Abstract: A backward compatible connector assembly that facilitates electrical communication between computer subsystems includes a receptacle, a receiver assembly and a conductor array. The receptacle includes a plurality of first connectors having a first connector length, and a plurality of interspersed second connectors having a second connector length that differs from the first connector length. The first connectors include data pins and the second connectors can include ground pins for single-ended signaling. Alternatively, the second connectors can include a plurality of data pins to form differential pairs of connectors for low voltage differential signaling. The receiver assembly includes first connector receivers that receive the first connectors, and second connector receivers that receive the second connectors. The conductor array can include approximately 40 signal-bearing conductors that have interspersed ground lines or signal-bearing lines.

Abstract: The invention relates to the determination of a pair of ophthalmic lenses, by measurement of the sagittal plane shift of the wearer for close vision with relation to the standard sagittal plane. Optimisation targets are then chosen as a function of the measured shift. The lenses are determined by optimisation with the chosen targets. Lenses are thus obtained with which the field of close vision is symmetrical with relation to the medial line as perceived by the wearer. A wearer with a displaced sagittal plane thus has a greater close vision field which facilitates binocular vision and increases acuity.

Abstract: Perspective distortion in an imaged scene is corrected by identifying a group of points in the imaged scene such that the group of points define a shape. Two vanishing points are determined based on the group of points in the imaged scene. The process determines a first set of reference points within the shape defined by the group of points and transforms the first set of reference points into a second set of reference points. An aspect ratio associated with the first set of reference points is adjusted and the imaged scene is transformed to reduce perspective distortion in the imaged scene.

Abstract: A method for the determination by optical optimization of a personalized progressive ophthalmic lens intended to be inserted into a frame chosen by a given wearer for whom a power addition has been prescribed in near vision, the method comprising the stages of: determining at least one parameter representing the frame chosen by the wearer; measuring parameters representing the wearer's head-eye behavior; weighting the parameters representing the wearer's head-eye behavior with the parameter representing the frame chosen by the wearer; determining power and resulting astigmatism defect targets for each direction of viewing under wearing conditions, the targets being associated with an individual merit function taking into account the weighted head-eye coordination parameters. The method allows the design of the lens to be adapted to the size and the shape of the frame chosen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold insert, the interior surface thereof having an average quadratic roughness of less than 10 nm. Said insert is covered with a protective layer exhibiting a Vickers hardness of more than 1000 HV, a thickness of between 0.2 and 5 ?m, and an adhesive strength greater than 15 N. The invention also relates to a method for the production thereof. The invention is used for the production of ophthalmic lenses.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving an image data set that comprises a multidimensional property space and data classifiable into data classes, determining a projection vector for data of the data set wherein the projection vector maximizes a ratio of between-class scatter to within-class scatter, selecting a reference for the vector, projecting at least some of the data onto the vector, measuring distances from the reference to at least some of the data, classifying at least some of the data into data classes based on a nesting analysis of the distances, eliminating the classified data from the image data set to produce a modified image data set and deciding whether to determine another projection vector for the modified image data set. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: Shielding associated with an ion source, such as an anode layer source, reduces the amount and/or concentration of sputtered contaminants impinging and remaining on the surface of a target substrate. While passing the ion beam through to the target substrate, shielding can reduce the total amount of sputtered contaminants impinging the substrate before, during, and/or after passage of the substrate through the envelope of the etching beam. Particularly, a shield configuration that blocks the contaminants from impinging the substrate after the substrate passes through the etching beam (i.e., outside of the envelope of the etching beam) yields a higher quality substrate with reduced substrate contamination.

Abstract: A design process for varying hole locations or sizes or both in an ion beam grid includes identifying a control grid to be modified; obtaining a change factor for the grid pattern; and using the change factor to generate a new grid pattern. The change factor is one or both of a hole location change factor or a hole diameter change factor. Also included is an ion beam grid having the characteristic of hole locations or sizes or both defined by a change factor modification of control grid hole locations or sizes or both.

Abstract: A pole-suspended flag illumination system positions a lighting fixture located in close proximity to a flag on a flagpole to provide illumination to the flag. The lighting fixture can slide up and down the flagpole in unison the flag using the same halyard that is used for the flag, or by other means. Further, flags often rotate about the flagpole as the wind shifts. As such, the lighting fixture can rotate about the flagpole in alignment with the flag so as to maintain illumination on the flag at it rotates. The flag and the lighting fixture may be attached to a reinforced electrical cable that acts as a halyard and raises and lowers them both along the flagpole. Further, the electrical cable can be connected to a power source to power directional lights in the lighting fixture and any other electrical devices on the flagpole.

Abstract: Methods and structures for appending metadata with recorded data in a dynamic mapped storage device. In a dynamically mapped storage device in which all user supplied logical blocks are dynamically mapped by the storage device controller to physical disk blocks, features and aspects hereof allow presently unused physical space to be used for storing additional metadata associated with recorded data. As the current capacity ratio of the storage device increases, appending of metadata may cease and previously recorded data including metadata may be re-recorded (migrated) to eliminate the appended metadata. The appended metadata may be used for enhanced diagnosis and analysis of characteristics of the operating storage device and may be used to restore the content of the storage device to an earlier state. The metadata may include, for example, track following position of the read/write head, temperature, head flying height, and time of day.

