Abstract: In an information appliance system 100, a user device 108 comprises a client platform (200, FIG. 5) that includes a service framework (235, FIG. 5) to discover and connect with a variety of services, both remote and local, transient and persistent, and to disconnect from them when they are no longer of interest or become unavailable. The service framework 235 provides a standard, consistent, simplified way for services to make themselves available and for service-using entities to locate and connect with the services of interest to them. The service framework 235 comprises service event notification registries (254, 256, FIG. 7) in which service-requesting entities register templates defining the types of services they want to locate and connect with.

Abstract: A method of directly transferring data across a CompactPCI™ backplane (170) via a fully meshed orthogonal network (370). The CompactPCI backplane (170) incorporates a different type connector at its P4 location, in conjunction with a standard family of IEC 61074 connectors at its P1, P2, P3, and P5 locations, to provide high speed data transfer with additional shielding and noise control.

Abstract: A field emissive display (40) having an anode plate (10) coupled to a cathode plate (20) and a method for manufacturing the field emissive display (40). A substrate (21) of the cathode plate (20) is manufactured or selected such that its coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matches that of the anode plate (10), i.e., the coefficients of thermal expansion of the cathode plate (20) and the anode plate (10) are within ten percent of each other. The cathode plate (20) is coupled to the anode plate (10) by means of a frit structure (41) whose coefficient of thermal expansion preferably substantially matches that of the cathode plate (20) and the anode plate (10). A control circuit can be mounted to the bottom surface of the field emissive display (40).

Abstract: A method of compensating for abrupt load changes in an anti-pinch window control system (300) includes measuring an instantaneous torque value (412) of a window lift mechanism (200) and calculating a pinch factor (430) based on the instantaneous torque value (412) and a stored torque value (424). A pinch threshold (308) is then adjusted based on the pinch factor (430) to define a modified pinch threshold (432). Stored torque value (424) includes stored torque values from sections of travel (406) of window (104), stored downstroke torque values (428) and stored upstroke torque values (426).

Abstract: A field emission device (100) includes an electron emitter structure (105) having a deuteride layer (108), which defines a surface (109) of electron emitter structure (105). Deuteride layer (108) is disposed upon an electron emitter (106), which is made from a metal. Deuteride layer (108) is a deuteride of the metal from which electron emitter (106) is made. A method for conditioning field emission device (100) includes the step of providing a contaminated cathode structure (137), which has a contaminated emitter structure (138). The method further includes the step of causing deuterium to react with a metal oxide layer (140) of emitter structure (138), so that the deuterium replaces the oxygen of metal oxide layer (140).

Abstract: A distributed navigation system and method for providing driving instructions to a user. The system includes a service center having a navigation server and associated workstations. The service center stores driving instructions in a continuously updated map database. In response to a user request the instructions are transmitted by way of a wireless network to a client device residing in the user vehicle. The instructions are assembled into sequential stepwise driving directions and stored in a storage device in the client device. Commands from the user trigger playback of the driving instructions in a stepwise fashion.

Abstract: A field emission device (200) includes a cathode plate (110) having a back plate (112) made from glass and an anode plate (120) having a transparent substrate (122) also made from glass. A first charge control electrode (152) is affixed to a distal surface (148) of back plate (112), and a second charge control electrode (158) is affixed t0 the periphery of transparent substrate (122). A ballast resistor (114) is disposed on a proximate surface (155) of back plate (112). A method for operating told omission device (200) includes the stop of controlling a potential applied to first charge control electrode (152) in a manner sufficient to control the conductivity of ballast resistor (114) and provide an electron current (138) that is constant. The method further includes the step of controlling a potential applied to second charge control electrode (158) in a manner sufficient to prevent arcing due to wild up or charge within transparent substrate (122).

Abstract: A field emission display (100) includes a cathode plate (104) having a plurality of electron emitters (112), ballast resistors (118), an anode plate (120) having an anode (124), and a scan mode control circuit (130). The scan mode control circuit (130) is coupled to a video control circuit (160) via a scan mode switching circuit (150). The scan mode control circuit (130) cooperates with the scan mode switching circuit (150) and the video control circuit (160) to automatically switch between a single scan mode of operation and a multi-scan mode of operation.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for reducing inductance in a capacitor having a first terminal (12) and a spaced-apart second terminal (14), includes a first conductive plate (120) and a second conductive plate (140). The first conductive plate (120) is electrically coupled to the first terminal (12). The second conductive plate (140) is electrically coupled to the second terminal (14) and is disposed in parallel with the first conductive plate (120) so as to overlap at least a portion of the first conductive plate (120). An insulating member (122 and 142) is disposed between the first conductive plate (120) and the second conductive plate (140). The insulating member (122 and 142) insulates the first conductive plate (120) from the second conductive plate (140).

Abstract: Method and structure for reducing crosstalk between adjacent column conductors in a field emission display (50) that has a plurality of column conductors (57, 59) on which electron emission structures (64) are disposed. The field emission display (50) also includes a plurality of row conductors (67, 68). A field termination structure (58) is formed between adjacent column conductors. The field termination structure (58) attenuates a voltage glitch created by a switching column conductor, thereby preventing the voltage glitch from affecting adjacent nonswitching column conductors.

