Abstract: Provided is an alarm for detecting heat, radiation and/or pollutants. The alarm includes housing means and also includes detection means for detecting the heat, radiation and/or pollutants. The detection means, in turn, includes detection circuitry and a power source, and is contained within a cartridge that is mountable within the housing means and removable therefrom.

Abstract: A method of periodically spraying live plants and/or animals, using a portable electric sprayer, is described and claimed. In the preferred embodiments, the portable electric sprayer includes: (i) a fluid reservoir; (ii) a nozzle for producing a spray of fluid; (iii) a conduit between the fluid reservoir and the nozzle; (iv) an electric pump coupled so as to pump fluid from the reservoir, through the conduit and out of nozzle; and (v) a control panel. In addition, a control circuit in the portable electric sprayer accepts the user settings from the control panel, and activates and deactivates the electric pump when indicated by the user settings. The nozzle is directed so as to provide the sprays toward at least one of: a terrarium, a bird cage, an aviary, a garden or a potted plant, and the portable electric sprayer is allowed to cycle through a plurality of the sprays while unattended.

Abstract: Defects are detected in a reticle used in integrated circuit chip fabrication by obtaining digital image data corresponding to an image of the reticle. Typically, this is accomplished by scanning the reticle using a laser scanner. The digital image data are then processed according to predetermined criteria to identify defects. Such processing may include, for example, processing the digital image data in comparison to reference digital image data for the same or a similar portion of the reticle. Next, a response that would be produced if the reticle were to be utilized in a photolithographic system is simulated by processing the digital image data corresponding to the reticle.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for decoding input data by using a single decoder for decoding a first set of symbols and then, after those decoded symbols have been interleaved, using the same decoder for decoding the decoded and interleaved first set of symbols together with a second set of symbols. Also provided are methods and apparatuses for decoding input data by using multiple read/write means for controlling the storage and reading of data so as to interleave and/or de-interleave data simultaneously with data buffering.

Abstract: Provided are static and free-floating breakwater apparatuses that utilize a rocking panel (or beach) to dissipate wave energy. At the same time, such rocking motion can in certain embodiments be used to generate electrical power. Generally speaking, the breakwater apparatuses use a buoyant element, such as an open-bottomed hollow chamber and/or a ballast tank to resist the wave's force.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for classifying stocks into business sectors by calculating, for each of multiple exogenous variables, a measure of a tendency for a value of a stock to change as a result of a change in a data value for each such exogenous variable. The foregoing step is then repeated for each of several different stocks. Finally, the different stocks are grouped into different sectors based on similarities of such measures of tendency to change.

Abstract: Provided is a flashlight that includes a plurality of light sources for providing a beam of light. Preferably, the light sources have different levels of power consumption, different brightnesses and/or different beam lengths. More preferably, the plurality of light sources includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) and at least one incandescent lamp. A housing directs the beam of light and an integrated circuit controls illumination of the plurality of light sources, with a switch providing an input signal to the integrated circuit. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch is a pushbutton switch and the integrated circuit is a multi-state electronic device that changes state when the signal is input from the switch, with different states of the integrated circuit causing different combinations of the light sources to become illuminated.

Abstract: Provided is thong-type shoe that has a heel and a layered sole, with a shape-retaining member sandwiched between the layers. In one example, the shoe according to the present invention has a top layer, a bottom layer and a shape-retaining member sandwiched between the two, with a heel mounted to the shape-retaining member through the bottom layer. A provided upper has plural elongated insert elements, each having a stopper on its bottom end. Each of the plural elongated insert elements extends through a hole in the top layer and a hole in the bottom layer such that the stopper engages the hole in the bottom layer.

Abstract: Provided are a variety of variable-buoyancy structures, such anchors, together with methods and apparatuses for fabricating the same in the water. Generally speaking, such methods and apparatuses use a variable-buoyancy platform-based mold, initially floating, that includes multiple forming cells for fabricating the resulting variable-buoyancy structure. As a result, the variable-buoyancy structure produced has multiple corresponding structural cells having open bottoms. However, the structure may be fabricated so as to include a flexible or rigid container within some or all of such open-bottom cells.

Abstract: Provided are systems and techniques for paging multiple recipients by broadcasting a first communication to plural recipient devices. The first communication causes the recipient devices to provide a message notifying the recipients of a task that should be performed. A reply communication is received from one of the recipient devices and, in response to the reply communication, a second message is broadcast to at least one of the recipient devices. The second communication causes the recipient devices that receive it to cease providing the message.