Abstract: Presenting viewers with an alternative brief version of a recorded advertisement when they choose to fast-forward through or skip (or any other trick play event) the recorded advertisement. The alternative advertisement may be displayed instead of or in conjunction with the recorded advertisement (i.e., fast-forwarding advertisement is displayed in one portion of the screen (i.e., background or portion of a split screen) and the alternative brief version is displayed in another portion). The alternative brief version of the advertisement (trick play advertisement) may be a marketing message that is a static screen presenting a logo or a portion of the recorded advertisement, or may be a condensed version of the actual advertisement. The trick play advertisements may be targeted. An alternate or entirely unrelated advertisement can also be displayed as the trick play advertisement.

Abstract: A wallet consolidator to process a transaction and related methods, are provided. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can include a controller to control operation of the wallet consolidator, and an input device connected to the controller and positioned to receive a copy of information. The input device, for example, can include a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, or a keypad, among others, to input user selections and commands. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can also include a memory for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, and an output device connected to the controller and positioned to communicate at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a computer device, e.g., point-of-sale terminal, dumb terminal, and/or database, located at a point-of-sale, to process a transaction.

Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

Abstract: The present invention features a cooking utensil for creating an elongated cavity in a bread item, wherein a meat item may be inserted. The cooking utensil comprises a bread-impaling spike supported by and extending from a base member, wherein the bread-impaling spike comprises an elongated body portion and a piercing end portion, each of which are configured to pierce the bread item and form a cavity therein, and wherein the elongated body portion has a shape configured to form at least two condiment receiving channels within the cavity of the bread item upon inserting the meat item. The condiment receiving channels are defined by at least one wall of the cavity and the inserted meat item.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the geometry of a wheel axle of a motor vehicle, said device comprising a clamping chuck (56) which is provided with clamping jaws (32, 34, 36) and is used to receive a hub of a wheel axle, and a drive for rotating the clamping chuck (56). In order to increase the measuring precision, the drive is embodied as an electric drive, especially as a servomotor, and both rotatably drives the clamping chuck (56) and actuates the clamping jaws (32, 34, 36) of the clamping chuck (56) in the radial direction. Furthermore, according to the invention, the clamping jaws are radially displaced by means of a link motion with an eccentric plate or a spiral motion with a spiral of Archimedes in such a way as to obtain an automatic lock.

Abstract: In a method of repairing a scroll compressor, the casing 100 of the compressor is cut open by making two transverse cuts through the casing to give access to the internal components of the compressor. The casing 100 is then resealed, using two annular reinforcing structures 300, one at each cut, to conserve the dimensions of the casing 100. This allows a scroll compressor to be repaired and re-assembled without losing the fine positioning of internal components which are held in place by the casing 100. Each annular reinforcing structure 300 comprises a ring 310 with an outwardly directed flange 305. The flange 305 has a thickness chosen to conserve the dimensions of the re-assembled casing while allowing single-pass welding and the ring 310 has a length which is chosen to provide at least location of the cut surfaces of the casing 100 during re-assembly and, optionally, shielding to prevent weld pool, slag or splatter entering the canister 100.

Abstract: A coating of an encapsulated electrophoretic medium is formed on a substrate (106) by dispersing in a fluid (104) a plurality of electrophoretic capsules (102), contacting at least a portion of a substrate (106) with the fluid (104); and applying a potential difference between at least a part of the portion of the substrate (106) contacting the fluid (104) and a counter-electrode (110) in electrical contact with the fluid (104), thereby causing capsules (102) to be deposited upon at least part of the portion of the substrate (106) contacting the fluid (102). Patterned coatings of capsules containing different colors may be deposited in registration with electrodes using multiple capsule deposition steps. Alternatively, a patterned coating may be deposited upon a substrate containing a conductive layer by varying the conductivity of the conductive layer by radiation exposure or by coating portions of the conductive layer with an insulating layer, typically a photoresist.

Abstract: A pixel of an electrophoretic display is driven from one extreme optical state to a second optical state different from the one extreme optical state by applying to the pixel a first drive pulse of one polarity; and thereafter applying to the pixel a second drive pulse of the opposite polarity, the second drive pulse being effective to drive the pixel to the second optical state.

Abstract: A system to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction and related methods, are provided. The system can include a computer in communication with a database to store personal control IDs and sets of personal data associated with personal control IDs identifying a selected different person for use by a selected one of one or more providers identified by provider ID, and program product to perform the operations of receiving a set of personal data from a remotely positioned user, requesting and receiving a personal ID from the user to associate with a set of personal data, storing the personal ID and the set of personal data in the database, receiving a request for at least a portion of the set of personal data of the user, and providing customized information based on a data profile derived from the set of personal data of the user.

