Abstract: An automotive Passenger Side Inflatable Restraint (PSIR) hidden door system contained in an automotive instrument panel and a method of scoring the PSIR door system. The system includes forward and rearward doors hingedly connected at first and second hinges, respectively, to a PSIR airbag chute. The system further includes a common tear line of reduced material thickness integrally joining the forward and rearward doors. The common tear line has a substantially non-linear shape with first and second linear ends.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal. According to one implementation, an apparatus includes multiple processing branches, each including: a continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuit, a sampling/quantization circuit, and a digital bandpass filter. A combining circuit then combines signals at the processing branch outputs into a final output signal. The continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuits include adjustable circuit components for changing their quantization-noise frequency-response minimum, and the digital bandpass filters include adjustable parameters for changing their frequency passbands.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a component library stores representations of audio/video components, the representations of audio/video components corresponding to physical audio/video components that are available for inclusion in a system. A configuration workspace is provided into which a selected plurality of representations of audio/video components from the component library are placed to indicate their inclusion in the system. A drawing tool may be used to draw connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components in the configuration workspace. Further, a configuration compiler may determine one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing based on the selected plurality of audio/video components and the drawn connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components, and may display to the user indications of the one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing.

Abstract: A fluid sampling system is disclosed comprising a fluid drawing device and a fluid sampling device. In one embodiment, the fluid sampling device has a base portion having a cannula, a handle, and a ridge extending around at least a portion of an outer surface. A top portion has a flange adapted to engage the ridge to couple the top portion to the base portion. In another embodiment, the fluid sampling device has a base portion having a cannula, a handle, a mounting portion, and a test strip coupled to the base portion at least partially within the mounting portion. In yet another embodiment, the fluid sampling device has a test strip housing for receiving an end of a test strip therein. Extending from an end of the test strip housing is a blunt cannula.

Abstract: An earthen retaining wall constructed with welded wire grid includes a series of soil reinforcing elements and separate facing panels with distal ends is provided. Soil reinforcing transverse elements capture the distal ends of the facing panel on both the front face side and the back face side. Capturing the distal ends on both the front side and back side horizontally secures the reinforcing elements without the aid of secondary connectors such as hog-rings, tie wires, connection pins, or other supplemental connectors. The soil reinforcing elements are free to move in the vertical direction but not in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A bone plate assembly utilizing at least one bone screw for fixation of adjacent bones of a spine including a base plate having at least one aperture extending therethrough and screw retaining mechanism mounted and movable on the plate between locked and unlocked positions relative to the aperture for preventing the bone screw from backing out from the base plate. Furthermore, a device for placement into an aperture of a base plate including a screw retaining mechanism mountable and movable on a plate between locked and unlocked positions relative to an aperture for preventing a bone screw from backing out from the base plate.

Abstract: A hybrid surge protector for a network interface device (NID) is disclosed. The hybrid surge protector includes a fail-safe spring connected to the ground electrode of a three-electrode gas tube. Tabs on the fail-safe spring are held away from the gas-tube end electrodes by a fusible element. The hybrid surge protector also includes metal-oxide varistor elements (“MOVs”) in contact with the gas-tube end electrodes and with the ground electrode via an MOV spring. This arrangement provides for two initial paths to ground-one path from the gas-tube end electrodes to the ground electrode through the gas tube, and another from the gas-tube end electrodes to the ground electrode through the MOVs and the MOV spring. The dominant path to ground starts as the MOV ground path but switches to the gas-tube path as the gas tube becomes activated. Another path to ground via the fail-safe spring is also available should the gas tube overheat.

Abstract: The notification system identifies media content based on personal preferences of individual users and provides notification of identified media content to the users. In one embodiment, the system includes a number of user nodes that communicate with a registration site and a notification site via the interne. The notification site includes a media content database and a processor running contents election logic. The processor accesses the media content database in order to identify content that may be of interest to particular users of the user nodes. In this regard, content for a particular user may be identified by matching interest information obtained from the registration site with the content information of the media content database.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically discovering and assigning symbols for identified text in a software application include identifying text for which symbol assignment is desired. The words within the identified text and selected surrounding words defining an observation sequence are subjected to a part of speech tagging algorithm to electronically determine one or more most likely part of speech tags for the identified text. Context relations between the identified text and selected surrounding keywords may also be identified. The identified text, part of speech tag(s) and/or determined relations are then analyzed to map the identified text to one or more identified word senses. Related word senses may also be analyzed to determine if any related word senses have symbols. One of the determined symbols may then be associated with the identified text such that the symbol is thereafter displayed in conjunction with or instead of the text in the application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically selecting dictionary definitions for one or more target words include receiving electronic signals from an input device indicating one or more target words for which a dictionary definition is desired. The target word(s) and selected surrounding words defining an observation sequence are subjected to a part of speech tagging algorithm to electronically determine one or more most likely part of speech tags for the target word(s). Potential relations are examined between the target word(s) and selected surrounding keywords. The target word(s), the part of speech tag(s) and the discovered keyword relations are then used to map the target word(s) to one or more specific dictionary definitions. The dictionary definitions are then provided as electronic output, such as by audio and/or visual display, to a user.

