Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-germanium layer on an insulator includes depositing a layer of silicon-germanium on a silicon substrate to form a silicon/silicon-germanium portion; implanting hydrogen ions into the silicon substrate between about 500 ? to 1 ?m below a silicon-germanium/silicon interface; bonding the silicon/silicon-germanium portion to an insulator substrate to form a couplet; thermally annealing the couplet in a first thermal annealing step to split the couplet; patterning and etching the silicon-germanium-on-insulator portion to remove portions of the silicon and SiGe layers; etching the silicon-germanium-on-insulator portion to remove the remaining silicon layer; thermally annealing the silicon-germanium-on-insulator portion in a second annealing step to relaxed the SiGe layer; and depositing a layer of strained silicon about the SiGe layer.

Abstract: A method of selective etching a metal oxide layer for fabrication of a ferroelectric device includes preparing a silicon substrate, including forming an oxide layer thereon; depositing a layer of metal or metal oxide thin film on the substrate; patterning and selectively etching the metal or metal oxide thin film without substantially over etching into the underlying oxide layer; depositing a layer of ferroelectric material; depositing a top electrode on the ferroelectric material; and completing the ferroelectric device.

Abstract: A user interface for controlling peripheral devices including a peripheral option display for presenting peripheral options to a user immediately following selection of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A method of treating wastewater sludge includes pumping, continuously, raw sludge into a first digester and treating the raw sludge at a specific temperature of between about 51° C. to 60° C.; transferring the treated wastewater sludge to a batch tank; treating the wastewater sludge in the batch tank, anaerobically, at a thermophilic temperature which is not more than 2° C. warmer than the specific temperature in the first digester; and disposing of the treated wastewater sludge as a Class A biosolid. A wastewater sludge treatment system includes a first thermophilic digester for treating raw wastewater sludge at a specific temperature in a range of between about 51° C. to 60° C., and discharging a treated wastewater sludge; a batch tank for receiving the treated wastewater sludge discharged from the first digester and for thermophilically treating sludge at a temperature in a range of between about 51° C. to 60° C. and not more than 2° C.

Abstract: An improved method for preventing collisions in a multi-transceiver access point for use with frequency hopping RF transceivers includes determining the next channel frequencies to be used by each transceiver in the access point; and permitting only one transceiver to transmit on any particular channel frequency at any one time.

Abstract: A method of compressing a document, includes preparing an encoded representation of a document by scanning the document to provide a scanner output; classifying the scanner output as belonging to a class of document taken from the document classes consisting of smooth, text, graphics and image; and adaptively compressing the scanner output as a function of the class of the document.

Abstract: A video image processing system includes an image sensor for sensing an image and generating an image signal therefor; and a histogram computation mechanism for generating, on-line, a histogram from said image signal. A method of analyzing a video image includes sensing an image; generating an image signal therefor; and computing, on-line, a histogram for the image from the image signal.

Abstract: A method of changing paramenters in an 802.11 WLAN includes determining a performance metric for the WLAN; monitoring the performance of the WLAN with a monitor management entity; generating a terminate and reconvene message when the performance of the WLAN drops below a performance metric threshold; selecting a reconvene BSS having a reconvene BSSID, changed 802.11 parameters and setting a time for the reconvene BSS to become operational; transmitting the terminate and reconvene message to all STAs in the BSS; and instantiating the reconvene BSS at the set time.

Abstract: A seat structure with latching-unlatching mechanism for enabling smoothly operating releaseable locking and unlocking actions between a seat-base and an inclinable seat-back hinged to the seat-base in the seat structure. Two interengageable arcs of gear teeth forming part of the mechanism engage and release selectively under rocker-lever seat-occupant control to lock and unlock the seat-back for inclinational fixation and adjustment, and, as determined by tooth-pitch in the arcs, enable positive locking to take place in a large number of specific, small-angular-difference, seat-back inclinations.

Abstract: A topographically self-stabilizing, dynamic pressure-evenizing, pressure-applying, anatomical dressing which includes a pressure-applying, acceleration-rate-sensitive, temperature and pressure responsive, cushioning layer which responds during a bandaging situation, both statically and dynamically, to maintain relatively uniform all-over pressure beneath it, and against the surface of a site, such as a surgical wound site.

