Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock that utilizes a short residence pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that cracks and chemically upgrades the feedstock. The process of the present invention provides for the preparation of a partially upgraded feedstock exhibiting reduced viscosity and increased API gravity. This process selectively removes metals, salts, water and nitrogen from the feedstock, while at the same time maximizes the yield of the liquid product, and minimizes coke and gas production. Furthermore, this process reduces the viscosity of the feedstock in order to permit pipeline transport, if desired, of the upgraded feedstock with little or no addition of diluents.

Abstract: This device collects and analyzes general data on the state of the patient, and collects continuously a monitored signal representative of a physiological function. It includes a memory with a first zone for the durable memorizing of these data, and analyzes in real time the monitored signal to detect there the occurrence of a particular event. The memory includes a second zone for the continuous memorizing of the monitored signal over a first period of time, the memorizing being started on detection of a particular event. The device can also collect context information representative of circumstances possibly related to the occurrence of the particular event. The memory then includes a third zone, for the conditional memorizing of this information on detection of an event, for a second period of time shorter than the first period.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are described for zero packet loss task migration in an network switch in a computer network. The invention relates to active or programmable networks, i.e. networks based on packet switching algorithms and switch configurations which are subject to change. A well-defined protocol enables an intelligent switch to migrate tasks from one forwarding engine to another without any packet loss. This enables the algorithms and configurations of the switch to be updated or modified arbitrarily.

Abstract: The reconstruction of a surface electrocardiogram based upon an endocardial electrogram. This method includes: (a) acquisition (10) of a plurality of endocardial electrogram signals (EGM) through a plurality of endocardial leads defined based upon endocardial electrodes; (b) calculation (12), by combining the endocardial electrogram (EGM) signals acquired at step (a), of the corresponding endocardial vectogram (VGM); (c) angular rescaling (14) of the orthonormalized mark of the endocardial vectogram (VGM) with that of the surface vectocardiogram (VCG); (d) estimation (16), based upon the endocardial vectogram (VGM) calculated at step (b), of a reconstructed surface vectocardiogram (VCGreconstructed), and (e) calculation (18) of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) corresponding to said reconstructed surface vectocardiogram (VCGreconstructed).

Abstract: An active implantable medical device comprising circuits for measuring trans-thoracic impedance and delivering an impedance signal varying with respiratory activity of a patient. A signal representative of the respiratory activity of the patient is delivered starting from the impedance signal, and circuits for diagnosing respiratory disorder analyze variations of the respiratory signal on a plurality of successive cycles to detect there a profile of predetermined variation in relation to a given respiratory disorder. The device also includes circuits for automatically controlling respiratory cycles with artifacts, able to identify in the impedance signal a jump of static impedance, and/or to identify in a respiratory cycle or in a sequence of respiratory cycles a predetermined singularity representative of a cycle with artifact.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine (1) comprising a base (2) provided with guides (3) parallel to a first axis X, a first mobile carriage (4) on the guides (3) along the axis X and provided with an upright (17), a second carriage (6) carried by the upright (17) and mobile along a second vertical axis Z, and a horizontal arm (7) carried by the second carriage (6) and axially mobile along a third horizontal axis Y perpendicular to the axis X; the first carriage (4) comprises a base (16) provided with a first portion (19, 20) coupled to the guides (3) and a second portion (18) rigidly connected to the upright (17), releasable connection means (27) for reciprocally connecting the first portion (19, 20) and the second portion (18) of the base (16), and articulated connection means (28) between the first portion (19, 20) and the second portion (18) of the base to allow the upright (17) to be tipped when the releasable connection means (27) are released.

Abstract: A carbonaceous feedstock to alcohol conversion process in which carbon dioxide and a portion of the hydrogen produced are removed from the syngas stream issuing from a feedstock reformer, to yield a reduced hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane syngas stream. The hydrogen and the carbon dioxide are passed through a Fischer Tropsch reactor which is catalyzed to favor the production of methanol. The methanol produced in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor is passed with the reduced hydrogen syngas through a second Fischer-Tropsch reactor which is catalyzed to favor the production of ethanol. Also disclosed, without limitation, are a unique catalyst, a method for controlling the content of the syngas formed in the feedstock reformer, and a feedstock handling system.

Abstract: A portable media device for use in cooperation with passenger entertainment systems installed in vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The portable media device is configured to communicate with one or more content sources, which provide viewing content and which may be proximate to, and/or remote from, the portable media device. Preferably being configured to wirelessly communicate with the content sources, the portable media device can select content from any available content source and can download and present the selected content in any conventional manner. The selected content can be streamed to the portable media device for contemporaneous presentation and/or stored by the portable media device for viewing at any time, including after disembarking the vehicle once travel is completed. As desired, the portable media device likewise can be configured to transmit appropriate upload content to the content sources.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.

Abstract: A flat projection television comprising an imagine engine mounted adjacent a top of an enclosure and optically coupled to a collimator mirror, a flat mirror, a mirror assembly comprising a plurality of cylindrical mirrors, and a diffuser screen. The image engine includes a cylindrical lens which expands an outgoing image horizontally. The image engine projects the image downward from the top of the enclosure toward the bottom of the enclosure where the horizontally expanding image encounters the collimator mirror which collimates the expanding beam bringing the horizontal lines back into parallel with one another. The collimator mirror also reflects the collimated image towards the front of the enclosure where it encounters the flat mirror oriented to deflect the image upward into the mirror box location of the enclosure at an appropriate angle.

