Abstract: An apparatus and method for an adjustable multi-barrel hair waving appliance is disclosed herein. The appliance has a plurality of barrels, at least one of which is an adjustable barrel, wherein the barrels are heated during use. In one embodiment two outer barrels and one adjustable center barrel are provided. The center barrel is manually adjusted to be closer or farther from a winged shield that clamps hair against the barrels and is formed to cradle the outer barrels. A locking mechanism locks the center barrel in place after adjustments are made via projections at an end of the center barrel. Adjusting the center barrel closer to the shield results in shallow or tight waves, and deep or loose waves result when the center barrel is adjusted farther from the shield.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for compensating for a mismatch in temperature coefficients of two oscillator frequencies to match a desired frequency ratio between the two oscillator frequencies over a temperature range. In one embodiment of a temperature sensor, first and second oscillators of different temperature characteristics are coupled to a differential frequency discriminator (DFD) circuit. The DFD circuit compensates for the different characteristics in order to match a frequency difference between the first and second frequencies over a temperature range.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for an information handling system comprising an internal graphics system and an external graphics system, wherein both the internal and external graphics systems may operate simultaneously to support multiple monitors. The internal graphics system may be provided, for example, from a notebook computer. The external graphics system may comprise a pass thru port providing graphics from the internal graphics to a first monitor simultaneously with a graphics card of the external graphics system supporting a second monitor. The external graphics system can support two monitors, as well. HDTV can be supported instead of one of the monitors supported by the external graphics system. The system which contains internal graphics capabilities may include an Express card socket, wherein an external graphics processor unit of the external graphics system is coupled to Express card socket.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for setting up and configuring a LAN. More particularly, secure communications may be configured between an access point (AP) and a client device. Virtual AP technology is utilized to assist the configuration of the network. In particular, at least two wireless networks are provided in a single A, a configuration LAN and an operational LAN, by utilizing virtual AP technology. The configuration LAN is utilized to provide communication between the AP and the client devices that is related to network setup, configuration, modification, etc. and the operational LAN provides normal LAN data communication. The configuration LAN may be provided in a relatively insecure manner that eases setup of that communication channel and the operational LAN may be provided in a more fully secure communication channel. Different types of service set identifiers (SSIDs) may be provided for configuration LANs and operational LANs so as to more easily identify the type of LAN through its SSID.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining transmission channels for short range transmissions are disclosed. A transmitter provides short range transmission to a broadcast receiver configured to receive and tune channels within a signal spectrum. Channels within the broadcast signal spectrum are scanned, and an indication of received signal strength is obtained for each channel. The received signal strength indication (RSSI) can then be compared to a threshold power level that correlates to a signal level that the transmitter will be capable of overpowering based upon the transmission power of the transmitter. The scan results in an indication of one or more channels that have received signal strengths below the threshold power level of the transmitter.

Abstract: Programmable on-chip identification circuitry and associated method are disclosed that provide integrated circuits with the ability to select and report from multiple different vendor and system identification configurations. The integrated circuit device includes programmable circuitry that utilizes vendor identification, system identification, configuration or other device information provided or selected at least in part based upon selection information from a source external to the integrated circuit. The selection information may be provided through one or more externally generated digital and/or analog control signals that are then processed within the integrated circuit device to select, access and utilize desired identification information stored in an on-chip database.

Abstract: A MEMS structure having a temperature-compensated resonator member is described. The MEMS structure comprises an asymmetric stress inverter member coupled with a substrate. A resonator member is housed in the asymmetric stress inverter member and is suspended above the substrate. The asymmetric stress inverter member is used to alter the thermal coefficient of frequency of the resonator member by inducing a stress on the resonator member in response to a change in temperature.

Abstract: Receiver architectures and related methods are disclosed for high definition (HD) and digital radio FM broadcast receivers. The radio receiver architectures are configured to utilize multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to handle the digital radio spectrum and can be configured to modify a target IF frequencies depending upon the mode of operation of the receiver. For example, the receiver can include an analog FM reception mode and a digital FM reception mode for which different down-conversions are used for the same analog-plus-digital audio broadcast channel. If desired, the radio broadcast receivers disclosed can be configured so that they only receive digital FM radio content, for example, if the analog FM broadcast was of no interest and/or if the broadcast was all digital.

