Abstract: An electronic catalog system monitors browsing actions of users to generate user activity data. A data mining component analyzes the user activity data to generate conditional probability data that is presented to users contextually to assist users in selecting items from the electronic catalog. The conditional probability data reflects the frequencies with which users that have performed specific actions, such as viewing a particular item, set of items or web page, or conducting a specific search, have thereafter acquired specific items from the catalog. For example, in one embodiment, when a user selects a first item for viewing in the catalog, the user is notified, for at least one second item, of a frequency with which users who have viewed the first item and then made a purchase have acquired the second item.

Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus for a vehicle mounted with a torque converter can be configured to instantly supply sufficient oil to a clutch mechanism on restart of the engine after an idle-stop without an electrically-driven oil pump. A power transmitting apparatus can comprise a torque converter having a torque amplifying function, a clutch mechanism, an oil pump, a clutch control device, an engine control device, and a flow control device. The oil pump can be driven by the driving power of the engine to supply oil to the clutch mechanism and the torque converter to operate them. The flow control device can be configured to limit or prevent the supply of oil to the torque converter by the oil pump and to prioritize the supply of oil to the clutch mechanism when the engine is restarted by the engine control device after the idle-stopped condition.

Abstract: A transmission device such as a cell phone or other mobile communication device includes a physical phenomenon detection device to perform a “push to talk” function by detecting the occurrence of a particular physical phenomenon and using such detection to start and stop recording an utterance for subsequent analysis by a speech recognition engine. A method of controlling operation of a speech recognition engine in response to detection of a physical phenomenon includes detecting or sensing, via a physical phenomenon detection unit, a predetermined physical phenomenon representative of an intent to invoke operation of a speech recognition engine. In response to the detection or sensing of the predetermined physical phenomenon, a signal is transmitted to a control unit in a communication device.

Abstract: The present invention provides for sequential chemical vapor deposition by employing a reactor operated at low pressure, a pump to remove excess reactants, and a line to introduce gas into the reactor through a valve. A first reactant forms a monolayer on the part to be coated, while the second reactant passes through a radical generator which partially decomposes or activates the second reactant into a gaseous radical before it impinges on the monolayer. This second reactant does not necessarily form a monolayer but is available to react with the monolayer. A pump removes the excess second reactant and reaction products completing the process cycle. The process cycle can be repeated to grow the desired thickness of film.

Abstract: An image reading device is provided. The image reading device suppresses uneven intensity of light emitted on a subject, by disposing a diffusion plate between the subject and a plurality of luminescence portions, and an image forming device that includes this image reading device. The image reading device includes an illumination portion that irradiates light onto a subject. The illumination portion includes: a plurality of LED's disposed at predetermined intervals in a main scanning direction; and an elliptical diffuser plate that is disposed between the subject and the plurality of LED's and diffuses light emitted by the plurality of LED's in a higher diffusion rate in the main scanning direction than in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: The present application is directed toward fire-rated wall construction components and wall systems for use in building construction. Embodiments can include tracks for holding studs which incorporate various geometries capable of receiving fire-retardant material, flat straps for use between tracks and fluted wall components, fire sponges for use in fluted wall components, and tracks with protruding grooves or other structures which prevent unwanted air movement between a wallboard component and the track.

Abstract: A secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly; a can to house the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly to seal the can. The cap assembly includes a vent plate. The vent plate includes a concave deforming portion, a protrusion formed in the center of the deforming portion, and a notch formed around the deforming portion.

Abstract: An application liquid capable of forming a dense silica-based coating film even when embedded into a fine groove, and a method for formation of a silica-based coating film using the application liquid are provided. An application liquid is used including (A) a siloxane polymer, and (B) a base generator represented by the following general formula (I): wherein, R1 and R2 are a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms and which may be the same or different; or one of R1 and R2 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; when R1 and R2 are both a hydrocarbon group, these may bind to one another to form a ring structure; R3 is a linking group; and R4 is a condensed ring.

