Abstract: A method of synchronizing wireless devices includes establishing a recurring sequence of frequency channels at which the wireless devices are to communicate. The frequency channels are divided into a plurality of groups. Synchronization information is transmitted at a respective first frequency channel in each of the groups of frequency channels during a first sampling time period. One of the groups of frequency channels is selected. A wireless device is used to sample each of the frequency channels in the selected group during the first sampling time period. Non-synchronization information is transmitted after the first sampling time period. Synchronization information is transmitted at a next respective frequency channel in each of the groups of frequency channels during a next sampling time period. The next sampling time period occurs after the transmitting of the non-synchronization information.

Abstract: A sash lock mechanism includes a handle, a housing adapted to be supported by a sash window assembly, the housing having an opening receiving the handle therethrough, and a rotor coupled to the handle. The rotor is moveable between at least a locked position and an unlocked position by movement of the handle. The sash lock mechanism also includes a locking mechanism that contains a pivotable member pivotably connected to the housing. The pivotable member is pivotable between a first position and a second position. When the rotor is in the locked position and the pivotable member is in the first position, the pivotable member confronts the rotor to prevent movement of the rotor to the unlocked position. When the pivotable member is in the second position, the pivotable member does not prevent movement of the rotor.

Abstract: A method for non-intrusively monitoring a load including a plurality of appliances includes retrieving a plurality of mathematical models for modeling operation of a respective subset of the appliances. A value of a respective operational parameter is predicted for each of the subsets of appliances. An output of the load is measured. A respective value of each of the operational parameters is calculated based on the mathematical models and the outputs of the load. The predicting, measuring and calculating steps are repeated until a metric pertaining to a difference error between the measured output and the predicted output calculated from the operational parameter and the mathematical models is equal to or below a threshold for one of the subsets of appliances. It is decided that the one subset of appliances is currently operating whose metric pertaining to a difference error is equal to or below the threshold.

Abstract: A sash lock mechanism includes a handle, a housing adapted to be supported by a sash window assembly, the housing having an opening receiving the handle therethrough, and a rotor coupled to the handle. The rotor is moveable between at least a locked position and an unlocked position by movement of the handle. The sash lock mechanism also includes a locking mechanism that contains a pivotable member pivotably connected to the housing. The pivotable member is pivotable between a first position and a second position. When the rotor is in the locked position and the pivotable member is in the first position, the pivotable member confronts the rotor to prevent movement of the rotor to the unlocked position. When the pivotable member is in the second position, the pivotable member does not prevent movement of the rotor.

Abstract: A thermodynamic container for regulating the temperature of a liquid. An exemplary embodiment may include an inner layer of a thermal buffering material and an outer layer of insulation. The thermal buffering layer may include a phase change material and/or a non-phase change material. Some exemplary embodiments may include lid, which may include insulation, a thermal buffering layer, and/or a drinking port.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including an intermediate insulating film formed over a plurality of first conductors over a semiconductor substrate. Contact holes are formed in the intermediate insulating film over the first conductors, and contact plugs are buried in the contact holes, respectively. A plurality of second conductors are formed over the plurality of contact plugs on the intermediate insulating film, respectively, and are electrically connected to the plurality of first conductors via the contact plugs. In certain regions of the semiconductor device, the contact plugs may terminate within the intermediate insulating film, thereby electrically insulating the second conductors from the first conductors.

Abstract: A method of estimating a blur kernel distribution for visual iris recognition includes determining a first mathematical relationship between an in-focus position of a camera lens and a distance between the lens and an iris whose image is to be captured by the lens. The first relationship is used to estimate a second mathematical relationship between the in-focus position of the lens and a standard deviation defining a Gaussian blur kernel distribution. A position of an eye of a living being at a future point in time is predicted. A focus position of the camera lens is adjusted based upon the predicted position of the eye. The camera lens with the adjusted focus position is used to produce an image of the living being's eye at the point in time. An actual position of the living being's eye at the point in time is sensed. The first relationship is used to ascertain a desired focus position of the lens based upon the actual position of the living being's eye at the point in time.

Abstract: An improved semiconductor memory device having a silicon on insulator (SOI) structure. Exemplary devices provide improved charge injection into the device's floating gate electrode. Exemplary devices may include a semiconductor substrate including a transistor forming region and a capacitor forming region; a MOSFET; a MOS capacitor; a projection formed within a periphery of the capacitor electrode of the MOS capacitor; and a floating gate electrode extending from the channel region of the MOSFET to overlap the projection of the capacitor electrode, with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The projection may include an inclined surface which may have a concave shape and/or the projection may extend above a capacitor groove having a undercut portion beneath the projection.