Abstract: A PCI computer system includes component boards (130) adjacent to and coupled to a PCI bus (120), a controller board (310) coupled to the PCI bus, a transition module (140) coupled to the PCI bus, a switching matrix (150, 151) coupled to the transition module, and an I/O module (160, 161) coupled to the component boards and the controller board via the switching matrix, the transition module, and the PCI bus. A method of operating the PCI computer system includes transmitting a first signal from one of the component boards, transmitting a second signal from the I/O module, transmitting a third signal from the controller board in response to the first and second signals to configure the switching matrix to make the pin-out configuration of the one of the component boards compatible with the I/O module, and transmitting a first set of data between the component board and the I/O module.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing heat (118) from a component (102) located on a surface (104) of an electronics module (100). The apparatus includes a heat removal device (108) mounted to electronics module (100) a radial distance (110) away from component (102) and a heat conductor (112) having a first portion (115) coupled to component (102) and a second portion (117) coupled to heat removal device (108).

Abstract: The user interface disclosed in the present disclosure allows the user to ‘tune’ to a ‘content’ station just like he is accustomed to tuning to a radio station. The channel band GUI presents various content or feature bands as rotating belts of icons with each icon representing a channel on the band. The use of graphical belts enables a dynamic number of channels per band and the dynamic number of bands. The graphical presentation of the bands includes the presentation of sub-band “visual hints” as a user highlights a channel on a given band. Provided that there is sufficient room on the display, a super-band visual hint can be used to indicate to the user that the current band is a sub-band. The user tunes to a channel by rotating a dial and selecting a channel from the band. A channel can be ‘fine tuned’ by rotating the dial within the channel ‘band’ and making a selection that presents a sub-band for that channel.

Abstract: A method of compiling navigation route content (202) in a distributed communications system (100) includes defining a navigation route (306) between a starting location (302) and a destination location (304) that is comprised a plurality of route links (320-332) and defined by a user of a remote communications node (104). The plurality of route links (320-332) are monitored and navigation route content (202) is recorded for each of the route links. Navigation route content (202) is compiled by a navigation route algorithm (204) and navigation route data (206) is calculated for the navigation route (306) between starting location (302) and destination location (304).

Abstract: In a selective soldering machine (FIG. 1, 5), a calibration circuit board (FIG. 2, 100) makes contact with a solder wave (FIG. 1, 25). The calibration circuit board (100) is interfaced with a desktop computer unit (FIG. 4, 160) through a optoisolator unit (FIG. 4, 150). The desktop computer unit (160) records which of the contact points (FIG. 2, 120) distributed on the calibration circuit board (100) come into contact with the solder wave (25). This data is then used to establish the solder contact area (FIG. 6, 129) as a function of the various parameters of the selective soldering machine (5). These parameters include the flow rate and flow pressure of solder from the solder pot, the angle of inclination of the electronics board (FIG. 1, 30), the speed of the solder pump (12), the distance from the leads (39) to the solder wave (25), the motion vector which a gantry (50) applies to the electronics board (30), and any preheating which may be applied the electronics board (30).

Abstract: A tile (10) having a plurality of grooves (22). An array of tiles (10) is assembled by placing at least two tiles (10) in generally opposing relationship to one another, with the grooves (22) substantially juxtaposed to define wells (38). When intended for incorporation into a device (40), such as a display device, a conductive interconnect (36) is formed in the wells (38). Devices include a base substrate (40), a first plate (46) and a second plate (48). A first member (50) may be employed to separate the base substrate (40) from the first plate (46). A second member (52) may be employed to separate the first plate (46) from the second plate (48).

Abstract: An electronic component includes a semiconductor device (320) over a circuit board (210, 910), a heat sink (240, 940) over the semiconductor device, a clip (250, 950) over the heat sink and coupling the heat sink to anchors (230, 930) adjacent to the semiconductor device. A method of assembling the electronic component includes using an automated tool to couple the anchors to the circuit board, reflowing solder to electrically couple the semiconductor device and the anchors to a ground plane in the circuit board, and removably coupling the heat sink to the anchors.

Abstract: A method for coupling location information from a vehicle includes the steps of providing a WLAN communication device with a controller in the vehicle; detecting an emergency condition; and attempting to create a communication link with a portable WLAN enabled device. A system for coupling location information from a vehicle includes a WLAN communication device with a controller installed in a vehicle; a WLAN enabled device in communication with the WLAN enabled controller in the vehicle using a WLAN protocol in response to an emergency condition; a wireless communication network in communication with the WLAN enabled device; and a public safety answering point in communication with the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A method of optimizing traffic content includes providing a traffic flow algorithm (220) coupled to receive a set of solicited navigation route data (210) and a set of solicited traffic data (212) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410), where traffic flow algorithm (220) is designed to compute a set of optimized traffic content (230) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410). A set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215) is received and incorporated with set of solicited navigation route data (210) and set of solicited traffic data (212) into traffic flow algorithm (220). A set of optimized traffic content (230) is calculated between the starting location (305, 405) and the destination location (310, 410) utilizing at least the set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a high vacuum display with flat form factor, and the display, include an envelope with two major, parallel spaced apart glass sides and a continuous edge therebetween. An opening is formed through one of the glass sides of the envelope. A plate is provided with an area larger than the opening in the envelope. A button with an area slightly smaller than the opening may be formed on one side of the plate. A low temperature melting material is positioned on the plate around the button and the envelope is positioned in a substantial vacuum. The button is placed in the opening with the plate abutting the glass side outside of the envelope and the low temperature melting material is melted using heat and/or pressure to sealingly engage the button within the opening.