthermore, once in the extended position, the handle of the present invention can be configured in a wide assortment of extension angles to increase the comfort to the user.

Abstract: An single apparatus to drill and lift core specimens from an aggregate field includes a frame structure that can be deployed to a workface and is adapted to hydraulically deploy a rotating core drilling bit upon that workface to cut a core specimen from the substrate. The hydraulic deployment of the drill bit is self aligning and does not require complex alignment steps to ensure the maximum cutting efficiency and lifetime of the bit. The same apparatus that can be used to drive and deploy the drill bit can also be adapted to receive and lift the as-cut core specimen from the newly created hole in the substrate. Once lifted, the received specimen can be positioned out of the work area so that work within the newly created circular hole can progress.

Abstract: A computer system that includes a system ROM with at least two sets of character strings, one set in English and at least one other set in a non-English language. Generally, each set of character strings includes characters, words and phrases that are translations of corresponding character strings in the other sets. In a preferred embodiment, the system ROM includes only two sets of character strings—one English and the other non-English. The non-English set of character strings is included as part of a “language module” stored or flashed into the system ROM. The character strings preferably are used to provide information and instructions to a user during system setup. When setup is run, the computer system determines whether a valid international language module is included in the system ROM. If a valid language module is included, the user is prompted to select either English or whatever international language is provided in the language module.

Abstract: A software program is used in conjunction with a standard general purpose single or multi-processor computer system as a means of implementing an I2O-compliant input-output processor (“IOP”) without requiring a special hardware IOP processor embedded on a PCI device card and connected to a computer system PCI bus. Software modules are inserted into the operating system during computer system initialization, thereby causing the I2O software operating system to operate as if it is communicating with a physical IOP installed on a PCI bus, but instead is utilizing at least one of the multi-processors of the computer system. These software modules intercept messages to and from software device driver modules and assign them to the V-IOP, thus making operation of the computer system indistinguishable from messages that would have been processed by a hardware implemented IOP in a computer system.

Abstract: A computer system having a main memory and a cache memory, the computer system uses portions of the cache memory to store information from defective main memory locations until the main memory can be repaired. The address space of the main memory is always maintained by substituting cache-lines of cache memory for the defective main memory locations. A fail-over memory status bit in the cache memory controller indicates when a cache line of the cache memory contains fail-over information from the defective or failing main memory so that that cache-line will not be written over by a cache replacement algorithm. When the fail-over status bit is set, the contents of the fail-over memory location(s) remains in the cache-line and all memory reads and writes are directed to only that cache-line of the cache memory and not the main memory for the fail-over memory location(s).