Abstract: An adjustable mattress may have an inner spring core between a top and bottom cover. The bottom cover may have at least one section made of a stretchable material that stretches around the mattress as it bends. The stretchable cover reduces the stress on the inner core for the bending when adjusting the mattress. The inner core may be formed from a spring array surrounded by a foam perimeter rail. Sides of the foam perimeter rail may be formed from individual foam coils.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an interrogator, method of discerning metal and radio frequency identification (RFID) objects, and an interrogation system employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogator includes a metal sensing subsystem configured to provide a first signal having a signature representing a presence of a metal object, and a RFID sensing subsystem configured to provide a second signal having a signature representing a presence of a RFID object. The interrogator also includes a control and processing subsystem configured to discern a presence of at least one of the metal and RFID objects from one of the first and second signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gun sight system that utilizes vernier acuity to provide a single point of sight for aiming that requires little or no visual and mental estimation such that the respective firearm can be quickly, easily and accurately aimed at a still or moving target. The sight system includes a front sight comprising a sighting structure extending substantially orthogonally from the end of the slide that includes a ‘V-shaped’ notch in a distal end. The system additionally includes a rear sight comprising a sighting stud extending substantially orthogonally from a rear of the slide includes a ‘inverted-V-shaped’ tip such that when a user looks longitudinally along the top of the slide, the user can align an apex of the rear sight ‘inverted-V-shaped’ tip with a nadir of the front sight ‘V-shaped’ notch with the target nested within the front sight ‘V-shaped’ notch to accurately aim the firearm.

Abstract: A disaster resistant data storage module is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the module is sized to fit into a standard drive bay inside the chassis of a personal computer or server. Standard sized hard drives may be utilized. For example a 2.5 inch standard hard drive may be placed in a protective enclosure which is in turn sized to fit in a standard 3.5 inch drive bay. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a highly reflective exterior surface or coating which reflects radiant energy from a fire but which simultaneously conducts heat generated by a data storage device carried within the module.

Abstract: A fire and/or water resistant enclosure is provided for housing an operable digital data storage device. The enclosure is a low cost, preferably molded enclosure having various embodiments for providing resistance to fire and/or water. In one embodiment, a fan cooperates with one or more hatchless ventilation passageways to cool the digital data storage device. Passageways are sized to be sufficiently small to limit the transfer of heat through those passages sufficiently to prevent damage to the data storage device and to prevent loss of data stored thereon. Another embodiment provides a water resistant pouch surrounding the data storage device which may be made of flexible foil or of finned relatively robust and non-flexible thermal conductor. The enclosure in some embodiments utilizes a fan and in some embodiments operates without a fan. Similarly, the enclosure in some embodiments utilizes movable hatches and in other embodiments is hatchless in design.

Abstract: A fire resistant, forced air cooled enclosure for one or more computer digital data storage devices is provided. An operable digital data storage device is mounted in a fire resistant enclosure. One or more openings are formed in the enclosure. A movable fire resistant hatch is positioned adjacent each of the openings and each hatch is movable between a closed position in which it closes the opening and an open position allowing ambient air to pass therethrough. A fan is positioned either inside or outside of the enclosure for actively driving ambient air through the opening to cool the data storage device. A hatch closure system is provided for closing each of said hatches automatically in the presence of a threshold temperature. The hatch closure system includes a temperature sensitive element which, when activated in the presence of the threshold temperature, causes the hatch to move to its closed position.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for treating oil bearing vegetable material, especially oilseeds. Methods of the invention provide for the isolation of certain components of oil bearing vegetable material, including isoflavones, vegetable oil, and a phosphatide fraction substantially free of flatulence-promoting undigestable oligosaccharides and substantially lacking objectionable taste. Methods of the invention also provide for the production of various protein-containing fractions substantially free of flatulence-promoting undigestable oligosaccharides and substantially lacking objectionable taste.

Abstract: A video jukebox service has a world-wide array of file servers interconnected by data links and having video input apparatus. Each file server has a plurality of connected clients. Video clippings input at the video input apparatus are shared with the other file servers and stored in a database at each file server. Clients are notified of availability of video clippings, and clippings are downloaded to client stations on demand. In a preferred embodiment, the file server network is a toriodal arrangement, and client communication nodes equal in number to the number of file servers are interconnected in a toroidal fashion as well. Individual client stations are connected to individual ones of the client communication nodes, with the overall network in the form of nested toroids.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for treating phosphatide-containing mixtures. More particularly, this invention relates to methods for recovering purified vegetable oil, aqueous organic acid, and organic acid-treated phosphatide from a phosphatide-containing mixture comprising an acid-and-oil mixture obtained from organic acid refining of vegetable oil.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for recovering fatty acids during purification of vegetable oil. More particularly, this invention relates to improved methods for recovering fatty acids from a phosphatide-containing material obtained from organic acid refining of vegetable oil.

