Abstract: An actuator housing unit for a system of layered surfaces, comprising an activated primary surface having a physical shape capable of change when activated by an electrical, chemical, or light stimulus, to expand and exert force or pressure or contract and remove force or pressure, upon activation or deactivation, to move or keep matter within the housing by direct or indirect contact.

Abstract: A sports shoe is proposed which comprises an upper and a sole, the latter having its bottom side provided with a pattern of traction assisting means for penetrating the surface of a lawn or hard court, in which the walking sole is directly bonded to the interior of the upper by injection-molding for reducing the weight and simultaneously maintaining the mechanical strength and flexibility, and only the traction assisting means project towards outside through the upper.

Abstract: A shoulder pad apparatus includes a chest plate. A shoulder cap is formed at an upper portion of the chest plate. A shoulder flap connects to the shoulder cap. An upper arm flap pivotably connects to the shoulder flap. At least one arcuate shell also may pivotably connect to the shoulder flap.

Abstract: The electrically connectable tile module includes a porous substrate having a top side, a bottom side, and at least two side edges. At least one connector is integrated into the porous substrate allowing adjoining electrically connectable tile modules to be electrically connected to the porous substrate. At least one electrical element is disposed over the top side of the porous substrate and electrically connected to the at least one connector.

Abstract: In order to simplify the assembly of a shielded connector, it is proposed that an electrically insulating base body provided as a carrier for electric contacts features a mounting surface with two openings, wherein a recess that respectively features an integral collar on its inner side is respectively arranged around these openings. In addition, the base body is provided with lateral fastening elements that respectively feature a window formed by a frame. The frame can be positively fitted into the appropriate recess by bending the fastening elements such that the fastening element is positively and non-positively fixed on the base body. An electrically conductive shielding element that largely surrounds the base body contacts the fastening elements that, in turn, contact ground strips on the circuit board such that the connector is shielded from external voltages.

Abstract: A LCD unit (116) has a first and a second LCD panels (261, 262) which are stacked one on another. The first LCD panel (261) includes a color filter layer (251), and is configured as a color LCD panel for performing a color display. The second LCD panel (262) is configured as a monochrome LCD panel for performing a monochrome display based on an image source. The first LCD panel (261) displays an image, which is obtained by averaging the image data of the image source by using an arithmetic unit, which averages the image data pixels disposed within a range specific distance apart from a central pixel.

Abstract: A dithering method for an LCD is disclosed and comprises a plurality of steps. First, a plurality of long-bit gray-level signals are received. Each of the long-bit gray-level signal is transformed to a short-bit gray-level signal and at least one LSB is obtained based on the bit length difference between the long-bit gray-level signal and the short-bit gray-level signal. A sequence of frames is generated by the short-bit gray-level signals, and the frames can be classified into different groups according to the LSB. The offset pattern is applied on the frames, wherein the offset pattern is displayed at the same polarity in the same column of each frame in the same group.

Abstract: A method and platform for providing an interactive interne computer-driven IP based streaming video/audio webcam meeting and interview apparatus, intended for the process of job searching, employer recruiting and the selection of candidates both nationally and internationally, for national and international employment opportunities.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for carbon dioxide from air, which comprises exposing solvent covered surfaces to air streams where the airflow is kept laminar, or close to the laminar regime. The invention also provides for an apparatus, which is a laminar scrubber, comprising solvent covered surfaces situated such that they can be exposed to air streams such that the airflow is kept laminar.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining surface properties, comprises at least a first radiation device which emits radiation onto a surface to be analyzed, at least a first radiation detector device which receives at least part of the radiation emitted by the at least one radiation device and then scattered or reflected by the surface and outputs at least a first measurement signal which is characteristic of the reflected or scattered radiation, and at least a further radiation detector device which receives at least part of the radiation emitted by the at least one radiation device and then scattered or reflected by a surface and outputs at least a second measurement signal which is characteristic of the reflected or scattered radiation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a current mirror circuit generating an output current flowing through an output current path according to an input current flowing through an input current path. The current mirror circuit comprises a P type transistor in the output current path, an operational amplifier, and a basic circuit. The operational amplifier has a negative input coupled to a node receiving the input current, a positive input coupled to a drain of the P type transistor, and an output coupled to a gate of the P type transistor. The basic circuit comprises a first transistor in the input current path and a second transistor in the output current path. The first transistor has a gate and a drain coupled together. The second transistor has a gate coupled to the gate of the first transistor.

