Abstract: Various methods are disclosed herein for forming an apparatus, which is configured to reduce the electromagnetic interference between a pair of antennas coupled to a wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the method includes extracting a shape of the apparatus from a thin sheet of conductive material, and folding the shape into a plurality of resonant circuit elements. In other embodiments, the apparatus is formed within various cavities of a mold; a liquefied substance may be inserted into the mold for filling the various cavities and forming a plurality of resonant circuit elements. In all embodiments, the plurality of resonant circuit elements are each configured to resonate at (or near) a carrier frequency of a signal transmitted by one of the pair of antennas.

Abstract: A stylus input device, a stylus input device with display, and a method for entering input into a computer system are provided. The stylus is preferably used as a pointer that points to a particular region on an electronic display, and one or more buttons on the stylus can be used to scroll, modify or select that region. The buttons can be programmed in various ways to perform different functions, or one button can be programmed to perform a sequence of functions. The tip of the stylus need not contact the display surface to either render the stylus position or to select the region of the display shown by the stylus curser. The input device and system thereby operates in a contactless and wireless environment to leave the display area unencumbered to viewers of the display screen, and to allow more than one stylus to concurrently operate upon the display.

Abstract: A communication system, network node, and communication port architecture are provided for transporting data across a ring network. If a network node detects a signal failure, the communication port of the network node configures itself as timing master and communicates a shutdown command to the other network nodes. In addition, the communication port sets an internal flag signaling this “signal off” event. All other network nodes, which receive the shutdown flag, do not set this internal status, and instead, save a status of “no fault saved.” Accordingly, it can be easily determined where the loss of signal occurred.

Abstract: A system and method for observing a personal networking event which shares the position of a number of friendly participants with other participants within a group. In one form, the position of unknown participants meeting certain criteria is also displayed to a user or one or more friendly participants. The views are selectable by friendly participants on, for example, a GPS equipped cell phone, to include a view from the participant's position, zoom, pan, and tilt views, or views from another friendly location or from another geographic location, giving increased situational awareness and identification of participants. Other information can be shared among friendly participants, including social information, status and directions.

Abstract: In a lens system, such as for use in optical rotary joints, obliquely tilted cavities are inserted in a light path between light-waveguides and lenses to be coupled thereto in order to compensate lateral displacements between the light waveguides and the lenses. The cavities are filled with an optical medium having a predetermined refractive index in order to achieve a parallel displacement of a light-ray path, so that the ray path passes centrally through the lenses.

Abstract: A wireless docking system and method is provided for monitoring the use of one or more docking stations by multiple portable computers. The system and method provides for the intelligent management of docking stations and connected resources by implementing a protocol that takes into account the identity of the user insofar as one user my have priority to the use of a docking station, the length of time an inactive computer has been connected to a docking station, whether another user requests the use of the docking station, whether the strength of the communication signals between a wireless docking station and computer is adequate to support the use of the docking station, and whether a user wishes to terminate a connection with a docking station.

Abstract: A system and method for observing a personal networking event which shares the position of a number of friendly participants with other participants within a group. In one form, the position of unknown participants meeting certain criteria is also displayed to a user or one or more friendly participants. The views are selectable by friendly participants on, for example, a GPS equipped cell phone, to include a view from the participant's position, zoom, pan, and tilt views, or views from another friendly location or from another geographic location, giving increased situational awareness and identification of participants. Other information can be shared among friendly participants, including social information, status and directions. Preferably, an orientation mechanism shows when the device is correctly pointed to a position.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for reworking or re-machining the surface and, in particular, the slide tracks of a slip ring while the slip ring is in a built-in state in an appliance or machine using the slip ring. The slip ring is rotated by a drive provided in the appliance for rotating the slip ring during normal operation, or by an auxiliary drive, while a surface-removing cutting tool or surface deforming tool held in a tool holder or carrier adapted to be attached to the appliance or machine is applied to the surface of the moving slip ring to re-machine or recondition the surface. The invention avoids the necessity of dismantling the appliance or machine for the purpose of removing the slip ring for repairs.

Abstract: A system and method for viewing a target in a background from a user's perspective. In one form, the views are selectable by the user on, for example, a GPS equipped cell phone, to include a view from the participant's position, zoom, pan, and tilt views, or views from another geographic location, giving increased situational awareness and identification of the target. Other information can be conveyed, such as messages or advertisements, on a billboard, which may be a geo-referenced area on or near the target. Preferably, an orientation mechanism shows when the device is correctly pointed to a target.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a position of an object within a breast of a female patient in a simple manner from a three-dimensional image taken of the breast. A simplified model is made of an internal structure of a breast having glandular bodies leading via lactiferous ducts to an outlet at a nipple. A particularly advantageous model is a tree-type structure in which branches correspond to lactiferous ducts and leaves correspond to glandular bodies. Furthermore, a determination is made of whether the object has contact with an element of the tree-type structure. Alternatively, a distance to an element of the tree-type structure is established. By correlating tree-type structures derived from various images taken on the same breast, the location of the object can be unequivocally established.

Abstract: A rotating data transmission device for transmitting data from a data source to a data sink between a rotating part and a stationary part comprises a transmitting conductor arrangement which is fed from a transmitter means, and also a receiver means which taps signals from the transmitting conductor arrangement with the aid of a receiving coupler arrangement. The connection between data source and rotating data transmission device, or rotating data transmission device and data sink, is effected by means of light-waveguides. The receivers of the light-waveguides are linear receivers followed by equalizers for correcting the frequency and phase response.