Abstract: An IDE interface communicates with peripheral devices not conforming to ST506 specification by providing firmware to microcontrollers mounted on the non-conforming peripheral devices to translate between the data structure of an ST506 specification device and the data structure of the non-conforming device. CD-ROM and cartridge tape drive communication is provided. An enhanced IDE interface communicates with multiple peripheral devices by adding a selective ability to the firmware of the conventional IDE interface.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for pre-compressing data to be sent to a peripheral device in a computer system, sending the data to the peripheral device as a compressed data stream, and decompressing the data for use in the peripheral device in a real-time format. In a preferred embodiment, a unique peripheral device controller is provided having a data handling and decompression pipeline for receiving and decompressing an incoming compressed data stream in concert with a state machine for sensing the states of elements of the peripheral device, and for providing the decompressed data stream to data-using elements of the peripheral device. The peripheral device can be any device for which large amounts of data are typically needed, including, but not limited to printers, video displays, robotic driving devices, and data recording and media writing devices. Alternative methods are disclosed for compressing and decompressing data in systems according to the invention.

Abstract: A system for reducing power consumption of a computer peripheral device connected to a host computer during periods of inactivity of the host computer has a dedicated input for initiating power management operations. When the dedicated input is sensed a timer is started and a power management command is sent to the peripheral device, initiating a reduced-power mode other than off. In a preferred embodiment the system also starts a timer when the dedicated input is sensed, and after a predetermined time a second power management command is sent triggering a second reduced-power mode for the peripheral. The system is adapted to peripheral devices such as video displays and printers.

Abstract: A system for managing power levels for a general purpose computer having a standby and a full-power mode of operation provides apparatus and a method for monitoring times of user input and control routines for using the times of user input to calculate optimum times for initiating full power operation and standby mode. The control routines are configured to provide the optimum times to a real time clock that remains powered in the standby mode, which triggers switching elements to initiate full power and standby mode. In one embodiment of the system, startup and standby may be initiated either by user input or automatically by the power management system. Startup and standby initiation times may be different for different days and time periods based on both preprogrammed and calculated values.

Abstract: An integrated CPU has an on-board switching voltage regulator with an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory electronically accessible for storing a feedback reference coefficient for control. In further embodiments, output voltage is tuned via a second EEPROM storing an electronically accessible value in concert with a solid-state resistor ladder. In other embodiments, signals on interrupt lines to the CPU are monitored to provide a prewarning of impending activity by the CPU requiring dramatically increased current flow. In yet other embodiments, solid state circuitry is provided to reduce or eliminate capacitors used for dealing with input current surges to the CPU.

Abstract: A system for managing power states for a video display monitor for a computer during periods of operator inactivity senses the presence or absence of signals provided to the video display monitor for forming an image on the monitor, such as red (R), green (G), blue (B) and horizontal synchronization (HSYNC) and vertical synchronization (VSYNC) signals. Time sensing apparatus at the host senses input activity, and in one embodiment suspends a signal provided to the monitor. Sensing and control circuits in the monitor sense the absence of the signal normally supplied to the monitor, and control power-using circuitry in the monitor in response. In an embodiment applicable to monitors having a microprocessor, the system may be incorporated entirely in software at the host and the monitor. In dumb monitors the system requires add-in or add-on devices cooperating with software.

Abstract: A personal I/O device incorporates a scanner and a printer apparatus in a common assembly with a document drive designed to feed a single document or blank sheet past both the scanner and the printer apparatus. The I/O device comprises control circuitry for driving and coordinating the document drive with the scanner and the printer apparatus, and communication apparatus for communicating with a remote computer host. In one embodiment the device comprises a platen with retaining mechanisms for holding a document in place while the platen is moved by the scanner and the printer apparatus. The device in some embodiments is integrated with a computer in a common enclosure, in others with a monitor stand, and in others provides a stand-alone configuration. The device provides a small, relatively inexpensive, and compact package which may be placed at a user's computer workstation.