Abstract: A novel pet drying garment includes a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section formed of an absorbent material, and having at least one fastener for securing the bottom section over the lateral edges of the top section. In a particular embodiment, the garment is made of a form fitting cotton towel material, and includes an extended neck section with a collar portion and a pocket for holding a removable anti-odor device. In a more particular embodiment, the garment includes multiple layers or absorbent material, some of which are removable and disposable.

Abstract: A novel method for asynchronously driving a display device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows includes the steps of receiving a first multi-bit data word indicative of a first grayscale value to be displayed on a pixel of a first row of the display, defining a first time period during which an electrical signal corresponding to the first grayscale value can be asserted on the pixel of said first row, receiving a second multi-bit data word indicative of a second grayscale value to be displayed on a pixel of a second row of the display, and defining a second time period that is temporally offset from the first time period during which an electrical signal corresponding to the second grayscale value can be asserted on the pixel of said second row. A novel display driver for performing the methods of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel method for asynchronously driving a display device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows includes the steps of receiving a first multi-bit data word indicative of a first grayscale value to be displayed on a pixel of a first row of the display, defining a first time period during which an electrical signal corresponding to the first grayscale value can be asserted on the pixel of said first row, receiving a second multi-bit data word indicative of a second grayscale value to be displayed on a pixel of a second row of the display, and defining a second time period that is temporally offset from the first time period during which an electrical signal corresponding to the second grayscale value can be asserted on the pixel of said second row. A novel display driver for performing the methods of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel method for asynchronously driving a display device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows includes the steps of receiving a first multi-bit data word indicative of a first grayscale value to be displayed on a pixel of a first row of the display, defining a first time period during which an electrical signal corresponding to the first grayscale value can be asserted on the pixel of said first row, receiving a second multi-bit data word indicative of a second grayscale value to be displayed on a pixel of a second row of the display, and defining a second time period that is temporally offset from the first time period during which an electrical signal corresponding to the second grayscale value can be asserted on the pixel of said second row. A novel display driver for performing the methods of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improvement in sampling a high frequency input analog signal and converting it to a digital output signal is disclosed. This is accomplished by using a multitude of analog-to-digital converters in conjunction with a distributed sampling system. This combination of multiple converters and a distributed sampling system allows use of conventional device processing, such as that of 0.18 micron silicon, and also provides accurate sampling of very high frequency input signals. The distributed sampling system provides multiple samplings of the input signal by using multiple ADCs for multiple samplings, wherein each sampling is sequentially offset a fixed amount of time from the most recent preceding sampling. Each ADC has a designated central processing unit (CPU) to obtain sufficient data transfer capabilities. The samplings from the multitude of ADCs are a series of sequential digital output values.

Abstract: An electro-optical projection system includes a polarizer, a reflective light modulator, an analyzer, and a compensation element. The polarizer polarizes an illumination beam to form a polarized illumination beam. The reflective light modulator receives the polarized illumination beam along a first optical path, modulates the polarized illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflects the imaging beam along a second optical path. The compensation element is disposed in the polarized illumination beam and the imaging beam to compensate for polarization aberrations resulting from the birefringent property of the material of the reflective light modulator. The compensation plate has a retardation generally equal in magnitude and opposite in sign as compared to the retardation of the liquid crystal material of the reflective light modulator.

Abstract: A computer (12) having multiple data paths (38a-d) connecting to other devices, which may be similar computers. A register (40d) is provided that has bits (110) programmatically settable to address each of the data paths such that the computer can communicate via multiple of the data paths based on which bits are concurrently set in the register. The bits respectively represent instances of the other devices as source devices that the computer can read data from and instances of the other devices as destination devices that the computer can write data to. A single address in the register can represent both a source device and a destination device for data communicated by the computer. Optionally, multiple of the computers can be connected in series (termed a pipeline) or to form an array (10).

Abstract: A wine making apparatus includes an engaging mechanism for engaging a fermentation tank, and a press mechanism for pressing the wine making ingredients in the tank against an inner surface of the tank. In a described embodiment a tank has a pair of forklift attachment points and a movable platform on a wine press mechanism is adapted for receiving the forklift attachment points. A lifting apparatus raises the platform and tank such that the contents of the tank are crushed by a relatively fixed plate above the tank. A pair of hydraulic rams are connected in series such that fluid output from one raises the other, thereby assuring that the platform and tank are evenly raised.

Abstract: A novel a method for determining the internal operation of an integrated circuit (IC) includes measuring electromagnetic (EM) emissions from the integrated circuit chip and analyzing the EM emissions. In a particular method, the EM emissions from the IC are measured using an RF close end probe. In a particular method, the electromagnetic emissions are measured with the IC configured in various ways. In the normal operating mode, the emissions are measured while the IC is provided with power and any external clock signal(s). After measuring the emissions of the IC in normal operating mode, the IC is reconfigured by disabling the external clock signal(s) to the IC and remeasuring the emissions. The external clock signal is disabled by disconnecting the power to the IC, disabling the external clock signal, and then reconnecting power to the IC. In yet a third test mode, the external clock signal is reenabled while power continues to be supplied to the IC.

