Abstract: A portable, hand-held computer handle that may be detachable secured to a conventional hand-held computer such as a personal digital assistant or the like. The handle preferably includes a substantially planar hand-held computer-mounting portion with an ergonomically-shaped joystick-style handle portion extending orthogonally therefrom. The handle portion includes a trigger in electrical communication with the hand-held computer such that one or more functions of the hand-held computer can be controlled by actuation of the trigger. In a preferred embodiment, the hand-held computer includes a conventional scanner or other data reader thereon, and the trigger on the handle portion activates the scanner. Preferably, the handle portion is aligned with the center of gravity of the handle and hand-held computer.

Abstract: A practical system and method for precisely measuring low-level birefringence properties (retardance and fast axis orientation) of optical materials (26). The system permits multiple measurements to be taken across the area of a sample to detect and graphically display (100) variations in the birefringence properties across the sample area. In a preferred embodiment, the system incorporates a photoelastic modulator (24) for modulating polarized light that is then directed through a sample (26). The beam (“Bi”) propagating from the sample is separated into two parts, with one part (“B1”) having a polarization direction different than the polarization direction of the other beam part (“B2”). These separate beam parts are then processed as distinct channels. Detection mechanisms (32, 50) associated with each channel detect the time varying light intensity corresponding to each of the two parts of the beam.

Abstract: An RF transponder having an antenna comprising at least two ports operable to receive signals such that, in use, the signals in combination establish at least two current nulls on the antenna, each of the ports being located substantially at a current null.

Abstract: A method for downlink capacity enhancement in a wireless communications system that has a base station with antenna array and terminals that are physically remote from the base station comprises the steps of receiving at the base station antenna array combinations of arriving signals from the plurality of remote terminals, estimating an uplink channel covariance matrix (UCCM) for each of the terminals from the combinations of arriving signals, constructing from each UCCM a downlink channel covariance matrix (DCCM), calculating from the DCCM a downlink weight vector for each of the terminals, transmitting a set of information signals from the base station antenna array according to the downlink weight vectors.

Abstract: Software and a method selectively apply a pessimistic concurrency control for each database update that conflicts with another database update. The method includes determining whether a database update conflicts with another database update, applying an optimistic concurrency control for each database update that does not conflict with another database update, and applying a pessimistic concurrency control for each database update that does conflict with another database update. This provides a selective locking concurrency control that selectively applies transaction serialization and locking only when transaction conflicts are detected. As a result, the selective locking concurrency control avoids livelock transaction failures and provides deterministic transaction completion without the computational expense of a conventional pessimistic concurrency control.

Abstract: A folding tool such as a knife or multitool and the like has a resilient lever arm formed in a body portion. A blade pivotally connected to the body is movable between closed and open positions. A blade locking pin is carried on the lever arm, and in the normal resting position the blade locking pin engages the blade. When the blade is in the open position the lever arm biases the locking pin into locking engagement with a notch formed in the blade tang, thereby locking the blade in the open position. Actuating the lever arm disengages the locking pin from the blade, allowing the blade to be moved into the closed position. The blade may have a second notch or hole formed in the tang for engagement of the blade locking pin when the blade is closed, thereby locking the blade into the closed position.

Abstract: An in-plane thermal buckle-beam microelectrical mechanical actuator is formed on a planar substrate of semiconductor material, for example. The actuator includes first and second anchors secured to the substrate and a floating center beam positioned between the first and second anchors and movable relative to the substrate. Symmetric first and second sets of elongated thermal half-beams are secured between opposite sides of the floating center beam and the respective first and second anchors. The half-beams are formed of semiconductor material, such as polysilicon. A current source directs electrical current through the thermal half beams via the anchors to impart thermal expansion of the thermal half-beams and hence linear motion of the floating center beam generally parallel to the substrate. In one implementation, the half-beams are configured at a bias angle to give the floating beam an affinity for in-plane motion.

Abstract: There is described a circuit for controlling the operation of a fan. The circuit operates to control the speed of the fan and to operate the means to monitor fan malfunctioning.

Abstract: The configuration and arrangement of the instrument greatly facilitate safe placement of the instrument and an associated endotracheal tube. The instrument includes a handle with an arm extending therefrom. The arm includes a base portion and a distal lifter portion preferably having an angle between 5° and 85°, inclusive, and the lifter is sized and shaped to engage or lift the patient's epiglottis, thereby to expose the glottis. In a preferred embodiment, the base portion and lifter portion are substantially the same length, and a viewing device, which is preferably a Charged Coupled Device (“CCD”) or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (“CMOS”) camera positioned near the transition portion between the base and lifter portions, is aligned to provide a perspective view toward the distal end of the lifter. Lights, which are preferably LED units, are positioned toward the distal end of the lifter to facilitate viewing.