Abstract: A modular heat exchange system having a refrigerant system for cycling a refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, a heat source circulation system which circulates a heat exchange fluid between a heat source and the evaporator, a heat sink circulation system which circulates a heat absorption fluid between a heat sink and the condenser, a heat exchanger for exchanging thermal energy between one of the heat exchange fluid or the heat absorption fluid; and a neutral tank, wherein the one of the heat exchange fluid or the heat absorption fluid is deposited in the neutral tank upon returning from the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A packaging machine (10) comprising two or more packaging subsystems each capable of packaging articles (A) into a carton, wherein the packaging subsystems share a common source of articles (11) to be packaged and at least one transfer mechanism 5 (22) is provided for transferring articles (A) from the common source to any of the two or more packaging subsystems.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically discovering and assigning symbols for identified text in a software application include receiving electronic signals from an input device indicating identified text for which symbol assignment is desired. Additional information such as part of speech, additional words, context of use, etc. may also be provided. The identified text and optional additional information is analyzed to establish a mapping of the identified text to one or more identified word senses from a word sense model database. An electronic determination of whether any of the identified word senses has an associated symbol is conducted. Related word senses may also be analyzed to determine if any related word senses have symbols. One of the determined symbols may then be associated with the identified text such that the symbol is thereafter displayed in conjunction with or instead of the text in the application.

Abstract: Three elements of a fluid flow control device—switch, button, label—are designed to minimize the possibility of two labeled buttons being swapped on their switches. If the parts are assembled incorrectly or mislabeled, or if the buttons are thereafter swapped on the switches, it will be very obvious; then, if one attempts to fix such a problem, it can only be fixed by placing the buttons on the correct switches, and it can not be fixed by leaving the buttons on the wrong switches.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling assembly comprising a body, a tube, and a retainer to secure the tube in the body. The body defines an internal cavity extending from an opening. The tube has an endform extending through the opening and into the internal cavity. The endform has a tip and an engagement surface. The engagement surface of the endform coacts with a locking surface associated with the body or the retainer to resist rotational movement of the tube relative to the body.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the presence of a medicament reservoir within the housing of an infusion pump. A medicament reservoir, affixed to a reservoir cap is removably inserted within the housing of an infusion pump. A magnet is affixed to or embedded in one or both of the reservoir or the reservoir cap. Alternately, the cap or the reservoir can be made of magnetic material. A sensing device embedded or otherwise affixed to the pump housing senses the presence or absence of the magnetic field created by the magnet. The presence of the magnetic field indicates that the reservoir is inserted properly within the housing and the absence of the magnetic field indicates that the reservoir has been at least partially withdrawn from the pump's housing.

Abstract: To reduce the heat input to the bottom of the crucible and to control heat extraction independently of heat input, a shield can be raised between a heating element and a crucible at a controlled speed as the crystal grows. Other steps could include moving the crucible, but this process can avoid having to move the crucible. A temperature gradient is produced by shielding only a portion of the heating element; for example, the bottom portion of a cylindrical element can be shielded to cause heat transfer to be less in the bottom of the crucible than at the top, thereby causing a stabilizing temperature gradient in the crucible.

Abstract: A water treatment system is provided having an encapsulate manifold with a reverse osmosis cartridge and one or more filter cartridges, and an annular collar to adapt and connect the manifold to the cartridges. The filter cartridge includes a detent for being received within a slot in the manifold head for secure locking engagement. The water treatment system is also provided in a modular arrangement wherein manifold heads are physically and fluidly coupled together via a clip which interfaces with the modular manifold heads. The water treatment system also allows for a retrofit application to include a permeate pump. The cartridges are also designed to provide a minimum annular inlet gap to minimize spillage during changing of the cartridges.

Abstract: A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment.

Abstract: A reporting system capable of reporting the end of a scanning session to a user through existing computer peripheral devices is proposed. By reporting at the end of a scanning session, the user can proceed with subsequent scanning operations with no delay. Hence, idle time of the scanner is greatly reduced.