Abstract: The present invention is directed to inspection of sealing surfaces of containers for defects which may prevent proper sealing of the container. The present invention provides an inspection apparatus, system, and method for dark-field machine vision inspection of containers, such as glass containers or other containers having a sealing surface. The illumination system provides a dual directional helical illumination technique, which enhances the ability to distinguish any defects in the sealing surface area. The illumination system may also provide the ability to adjust the diameter of a circular illumination pattern, so as to allow adjustability and optimization of the illumination characteristics for differing container configurations.

Abstract: An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having starch R1 phosphorylation activity, or the complement of the nucleotide sequence. Plant transformation and regeneration methods using the polynucleotides. Vectors and recombinant DNA constructs containing the polynucleotides. Cells, plants, and seeds containing the recombinant DNA constructs. Methods for isolating polypeptides having starch R1 phosphorylation activity.

Abstract: A lock mechanism has a locked condition and an unlocked condition and includes a housing. The lock mechanism also includes a latch that extends from the housing and has an extended position and a retracted position. The lock further includes a biasing member for biasing the latch to the extended position. The lock mechanism further yet includes a means for transferring an operator input motion to move the latch to the retracted position in the unlocked condition. The means for transferring an operator input motion includes uncoupling the operator input motion from the latch in the locked condition. The means for transferring also includes a locking driver and a locker. The locking driver includes a first surface and a second surface and the locker includes a biasing member for biasing the locker toward at least one of the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying configuration information used to control an on-board monitor located aboard a locomotive. Under the control of a remote monitoring and diagnostic center, the on-board monitor periodically collects information from the locomotive and transmits it to the remote monitoring and diagnostic center. When it is desired to change some aspect associated with the data collection process (including the period during which the data is collected, the types of data collected, etc.), it is necessary to change the configuration file that controls the on-board monitor. The configuration file is changed at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center and then transmitted to the on-board monitor.

Abstract: An LED package having a generally tubular electrically conductive body, a circuit board which is mounted across the body at or adjacent one end thereof and which has an outer face on which an LED is mounted, an end contact exposed at the end of the body remote from the circuit board and located relative to the body by means of an insulating cap mounted across the body. An electrical conductor extends from the end contact through the cap, through the interior of the body and through the circuit board to connect the end contact to one of the anode and the cathode of the LED. An electrically conductive path is formed on the circuit board to connect the other of the anode and the cathode of the LED to the body such that the body serves as a second contact enabling current to be supplied to the LED.

Abstract: Hydroconversion process of petroleum and chemical feedstocks using bulk Group VIII/Group VIB catalysts. Preferred catalysts include those comprised of Ni—Mo—W.

Abstract: In a multi-beam light source device of the invention, a light source unit holds light sources and coupling lenses, the coupling lenses coupling light beams emitted by the light sources. A base member holds the light source unit such that the light beams from the light source unit held by the base member are rotatable in a direction perpendicular to a main scanning direction of an optical scanning device. An angle adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting a mounting angle of the light source unit relative to the base member, so that respective pitches of beam spots, formed on a scanned surface by the light beams, in the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction are variable in accordance with the mounting angle adjustment.

Abstract: Dental compositions are provided that can be delivered as a fine mist and that have the capability of undergoing an increase in viscosity in response to an increase in temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions also have the ability to reverse their viscosity in response to a decrease in temperature.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus or a reproducing apparatus has a first, a second and a third magnetic heads. The first and second magnetic heads have different gap azimuth angles and are spaced 180 degrees apart from each other on a rotary head. The third magnetic head has the same gap azimuth angle as that of the second magnetic head and a specific relative positional relationship with the first magnetic head on the rotary head. Recording of each frame signal of a video signal is controlled as follows: The frame signal is divided into N (N being a integer of two or more) slant tracks on a magnetic tape at a standard tape speed in a standard mode; the frame signal is divided into N/2 slant tracks at a tape speed ½ of the standard speed in ½ speed mode; or the frame signal is divided into N/2 slant tracks at a tape speed ⅓ of the standard speed in ⅓ speed mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of use opposes a short circuit failure mode in a printer having a printhead controller circuit driving an address bus connected to two or more printheads. A failure protection circuit associates one resistor group with each address line within the address bus that extends into at least two printheads. In particular, one address line resistor is placed in series between the address lead extending from a head driver IC within the printhead controller circuit and each printhead into which the address line extends. Where an address line shorts, the associated address line resistor protects the head driver IC from the short, allowing it to control the voltage potential of that address line in any printhead that has not failed. The user is then able to identify and replace the non-functioning printhead.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for configuring a portable computer comprises encasing the computer in an enclosure, providing battery slot defined by at least one wall of the enclosure, encasing a battery pack in a battery pack housing, inserting the battery pack into the battery slot and interweaving a wall of the battery pack housing with a wall of the enclosure defining the slot so that a portion of the battery pack housing projects into the battery slot. The system and method may also comprise providing a portal in a first wall associated with a computer enclosure and inserting a battery pack having a second wall into the enclosure wherein a structural region of the second wall of the battery pack extends into the portal.