Abstract: The water heating flow detection system for a beverage maker includes a heater control logic circuit that controls heating in response to temperature and flow conditions in the beverage maker. A heater control logic circuit receives a temperature detection signal and a flow detection signal, and generates a water heater control signal for controlling operation of one or more water heaters. A flow detection device may be connected to the hot water outlet conduit or the cold water inlet conduit, and may include a magnetic flow detection device. A faucet lever position detection device may also be used to indicate flow through a faucet outlet valve.

Abstract: A full color, reflective display having superior saturation and brightness is achieved with a novel display element comprising multichromatic elements. In one embodiment a capsule includes more than three species of particles which differ visually. On embodiment of the invention employs three sub-pixels, each sub-pixel comprising a capsules including three species of particles which differ visually. Another embodiment of the invention employs color filters to provide different visual states to the user. The display element provides a visual display in response to the application of an electrical signal to at least one of the capsules.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for separating a fluoroolefin from a mixture comprising hydrogen fluoride and fluoroolefin, comprising azeotropic distillation both with and without an entrainer. In particular are disclosed processes for separating any of HFC-1225ye, HFC-1234ze, HFC-1234yf or HFC-1243zf from HF.

Abstract: An attachment assembly for mounting a seat frame to a floor of a vehicle, the assembly including a floor mount secured to the floor, a foot fitting connected to the floor mount, the foot fitting having a connection portion adapted to mate with a leg of a seat frame, the connection portion having an opening extending therethrough, and an articulating connection attached to the leg portion and extending through the opening in the connection portion. An articulating foot fitting is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a pump (10) including a polymeric pump housing (12) and a drive shaft (14) mounted for rotation in a bearing (16), the bearing (16) having on an exterior surface at least one engagement formation (44),—the method including the step of moulding the pump housing (12) around the bearing (16) such that the housing (12) co-operates with the engagement formation (44) to restrict movement of the bearing (16) with respect to the housing (12).

Abstract: A color filter array is provided in an electro-optic display by ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas (22R, 22G, 22B) on one surface of a layer of electro-optic material (12), an adhesive layer or a protective layer. Alternatively, the ink jet printing may be effected on the same layers in various sub-assemblies used to produce electro-optic displays.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a sugar transport protein. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the sugar transport protein, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the sugar transport protein in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: An electromechanical information browsing device that controls page flipping actions of information displayed as an e-book on a display device. The browsing device includes a controller that provides tactile feedback so as to lessen the user-interface differences between conventional books and e-books. Sensors and control mechanisms in the controller generate a series of electrical signals that are interpreted by the computer that displays the e-book to control various browsing operations, such as flipping pages, controlling a rate of page flipping, jumping to pre-set locations in the e-book, etc.

Abstract: A method of bonding a ceramic part to a metal part by heating a component assembly including the metal part, the ceramic part, and a thin essentially pure interlayer material placed between the two parts heated at a temperature that is greater than the temperature of the eutectic formed between the metal part and the interlayer material, but that is less than the melting point of the interlayer material, the ceramic part or the metal part is disclosed. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a hermetic and strong bond between the ceramic part and the metal part. The bonded assembly is optionally treated with acid to remove any residual free nickel and nickel salts to assure a biocompatible assembly for implantation in living tissue.

Abstract: A telecommunication optical fiber cable and in particular a reduced diameter optical cable with improved installation features for use in the end part of an access telecommunication network. The optical fiber cable has a number of optical fibers; at least a core tube containing the optical fibers; a jacket surrounding the core tube; and at least one strength rod spaced from the central axis, the cable having a twisting stiffness G*Jp, wherein G is the elastic shear modulus; and Jp is the polar moment of inertia of a cable section, wherein the twisting stiffness G*Jp is lower than or equal to 0.10 Nm2, preferably lower than or equal to 0.05 Nm2, and more preferably lower than or equal to 0.02 Nm2. The cable is profitably installable by a blown method.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for purchasing telephone calling card minutes and for conducting other forms of electronic commerce. In one embodiment, a method for conducting electronic commerce includes providing a kiosk in a publicly accessible location, and displaying one or more transaction options to a user at the kiosk. The method may further include receiving a transaction selection from the user corresponding to one or more of the displayed transaction options, determining an amount due from the user in response to the transaction selection, and receiving funds from the user. In response to receiving the funds, the kiosk may dispense a redeemable voucher to the user, including a redeemable voucher for any amount paid in excess of the amount due.