Abstract: A mailing assembly for use in connection with non-domestic delivery of a mailpiece wherein the sender of the mailpiece is required to complete the sender's declaration. The assembly includes a mailing label, a tracking area, and a backing sheet. Alternatively, the assembly includes a mailing label, a tracking area, a receipt card, and a backing sheet. The mailing label and tracking area are detachably connected to each other and form an entirely complete mailing form. The mailing label, the tracking area, and the receipt card may form the entirety of the mailing form. Such form is adhesively connected to the backing sheet. An adhesive layer is provided between the mailing form and the backing sheet. The sender provides all of the necessary information on the mailing label relating to the contents of the mailpiece being delivered. The sender may also add a machine-readable code to the tracking area which aids in the tracking of the mailpiece.

Abstract: An assembly for mailing an article requiring delivery by a special service and a method and system for imaging the same are provided. The assembly includes a generic mailing label having a back side adhesively and detachably affixed to a backing sheet. The label may be imaged with all of the information necessary to serve as one of many types of special service mailing labels. Removal of the label from the associated backing sheet allows the label to be permanently affixed to a mailpiece. Upon delivery of the mailpiece, a return receipt postcard portion of the label may be removed and forwarded to the sender of the mailpiece as a return receipt. A method and system for the automatic imaging of such mailing label are also provided wherein the sender of the mailpiece may obtain a special service mailing label from a vending-type machine upon providing all of the required information for the desired special mailing service.

Abstract: A method and device compute the inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) in a block based motion compensated digital video decoder, such that the computational complexity is dependent on syntax cues from an input block, and the resulting overall complexity is greatly reduced on average. The method and device provide a means for selecting a set of pruned IDCT algorithms based on the statistics of generic coded video data. The classification of input IDCT blocks uses the last non-zero coefficient obtained as a by-product of decompression and dequantization. The mapping from the last non-zero coefficient to a corresponding set of separable one-dimensional IDCT algorithms is performed efficiently with the careful consideration of memory requirements, mapping complexity, and pruned IDCT-complexity tradeoffs.

Abstract: An improved disc clamper and a disc drive equipped with the disc clamper is disclosed. The disc clamper is used in a disc drive for carrying out playing back or playing back and recording of a disc which is rotated by means of a turntable movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The disc clamper is supported rotatably and movably in up and down direction by a support member with an opening provided above the turntable so as to hold the disc between the clamper and the turntable moved to the raised position.

Abstract: A seal that attaches to a pen cap, a sealable pen refill system and a method of using the same are provided. The seal fits over an end of the pen refill cap. The pen refill cap and the seal then fit over a tip of the pen refill compartment acting as a seal to elements such as air and moisture.

Abstract: An assembly for mailing an article requiring delivery by a special service and a method and system for imaging the same are provided. The assembly includes a generic mailing label having a back side adhesively and detachably affixed to a backing sheet. The label may be imaged with all of the information necessary to serve as one of many types of special service mailing labels. Removal of the label from the associated backing sheet allows the label to be permanently affixed to a mailpiece. Upon delivery of the mailpiece, a return receipt postcard portion of the label may be removed and forwarded to the sender of the mailpiece as a return receipt. A method and system for the automatic imaging of such mailing label are also provided having voice recognition capabilities and built-in security features wherein the sender of the mailpiece may obtain a special service mailing label from a vending-type machine upon providing all of the required information for the desired special mailing service.

Abstract: An optical disc drive for recording and playing back a recordable-type optical disc includes a driving mechanism for rotating the optical disc, an optical pick-up for writing and reading data to and from the optical disc, signal processor for processing signals read out from the optical disc by means of the optical pick-up, a CPU for controlling the driving mechanism, the optical pick-up and the signal processor. The optical disc drive is further equipped with a detecting device for detecting an ATIP error and a counter for counting the number of ATIP errors. The optical disc drive counts the number of ATIP errors caused in a predetermined time based on the synchronization signal (SUBCODE-SYNC) produced by a clock provided in the optical disc drive after the synchronization signal (SUBCODE-SYNC) has been synchronized with a synchronization signal (ATIP-SYNC) obtained from a reference optical disc.

Abstract: A foldable toy which can be selectively arranged into a plurality of desired shapes is disclosed as well as an associated game. The foldable toy includes a plurality of primary links, a plurality of joints connecting the primary links together, and a plurality of secondary links having first ends secured to the joints and having opposite free ends. The joints permit the primary and secondary links to be rotated about the joints through 360.degree. in parallel planes in order to form different desired shapes. The foldable toy can advantageously form a virtually unlimited number of different shapes including, for example, each of the letters A through Z of the English-language alphabet, each of the numerals 0-9, and a plurality of common geometric shapes such as a square, triangle, rectangle, star, diamond, and octagon. The foldable toy can also be formed into other amusing shapes such as animals, rocket ships, buildings, etc. and numerous other shapes that a child can imagine.