Abstract: A data communication system and an associated network node implementation is disclosed that, in certain embodiments, uses single-channel bi-directional communication links between nodes to send frames of data. The network nodes can be connected together in a ring or daisy chain topology with data frames sent in alternating directions through the bi-directional links. Such networks initially configured in a physical ring topology can tolerate single point failures by automatically switching to a logical daisy chain topology.

Abstract: An optical rotary joint comprises a first collimator arrangement for coupling-on first light-waveguides, and a second collimator arrangement for coupling-on second light waveguides, with the second collimator arrangement being supported to be rotatable relative to the first collimator arrangement about a rotation axis. At least one derotating optical element is provided in the light path between the first collimator arrangement and the second collimator arrangement. At least one collimator arrangement comprises a rod-shaped lens that is fastened on a support plate so that the axis of the lens is tilted at a given angle relative to the rotation axis of the rotary joint.

Abstract: A Bulk Current Injection (BCI) transformer is provided herein with a magnetic core and a plurality of windings. The magnetic core is configured for encircling one or more electrical conductors under test. Each of the plurality of windings are wrapped, at least in part, around a longitudinal dimension of the magnetic core and spaced apart around an azimuthal dimension of the magnetic core. During injection tests, a power source may be coupled for supplying current to each of the windings at a respective “feed point.” Arranging multiple feed points around the magnetic core enables current flow through the windings to generate an azimuthally-uniform magnetic flux density in the magnetic core. The uniform magnetic flux density enables the BCI transformer to excite only common mode currents in the electrical conductors under test. BCI test methods, including injection tests and current sensing tests are also provided herein, along with a test setup for characterizing BCI transformers.

Abstract: Methods for preventing feature collapse subsequent to etching a layer encasing the features include adding a non-aqueous liquid to a microelectronic topography having remnants of an aqueous liquid arranged upon its surface and subsequently exposing the topography to a pressurized chamber including a fluid at or greater than its saturated vapor pressure or critical pressure. The methods include flushing from the pressurized chamber liquid arranged upon the topography and, thereafter, venting the chamber in a manner sufficient to prevent liquid formation therein. The topography features may be submerged in a liquid while pressurizing the chamber. A process chamber used to prevent feature collapse includes a substrate holder for supporting a microelectronic topography, a vessel configured to contain the substrate holder, and a sealable region surrounding the substrate holder and the vessel. The chamber is configured to sequester wet chemistry supplied to the vessel from metallic surfaces of the sealable region.

Abstract: A portable computer having multiple modes of connectivity is disclosed. The portable computer may be configured to communicate using several wireless transmission protocols, including WWAN, WiFi, and Bluetooth. The portable computer may also receive input from multiple devices, including a bar code scanner, camera, RFID reader, fingerprint reader, digitizer, and an audio subsystem. The portable computer may also contain an accelerometer, and may be configurable to automatically park its hard drive disk when acceleration of a predetermined magnitude is detected.

Abstract: A thermal transfer system, a heat sink, and a method for transferring heat are provided. The thermal transfer system includes a fuel cell that can produce a fluid. A wick is provided to transfer the fluid to a destination at which a heat source is present. An enclosure having a porous fluid-permeable external wall can surround the fluid at the destination. When the fluid permeates or condenses on the external wall exterior surface, air exposure of that external wall will cause evaporative cooling of the fluid, and thereby enhance the cooling effect at the heat source. The fluid is a natural byproduct of the fuel cell. Accordingly, the thermal transfer system not only cools a heat source, but produces electric current. The heat sink can be thermally coupled to the heat source, and can have a plurality of fins extending from a base. One or more fins can have a fluid-permeable external wall for evaporative cooling.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing microelectronic topographies, a method of use of such an apparatus, and a method for passivating hardware of microelectronic processing chambers are provided. The apparatus includes a substrate holder configured to support a microelectronic topography and a rotatable case with sidewalls arranged on opposing sides of the substrate holder. The method of using such an apparatus includes positioning a microelectronic topography upon a substrate holder of a processing chamber, exposing the microelectronic topography to a fluid within the processing chamber, and rotating a case of the processing chamber. The rotation is sufficient to affect movement of the fluid relative to the surface of the microelectronic topography. A method for passivating hardware of a microelectronic processing chamber includes exposing the hardware to an organic compound and subsequently exposing the hardware to an agent configured to form polar bonds with the organic compound.

Abstract: An antenna system for an electronic device enables the device to communicate via numerous wireless communication protocols, such as wireless broadband communication protocols. The antenna is able to extend from the body of the electronic device in order to meet efficiency and specific absorption rate requirements, while retracting into the footprint of the device when not in use. The antenna is easily disassembled and reassembled from the device without the use of tools, and may automatically disassemble from the device in order to avoid sustaining damage or exposing a user to excessive electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An inspection system and method for serial high-speed image data transfer is provided herein. According to one embodiment, the method may include receiving multiple channels of image data at an input data rate and buffering the image data at the input data rate until the buffered data reaches a predetermined size. Once the predetermined size has been reached, the method may include packing the buffered data, encoding the data packet, serializing the encoded data packet and converting the encoded data packet into an optical signal. In some cases, the image data may be packed along with a data header containing information about the system. Once converted, each optical signal (i.e., representing one data packet) may be transmitted serially over one or more fibre channels to a processing node of the inspection system. In most cases, the data is packed, encoded, serialized and transmitted to the processing node at a data rate much higher than the input data rate.