Abstract: A digital camera which has a plurality of modes including shooting mode and enables shooting, when the shooting mode is selected, in macro shooting mode or other shooting modes, comprising: a subject decision device which decides whether a shooting screen includes a subject which cannot be properly photographed in the macro shooting mode, a macro shooting mode decision device which decides whether the macro shooting mode is selected or not, and a macro shooting mode canceling device which cancels the macro shooting mode when the subject decision device decides that the shooting screen includes a subject which cannot be properly photographed in the macro shooting mode and the macro shooting mode decision device decides that the macro shooting mode is selected.

Abstract: A sorbent-filled sample tube is mounted to an aspirating source using a sample tube holder that includes a compression fitting having a fitting body, a cap, and a ferrule. The fitting cap is extended as a torque tube that surrounds the sample tube and has a length approximately equal to that of the sample tube to thereby protect the sample tube from damage. The free end of the torque tube is formed as a thumb wheel for ease in inserting and removing the sample tube without the use of a wrench or other tool.

Abstract: A voice synthesis device for generating synthetic voice having great freedom in voice quality and good sound quality from text data is provided.

Abstract: An extending vertical wall secures to the rear edge of a shelf assembly inside a refrigerator compartment. The vertical wall comprises a vertical panel with two downwardly protruding legs. The legs removably reside within sockets included in the rear edge of the refrigerator shelf assembly. When the vertical wall is attached to the refrigerator shelf assembly, the vertical wall prevents items placed on the shelf from toppling off the back edge of the shelf assembly. At the user's discretion, the vertical wall may be quickly and easily removed from the shelf assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the wall is a formed retainer having an inserted U-shape such that the legs are received in the shelf sockets.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink composition comprising fine particles having a polymerizable functional group.

Abstract: Chemical grade silicon metalloid having improved performance in the direct process for making organohalosilanes is selected by (A) measuring the temperature of each batch of silicon metalloid during both the refining and the casting of the silicon metalloid; (B) measuring the elemental impurity levels in each batch of the silicon metalloid after refining of the silicon metalloid; (C) predicting the properties of the slag phase produced during refining of the silicon metalloid based on equilibrium calculations using the elemental impurity levels and the measured temperatures of each batch of silicon metalloid; and (D) selecting a chemical grade silicon metalloid for use in the direct process for making organohalosilanes based upon the predicted slag properties; such that the slag density, the viscosity, and the melting point of the slag, are within acceptable and predetermined ranges for each individual batch.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed to provide recommendations to a wireless device, based on stored bookmark/short-cut data. When a wireless device accesses services, data pertaining to the service access, along with any context related information is transmitted within the wireless device, or to a remote server. The data is processed in conjunction with bookmarks/short-cuts specified within the device, and are organized and presented to the wireless device in accordance with preference instructions specified within the wireless device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for graphically representing uncertainty in an assisted decision-making application. A database contains a class vector for each of a plurality of objects of interest. A given class vector includes a plurality of possible classes for its associated object of interest and a corresponding set of confidence values. The database also contains a set of assumptions associated with each confidence value. A user interface displays a plurality of graphics representing the objects of interest. A given graphic includes a set of at least two class icons, each corresponding to one of the plurality of classes associated with its corresponding object of interest. The graphic also includes a qualitative indication of the confidence values associated with the set of classes. The assumptions associated with a given confidence value are retrievable by a user by selecting the class icon associated with the confidence value.

Abstract: An improved structure of a gas sensor is provided. The gas sensor includes a hollow housing in which a gas sensing element is disposed, a protective cover installed on an end of the housing, a metallic cover installed on the other end of the housing, and an insulator in which end portions of leads connecting with the gas sensing element are disposed. The insulator is retained at a flange thereof in the housing elastically using a washer. The protective cover is welded at an end thereof to the whole circumference of the end of the housing.

Abstract: A method and system for wireless communication is provided and may include, scanning by a wireless communication device, a plurality of radio frequencies for beacon messages from a plurality of master communication devices, in order to identify whether establishment of communication with at least one of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks is possible. Each of the plurality of master communication devices may be associated with one of a plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. A network associated with one of the beacon messages may be selected based on predefined criteria. The selected network may be one of the plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. Communication may be established with said selected network by the wireless communication device. The plurality of time-synchronous RF networks may comprise a Bluetooth network and/or IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area (WLAN) network.