Abstract: Methods and structures for limiting the write portion of a local cache memory in one or more disk drives of a storage system such that a storage controller coupled to each may mirror the content and structure of the write portion of each disk drive. The size of the write portion of the local cache memory in a disk drive controller may be controlled by the storage controller or other host device. The size of the write portion may be controlled by switch settings to select among a plurality of predefined sizes or may be programmed by the storage controller or other host device. Programming such a size value may be by setting parameter values in a configuration page of a SCSI disk drive's local memory or may be by a vendor unique command sent by a host device to the disk drive.

Abstract: A load lock adjustment mechanism for use with a load lock for trailers is provided. The load lock has a pad positionable against a trailer wall with a connecting rod extending from the pad and at least one tube sized and shaped for receiving the connecting rod. The load lock adjustment mechanism comprises an insert receivable within the tube with the insert having a threaded aperture extending therethrough and a pad holder having a first end and a second end with the first end of the pad holder having a bore for receiving the connecting rod extending from pad and the second end of the pad holder having a threaded hole formed therethrough to the bore. A threaded stud is receivable within the threaded aperture of the insert and receivable within the threaded hole of the pad holder. A tightening mechanism is secured between the first end and the second end of the stud.

Abstract: A method for the determination of a progressive ophthalmic lens for a given wearer comprises the stages of: determining the axial length (LA) of the wearer's eye, determining an ergorama associating a sight point with each direction of viewing under wearing conditions, determining power and resulting astigmatism defect targets for each direction of viewing under wearing conditions, the targets being a function of the axial length of the wearer's eye, calculating the power required on the lens for each direction of viewing by successive iterations in order to obtain the target power defect and the target resulting astigmatism.

Abstract: An apparatus for powering a voice coil motor retract circuit in a disk drive is disclosed. The apparatus allows a disk drive to power the voice coil motor retract circuit while also slowing the spinning disk. A DC-to-DC converter converts the back electromotive force from the spinning disk into voltage which drives the retract circuit. A feedback circuit controls the switching of the DC-to-DC converter based on the available voltage for performing the retract function. Importantly, the DC-to-DC converter allows the disk to be slowed while simultaneously providing power to the retract circuit. In one embodiment, the windings of the spindle motor are used as the inductor element in the DC-to-DC converter. The power MOSFETs associated with the spindle motor are used as the diode unit and the switch unit of the DC-to-DC converter. The power supply capacitor is used as the output capacitor of the DC-to-DC converter.

Abstract: Various systems, devices and methods for providing variable coder/decoder mechanisms are disclosed. As one example, a coder/decoder device including a plurality of coder/decoder mechanisms, a coder/decoder selection engine, and a computer readable medium is disclosed. The computer readable medium includes a network statistic. The coder/decoder selection engine is operable to select at least one of the plurality of coder/decoder mechanisms based at least in part on the network statistic. Further, the coder/decoder selection engine is operable to offer the at least one of the plurality of coder/decoder mechanisms.

Abstract: Methods and structures for dynamic density control to improve reliability of a dynamically mapped storage device. In a dynamically mapped storage device in which all user supplied logical blocks are dynamically mapped by the storage device controller to physical disk blocks, features and aspects hereof provide for dynamically altering the recording density of user data stored on the storage device. So long as the physical capacity utilization of the storage device permits, new data stored on the device may be stored at lower density to improve reliability in reading back the recorded data. Further features and aspects hereof may reduce the recording density only for data deemed to be critical. Radial (track) density, longitudinal (bit) density, or both may be dynamically controlled to reduce recording density. As physical capacity utilization increases, data previously recorded at lower density may be migrated (re-recorded) at normal higher density.

Abstract: A method for managing a computer or communication network by obtaining connectivity configuration information from a plurality of networked devices; and, determining a network connectivity condition between any two of the plurality of networked devices.

Abstract: Properties of pixels in a digital image are sampled within different subdivisions of an editing tool impression to produce different property distributions. The different subdivisions can automatically alter their size, geometry, and/or location, based on image content within one or more of the subdivisions, in order to encompass a set of pixels having a substantially uniform distribution of a pixel property. Uniformity can be defined relative to the editing operation or context of the image. The property distributions from each region are classified to identify different edit classes within the property space, which are then used to apply an edit effect to the digital image within the tool impression. The edit classes may be represented by an edit profile in two or more dimensions.

Abstract: A multi-level content addressable memory (CAM) architecture compresses out much of the redundancy encountered in the search space of a single CAM, particularly for flow-based lookups in a network. Destination and source address may be associated with internal equivalence classes independently in one level of the multi-level CAM architecture, while flow-specific properties linking arbitrary classes of the destination and source addresses may be applied in a later level of the multi-level CAM.