Abstract: A system that facilitates the automatic tagging of contextual metadata information to a file as the file is being created. The system facilitates the automatic association of data with a user context, and includes a data operations component that associates with data operations being performed on a data. These data operations include standard data operations such as read, write, delete, move, copy, paste, etc., that are normally associated with data operations. The system further includes a tagging component that facilitates automatic tagging of contextual information to the data when the data is created. That is, when the data is first saved, the tagging operation of the contextual information is performed on the data. Subsequent save operations simply overwrite the existing data in the storage location. Thus, data and applications can be grouped based on the identity of the tag.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering information and enabling navigation and playback of the information that is independent of the content in a document, the system and method using a speech recognition interface that includes a tool for document authoring that associates portions of the content with a node, associates each node with at least one other node, assigns nodes identifying data corresponding to associated content, and provides a user interface to access the content of the document. The user interface can be configured to recognize spoken commands, input from a mouse or keyboard, or input from a DTMF source.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of preventing a crack from occurring in an electrode layer exposed through a through hole which is formed in a semiconductor substrate and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. In exemplary embodiments, a through via and an opening in a passivation film are disposed so that an opening diameter of the through via is larger than an opening diameter of the opening of the passivation film, and an opening edge of the through via is located outside an opening edge of the opening of the passivation film. In other embodiments, the through via and the opening of the passivation film are disposed so that the opening edge of the through via is disposed at a location which does not overlap with the opening edge (opening edge of a portion in contact with a pad electrode) of the opening of the passivation film.

Abstract: A method of identifying motion within a field of view includes capturing at least two sequential images within the field of view. Each of the images includes a respective array of pixel values. An array of difference values between corresponding ones of the pixel values in the sequential images is calculated. A sensitivity region map corresponding to the field of view is provided. The sensitivity region map includes a plurality of regions having different threshold values. A presence of motion is determined by comparing the difference values to corresponding ones of the threshold values.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including: a field effect transistor that is provided with a gate region, a drain region and a source region and that is formed on a substrate; a circuit region that is formed on the substrate so as to be electrically isolated from the field effect transistor; a first guard ring that is formed in a ring shape encircling the field effect transistor and that includes an internal resistance; and a second guard ring that is formed in a ring shape encircling the circuit region, that forms a capacitance between the second guard ring and the gate region by capacitive coupling with the gate region, and that includes an internal resistance.

Abstract: A trailer includes a pair of vertical, spaced apart opposing sidewalls and a roof sheet extending between and mounted atop the sidewalls. The sidewalls and roof sheet cooperate to define a cargo space. The roof sheet has an interior surface facing the cargo space and an opposing exterior surface. A plurality of bows are mounted to the exterior surface of the roof sheet and extend between the sidewalls. The plurality of bows support the roof sheet. Each bow includes at least three contact portions attached to the exterior surface of the roof sheet. A rib portion interconnects the contact portions and defines a channel between the rib portion and the exterior surface of the roof sheet.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking breast milk in a neonatal facility using optically-scannable identifiers. The optically-scannable identifiers are affixed to containers and measuring devices containing breast milk. The identifiers are used in the association of the containers and measuring devices with an infant.

Abstract: A jaw plate for a vise including a selectively extendable pin for locating a workpiece. An exemplary jaw plate may be installed in a workholding device, such as a vise, which may be used to hold a workpiece proximate a machine tool. An exemplary jaw plate includes a plurality of pins at predetermined locations along the jaw plate's front face. The pins may be individually selectively extended or retracted by an operator. In their extended positions, the pins may assist the operator in locating the workpiece relative to the machine tool in a correct and repeatable position.

Abstract: A modeling method for use in surgical navigation is provided. The method acquires a finite number of pre-defined points from a patient's bone and registers the points with a surgical navigation system. The navigation system generates and displays a three-dimensional image of a warped bone model that is manipulatable and accurate in at least the locations of the points taken and can be used to calculate the locations of bone cuts, implant positions and sizes, as well as display all of this information on the three-dimensional warped model.

Abstract: A clock frequency diffusing device including a multiphase clock signal generator, a random number generator, signal selectors, and a clock signal generator. The multiphase clock signal generator receives an input clock signal and produces a plurality of delayed clock signals that are delayed relative to the input clock signal by various amounts of time. The clock signal selector randomly chooses one of the delayed signals based upon random numbers generated by the random number generator and produces a selector output signal based on its chosen delayed clock signal. A clock signal generator receives the selector output signal and produces an output clock signal.