Abstract: Managing and accessing media items, including: a plurality of domains configured to provide access to media items; a plurality of clients associated with the plurality domains, and providing a pathway for accessing the media items; and a spanning application configured to track and aggregate accessible media items from the plurality of domains based on authentication and registration information and associated rights of the plurality of clients and the plurality of domains, wherein the spanning application enables accessing of the media items across the plurality of domains.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming capacitors. Storage nodes are formed within a material. The storage nodes have sidewalls along the material. Some of the material is removed to expose portions of the sidewalls. The exposed portions of the sidewalls are coated with a substance that isn't wetted by water. Additional material is removed to expose uncoated regions of the sidewalls. The substance is removed, and then capacitor dielectric material is formed along the sidewalls of the storage nodes. Capacitor electrode material is then formed over the capacitor dielectric material. Some embodiments include methods of utilizing a silicon dioxide-containing masking structure in which the silicon dioxide of the masking structure is coated with a substance that isn't wetted by water.

Abstract: A method for performing hash operations including: receiving a hash instruction that prescribes one of the hash operations and one of a plurality of hash algorithms; translating the hash instruction into a first plurality of micro instructions and a second plurality of micro instructions; and via a hash unit, executing the one of the hash operations. The executing includes indicating whether the one of the hash operations has been interrupted by an interrupting event; first executing the first plurality of micro instructions within the hash unit to produce output data; second executing the second plurality of micro instructions within an x86 integer unit in parallel with the first executing to test a bit in a flags register, to update text pointer registers, and to process interrupts during execution of the hash operation; and storing a corresponding intermediate hash value to memory prior to allowing a pending interrupt to proceed.

Abstract: A digital frequency generator is described.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes a solar cell layer having a front side for receiving light and an opposite back side, and an encapsulant layer on at least the front side of the solar cell layer. The encapsulant layer comprises a lithium ionomer for increasing the conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic module.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging unit, including: a developing unit having a developing roller and a first abutting member; a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive drum and a second abutting member, a gap between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller being set constant by bringing the first abutting member into abutting contact with the second abutting member; a cleaner configured to be disposed in a space between the first and the second abutting members in a separate state where the first abutting member is spaced away from the second abutting member; and a displacement unit configured to displace the cleaner from the space as the first abutting member is brought close to the second abutting member. In the displacement, the displacement unit causes the cleaner to slide on an abutting surface of at least one of the first and the second abutting members.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously treating multiple workpieces is configured with sites, configured to hold respective workpieces, affixed on a rotatable base. Each site has a shelf accommodating an interior space and may be positioned by base rotation in alignment with a station of fixed location. Each station is equipped with an active component. The active components are movable simultaneously within respective stations into the respective interior spaces of respective aligned sites.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning digital microscope slide data with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation.

Abstract: A truck assembly comprises a baseplate including a pivot arm hole, a first kingpin hole and a spring holder. A wheel axle is couplable to a wheel on each end of the wheel axle. A pivot arm is inserted into the pivot arm hole of the baseplate. An axle housing has a first end, a second end and a second kingpin hole. The first end includes the wheel axle and the second kingpin hole, and the second end includes the pivot arm. A swingable kingpin includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion swings relative to the second portion. A spring member is provided substantially parallel to the kingpin and is coupled to the spring holder of the baseplate and the first end of the axle housing.

Abstract: Multi-level hierarchical routing matrices for pattern-recognition processors are provided. One such routing matrix may include one or more programmable and/or non-programmable connections in and between levels of the matrix. The connections may couple routing lines to feature cells, groups, rows, blocks, or any other arrangement of components of the pattern-recognition processor.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods in which insulative material is simultaneously deposited across both a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and across a back side of the substrate. Subsequently, openings may be etched through the insulative material across the front side, and the substrate may then be dipped within a plating bath to grow conductive contact regions within the openings. The insulative material across the back side may protect the back side from being plated during the growth of the conductive contact regions over the front side. In some embodiments, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition may be utilized to for the deposition, and may be conducted at a temperature suitable to anneal passivation materials so that such annealing occurs simultaneously with the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: A flash tank is provided and may include a shell having an inner volume. A first port may be in fluid communication with the inner volume and may be positioned relative to a surface of the inner volume such that fluid flows therebetween in a direction that is substantially tangent to the surface.

Abstract: An electrode formed of electrically conductive material and configured for use in an occupant sensing system. The electrode includes an antenna portion and a diagnostic portion. The antenna portion is configured to provide an electrical impedance indicative of an occupant presence. The diagnostic loop portion is configured to provide an electrical conductivity indicative of a condition of the electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing power using geothermal liquid includes a geothermal power plant for producing power using heat contained in geothermal liquid supplied thereto; and heating means apparatus for heating a solution and producing a heated solution for use in a hydrogen producing unit with heat from heat depleted geothermal liquid exiting a vaporizer of the geothermal power plant, wherein the hydrogen producing unit produces hydrogen for use in producing power.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for authenticating a first device to a second device. This involves providing images to the second device, receiving an indication of selected ones of the images as authenticating images, and identifying an authenticating code associated with the second device. This also involves receiving a transaction request from the second device, the first device providing a display page to the second device, the display page including the authenticating images at locations identified by the authenticating code.

Abstract: A heat-dissipating fan assembly is provided. The heat-dissipating fan includes a base, a axial tube, at least one coil mounted on the base, and an impeller module having an impeller, a plurality of vanes disposed on the circumferential surface of the impeller, a shaft, and a permanent magnet. The axial tube is mounted on the base, and made of a permeability material. The shaft and the permanent magnet are disposed on the same surface of the impeller. The shaft is inserted in conjunction with the axial tube. The at least one coil is used to electrically connect with a power to interact with the permanent magnet, which in turns rotates the impeller module.

Abstract: Fine-grained (average grain size 1 nm to 1,000 nm) metallic coatings optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein are disclosed. The fine-grained metallic materials are significantly harder and stronger than conventional coatings of the same chemical composition due to Hall-Petch strengthening and have low linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs). The invention provides means for matching the CTE of the fine-grained metallic coating to the one of the substrate by adjusting the composition of the alloy and/or by varying the chemistry and volume fraction of particulates embedded in the coating. The fine-grained metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling. The low CTEs and the ability to match the CTEs of the fine-grained metallic coatings with the CTEs of the substrate minimize dimensional changes during thermal cycling and prevent premature failure.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet conveyance section; a side stitching section having a side stitching stacker which has a side stitching sheet stacking surface inclined with respect to a horizontal; and a saddle stitching section having a saddle stitching stacker which has a saddle stitching sheet stacking surface inclined with respect to the horizontal, wherein an inclination angle of the side stitching sheet stacking surface with respect to the horizontal and an inclination angle of the saddle stitching sheet stacking surface with respect to the horizontal are equal to each other, and the side stitching sheet stacking surface and the saddle stitching sheet stacking surface are parallel to each other.

Abstract: A liquid reductant dosing module for a combustion exhaust treatment system is disclosed comprising: (a) an enclosed reservoir comprising a top, a bottom, one or more sides, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a heater disposed in the reservoir; (c) a filter element disposed between the outlet and the liquid reductant in the reservoir; and (d) a heat sink member in thermal contact with the heater, disposed between the filter element and the outlet.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for television program announcements, involving a television; a storage device connected to the television that stores multimedia summaries of a plurality of television programs, including the channel and time of display of the program for which it is a summary; the capacity to change channels; and a processor program to sense when the television has been connected to a new channel and to select and display on that television the multimedia summary of the program being presented on the new channel at the time of the connection of the television to the new channel.