Abstract: A method to generate revenue from supplied content is provided. Content is provided to a consumer via a network by providing a content service that allows the consumer to select and retrieve content as a package together with a clearing of the selectable content to an operator used by the consumer to select and retrieve the content via the network. Any content selected by the consumer is supplied directly to the consumer via the operator. The operator is charged for the supplied content.

Abstract: Mounting assemblies can be used to attach an inflatable curtain airbag to a vehicle structure. Mounting assemblies can include a mounting member, a connecting member, and an optional wrapper. The connecting member is attached to the mounting member and the airbag via stitching, which can be categorized according to the primary direction of stress that may be placed on the stitching during airbag deployment. Stitching in shear is stronger than otherwise identical stitching in peel; however, a preferred method of packaging a curtain airbag results in a b-rolled airbag that can not be attached to the connecting member with shear stitching alone. Peel stitching alone may not be strong enough to retain an occupant within the vehicle during a rollover event. As such, a combination of a folded connecting member, shear stitching, and peel stitching allows a b-roll airbag to meet occupant ejection mitigation requirements.

Abstract: Sight mounting devices may be utilized in combination with sighting devices such as sighting scopes, camcorders and camera. The sight mount device has an elastomeric mounting plate adapted to receive a variety of sighting devices. The sight mounting device is compact as it has a retractable shoulder stock extension that can be retracted and extended as needed. The sight mounting device is highly versatile in that it can be held like a rifle and can be mounted to a variety of devices such as a bipod, a tripod and a window mount.

Abstract: A tiltable specimen holder (48) in an apparatus (46) for performing an automated operation on a selected one of multiple specimens (12) contained in a specimen carrier (10) has a receiving member (60) that, when oriented in a load position (48C; FIG. 10), receives the carrier from, or presents the carrier to, the hand (108) of a human being (110) without substantial flexure of the human being's wrists (112). The holder also has a bottom member (62) that cooperates with the receiving member and a support member (32, 34) of the carrier to place and hold the carrier in a predetermined alignment relative to the receiving member. The receiving member has beveled edges (84, 86, 88) that cooperate with a guide member (28, 30) of the carrier to guide the carrier to self-align into grooves (90, 92) defined by the beveled edges. Rollers (94) in the grooves cooperate with the guide members to guide the carrier to the predetermined alignment.

Abstract: A heat detector uses a single comparator operating in conjunction with a dynamically changing thermal reference that ensures quick response to rapid rates of thermal change and a fixed threshold that indicates an ambient temperature exceeds a threshold temperature. The inputs of the comparator receive different ones of the output signals of two thermal sensors. One thermal sensor responds nearly instantaneously to changes in ambient thermal conditions. The other thermal sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board operating as a heat sink and responds more slowly to changes in ambient thermal conditions. The difference between the thermal sensor output signals is zero at a lower ambient temperature when the rate of thermal change exceeds a preset amount and at a higher ambient temperature when the rate of thermal change is relatively slow.

Abstract: A multiple-color filter array (94) useful as part of a flat panel display system of either a projection (50) or direct view (70) type is constructed using reflection holography techniques. The filter array includes multiple-color filter elements (110, 114, 116) that reflect wavelengths of light corresponding to colors outside of a color band of interest. Redundant sets of first, second, and third wavelengths selective reflective color filter elements are arranged in stripes to transmit light of the three primary colors red, green, and blue. The three-color filter array is constructed in a single layer (122) of holographic recording material during one sequence of three separate exposures, one for each color filter element. A preferred flat panel display system (200) includes a liquid crystal variable optical retarder of the supertwisted nematic (STN) type.

Abstract: A device has a plurality of push pins for inserting workpieces into a device for securely retaining the workpieces. The push pins are resiliently biased to prevent damage to the components or the pins themselves. The pins may be mounted by springs which are stressed to a predetermined force, and the displacement of the pins may be sensed by mechanical or optical sensors. Alternatively, the pins themselves may be compressible to prevent damage to the device.

Abstract: A magnetically actuated switch system (10) has reduced sensitivity to false alarms and reduced power consumption and resistance to physical and magnetic tampering. The system includes a signal processing circuit controlled by a microprocessor (16) that selectively enables magnetic sensors (12, 38), and compares the corresponding sensor outputs (76) to automatically calibrated level and predetermined timing characteristics.

Abstract: A lightweight display system (10) includes an output matrix (34) of output terminals (28) of optical conductors (30) supported on a preferably flexible substrate (16) by terminal housings (20). Optical conductors (30) are collated into an input matrix (34) that receives light containing a source image (39) from projector (40). Light propagates through optical conductors (30) and exits output terminals (28) to form an enlarged display image (31) that corresponds to the source image. Preferred embodiments of display screen (12) are collapsible and facilitate transportation and reassembly.