Abstract: A label useful in delivering packages and articles via many different mailing services. The label is adapted to indicate thereon mailing and address information relating to the mailing, shipping or handling of packages or articles. The label is constructed as a laminate having at least a primary layer and a secondary layer wherein each layer has a surface confronting and adjoined to the other layer. The label has an exposed front side defined on the primary layer and an exposed back side defined on the secondary layer. Pertinent mailing information is included on the exposed front side and may include a plurality of printed instructions and information and also include spaces for receiving additional mailing information thereon. The label has a tear line provided on the primary layer which defines a removable receipt flap on the label. The receipt flap contains a portion of the mailing information and is also adapted to receive thereon additional information as well.

Abstract: A laser beam emitting device has a laser beam source for emitting a laser beam having a prescribed effective optical path region; and a light-receiving element positioned outside the effective optical path region of the laser beam emitted by the laser beam source and having a plurality of light-receiving regions for detecting intensity of the emitted laser beam. In this device, the output of the laser beam source is adjusted in response to the intensity of the emitted laser beam detected by at least one of the plurality of the light-receiving regions of the light-receiving element. The light-receiving element includes a first light-receiving region located at a position near the optical axis and a second light-receiving region located at a position farther from the optical axis than the position of the first light-receiving region.

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 and 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. Further, removably attached to the return postcard is a special service designator section that may be removed and applied to the mailpiece to aid in the delivery of the mailpiece.

Abstract: A beverage brewing machine, a method for brewing a beverage preparation material and a beverage brewing envelope are provided. The beverage brewing machine has an upper brewing chamber adapted to receive hot water and a beverage preparation material and having an open lower end. A cylinder with an upper end normally in registration with the open lower end of the upper brewing chamber is further provided. An envelope enclosing a packet is provided wherein the packet encloses the beverage preparation material. The customer may remove the packet from the envelope and place it on a carrier plate which automatically moves into brewing position and then is discarded by the customer, or, in a different execution, the carrier plate receives the envelope and extracts the packet including the beverage preparation material from the envelope and places the packet over the cylinder.

Abstract: A coin and currency wrapper are provided wherein the coin and currency wrappers include a graduated scale and/or a machine readable code to simplify usage of the same. In addition, a money bag or envelope is also provided having a machine readable code. Further, the wrappers may include a perforated tear line for assisting removal of the wrapper to access the money. A system and method are further provided for managing inventory of money placed into and removed from, for example, a cash register. The system and method accurately track and manage inventory of money that is typically and often times exchanged within a device.

Abstract: A label/form is provided for attaching portions thereof to a mailpiece or shipping item particularly for special service handling of the mailpiece or shipping item. Detachable parts are provided on a sheet for subsequent attachment to the mailpiece or shipping item following printing thereof. The label/form includes a number of adhesively-backed label sections and a return postcard section for selected attachment at selected areas of the mailpiece or shipping item to identify the mailpiece or shipping item and simplify the task of designating special services for a particular mailpiece or shipping item. The label/form is designed so that information unique to the mailpiece, such as the identifications of the sender and addressee and special handling requests, can be printed on one side of the label/form only.

Abstract: A curved disc joystick or pad with improved performance, reliability and durability can be used as a cursor pointing device for computers, remote controls, video games, consumer electronics, industrial controllers, automotive and other applications. A conductive spring or sheath connects to a conductive curved rubber transducer which can be deflected to make contact with conductors on a printed circuit board, providing electrical outputs to a microprocessor or other device. A ribbed locking extension may be added to automate the assembly process. In addition, a collar may be provided to produce a controllable product, both in terms of manufacturing and performance.

Abstract: A method for forming and using a mailpiece requiring special services is provided. The method includes providing a mailpiece having an integral document section requiring special service mailing that includes folding the sheet along fold lines and sealing the mailpiece to enclose the integral document section. The method further includes providing a removably attached section which, after the system is folded and sealed, forms a return postcard and at least one form. The return postcard and the form are integrally formed, but removably attached. The method includes removing the return postcard when the mailpiece is received by the addressee.

Abstract: A refill is provided that is packaged in a recyclable assembly of recyclable plastic and recyclable paper or cardboard. The refill is further constructed from recyclable plastic and uses soy resins for the ink. On a barrel of the ink refill is a graduated scale indicative of the amount of writeout of ink remaining in the pen. In addition, a follower, such as a floating ball or chemical chaser, clearly identifies the level of ink remaining in the refill. The assembly may further include a scale corresponding to the scale on the refill and may further include information relating to the recyclability utilization of the assembly and refill.

Abstract: A retractable marking device is provided having a casing in which a coil is tightly wound from which the marking device may be extended for use thereof. A housing may further be provided such that the casing is placed within the housing and the housing is attached to a device on which the marking device is most commonly implemented. The marking device may be a pen, pencil or other writing instrument or may also be, for example, a blunt-ended instrument for use as a pointing-type device. The tightly wound coil maintains the marking device in a retracted position so that the marking device is readily available for use. In addition, the marking device is replaceable with a substitute marking device or replaceable following depletion of, for example, ink contained therein.

Abstract: A packaging card holding a device, such as a refill for a pen, and a method for packaging such a device are provided. The card has a front panel, a center panel and a back panel. The center panel may be transposed with respect to the front panel and the back panel. The center panel includes information related to the device on the card. The center panel may be rotatable or may be transposed parallel to or perpendicular to lengths of the front panel and the back panel. Preferably, each of the front panel and the back panel have an aligned aperture for suspending the card from, for example, a display hook.