Abstract: A method for achieving multiple link quality of service for video and voice calls over Internet links, or over IP links running in private networks, is described. This method applies to both the non-mobile domain (alternate paths exist in one place at the same time) as well as the mobile domain (one path is used at any one place at a given time, but the user device roams from place to place). This method can be implemented as either computer software or other digital logic (ASIC or FPGA). Using this invention, voice and video calls can be moved at will from one path to another, as many times as required during a single conversation, without breaking the RTP voice or video payload stream. The benefit is that embodiments of this invention have a significantly higher probability that a call never breaks under various conditions of quality degrade. This includes the case of link and router failures, which are treated as a special case of quality degrade in the context of voice and video.

Abstract: The present invention relates to creating an active layer of strained semiconductor using a combination of buried and sacrificial stressors. That is, a process can strain an active semiconductor layer by transferring strain from a stressor layer buried below the active semiconductor layer and by transferring strain from a sacrificial stressor layer formed above the active semiconductor layer. As an example, the substrate may be silicon, the buried stressor layer may be silicon germanium, the active semiconductor layer may be silicon and the sacrificial stressor layer may be silicon germanium. Elastic edge relaxation is preferably used to efficiently transfer strain to the active layer.

Abstract: A packetized transport stream for protecting viewing content from unauthorized access and methods for manufacturing and using same. The transport stream includes a plurality of content frames, each having a frame header and a frame payload. Each frame header includes information for handling the content frame; whereas, the frame payload includes selected viewing content for which protection from unauthorized access is desirable. By encrypting only the frame payload, the header remains unencrypted and can be applied to prepare the encrypted frame payload for presentation. The viewing content thereby can be stored in an encrypted format and can be decrypted on-the-fly as the viewing content is needed for presentation. The combination of the unencrypted frame header and the encrypted frame payload advantageously enables the viewing content to be protected against unauthorized use, copying, and dissemination without impairing the presentation of the viewing content.

Abstract: A method and system for processing user information are described. A graphical user interface is provided to include a display region, a first bounded region circumferentially surrounding the display region, and a second bounded region circumferentially surrounding the first bounded region. The first bounded region may include one or more first-type graphical user interface elements with each of the first-type graphical user interface elements selectively mapped to one or more first-type display data. The second bounded region may include one or more second-type graphical user interface elements with each of the second-type graphical user interface elements selectively mapped to one or more second-type display data. A user input is received using the graphical user interface, and a result is generated based at least on a user activation of at least one of the first-type and second-type graphical user interface elements.

Abstract: A security system for monitoring at least one shipping container being transported by at least one cargo transport vehicle has a Container Security Device (CSD) configured to be removably coupled to the at least one freight shipping container wall thereby utilizing for monitoring a cargo inside the container and detection of intrusion violations accompanied with partial destruction of the container wall when in a coupled condition. The CSD including at least one anti-tamper sensor, a microcontroller and a communication device; where the microcontroller generates an alarm signal based on a signal from at least one anti-tamper sensor is subjected to an individual sensor processing procedure and then to an integrated sensor processing procedure, the integrated sensor processing procedure make determination of the overall container alert status based on the alarm signal from at least one sensor.

Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus, which ejects coins by squeezing them substantially chordally between an element on a rotor and an ejector, has a variable height rotor (3), an improved two-part coin ejector (10a, 10b). A optical sensor for detecting coins being ejected positive detects both the presence and absence of coins in a coin path. Also, a payout device comprising a first coin dispensing device (61) including a dispensed coin type detector and a second coin dispensing device (62). The first coin dispensing device (61) is used to store coins of plurality of large denominations and is used initially for paying out an amount. The second coin dispensing device (62) is used for a single low denomination coin type and coins are dispensed from the second coin dispensing device (62) after the first coin dispensing device has been used as much as possible.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens comprising an optic made from solid silicone and liquid silicone. The optic has a central anterior area or membrane that can vary in radius and thus charge power.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens comprising an optic made from solid silicone and liquid silicone. The optic has a central anterior area or membrane that can vary in radius and thus change power.

Abstract: A syringe system for the administration of lyophilized drugs includes a syringe barrel and a stopper and a needled guard each coupled with the syringe barrel. A reconstitution plunger is removably coupled with the stopper. A diluent is withdrawn from the syringe into a vial containing a lyophilized drug, and the diluent and drug are mixed to form a therapeutic agent. The reconstitution plunger is then replaced by an administration plunger. The length of the reconstitution plunger is greater than the length of the administration plunger in order to prevent activation of the needle guard during reconstitution. Alternatively, a single plunger system may be used in which the plunger can transition from an extended length during reconstitution to a shortened length during administration. During administration, a radial element of the plunger contacts latch members of the needle guard, whereupon the shield advances to an extended position covering the needle.

Abstract: A content management system for providing comprehensive content management for one or more vehicle information systems and methods for manufacturing and using same. The content management system includes a content control system for providing content storage and controlling the overall functionality of the content management system. Being configured to communicate with a selected vehicle information system in a wired and/or wireless manner, the content management system can upload content to update the vehicle information system for access during subsequent travel. The content management system likewise can download content, such as performance data compiled during prior travel, from the vehicle information system. The content management system thereby can provide ensured comprehensive content management under the control of the content control system.