Abstract: A flip chip light emitting diode die (10, 10?, 10?) includes a light-transmissive substrate (12, 12?, 12?) and semiconductor layers (14, 14?, 14?) that are selectively patterned to define a device mesa (30, 30?, 30?). A reflective electrode (34, 34?, 34?) is disposed on the device mesa (30, 30?, 30?). The reflective electrode (34, 34?, 34?) includes a light-transmissive insulating grid (42, 42?, 60, 80) disposed over the device mesa (30, 30?, 30?), an ohmic material (44, 44?, 44?, 62) disposed at openings of the insulating grid (42, 42?, 60, 80) and making ohmic contact with the device mesa (30, 30?, 30?), and an electrically conductive reflective film (46, 46?, 46?) disposed over the insulating grid (42, 42?, 60, 80) and the ohmic material (44, 44?, 44?, 62). The electrically conductive reflective film (46, 46?, 46?) electrically communicates with the ohmic material (44, 44?, 44?, 62).

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner (A) includes an upright housing section (B) and a nozzle section (C). A cyclonic airflow dirt and dust separating chamber (54) is defined in said upright housing section. A suction source (E) pulls air and entrained dirt, dust, and other contaminants through a main suction opening (26) formed in the underside (24) of the nozzle and into the cyclonic airflow chamber (54). The cyclonic airflow chamber causes the suction airstream to travel in a cyclonic path such that the entrained contaminants are separated therefrom and deposited into a dirt container (52) that defines the chamber (54). A main filter element (K) filters residual contaminants from the suction airstream between the chamber and the suction source. The main filter element is preferably made from high-density polyethylene porous filter media.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing cover 1, 1? made of plastic, especially for sealing an opening in a support 50; 51; 52, with a base body 10; 10?, which merges into a circumferential collar 20, which transitions into an elastic sealing lip positioning itself against one side of a support, with the collar (20) presenting, at its outer circumference, an engaging ring 25; 25?, and with the sealing cover 1; 1? designed in one single piece consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer and between the engaging ring 25; 25? and the sealing lip 30; 30? at least one second engaging ring 28 being arranged at the outer circumference of the collar 20.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a cyclonic airflow chamber that facilitates the separation of contaminants from a suction airstream. The airflow chamber includes a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, with the chamber inlet being fluidically connected with at least one of a suction nozzle and an above-the-floor cleaning tool. An exhaust filter housing includes a suction duct and an exhaust plenum, with the suction duct communicating with the chamber outlet. A suction source housing includes an open end communicating with the exhaust plenum and a closed end. A suction source is positioned within the suction source housing to define an annular exhaust flow passageway surrounding the suction source from the housing closed end to the housing open end. The suction source includes a suction inlet communicating with the suction duct and an exhaust outlet communicating with the housing closed end.

Abstract: A beam position control system controls a position of a beam directed from a beam source. The beam position control system includes a beam position sensing system that generates one or more satellite beams which are used to determine the position of a main beam. A beam offset computation block determines a relative position of the main beam with respect to a desired main beam position and provides beam offset information to a controller that generates a compensation signal used to adjust the main beam position to the desired main beam position via a beam actuation system.

Abstract: An LED light engine includes a flexible electrical cable and a plurality of LEDs. The flexible electrical cable includes first, second and third electrical conductors and an electrically insulating covering for the electrical conductors. The conductors are arranged substantially parallel with one another having an insulating material therebetween. A first LED including a first lead electrically connects to the first electrical conductor and a second lead of the first LED electrically connects to the second conductor. A second LED includes a first lead electrically connected to the second electrical conductor and a second lead electrically connected to the third electrical conductor. A third LED includes first and second leads electrically connected to the second conductor. The third LED is interposed between the first LED and the second LED.

Abstract: The present invention provides for proper air bleed without using air wicking fabric strips and/or the perforated polyethylene material or the like. Instead, an inside surface of a curing envelope is molded with a unique embossed pattern which is designed to channel to a vacuum valve, expeditiously, all the air being evacuated from between the outer surface of a tire and an inner surface of the envelope. Additionally, a valve base area is recessed so as to allow the air channels to open directly into the valve base area during evacuation. The envelope is also designed to accept various styles and designs of air valves. Another unique feature is the creation of a decorative pattern on the inside shoulder area of a tire by transfer of a surface feature from the envelope interior. This pattern provides a significant improvement in the appearance of the finished tire.

Abstract: A method for neutral pixel detection using color space feature vectors wherein one color space coordinate represents lightness is provided. The method includes the following steps: a) receiving an input image represented in a first color space; b) converting the input image to a second color space wherein one coordinate represents lightness; c) selecting a pixel in the second color space representation to be classified; d) computing second color space feature vectors associated with the selected pixel; and e) classifying the selected pixel between neutral and color classes based on the values computed for the second color space feature vectors. Typically, the input image is processed using a smoothing filter to create a smoothed input image prior to the conversion to the second color space. The method can be adapted to page processing or strip processing schemes with respect to the input image.

Abstract: A system for delivering at least two distinct pressures to a print head of an ink jet printer includes a pump, a passage in communication with the pump and the print head, and a valve. The pump is for delivering positive pressure to the print head of the ink jet printer. The passage includes an opening, and the valve selectively opens and closes the opening.