Abstract: The present technology provides for an apparatus for detecting polynucleotides in samples, particularly from biological samples. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The apparatus includes a microfluidic cartridge that is configured to accept a plurality of samples, and which can carry out PCR on each sample individually, or a group of, or all of the plurality of samples simultaneously.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus that can include a wound dressing, a fluid collection device, a vacuum pump comprising a pump motor, and tubing can be powered by auxiliary power sources such as high efficiency batteries, photovoltaic panels or cells, fuel cells, combustion generators, human powered generators, or other mechanical, electrical, or chemical power sources such as hand operated dynamos or wound springs, or any combination of the foregoing. Additionally, the apparatus can include a high efficiency pressure controller for controlling the output of the vacuum pump. In some embodiments, the pressure controller can control the pump without using a processor, and can have other features such as an intermittent delay function and an anti-stall mechanism to reduce the energy consumption of the apparatus.

Abstract: An entry sheet comprising polymer material for drilling printed circuit boards is provided. The entry sheet is suitable for use with a broad range of diameters, including commonly available drill diameters. The entry sheet comprises an adhesive epoxy configured to, among others, resist drill deflection, resist mechanical damage, and reduce to dust such that the entry sheet may increase drilling accuracy, protect printed circuit board from damage, minimize entry burrs, and may addresses other issues such as fliers, bird nesting, and the like.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a display device, a first insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor pattern. Ions of a first concentration are injected into source and drain domains of the semiconductor pattern and a lower electrode of the semiconductor pattern by using a mask pattern that selectively overlaps a channel domain of the semiconductor pattern and is positioned on the top of the first insulating layer. The mask pattern is removed. An ion injection process of injecting ions of a second concentration lower than the first concentration into the semiconductor pattern of the channel domain is directly performed in the first insulating layer. A gate electrode that overlaps the channel domain is formed on the top of the first insulating layer. An upper electrode that overlaps the lower electrode is formed on the top of the first insulating layer.

Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a multi-layer memory, and more particularly to operating same.

Abstract: A positive resist composition including a polymeric compound (A1) having a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) (R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 represents a divalent linking group, R3 represents a cyclic group containing —SO2— within the ring skeleton thereof) and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, an acid-generator component (B) and a fluorine-containing polymeric compound (F1) having a structural unit containing a base dissociable group.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for electronic amplification are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a first differential amplification block, providing a second differential amplification block, electrically connecting the first and second differential amplification blocks in a stack between a first voltage reference and a second voltage reference, amplifying a first signal using the first differential amplification block, and amplifying a second signal using the second differential amplification block. A voltage difference between the first and second voltage references defines a power supply voltage, and the first differential amplification block operates over a first range of the power supply voltage and the second differential amplification block operates over a second range of the power supply voltage.

Abstract: Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that will use the lead and/or will forward the lead to another destination. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead based on a margin score, while complying with business rules associated with the lead source and destinations. Each lead source is associated with at least one cost score, reflective of a monetary cost for the lead and of other business considerations associated with the lead source. Candidate destinations are each associated with a revenue score, reflective of an amount to be paid for a lead and of other business considerations associated with the destination. A margin score for each destination is calculated based on the cost and revenue scores, and the lead is distributed, based at least in part on the calculated margin scores.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method of predicting sale transaction conversion rate of an item operates through a search of information in response to a query over a network. The system and method can includes discovering available information of the item of interest, extracting certain of the available information of the item, analyzing the certain information by comparing the information to other item information, weighting the information for the item in comparison to other items of the category, calculating a predictive score for the item of interest, and presenting the information of the item of interest ranked according to the predictive score as compared to other items of the category.

Abstract: The present invention is related to telecommunications. A call processing system receives a first call from a caller intended for a first person. A notification regarding the first call is transmitted over a network to a terminal associated with the first person. A user interface is displayed on the terminal via which the first person can indicate that a callback message is to be transmitted to the caller. The callback message is transmitted to the caller, wherein the callback message includes an identification of the first person, a callback control, and text indicating that the caller is to activate the control to initiate another call to the first person. At least partly in response to the caller activating the control, A second call to be placed via which the first person and caller are connected.

Abstract: Improved user interfaces and methods are provided for presenting item recommendations to a user when the user selects an item to add to an electronic shopping cart. In response to the user's selection, a page generation process generates and returns a page that includes a condensed shopping cart portion and a recommendations portion. The condensed shopping cart portion displays the contents of the shopping cart, but omits some of the item information and/or controls provided on a shopping cart page, thereby preserving more screen real estate for the display of item recommendations. The condensed shopping cart portion also includes a link to the shopping cart page.

Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.