Abstract: This invention is a barrel attachment attachable to the firing end of the barrel of a compressed gas gun and a method of using the same. The barrel attachment allows a user to spin a projectile fired from the gas gun just before it exits the barrel attachment. This spin alters the projectile's normally straight trajectory; in other words, it makes the projectile curve. The barrel attachment is adjustable. In the preferred embodiment, the user or shooter can adjust the amount of spin and thereby the amount that the projectile curves by rotating an adjustment sleeve about the barrel attachment, which causes contact pads to protrude into the passage of the barrel attachment. In the preferred embodiment, the user can adjust the direction of curve by rotating the barrel attachment about the gun barrel.

Abstract: A tunable laser system is provided. The tunable laser system includes a light source, a grating, a corner mirror array, and a receiver. In which, the light source emits a beam, and the grating is located in front of the light source for reflecting the beam to form a first reflective beam. Also, the corner mirror array is located in front of the grating for receiving the first reflective beam and forms a second reflective beam accordingly. In addition, the receiver is used to receive a third reflective beam formed from reflecting the second reflective beam through the grating.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing at least one multimedia peripheral of a portable communication device with a synthetic audio file (1), which method comprises a step of generating at least one synchronization signal (SiSYNCH) from said synthetic audio file (1). According to the invention, said method comprises an initialization step (A0) consisting in memorizing, at said portable communication device, parameters (2) including at least a list of preferred instruments; and a generating step (A1) comprising a step of analyzing (A10) information read from said synthetic audio file (1) relating to each instrument for which a track can be extracted in said synthetic audio file (1), and a step of deciding (A11) which extracted track is to be used for generating said synchronization signal (SiSYNCH) as a function of said parameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for managing, analyzing and reporting accounts of overpaid claims for patient balance accounts, although various components and features of the system are inventions into themselves. Certain aspects of the inventor allow managers of both service providers (such as health care facilities) and payers (such as insurance companies and Medicare) to assign work and produce reports. Other aspects of the invention allow provider users and payer users to analyze and resolve the claims in an automated environment. These aspects provide the users with information in a readily accessible and easy to navigate format. The users are also provided with tools for analyzing the claims in an automated manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for changing an output rate of information for a buffer (3) with a constant first output rate (R1) which receives output data from a data source (2a), where the method step comprises; halting the reception of output data from the data source (2a); outputting (4) the stored output data of the buffer (3) at the first output rate (R1) until said buffer is empty, and resuming receiving and storing of output data in the buffer (3); setting a second constant output rate (R2) as the output rate of the buffer; and commencing/starting output of the content of the buffer at the second output rate (R2) when the amount of buffered data is equal to the second constant output rate (R2) times a requested buffer-time (TB2).

Abstract: A method for determining the validity of a most significant path in a wireless communication system wherein data is transmitted in frame units in a multipath environment begins by accumulating a correlated data sequence N times, each time at a frame offset apart from the previous time. A preliminary noise estimate (PNE) is calculated as an average of the accumulated data values. A preliminary noise threshold (PNT) is calculated according to the equation C1×PNE. A final noise estimate (FNE) is calculated as the average of accumulated data values below the PNT. A final noise threshold (FNT) is calculated according to the equation C2×FNE. The validity of the most significant path is determined if the most significant path value is greater than the FNT.

Abstract: The invention includes several embodiments for slot assignment in code division multiple access communication systems. Some of the embodiments relate to fixed beams and others relate to adaptive arrays. One embodiment for fixed beams assigns slots by first detecting a beam having the best received quality and selected the best slot from that beam. Another fixed beam embodiment determines the best slot or slots in a number of beams and determines the overall best beam/slot combination. Another fixed beam embodiment uses a modified interference factor. One embodiment for the uplink using adaptive arrays using a spatial analysis stage followed by a transmission power level estimation stage. An overall interference level associated with each slot is determined and a slot having the best overall quality is determined. Another embodiment for the downlink uses the spatial analysis and slot assignment of the uplink for the downlink.

Abstract: A service option overlay for a CDMA wireless communication in which multiple allocatable subchannels are defined on a reverse link by assigning different code phases of a given long pseudonoise (PN) code to each subchannel. The instantaneous bandwidth needs of each on-line subscriber unit are then met by dynamically allocating none, one, or multiple subchannels on an as needed basis for each network layer connection. The system efficiently provides a relatively large number of virtual physical connections between the subscriber units and the base stations on the reverse link for extended idle periods such as when computers connected to the subscriber units are powered on, but not presently actively sending or receiving data. These maintenance subchannels permit the base station and the subscriber units to remain in phase and time synchronism. This in turn allows fast acquisition of additional subchannels as needed by allocating new code phase subchannels.

Abstract: A resonance converter and a synchronous rectification driving method thereof are provided. The resonance converter includes a switch circuit having at least two first switches, a resonance circuit having a resonance frequency, a transformer, and a full-wave rectification circuit having two second switches each of which has a drain and a source and generates a channel resistance voltage when a current flows through the drain and the source. The synchronous rectification driving method includes steps as follow.