Abstract: A thin film phosphor for an electroluminescent device, the phosphor being selected from the group consisting of thioaluminates, thiogallates and thioindates having at least one cation selected from elements of Groups IIA and IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements. The phosphor being activated by a rare earth metal and containing oxygen as a partial substitute for a portion of the sulphur in the crystal lattice of the thiogallate, thioindate or thioaluminate. The phosphor is a single phase homogeneous compound and provides improved luminance stability. An electroluminescent device comprising the thin film phosphor is also described and methods of making the phosphor of the invention.

Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner (10) with a self-propelled controller (12) with a vacuum source (36, 38) and a dirt receptacle (32), a self-propelled cleaning head (14) with a suction inlet (24), and an interconnecting hose (16) is provided. The controller and cleaning head cooperatively traverse a surface area in tandem when the interconnecting hose is connected between the cleaning head and the controller. In one embodiment, the controller includes a power source (56) making the robotic vacuum autonomous. In another embodiment, the controller includes a power cord dispense/retract assembly (168) to provide access to utility power. In another aspect, the controller includes a portable vacuum (20) that is removed for manual operations. In still another aspect, a method of semi-automated environment mapping for a self-propelled robotic vacuum is provided. With respect to the method, the robotic vacuum also includes a remote control (18).

Abstract: An automatic dispenser includes a housing, a reservoir, a pump, an intake tube, and exhaust tube, and a spigot. The reservoir is disposed in the housing. The pump includes a pump chamber and is disposed in the housing. The pump is for drawing liquid from an associated container. The intake tube is in fluid communication with the pump chamber. The intake tube is adapted to be disposed in the associating container. The exhaust tube is in fluid communication with the pump chamber and the reservoir. The spigot is for selectively discharging the liquid from the reservoir. An energy efficient, measured dose appliance is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus images a surface. An imager stage linearly translates the surface in a first direction. A fiber optic bundle has a first end of parallel first fiber ends defining a linear input aperture perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the surface, and a second end defining a generally circular output aperture. Each first fiber end optically communicates with the output aperture. A radiation beam linearly scans and interacts with the surface below the input aperture to produce a light signal that is collected by the input aperture and transmitted by the fiber bundle to the output aperture. A photodetector detects the light signal at the output aperture. A processor processes the detected light.

Abstract: An electronic device containing a polythiophene prepared by a metal halide-mediated coupling polymerization in an appropriate solvent, and which polythiophene is comprised of at least one monomer unit selected from the group consisting of 2,5-thienylene (or 2,5-thiophenediyl) (I), 2,5-thienylene (or 2,5-thiophenediyl) (II), and a divalent linkage D wherein, for example, A is alkyl, alkoxy or derivatives thereof; B is a hydrogen atom, a small substituent like alkyl or alkoxy.

Abstract: A single-piece sealing cover 1, made of plastic, especially for sealing an opening 2 in a support 3, includes a basic body 5, which is joined with a circumferential collar 8, which is designed in the shape of a U, with an inner leg 10, an intermediate region 12 and an outer leg 14, and with at least one stop connection 16 at the outer leg 14. The sealing cover is characterized in that the outer leg 14 and the basic body 48 can be locked together by means of the stop connection 16, after pre-assembly V, by insertion into the opening 2 and after final assembly E and an outer collar 24 and the disk-shaped basic body 5 extend in parallel after final assembly E.

Abstract: Vane pump (10) mechanical losses are reduced by removing vane friction losses and replacing them with lower magnitude journal bearing fluid film viscous drag losses. A freely rotating cam ring (70) is supported by a journal bearing (80). A relatively low sliding velocity is imposed between the cam ring and the vanes (26). This permits the use of less expensive and less brittle materials in the pump by allowing the pump to operate at much higher speeds without concern for exceeding vane tip velocity limits.

Abstract: A printing system accurately prints proprietary marks and selected colors. A dictionary of recognizable patterns and defined colors corresponding to the proprietary marks and selected colors is linked to a user interface wherein a user may designate a location within a document and at least one of the proprietary marks with defined colors from an accessible menu. A processor associates the defined colors with the image at the specified location and generates a printer signal representative thereof. Alternatively, the processor includes a pattern recognizer for identifying recognizable patterns within a document. The patterns have a likeness to defined patterns within a pattern dictionary and can be converted to the defined patterns for display or imaging.

Abstract: An electric arc welder operated to perform a short circuit welding process between an electrode and a workpiece, where the process comprises a succession of alternate short circuit conditions and arc conditions, with a first current waveform during the short circuit condition and a second voltage waveform during the arc condition. A first waveform generator constructs the first waveform from a series of current pulses controlled by a pulse wave modulator operated at a rate greater than 18 kHz and a second waveform generator constructs the second waveform from a series of current pulses controlled by a pulse wave modulator operated at a rate greater than 18 kHz. The second waveform generator has a circuit to generate the second waveform with a generally constant arc parameter, generally voltage.

Abstract: An electric arc welder comprising a power source driven by a main input transformer with a secondary winding creating an output pulsating current across the electrode and workpiece of a welding operation is provided with a background current circuit including a full-wave rectifier with AC input and a rectified DC output connected in parallel with the power source across the welding operation wherein the full-wave rectifier is connected in parallel with the secondary winding.

Abstract: An apparatus (10, 10?) for producing an alignment surface on an associated substrate (12, 12?) of a liquid crystal display. An electron source (40) produces a collimated electron beam (50). A substrate support (20, 20?) supports the associated substrate (12, 12?) with a surface normal (80) of the substrate arranged at a preselected angle (?) relative to the collimated electron beam (50). The collimated electron beam (50) is rastered across the associated substrate (12, 12?) at the preselected angle (?) while the substrate moves through the electron beam.