Abstract: Placement and non-surgical removal of a ureteral stent is accomplished by suspending a ferromagnetic bead from an indwelling stent. The bead is suspended by a flaccid tether that reduces the likelihood of patient irritation when a shortened stent is used. The bead, tether, and stent assembly are advanced into the patient as a unit via a conventional cystoscope. A magnet-tipped catheter is employed to engage the bead in the bladder and permit removal of the connected stent as the catheter is withdrawn.

Abstract: A compost tea system uses a water-holding tank for containing process water. Compost is immersed into the water in the tank in baskets defining a filter media. Air is pumped into membrane disk diffuser modules in the tank and the liquid is sparged with fine bubbles to thoroughly agitate the liquid, extract nutrients and microorganisms from the compost, and to ensure a high concentration of dissolved oxygen in the liquid. The high level of oxygen selects for desired aerobic organisms to produce a rich compost tea. The finished tea is drained out of the tank and the tank and its components are easily cleaned and sanitized.

Abstract: Determining the angle of arrival of a signal by providing a plurality of antennae, sampling, in turn, the output from each of the antennae to obtain a set of samples, each of the samples relating to different points in time, performing a Fourier transform on the set of samples, thereby producing a sequence of spectral lines, identifying a signal impinging on the antennae from the configuration of the spectral lines, and calculating, from phase and amplitude data gathered from at least a subset of the spectral lines, the direction of arrival of the signal at the antennae.

Abstract: A container for holding a pair of shoes is formed in a blank having two body halves interconnected by a living hinge. The container body is at least partially clear to reveal a pair of shoes held in the interior. The interior of the container defines a space having non-uniform dimensions in which a pair of shoes is securely held. The container optionally includes an integrally formed carrying handle. Empty containers are nested to minimize shipping space. Each container includes stack stabilizing structure so that plural containers containing shoes may be stacked into stable stacks, and any selected container may be easily removed from the stack. The inventive container protects the shoes during shipping and storage, and displays the shoes both before and after sale.

Abstract: A self propelled transportable lift truck (A) having a frame (1) formed by two spaced parallel longitudinal front members and a rear transverse member, at least two front wheels (5, 6) and at least one steerable rear wheel (7), such that the lifting mechanism thereby extends from a most retracted position between the longitudinal members of the frame. The lifting mechanism to raise and/or lower the lifting tines comprises a telescopic lifting arm (4) articulated about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lift truck. An operator's cab (2) is located to one side of the lifting mechanism; the motive drive unit (3) is housed beneath the lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism is provided with a yaw control to facilitate the lateral movement of the lifting lines. In addition, the yaw control has, on demand, the capability to automatically self centre the lifting mechanism.

Abstract: A planar pressure transducer is disclosed which is useful for interposing between living tissue and a medical device that applies pressure to the tissue in order to estimate the pressure applied to a selected area of the tissue. The planar pressure transducer comprises a pair of opposed plates between which the proximal ends of optical fibers and a deformable polymer structure are disposed. When the plates are subjected to a pressure acting normally to the plane of the plates an optical signal is obtained via the distal ends of the fibers and related to the pressure acting on the plates.

Abstract: Construction and remodeling of a cleanroom wall system is facilitated with a universal stud design. A variety of wall configurations may be assembled with the same stud. Also provided is a useful connector block for joining perpendicularly oriented studs, or for splicing together axially aligned studs. A corner stud is also provided, as well as a deflection track for connecting the top track of a wall panel to a conventional ceiling grid to allow deflection of the grid relative to the wall and to facilitate easy access to the portion of the ceiling immediately above the wall panel.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to provide message notification to a subscriber having a wireless device, without the need to forward the message content with the notification. The message notification can be received within a wireless communication network such as a cellular telephone network. This message notification is forwarded to the wireless device of the subscriber and indicates that the subscriber has a waiting message. In another aspect of the invention, a message notification can be forwarded to a wireless device by receiving within a wireless communication network a message notification from a private base station that is connected into a premises based local area network. The premises based local area network receives the message from a message provider and stores it within a premises based to personal computer which generates the message notification. Messages may be any form of stored or recorded message, including e-mail, voice-mail and facsimile.

Abstract: An Internet network based telephone call forwarding system comprising a home unit to which a user's telephone calls are directed and a remote unit to which a user's telephone calls are forwarded, wherein the home unit has an incoming line connectable to a telephone network and an outgoing line connectable to an Internet network and the remote unit has a line connectable to the Internet network, wherein the home unit is operable to forward calls directed to the home unit on the incoming line to the remote unit on the outgoing line via the Internet network.

Abstract: A hand truck like frame has a pair of wheels, each of which is coated with an electrically conductive material so that in a selected operating mode the wheels define electrodes. A separate pair of electrodes is mounted to the frame and the electrodes and the wheels are electrically connected through switching circuits to an ohmmeter. The ESD potential between the electrodes and/or the wheels may be measured in several selected modes for point to point, point to ground and point to bench top measurements.