Abstract: An optical scanner (100) includes a rotating scanner disk (116) that integrates a multifocal Fresnel fixation lens (114), a Fresnel optical scanner (122, 124), and an angular position encoder (140) into a unitary, inherently aligned, compression-molded component. An individual being identified views through the multifocal Fresnel fixation lens an image of a pinhole (108) illuminated by a light source (104). The multifocal lens is centered on the disk and creates multiple in- and out-of-focus images (180, 182, 184, 186) of the pinhole image. The combined image appears to the individual as a set of circular images (190, 192, 194, 196), one of which is in focus. The images appear concentric when the individual is properly aligned with the disk and associated optics. The Fresnel optical scanner receives IR light from the light source and creates an IR scanning beam (126) when the disk is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for allocating physical registers within a compiler phase to achieve efficient operation of a target CPU. The methods of the present invention allocate variables between physical registers and memory to accommodate local as well as global code structure. Such methods facilitate the location of variables that are heavily accessed at a portion of the code in a physical register during the execution thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sorting meat chunks of variable fat and lean meat content, in which some of the meat chunks are interconnected by stringy tissue, the method including providing a roller located above a separation panel separating a lean meat outfeed location and a fat meat outfeed location, the roller being rotatable about a central axis in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to actively displace interconnected meat chunks striking the roller into either the lean meat outfeed location or the fat meat outfeed location and prevent build-up of interconnected meat chunks on the separation panel.

Abstract: An electronic transparency device is provided with a memory in which a plurality of frames of video data ("slides") can be stored. The apparatus includes a control microprocessor which can cause predefined sequences of slides to be presented on the LCD panel automatically. These slide "shows" are defined by the user using a hand held remote control unit in conjuntion with menus displayed on the LCD panel in window fashion by the microprocessor. The user can specify the duration that each slide in a sequence is to be shown, the video transition by which it is to be introduced, the degree of "windowshading" with which it is to be displayed, etc. Once a show is defined, it can be instituted and controlled from the remote control unit. Among other numerous features, the transparency also includes a pointer that can be superimposed on the display and controlled by the remote control unit. This pointer can be used to define certain portions of the screen that are to be displayed in highlighted fashion.

Abstract: The invention provides significantly firmer and more desirable end-product texture for soft tissue fish species, especially those affected by protease enzymes. Fresh or frozen fish fillets, steaks, and substantially intact pieces of fish tissue are pretreated with phosphates or similar salts and powdered binding materials, such as whey proteins, high-protein dairy derivatives, known proteins, starches, and gelatinous or carbohydrate hydrocolloid-type binding materials. The fish is then subjected to a direct-contact heat treatment on a surface at a high temperature (145.degree.-400.degree. C.). The texture of normally firmer fish species may also be improved by this method.

Abstract: Targeting substance-diagnostic/therapeutic agent conjugates joined by stabilized Schiff base or hydrazone linkages are disclosed. In addition, slow release carrier-drug pharmaceuticals are described. The diagnostic and therapeutic conjugates and pharmaceuticals of the present invention provide certain advantages relating to in vivo administration, including controlled release of the active agent at a target site.

Abstract: A prealigner (10) employs an X-Y stage (20) and a rotary stage (26) to position and orient a specimen (12) without centering it on the prealigner. The rotary stage is mounted on the X-Y stage and receives a semiconductor wafer (12) in a substantially arbitrary position and orientation. The prealigner employs the rotary stage and translation in only an X-axis direction to scan a peripheral edge (76) of the wafer across an optical scanning assembly (36, 270) to form a polar coordinate map of the wafer. A microprocessor (162) determines the location and orientation of the wafer from the map and cooperates with a motor drive controller (122, 280) to generate control signals for positioning and orienting the wafer in the preselected alignment without changing the location at which the wafer is held.

Abstract: A prealigner (10) employs an X-Y stage (20) and a rotary stage (26) to position and orient a specimen (12) without centering it on the prealigner. In a preferred embodiment, the rotary stage is mounted on the X-Y stage and receives a semiconductor (12) in a substantially arbitrary position and orientation. The prealigner employs the rotary stage and translation in only an X-axis direction to scan the peripheral edge (76) of the wafer across an optical scanning assembly (36) to form a polar coordinate map of the wafer. A microprocessor (162) determines the location and orientation of the wafer from the map and cooperates with a motor drive controller (122) to generate control signals for positioning and orienting the wafer in the preselected alignment without changing the location at which the wafer is held.