Abstract: An integrated circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an oscillator circuit and a source circuit. The source circuit outputs a reference voltage and a bias current, wherein the reference voltage changes by substantially the same proportion as the bias current. The oscillator circuit is coupled to receive the reference voltage and the bias current from the source circuit. The oscillator circuit outputs an oscillating electrical signal.

Abstract: Maintaining DNS records. A computing network system includes a local Domain Name Service (DNS) server connected to one or more local clients or resources at a local branch office in an enterprise network. The local DNS server advertises to the local clients or resources at the local branch office that the DNS server is authoritative. The DNS server receives record information for the local clients or resources. An attempt is made to forward the record information to an enterprise hub DNS server. The record information is stored persistently in a cache. Storing the record information persistently in cache may be performed selectively or non-selectively. When performed selectively, the record information is stored or not stored depending on some result or other action. For example, the result may be stored or not stored depending on the results of attempting to forward to an enterprise hub DNS server.

Abstract: A grass collector adapted to be attached to a rear of a riding-type mower for receiving cut grass from a mower unit through a duct, the grass collector comprises a front container section having a rearwardly facing opening and adapted to be attached to the riding-type mower, the front container section carrying a first bottom plate having a substantially horizontal position; and a rear container section supported pivotably about a pivot point located in a rear upper region of the front container section and pivotable between a first position wherein the rear container section substantially covers the opening of the front container section and a second position pivoted from the first position to allow cut grass to fall, the rear container section having a second bottom plate having a substantially horizontal position.

Abstract: Several encoders at a broadcast system encode the same audio content. Packets from the resulting streams are immediately decoded and compared against the packets of the original audio stream. The broadcast system dynamically selects the codec that performs the best for the audio in any given packet. The packet produced by the encoder of the best-performing codec devices is selected to be broadcasted/transmitted.

Abstract: The invention aims at reducing the beating noise generated from motors of equipments placed in a galley unit of an aircraft. A galley unit 1 of an aircraft includes a cabinet 10 formed of honeycomb panels and the like. The cabinet 10 has a counter 50 for cooking, and a compartment 20 formed under the counter 50 for storing service carts 30. A plurality of ovens 100 for heating warm dishes are provided above the counter 50. Each oven 100 has a fan motor for making the inner heat even. If all the fan motors of the ovens are driven at the same rotation frequency, a beating noise will be generated from the motor and amplified through the compartment 20. Therefore, the rotation frequencies of the fan motors are slightly varied.

Abstract: Users are able to subscribe to notifications regarding activity around particular documents (e.g., changes to and/or annotations to the documents). A variety of different notification parameters can be set by the user, allowing him or her to request the type(s) of notifications he or she would like to receive, as well as how frequently notifications are to be received.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator including an inductor circuit including inductors 101, 102, a variable capacitance circuit 110 having variable capacitance elements 111, 112 changing a capacitance according to a voltage difference between two terminals thereof and having capacitive elements 113, 114 cutting a DC component, a negative resistance circuit including cross-coupled oscillating transistors 103, 104, and a time-switched level shift circuit 108 for shifting a reference voltage to two or more levels in a predetermined period. A connection point A of the variable capacitance elements is supplied with a control voltage Vt controlling an oscillation frequency, and connection points B, C of the variable capacitance elements and the capacitive elements are supplied with a reference voltage Vref output from the time-switched level shift circuit 108 via resistors 115, 116.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device or a semiconductor wafer using a chucking unit is provided to remove a slurry that adheres to the back surface of the semiconductor wafer. An edge portion of a semiconductor wafer is polished while a back surface of the semiconductor wafer is chucked to a chucking unit of a first polishing unit. The polished semiconductor wafer is then dechucked from the chucking unit of the first polishing unit. Next, a gap is formed above the chucking unit of the second polishing unit, and the semiconductor wafer is disposed therein. Water is discharged from the chucking unit of the second polishing unit to clean the back surface of the semiconductor wafer W. Thereafter, the back surface of the semiconductor wafer is chucked to the chucking unit of the second polishing unit, and the semiconductor wafer is polished.