Abstract: Methods of making emulsions comprising: adding an emulsifying agent comprising glucoside alkyl urethanes of formula: A(O—CO—NH—R)S, wherein A represents a glucosyl unit having a Dextrose Equivalent (D.E.) ranging from 1 to 47, and wherein R represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group containing from 3 to 22 carbon atoms, and s is the degree of substitution (DS) ranging from about 0.01 to about 2.0; to an aqueous based liquid and a dispersed product; followed by mixing to create a stable dispersion. The glucoside alkyl urethanes present properties of thermal and chemical stability with biodegradability and free of phosphor/phosphates. The glucoside alkyl urethanes are suitable as surfactants for use in household and industrial applications, e.g., as detergents, emulsifiers, emulsion stabilizers, foaming agents, foam stabilizers, dispersants and wetting agents.

Abstract: An in-plane-switching-mode (IPS) LCD device includes a TFT substrate and a CF substrate sandwiching therebetween an LC layer, and a pair of polarizing films sandwiching therebetween the substrates and the LC layer. Each polarizing film has a polarization layer and a protective layer. An optical compensation layer having a birefringence is disposed between the light-emitting-side polarizing film and the CF substrate. The optical compensation layer has an in-plane retardation of N1 satisfying the following relationship: 83.050?0.8101×D1?N1?228.09?0.74D1 in the range of 0<D1?80 ?m, wherein D1 is the thickness of the protective layer of the light-incident-side polarizing film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of improved stress-migration resistance and reliability includes an insulating film having formed therein a lower interconnection consisting of a barrier metal film and a copper-silver alloy film, on which is then formed an interlayer insulating film. In the interlayer insulating film is formed an upper interconnection consisting of a barrier metal film and a copper-silver alloy film. The lower and the upper interconnections are made of a copper-silver alloy which contains silver in an amount more than a solid solution limit of silver to copper.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of obtaining information regarding an individual's environment using a programmable device. The first step of the method is sensing a psychomotor behavioral element of an activity engaged by the individual. The type of activity engaged by the individual can be any sensible activity under the sun, including breathing, thinking, generating heat, etc. The next step in the inventive method is determining the preferred modalities of the individual based on the psychomotor behavioral element of the activity engaged by the individual. Provided herein are calculations used for determining the preferred modalities of the individual based on the psychomotor behavioral element of the activity. In the present context, the preferred modalities are the semi-conscious or nonconscious desires of the individual, indicated by nonconscious actions, to experience her environment in a specific manner. The information obtained by the inventive method can be used in several ways.

Abstract: An interference cancellation system and method for a communication system comprising a data bus carrying primary signals having an A component and a non-A component are provided. The interference cancellation system has an input port, an A data extraction block and an interference cancellation circuit. The input port receives a sampled primary signal from the data bus, via an analog-front end block having sampling means. The A data extraction block extracts A data from the sampled primary signal and outputs A decoded data. The interference cancellation circuit has an interference measurement block and a cancellation block. The interference measurement block receives the A decoded data and the sampled primary signal and produces an A interference signal. The cancellation block receives the sampled primary signal and the A interference signal and subtracts the A interference signal from the sampled primary signal, producing an output signal with the A component substantially attenuated.

Abstract: A method of preparing a sol of lead zirconium titanate, known as PZT, of formula PbZrxTi(1?x)O3 with 0.45?x?0.7, comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a concentrated sol in a diol, the sol comprising a titanium-based precursor, a zirconium-based precursor, and a lead-based precursor; (b) placing the concentrated sol at ambient temperature without agitation, until a sol is obtained having a constant viscosity as a function of time; (c) diluting the sol obtained in (b) with a solvent compatible with the diol used in step (a). The sol is useful for preparing PZT-based films for use in the electronics field.

Abstract: The system contains a plurality of conduit segments and at least one electrically-powered pump. At least one conduit connector joins the conduit segments and the electrically-powered pumps, thereby mating at least one fluid path. A plurality of electric power wires are coupled with the conduit segments and connected to the electrically-powered electric pumps. At least one electrical connector, within said conduit connectors, mates corresponding electric power wires between the conduit segments. An electric power source electrically connected to the electrically-powered pump via the electric power wires.

Abstract: A remote controlled animal training system includes a wireless transmitter capable of transmitting a plurality of wireless signals non-concurrently. Each wireless signal of the plurality of signals is representative of one of a plurality of predetermined stimulus levels. A wireless receiver is capable of receiving the wireless signal from the transmitter. A demodulator is in communication with the RF receiver, demodulating the wireless signal to produce a digital signal. A microprocessor is in communication with the demodulator for receiving the digital signal from the demodulator and producing a pulse signal therefrom. A first output device is in communication with the microprocessor. The first output device produces a stimulus of intensity relative to a characteristic of the pulse signal.