Abstract: A method and apparatus for refining metallurgical silicon to produce solar grade silicon for use in photovoltaic cells. A crucible in a vacuum furnace receives a mixture of metallurgical silicon and a reducing agent such as calcium disilicide. The mix is melted in non-oxidizing conditions within the furnace under an argon partial pressure. After melting, the argon partial pressure is decreased to produce boiling and the process ends with directional solidification. The process reduces impurities, such as phosphorus, to a level compatible with solar-grade silicon and reduces other impurities significantly.

Abstract: A sealed capsule for use in apparatus including a capsule receiving station and a water delivery system for brewing a hot beverage in which a hot liquid under pressure infuses a material. A capsule base has a concave bottom floor with angularly spaced structural ribs that form channels for directing brewed beverage to a sharpened spout. A collar surrounds the dispensing spout. A foil attaches to the collar to overlie the spout. A filter lies on the structural ribs. Infusible material lies on the filter. A water distribution plate overlies the infusible material. A cover closes the base unit and includes a water inlet. As the capsule seats in the capsule receiving station, the foil seal is forced over the sharpened spout to rupture and enable brewed beverage to be dispersed. A probe of the water delivery system also penetrates the cover to direct water into the capsule without contacting the infusible material or the brewed beverage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a customer with a footbed. A kiosk provides measurements of a consumer's feet with a self-guided display by using both pressure measurements and scanning of the feet. The measurement information is converted to identify which of the preselected and stocked components proximate the kiosk can be combined to provide an appropriate footbed for the consumer.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a brewing filter apparatus capable of preparing foam, froth, or crema, particularly for coffee beverages, under low pressure. The apparatus can operate at pressures below 15 bar and as low as 1-3 bar. The apparatus comprises a mesh cover, coarse filter, fine filter, large 0-ring, coffee container, small 0-ring, and foam maker having two opposing holes. The holes have a diameter in the range of 0.3 to 1 mm. The crema is created by the turbulent contacting of two opposing jets of coffee, which enter the foam maker through the two opposing holes. To further increase agitation and the surface area for contact, a stainless steel wire mesh may be situated in the center of the foam maker directly in the path of and in between the opposing jets of coffee to facilitate the formation of more crema.

Abstract: A multi-user, elastic, on-demand, distributed relational database management system. The database is fragmented into distributed objects called atoms. Any change to a copy of an atom at one location is replicated to all other locations containing a copy of that atom. Transactional managers operate to satisfy the properties of atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability.

Abstract: A hot beverage brewing apparatus. A pressurized hot liquid delivery system provides liquid under pressure within a range of acceptable brewing temperatures without any mechanical pump. Water is apportioned into sealable tank volumes, one of which is heated to boil the liquid and produce steam under pressure. The pressurized steam displaces the liquid from the tank volumes in proportion and at a temperature that is within the acceptable brewing range. The hot liquid under pressure is directed to a capsule receiving station to infuse a material in a capsule. The capsule dispenses the brewed beverage without contacting the brewing apparatus.

Abstract: A tactile device includes a touch input surface in any number of forms including a force sensitive touch screen. In this embodiment a cover captures a transparent screen located on capacitive sensors. Touching the screen produces signals from each sensor that can be combined to identify the location of the touch and the force exerted by that touch.

Abstract: A two-stage, omnidirectional vertical axis wind turbine includes a first chamber in which a plurality of angularly spaced horns guide wind from any side of the wind turbine into a chamber to rotate a first rotor. Wind exiting the first rotor passes through a diverter to produce laminar flow. A fan attached to the shaft intercepts this laminar flow to add additional torque to the shaft.

Abstract: A system for immunizing a computer network against adverse effects caused by the receipt of a corrupting message. Each message transfers into a protocol-based controlled environment for a specific recipient where message criteria determine whether the incoming message is deemed to be a valid or suspicious message. Transmission criteria determine the final message disposition. If the message is valid, it is delivered to a recipient computer system in the network. If the incoming message is suspicious, the message is isolated in the controlled environment where the transmission criteria may provide remote access to the recipient.

Abstract: A toaster in which spaced, vertically oriented heating assemblies are nested within a cover that pivots between open and closed positions. In the open position, an consumer can add food slices to or remove toasted food slices from baskets in the toaster remotely from the heating assemblies. When the cover closes, the heating assemblies pivot to be positioned on both sides of the baskets. When energized, the heating assemblies toast the food slices.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating an item with a dry particulate material. An electrically operated sifter in a dry coating assembly generates a shower of the dry particulate material which coats the items held in an open mesh basket. A collector recovers residual material which can then be returned to the sifter. Extraneous clumps formed from the dry particulate material and any liquid coating can be readily removed from the sifter. An optional wet coating assembly allows an operator to coat the items with a batter before the application of the dry particulate material.