Abstract: A comprehensive vertigo management system and methodology is provided which employs a spatial maneuvering device, preferably under computer control, to orient a subject selectively differently in space, thus to create vestibular activity which is directly related to spatial motion (including acceleration) and/or orientation. Data is collected relating to such orientation and activity, along with certain subject-introduced reaction data in certain instances and video-camera data, and fed to a computer which cooperates in presenting an intuitive visual and pictorial correlation that enables physician diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation regarding elements of dysfunction of the subject's vestibular system.

Abstract: An output mechanism for use with an inkjet printer for printing a multi-page document, including plural paper-receiving output trays; a controller for determining the total number of pages, the number of copies of each page to be printed, and the paper-receiving tray which will receive each printed page, wherein each page is provided with sufficient time to dry before a subsequently printed page is stacked on top thereof; and a paper directing mechanism for directing the paper to a specific paper-receiving tray.

Abstract: A shock-load G-force minimizing seat structure which responds principally in non-springy compression, rather than in spring-loading bending, to vertically directed shock loads. The seat structure features an anti-springy frame structure which supports a thin and very lightweight seat cushion support spanner web formed preferably of a non-stretchy material, such as a material made out of elongate carbon-fibre strands.

Abstract: A system for transmitting and synchronizing real-time multimedia content includes a multimedia server for generating a multimedia packet; a packet-based communication network connected to the multimedia server for receiving multimedia packets therefrom; the network having multiple routers therein to route the multimedia packets to plural destinations; a mechanism for inserting total delay information (TDI) into the multimedia packets, wherein the TDI includes total end-to-end delay (TED) and cumulative network delay (CND); and plural multimedia receivers for receiving the multimedia packets having TDI therein, wherein each multimedia receiver includes a buffer, a sequencing mechanism, and a playing mechanism for playing retrieved, sequenced multimedia packets at time TED after the multimedia packet has been transmitted by the multimedia server.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting time-based, comparative, patient-specific ECG data in various presentation formats, wherein color-coding is employed as a visual device to communicate vividly different, selected “changed” characteristics in that patient's current ECG-detected status.

Abstract: In a mobile phone having a clock display therein, wherein the mobile phone is in wireless communication with a base station located in a time zone having a current local time (CLT), and wherein the base station transmits a control signal having carried therein at least a universal coordinated time (UCT) signal, a system identification (SID) signal, a network identification (NID) signals, a CLT signal, and a daylight savings time (DST) flag, wherein the mobile phone is transportable to be wireless communications with another base station in another time zone, and wherein, upon securing communications with a base station, the phone synchronizes its internal clock to the CLT of the base station; a clock includes a selection mechanism for use by a user to select a home time zone (HTZ), and to select a displayed time on the clock display from the group of displayed times consisting of CLT and HTZ; and a displayed time calculating mechanism which determines the time displayed on the clock display as a function of t

Abstract: A UPC identification device for affixation to a product includes a label-bearing portion having a side bearing UPC information; and a tail portion fixed to said label-bearing portion and extending outwardly therefrom for attaching the identification device to a product. The tail portion is held in place by expanding the distal portion thereof, or by forming the tail portion into a loop for capturing the label-bearing portion thereof.

Abstract: A plural-panel articulated (segmented) foldable/unfoldable (in a zigzag fashion) structure which can be unfolded and deployed in the form of a rectangular mat, and which can be folded to form plural other shapes, including a fully-folded shape which takes the form of a stack-cube of panels which is very compact in overall size. Each panel includes a central, anti-projectile barrier structure, and a cushioning foam structure, which offers features and advantages relating to fluid buoyancy, thermal insulation, and cushioning.

Abstract: A RF communications system and method having improved RF interference characteristics for use with at least a pair of RF transceivers which communicate using a packet transfer protocol, in a frequency hopping scheme, wherein the packets may be of various lengths, wherein each frequency occupies a frequency channel slot in a RF band, and wherein a subsequent frequency is known, including, in at least one of the transceivers: a detector for detecting distressed channel frequencies having an unacceptable level of interference thereon; a tracker for keeping track of the distressed channel frequencies and of channel frequencies which are not distressed; a look-ahead mechanism for maintaining a list of bad channel frequencies of future slots; a scheduling algorithm to avoid beginning packet transmission on bad channel frequency slots; and a frequency selector for selecting a next transmission frequency from the available non-distressed channel frequencies.