Abstract: The present invention is a synthetic speech encoding device that produces a synthetic speech signal which closely matches an actual speech signal. The actual speech signal is digitized, and excitation pulses are selected by minimizing the error between the actual and synthetic speech signals. The preferred pattern of excitation pulses needed to produce the synthetic speech signal is obtained by using an excitation pattern containing a multiplicity of weighted pulses at timed positions. The selection of the location and amplitude of each excitation pulse is obtained by minimizing an error criterion between the synthetic speech signal and the actual speech signal. The error criterion function incorporates a perceptual weighting filter which shapes the error spectrum.

Abstract: A method and system for eliminating interference caused by hidden nodes is disclosed. An initiator control message is defined for an initiator, (typically a wireless station (STA)), in order to begin an aggregate frame exchange with at least one responder. The initiator control message includes information on the queue sizes at the initiator. A responder, (typically an access point (AP)), sets up the required protection for the transmission of data by the initiator based on information on the queue sizes indicated in a field of the initiator control message using a responder control message. Other STAs that receive the responder control message set parameters for a wireless medium access accordingly. In another embodiment, multiple receiver aggregate multi-poll (MMP) and power save aggregation descriptor (PSAD) control frames are configured for transmission by a non-AP STA to provide enhanced scheduling and mitigate hidden node problems.

Abstract: A probe for an atomic force microscope is adapted such that, as a sample is scanned, it experiences a biasing force urging the probe towards the sample. This improves probe tracking of the sample surface and faster scans are possible. This is achieved by either including a biasing element, which is responsive to an externally applied force, on the probe and/or reducing the quality factor of a supporting beam. This biasing element may, for example, be a magnet or an electrically-conducting element. The quality factor may be reduced by coating the beam with a mechanical-energy dissipating material.

Abstract: An image pickup system according to the present invention includes an extracting unit for extracting a block area with a predetermined size from a signal of an image pickup device, a transforming unit for transforming the signal in the extracted block area into a signal in a frequency space, an estimating unit for estimating the amount of noises of a frequency component except for a zero-order component based on the zero-order component in the transformed signal in the frequency space, a noise reducing unit for reducing noises of the frequency component except for the zero-order component based on the estimated amount of noises, and a compressing unit for compressing the zero-order component and the frequency component except for the zero-order component from which the noises are reduced.

Abstract: An infant travel system which include an infant travel seat that is adapted to be mounted to a stationary or mobile base. The base includes a restraint system for securing the base to a vehicle seat and a leveling system for positioning the base. The travel seat includes an adjustable carrying handle assembly having a locking mechanism adapted to engage the seat in a variety of positions. A multi-point locking system is used to secure the infant travel seat to the complimentary base.

Abstract: A device for changing the control times of an internal combustion engine (camshaft adjuster) having a pressure medium distributor arranged within a camshaft is provided. The pressure medium distributor is provided at its front end with a radially extending shoulder, this shoulder forming part of the camshaft axial mounting.

Abstract: Adjustment device (1) for adjusting a relative rotational angle position of a camshaft (3) relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjusting device includes a crankshaft-fixed drive part (4) and a camshaft-fixed driven part (5). The adjustment device (1) has an adjustment motor (2) as a primary adjustment device and an auxiliary drive (11) as a secondary adjustment device. When the adjusting motor fails, the camshaft (3) can be moved into a fixed rotational angle position, an emergency running position, by the auxiliary drive (11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing transmission of content created by a content generation device embedded in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) by determining what type of watermarks should be applied to the content and incorporating the watermarks in the content. The WTRU includes a content generation unit, a watermark incorporation unit, and a communication subsystem. The content generation unit is embedded in the WTRU and generates content, such as audio, video, image, text or a combination thereof. The watermark incorporation unit determines the type of watermarks that should be incorporated in the content and incorporates the watermarks in the content. The communication subsystem transmits the watermarked content.

Abstract: The present invention provides the synthetic method and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles capable of targeting to the folic acid receptors existing on the cell membranes and with high relaxivity. The iron oxide nanoparticles of the present invention can further be used as the contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, program product and system for facilitating efficient development and deployment of features in a voice over internet protocol telephony system comprising protocol specific equipment. The method and program product comprise: developing a feature for deployment in the telephony system using a developer protocol, the developer protocol being independent of any specific VoIP protocol, and performing communication protocol conversion between the developer protocol and a specific VoIP protocol used by the telephony system on feature-related messages in order to communicate with the protocol specific equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a switch mechanism usable underwater including a rear cover serving as an exterior member, two shaft members being displaceable in a shaft direction and fitting into two shaft holes having the same cross-sectional area provided in the rear cover, an O-ring watertightly maintaining the shaft member and the shaft hole, and a lever member being engaged with the two shaft members in a manner to be capable of pressing-down or pulling-up the shaft member, and being configured to balance water pressure applied to one shaft member with that applied to the other shaft member.