Abstract: A novel method for asynchronously driving a display device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows includes the steps of receiving a first multi-bit data word indicative of a first grayscale value to be displayed on a pixel of a first row of the display, defining a first time period during which an electrical signal corresponding to the first grayscale value can be asserted on the pixel of said first row, receiving a second multi-bit data word indicative of a second grayscale value to be displayed on a pixel of a second row of the display, and defining a second time period that is temporally offset from the first time period during which an electrical signal corresponding to the second grayscale value can be asserted on the pixel of said second row. A novel display driver for performing the methods of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A personal communications earpiece (10, 10a, 10b) for use with a personal communications device such as a telephone (50). The personal communications earpiece (10, 10a, 10b) has an ear hook (12) for placing over an ear (60) of the user. An ear bud (14, 14a) containing a speaker (27) is both physically and electrically connected to the ear hook (12) by a flexible connector (16). A front portion (22) of the ear hook (12) extends generally downward in front of the ear (60). In one embodiment, the ear bud (14) has an in ear portion (28) with a plurality of grooves (30) therein for assisting in preventing the ear bud (14) from completely blocking or occluding the ear canal of the user.

Abstract: A novel circuit for driving a fan includes an output terminal for supplying the fan with drive power, a pulse width modulation driver, and a limiter. A first power terminal of the fan is held at a first voltage (e.g., 0V), and a second power terminal of the fan is coupled to the output terminal of the driver circuit. The PWM driver provides a series of fan drive pulses on the output terminal, and the limiter prevents the voltage on the output terminal from falling below a predetermined voltage. The predetermined voltage is greater than the first voltage at which the fan's first power terminal is held, and is sufficient to keep the fan in motion even when the duty cycle of the PWM signal is 0%. In a particular embodiment the limiter includes a voltage clamp. In a more particular embodiment, the voltage clamp is a diode. In another particular embodiment the limiter includes a switch for combining a PWM signal with a DC voltage at an output.

Abstract: A method for converting analog values into digital form comprises comparing a current analog sample value with an analog input value to produce an outcome, generating a count value based on the outcome, the count value increasing upon successive like outcomes and being reset to an initial count value upon successive unlike outcomes, adding or subtracting the count value to/from a current digital sample value to generate a next digital sample value, the adding or subtracting being based on the outcome, and converting the next digital sample value to the current analog sample value.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus (10, 10, 10b) for selectively heating and/or cooling a process fluid (38). A process fluid tubing 14 is wrapped around a primary thermally conductive cylinder (12) having a spiral groove (24) therein adapted for closely accepting the process fluid tubing (14) and increasing the area in thermal contact therebetween. The process fluid tubing (14) is a generally chemically inert tubing. The spiral groove (24) supports the process fluid tubing (14) such that the process fluid tubing (14) can be bent in a radius smaller than the natural minimum bend radius of the process fluid tubing (14). Various embodiments have a cooling apparatus (26, 26a) for cooling the process fluid (38). The cooling apparatus (26, 26a) has a outer thermally conductive cylinder (16) or an outer thermal reservoir (50) cooled alternatively by coolant fluid (44) passing through cooling fluid tubing (18), by a plurality of thermoelectric modules (54), or by a combination thereof.

Abstract: An improvement in sampling a high frequency input analog signal and converting it to a digital output signal is accomplished by using a multitude of analog-to-digital converters in conjunction with a distributed sampling system. This combination of multiple converters and a distributed sampling system allows use of conventional device processing, such as that of 0.18 micron silicon, and also provides accurate sampling of very high frequency input signals. The distributed sampling system provides multiple samplings of the input signal by using a different ADC for each sampling, wherein each sampling is sequentially offset a certain amount of time from the most recent preceding sampling. The samplings from the multitude of ADCs are combined to form a single contiguous digital output signal. Types of distributed sampling systems include a multitude of elongated trace patterns interconnected in series, a specified permittivity material device, and a sequencer or multiplier.

Abstract: A high comfort sound delivery system (10) for use with a personal communications device such as a telephone. The high comfort sound delivery system (10) has a behind-the-ear member (12) for holding the device on or near an ear of the user, and a sound horn (14) to be positioned at or near the ear canal of the user. Sound is produced by a speaker (26) in a speaker enclosure portion (15) of the behind-the-ear piece (12) and is delivered to the sound horn (14) through a generally flexible connecting member (16). Rotational adjustment is provide to rotating the connecting member (16) in relation to a speaker tube connection projection (20) and/or a sound horn tube connection projection (46). A length adjustment is provided by moving an elongated portion (66) of the connecting member (16) of the sound horn tube connection projection (46). Alternate sound horn bodies (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f) provide addition rotational adjustment points.

Abstract: A hoof care stand (10) for receiving the leg of an animal, preferably the front leg (18) or rear leg (18a) of a horse, for care thereof. The hoof care stand (10) has a two dimensionally curved leg receiving portion (16) with padding (20) on an inner surface (32) thereof. The leg receiving portion (16) is flexibly attached relative to a base (12) using a flexible attaching member (22) such as a spring. An attachment rod (24) provides for vertical adjustment of the leg receiving portion (16) relative to the base (12) and is selectively held in place therein by an adjusting screw (26).

Abstract: A system for managing construction projects includes a database, a component interface, a state interface, and a database interface. The component interface is operative to receive component identifiers identifying components of a construction project. The state interface is operative to receive state indicators, each state indicator indicating a particular state (e.g., ordered, in transit, installed, inspected, etc.) associated with one of the components. The database interface is operative to store the component identifiers and the associated state indicators in the database. A method of managing construction projects is also described.

Abstract: The invention discloses a locator unit contained within footwear providing a method for GPS position determination and transmission of said location determination data to a central monitoring station which disseminates the data through the use of proprietary software, wireless communications, land based wire systems and the Internet.