Abstract: A password security apparatus, a mousepad and a method of using the same are provided. The apparatus, the mousepad, and the method may include a writing surface contained within the mousepad or apparatus. The writing surface may be disposed between layers of the mousepad, include the bottom surface of the mousepad, or be contained on a slidable tray located between layers. Contained on the writing surface may be a grid having spaces for the addition of information. The information may be related to websites that a computer user may visit on a computer network such as, for example, the Internet. Further, the information such as, for example, user identification information and/or password information that may be related to the websites may be contained thereon and locked in a concealed location by the security apparatus.

Abstract: An optical disc drive for playing back or recording and playing back an optical disc comprises a motor for rotating an optical disc, an optical pick-up having an objective lens which is actuated by servo operation, and a CPU for controlling the motor and the optical pick-up. The CPU is constructed to control the motor and the optical pick-up so that, when the rotation number of the optical disc is to be increased to a first target rotation number, the rotation number of the optical disc is provisionally set to a second target rotation number which is smaller than the first target rotation number, and the servo operation of the optical pick-up is caused to engage until the rotation number of the optical disc reaches the second target rotation number.

Abstract: A garment and a device are provided having at least one pocket attached to the garment or device accessible via a zipper or other fastener that provides access to another interior compartment formed by the pocket as well as a method for providing a garment or device with a waterproof compartment. The fastener is preferably a waterproof zipper that is attachable via a process requiring the pocket and the zipper to be attached by of gluing, stitching and/or heat-sealing the same. As a result, a completely watertight and waterproof pocket is formed allowing the user of the garment or the device to carry therein items that typically may not be exposed to water.

Abstract: A rotatable pallet changing apparatus, a system and a method are provided in which the rotatable pallet changing system has a rotatable bed having a first pallet and a second pallet side-by-side and set on tracks. A first and a second workpiece may be set upon a first pallet and a second pallet, respectively. As the first pallet with the first workpiece is drawn into a machining center to be worked upon, the second workpiece may be added to the second pallet. When the first workpiece on the first pallet is finished being worked upon, it is withdrawn from the machining center and placed upon the rotatable bed. The rotatable bed then rotates, allowing the second pallet to be fed into the machining center and further allowing the first workpiece to be off-loaded from the first pallet.

Abstract: A continuous assembly of special service mailing labels and a method for preparing mailpieces requiring delivery by a special service are provided. The labels are adhesively secured to a backer and removable therefrom for application to a mailpiece. The labels include at least one area that may be printed, and a designation area that is distinct from a majority of the remainder of the label. The designation area identifies the type of special service required for the mailpiece to which the label is attached. In addition, the labels include a detachable auxiliary information portion which may serve as either a return address label or a customer receipt.

Abstract: A retractable sleeve for a push pin or compass is provided creating a safety mechanism for the device on which it is used. The sleeve preferably incorporates a spring such that the sleeve is maintained in a position to encase a point of the device and safely prevent accidental sticking from the pointed end. The sleeve may also incorporate a groove for alignment purposes and ease of use. The groove may also have a perpendicularly extending portion in which a button from the device on which the sleeve is used may engage to maintain the same in a tense position. The sleeve may be incorporated, for example, for use with a push button or a compass or other like mechanism for which safety issues are a concern.

Abstract: A pen refill case, a kit and a method for providing pen refill components using the pen refill case and kit are provided. The pen refill case includes sections that may contain pen refill components corresponding to different types of pens. Further, other components may be provided that aid in the cleaning of and refilling of pens. The case may include a designator indicating the particular types of pen refill components provided in each section. A cover may be provided to allow one to keep the pen refill components from falling out and allow a user to view the particular pen refill components that may be stored within the pen refill case.

Abstract: An optical disc drive has a function that detects an end portion of recorded data recorded in an optical disc loaded in the optical disc drive. The function is achieved by the method comprising the steps of setting a detection starting position and a detection ending position on the optical disc; dividing the number of tracks between the detection starting position and the detection ending position into more than three divided portions defined by dividing points; detecting presence or absence of the recorded data at the dividing points sequentially from the detection starting point; and determining that the end portion of the recorded data lies in a divided portion specified between the dividing point at which presence of the data is detected and the adjacent other dividing point at which absence of the data is detected.

Abstract: A kit and assembly are provided for organizing, viewing and locating photographs, for example, on pages of a photo album or scrap book. The kit or assembly may include a camera, a recorder, a digital organizer, a pen or pens, a mounting device, scissor and/or a stamp pad or the like. In addition, the kit or assembly may incorporate a magnifying sheet to assist in viewing the content of the pages of the photo album or scrap book.