Abstract: An improved method for applying a ceramic material, such as a thermal barrier coating to an article. A method for applying a ceramic material as a coating to a substrate article in which the thermal conductivity of the ceramic material is reduced or lowered is provided. The thermal conductivity of a coating applied by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method is dependent upon its distance from the source(s) of material used for the coating. The thermal conductivity of the applied coating is altered by adjusting the position of the article undergoing the PVD process by increasing the distances of the article or workpiece from the ingot or source of ceramic material to provide a coating of lower thermal conductivity. In accordance with the present invention, the article to be coated is positioned at a distance required to achieve at least a 10% reduction in the thermal conductivity of the applied coating.

Abstract: An illumination device including a light guide 22 surrounded by a protective sleeve 24. The light guide 22 is hollow and includes a cylindrical wall 26 having a structured outer surface 28 and a smooth inner surface 30. Light release structures are provided to reflect or refract light through the cylindrical wall 26 of the light guide 22. In certain embodiments, the protective sleeve is bonded to the light guide. Rigid fixtures can be used to retain the light guide in elastically deformed, non-cylindrical cross-sectional shapes.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a combine and harvesting assembly having a valve mechanism that automatically routes fluid from a combine hydraulic line to a harvesting assembly hydraulic line when the harvesting assembly line is coupled with the combine hydraulic line, and automatically routes fluid from the combine hydraulic line to a hydraulic cylinder that controls the speed of a variable speed sheave of a conveyor drive system when the harvesting assembly hydraulic line is detached from the combine hydraulic line. The valve mechanism also includes a relief valve that allows pressurized fluid from the hydraulic cylinder to flow back to the combine's hydraulic system when the valve is routing fluid from the combine hydraulic line to the harvesting assembly.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for producing and using catalysts in the production of bisphenols, and in particular to a method for producing catalysts which contain poly-sulfur mercaptan promoters, and using these catalysts in the production of bisphenol-A and its derivatives.

Abstract: Systems and methods for binding a text body are described. A multi-function sheet binder is configured to heat a preformed solid hot melt adhesive to a melting temperature, form the melted adhesive by pressing the melted adhesive into a spine of a text body and folding down edges of the melted adhesive into contact with the text body, and actively cool the formed adhesive. A spot heater is configured to heat one or more localized areas of a solid hot melt adhesive to a temperature sufficient to tack the hot melt adhesive to a text body spine. An adhesive former is configured to press a localized region of a preformed heated solid hot melt adhesive into a spine of a text body and to fold down edge regions of the preformed solid hot melt adhesive into contact with the text body.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for preparing homogeneous intermixtures of particulate manganese dioxide and conductive carbon for use in cathodes for electrochemical cells, in particular alkaline primary cells. Homogeneous intermixtures can be prepared by mechanically activating an essentially dry admixture of particulate electrolytic manganese dioxide and a natural graphite, an expanded graphite or combinations thereof with inert, rigid milling media by the agitation process of the invention. Improved cell discharge performance at both low and high rates of discharge can be achieved for extremely low levels of highly expanded graphite, typically between about 1 and 5 wt %.

Abstract: A high performance 1T RAM cell in a system-on-a-chip is formed using an asymmetric LDD structure that improves pass gate performance and storage node junction leakage. The asymmetric LDD structure is formed using selective ion implantation of the core and I/O LDDs. The node junctions are both pocket implant-free and source/drain implant-free. Further, silicide formation is avoided within the storage node junctions by forming nearly merged sidewall spacers within the node junctions and by forming optional blocking portions over the nearly merged sidewall spacers.

Abstract: Strontium and strontium calcium aluminates and lanthanum and lanthanum magnesium borates activated with Pr3+ and Mn2+ exhibit characteristics of quantum-splitting phosphors. Improved quantum efficiency may be obtained by further doping with Gd3+. Refined rules for designing quantum-splitting phosphors include the requirement of incorporation of Gd3+ and Mn2+ in the host lattice for facilitation of energy migration.

Abstract: A central print system in which print jobs are directed to a particular print resource based on a set of print job attributes specified by an end user at the time the print job is submitted. The central print system provides intent-based printing which allows the end user to specify the end result of the printing operation rather than initially selecting a print resource. A print job manager processes the print job using the end user selected print job processing attributes to select the appropriate print resource from a group of networked print resources. An attribute registers a set of job processing attributes for each print resource servicing a single print queue and provides a list of available print job attributes to each client computer on the network from which an end user specifies particular job attributes to define a desired end result for a print job. The attribute manager periodically updates the job processing attribute list as print resources are added to or deleted from the network.