Abstract: Fibered particles combine microscale spheroid particles and nanoscale fibers in an integrated body. Fibered particles may be combined with a matrix precursor to form syntactic foams incorporating both particles and fibers.

Abstract: A bat swing training device for enabling the diagnosis and correction of an individual batter's swing. The training device includes a conventional bat modified to receive a training aid at its distal end in either an exposed extended assembly or an embedded assembly. The training aid provides a snapping sound if an individual swings the bat at greater than a predetermined speed. The position of the batter's hands at the time of the snap indicates whether the batter's swing is correct.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for preventing the release of residual liquid in a beverage brewing device prior to and after the brewing process, and for preventing the premature release of liquid during the heating process is disclosed. The apparatus includes a flexible member, a closing member and a recess. The apparatus is fabricated such that the pressure of the liquid being delivered to the brewing chamber displaces or depresses the closing member sufficiently into the recess to form a first fluid passage. The pressure of the fluid also creates a channel or cavity on a surface of the flexible member. The first fluid passage and the channel or cavity form a second fluid passages which provide fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the brewing chamber. Preferably, the flexible member, closing member and recess is formed as an integral unit.

Abstract: This invention uses a hydraulic system to seal the brew chamber of a coffee maker. The sealing mechanism consists of a heating part, sealing part and slider drawer. The heating part provides the hot water and forms a chamber that allows the piston seal to expand for sealing. The slide drawer is the region where the coffee is extracted and the crema is created. The claimed invention differs from that previously known in the art in that it does not employ a mechanical locking system but rather a hydraulic system for locking. This results in a tighter and more secure lock fit of the brew chamber than previously has been known in the art. In addition, because a hydraulic system for locking is used, locking of the brew chamber is accomplished without manual force.

Abstract: A rigid endoscope includes an outer housing subassembly that supports an optics subassembly. The outer housing subassembly includes concentric tubes with optical fiber for providing object illumination. The optics subassembly includes a tubular sheath sealed at both ends for carrying lenses and other optical elements. First and second positioners associated with the optics subassembly and the outer housing subassembly, respectively, limit the transfer of axial forces from the proximal end of the endoscope to the tubular sheath.

Abstract: A lens structure and method for manufacture of such a lens. A lens element has multiple sawn planar faces between image forming surfaces so the lens element has a polygonal cross section. The manufacture includes the step of utilizing oversized conventional cylindrical lens elements and other optical elements formed into lens systems. The faces are sawn to reduce the overall size. The sawing can be applied to integral lens elements or assemblies or lens arrays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for migrating one or more data sets each having one or more extents from one or more source logical devices to one or more target logical devices concurrently with interaction between the application and the data being migrated. A background operation copies each extent from the source logical device to the target logical device in a copy state. When a certain level of data has been copied, the extent is locked to assure synchronization of the data in the target logical device to the corresponding data in the source logical device. The status is changed to a mirrored state. When the extents for a data set in a source logical device or in a group of data sets have been mirrored, all the extents are changed to a diverted state. I/O requests to the diverted extents thereafter are intercepted and processed according to whether they access an extent that is in the copy, mirrored, or diverted state.

Abstract: This invention provides a brewing head unit of a coffee machine for easily inserting or removing the filter (15) and locking the filter and the filter holder (17) into the brewing head of a coffee machine to form a water-and pressure tight connection. The filter and the filter holder can be inserted into the coffee machine of the present invention visually. This invention also provides a cabinet filter holder which can be inserted or placed into the brewing head assembly or unit of a coffee machine by sliding the filter holder into the brewing head unit from the front, to or side or by swinging the filter holder, which is movable attached to the brewing head assembly or unit on a pivot, into the coffee machine. This invention further provides a brewing head assembly or unit, wherein the locking mechanism (13, 20) for placing or orienting the filter holder and securing the filter holder to the brewing head assembly or unit is motor-driven.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a brew head assembly comprising a gear-driven locking assembly and a sealing assembly, whereby the brew head assembly is capable of sustaining pressures up to 20 bars. The locking assembly comprises a lever, drive rod having a gear or a gear-toothed surface, drive rod clamp, lock plate having a gear-toothed surface or a gear on its upper surface, lock plate or gear stopper, lid mount, and brew head bottom, all operatively linked to form the locking assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the lock plate is in the form of a sliding member or rotating disk. Gear or gear-toothed surface on the lock plate mates or meshes with the corresponding gear or gear-toothed surface on the drive rod, such that movement of the lever translates rotation of the drive rod and into either a linear or rotational movement of the lock plate between a locked or unlocked position.