Abstract: A disc drive comprises a main body equipped with a turntable for rotating a disc, a disc tray movable with respect to the main body between a disc loaded position and a disc eject position to transport the disc to the disc loaded position, and a disc clamper for holding the disc transported by the disc tray between the turntable and the disc clamper. The disc drive further includes a disc clamper displacement mechanism provided on the disc tray to make contact with the disc clamper to displace the disc clamper upward when the disc tray is moved from the disc loaded position to the disc eject position so as to prevent obstruction of the movement of the disc tray. This mechanism includes an inclined surface formed on at least a portion of the disc tray to the rear of a disc supporting portion and a reinforcing portion connected to the rear of the inclined surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for determining the position for translating, rotating and complex motion generating shaft elements are provided. A layer may be deposited over an exterior surface of the shaft element containing a known surface geometry to provide for monitoring displacement using one or more proximity sensors. The proximity sensor detects any change in the distance between the sensor and the exterior surface geometry of the shaft element. The shaft element may alternatively be magnetized for use with magnetic sensors. The gap dimension is proportional to and/or indicative of the absolute position.

Abstract: A housing for a propulsion system, such as for a plurality of disks, is provided as well as a system and a method for using the same. The housing is shaped to provide a streamlined motion through a fluid, such as air or water. Openings in the housing allow the fluid to flow through the propulsion system. The housing may be attached to a shaft in a motor or engine to provide a drive for the propulsion system contained therein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sorting cards into a predetermined sequence. One embodiment provides a deck holding area in which cards are held for presenting a card to a read head for reading the characters on the face of the card. The apparatus also has a tray having a sequence of slots and a card moving mechanism for moving the presented card from the deck holding area into one of the slots. The tray is connected to a tray positioning mechanism for selectively positioning the tray to receive a card in one of the slots from the card moving mechanism. A controller is connected to the read bead, the card moving mechanism, and the tray positioning mechanism. The controller controls the reading of each of the cards by the read head and identifies the value of each card read, and also controls the card moving mechanism to move each of the cards to a slot of the tray positioned by the tray positioning mechanism according to the predetermined sequence of values.

Abstract: An optical disc drive which can play back or record and play back different types of optical discs having different reflectances includes a device for receiving light reflected from the loaded optical disc and detecting a quantity of the received light. The device includes circuits for amplifying the obtained signal at a first amplification level and at a second amplification level which is higher than the first amplification level. In order to discriminate a low-reflectance optical disc from a high-reflectance optical disc, the optical disc drive performs a first discriminating step for discriminating the type of the optical disc based on the signal amplified at the first amplification level; a second discriminating step for discriminating the type of the optical disc based on the signal amplified at the second amplification; and a third discriminating step for discriminating the type of the optical disc based on information carried by the optical disc to identify the type of the optical disc.

Abstract: An assembly for mailing an article requiring special services and a method for mailing same are provided. The assembly includes a single sheet constructed in such a way that one portion of the sheet provides a label and the other portion provides a return postcard or other special service form for attachment to an envelope in its assembled position. The return postcard is integrally formed, but removably attached, such that the return postcard remains attached to the envelope until received by the addressee, at which time the return postcard may be removed. The assembly is designed to incorporate a form into the return postcard to simplify preparation of the mailpiece for delivery by the special service.

Abstract: A garment is provided having at least one pocket that is attached to the garment and accessible via a zipper or other fastener that provides access to an interior compartment formed by the pocket as well as a method for providing a garment with a waterproof compartment. The fastener is preferably a waterproof zipper that is attachable via a process requiring the pocket and the zipper to be attached by gluing, stitching and/or heat-sealing the same. As a result, a completely watertight and waterproof pocket is formed allowing the user of the garment to carry items therein that typically may not be exposed to water.

Abstract: A blade and a series of blades are provided for implementation into a device, such as, for example, a turbine, a fan, a pump or the like. The blades are substantially flat and include at least one rib or irregularity peripherally formed in the blade equidistantly from the center of the blade. The blade may include one or more ribs and the ribs are formed equidistantly on each blade such that a plurality of blades may be stacked closely without interference from the ribs formed in adjacent blades.

Abstract: A single-fluid, multiple-reservoir hydraulic system and a method and system for fluid distribution are provided. The single-fluid, multiple-reservoir hydraulic system utilizes a single-fluid to supply all vehicle power and lubrication fluid requirements. The hydraulic system combines separate fluid reservoirs and fluids into a single integrated system that services multiple systems without a need for multiple dedicated reservoirs. The hydraulic system maintains and prioritizes separate dedicated fluid reserves within one reservoir and may also reach and maintain consistent fluid temperature and viscosity. Consistent performance and extended component life are provided while maintaining circulation with the hydraulic system. In addition, the single fluid and single reservoir hydraulic system have a single fluid fill point, a common reservoir check point and fluid level monitor.

Abstract: An optical disc drive for recording and playing back a recordable-type optical disc having a pre-groove which carries time information representing a position on the optical disc is provided with a device for compensating time information obtained from the optical disc.