Abstract: A MEMS structure having a stress-inducer temperature-compensated resonator member is described. The MEMS structure includes a frame disposed above a substrate. The frame has an inner surface and an outer surface and is composed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a second material having a second CTE, different from the first CTE. A resonator member is coupled to the inner surface of the frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the co-location of radio frequency (RF) antennas in portable devices, portable devices and their docking stations and related systems, and devices with restrictive space constraints to allow for simultaneous receive (RX) and transmit (TX) operation without degradation. The systems and methods disclosed overcome RX channel degradation, receiver performance, and other problems seen in prior solutions. More particularly, transmit and receive antennas are oriented to provide for cross-polarization of their electro-magnetic fields, are oriented to allow one or both antenna to fall within null regions of the other antenna, and/or oriented with both cross-polarization and null region considerations in mind. Other variations and implementations are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or tracking use of SIM smart cards with integrated or external SIM module systems that are utilized with information handling systems. A SIM module system may be locked with a generic locking code to lock a SIM module system of a given information handling system for use with a designated SIM smart card that is programmed with a matching generic locking code. The locked SIM module system of the information handling system may be further configured so that it may be unlocked using an unlocking code so as to allow use of the information handling system with SIM smart cards other than the designated SIM smart card. To allow tracking of the disposition of the designated SIM smart card, notification of the non-activation, de-activation and/or activation of the designated SIM smart card (e.g., to an activation tracking agent) may be required before obtaining the unlocking code, for example, from an activation tracking agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to prevent separator failure in wound battery structures. The systems and methods employ reinforcing material that is attached or otherwise positioned relative to one or more battery structure components in area/s adjacent to a separator of a layered battery structure. The reinforcing material may be positioned relative to one or more battery structure components in a manner that reinforces or otherwise protects the area/s of the battery structure so as to reduce or substantially prevent occurrence of a conductive breach between negative active electrode material and positive active electrode material of the layered battery structure.

Abstract: Low temperature, multi-layered, planar microshells for encapsulation of devices such as MEMS and microelectronics. The microshells include a planar perforated pre-sealing layer, below which a non-planar sacrificial layer is accessed, and a sealing layer to close the perforation in the pre-sealing layer after the sacrificial material is removed. In an embodiment, the pre-sealing layer has perforations formed with a damascene process to be self-aligned to the chamber below the microshell. The sealing layer may include a nonhermetic layer to physically occlude the perforation and a hermetic layer over the nonhermetic occluding layer to seal the perforation. In a particular embodiment, the hermetic layer is a metal which is electrically coupled to a conductive layer adjacent to the microshell to electrically ground the microshell.

Abstract: Reconfigurable communications infrastructures may be implemented to interconnect ASIC devices (e.g., FPGAs) and other computing and input/output devices using high bandwidth interconnection mediums. The computing and input/output devices may be positioned in locations that are physically segregated from each other, and/or may be provided to project a reconfigurable network across a wide area. The reconfigurable communications infrastructures may be implemented to allow such computing and input/output devices to be used in different arrangements and applications, e.g., for use in any application where a large array of ASIC devices may be usefully employed such as supercomputing, etc.

Abstract: A composition and process for manufacturing a camouflaged aircraft component. The process includes providing an aircraft component; applying an uncured coating onto the aircraft component wherein the uncured coating comprises polysilazane resin, at least one pigment, at least one matting agent, and at least one diluent; allowing the diluent to evaporate; curing the coating to provided a cured coating that comprises cured polysilazane, at least one pigment, and at least one matting agent.

Abstract: An AC-DC adapter is provided with an auto-sensing capability to sense when no DC load is present at the output (secondary side) of the adapter by monitoring for absence of load-indicative signals, such as power supply identifier (PSID) signals communicated to the adapter from a coupled DC-powered device. Upon detection of a no load condition, the adapter enters a no load mode during which the adapter output is turned off in order to reduce energy consumption by the adapter, and only produces short recurring voltage pulses (hiccups) at the adapter output. Upon detection of load-indicative signals communicated to the adapter from a coupled DC-powered device, the adapter output enters normal mode and provides its normal regulated power value to the adapter output for powering the coupled DC-powered device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for retention of computer expansion cards and/or card bay covers inside a card bay of an information handling system chassis, and that may include an expansion card retaining apparatus that includes a pivotable first end configured to attachably rotate relative to a securing surface of the information handling system chassis, a latching second end configured to releasably lock the expansion card retaining apparatus in a locking position that prevents rotation of the expansion card retaining apparatus about the pivotable first end, at least one resiliently deformable coupling section extending between the pivotable first end and the latching second end to maintain the latching second end in the locking position, and a retention section extending between the at least one coupling section and the pivotable first end.

Abstract: Receiver architectures and associated methods are disclosed that provide initial analog coarse tuning of desired channels within a received signal spectrum, such as a set-top box signal spectrum for satellite communications. These architectures provide significant advantages over prior direct down-conversion (DDC) architectures and low intermediate-frequency (IF) architectures, particularly where two tuners are desired on the same integrated circuit. Rather than using a low-IF frequency or directly converting the desired channel frequency to DC, initial coarse tuning provided by analog coarse tuning circuitry allows for a conversion to a frequency range around DC. This coarse tuning circuitry can be implemented, for example, using a large-step local oscillator (LO) that provides a coarse tune analog mixing signal.

Abstract: Variable display lighting intensity of an information handling system, such as notebook computer, is used to achieve image lighting uniformity for document scanning with a camera that is integrated or otherwise attached or built-in to a display of the information handling system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for dynamically managing multicast sessions for software downloads and, more particularly, for such software downloads used in build-to-order manufacturing information handling systems. Multiple multicast sessions are automatically managed simultaneously, where each session can have its own unique set of session parameters, in such a way as to support a high mix, high volume manufacturing build-to-order environment. Multicast session control parameters, such as start time and client count, are defined for each multicast session base upon download requests from the information handling systems as they reach the software installation phase.