Abstract: A method for configuring a touch sensor system is provided. The method may be performed automatically by a controller of the system. The system comprises a touch panel operatively coupled to the controller, where the touch panel comprises a plurality of transmit electrodes and a plurality of receive electrodes. The method comprises selectively and individually driving, by the controller, at least one of the transmit electrodes. For each driven transmit electrode, signal outputs from one or more of the receive electrodes are received while the transmit electrode is driven. One or more characteristics of the touch panel is determined as a function of the signal outputs from the receive electrodes. At least one operation setting of the controller is configured based on the one or more characteristics. The one or more characteristics of the touch panel may include a number of transmit electrodes and a number of receive electrodes.

Abstract: A system and method for resilient signal encoding provide for encoding a data signal to reduce bandwidth required to transmit the encoded signal while mitigating the impact of frames lost or corrupted during transmission. A first frame of the data signal is encoded as an independently decodable frame and is assigned as a reference frame. Subsequent frames of the data signal are encoded as different frames relative to the reference frame. The independently decodable frame and the difference frames are transmitted to a receiver. The receiver decodes the frames and sends an acknowledgement for one or more successfully decoded difference frames. When an acknowledgment is received, a corresponding data signal frame is assigned as the reference frame. Subsequent difference frames are encoded relative to the newly assigned reference frame.

Abstract: The present invention is a system which improves the installation and provides a seal between tubeless tires and the rims of the wheels upon which they are mounted. A pliant sealing member or ring (10) is placed over the base (21) or rim of the wheel The ring has an opening to match the valve opening (27) of the rim. A special valve stem sleeve (15) may be provided to enhance the sealing of the valve stem. The invention features a stretch zone (19) which allows universal fit for a range of wheel sizes and also accommodates the drop center (24) of wheels. A method of casting the ring (10) is disclosed which includes the design of a mold (40) and the production of twin rings which are cut when completed to form two separate rings (10). The sealing ring (10) may be made of vinyl having a durometer rating of between 50-75 and a thickness of 0.5-1.0 mm.

Abstract: A solar panel roof surface effectively uses solar panels supported by an open roof support substructure having a series of parallel hollow support beams. These hollow beams support the solar panels on a top surface and accommodate drainage along the beams. The solar panels are secured to an upper surface of the hollow support beams and in combination therewith define a closed sloped roof surface. The series of solar panels are positioned on the beams to define elongate segments of abutting panels. The abutting panels include a sealing arrangement between panels to allow flow of water along the length of the elongate segments. The hollow support beams include a top surface with a central securing slot positioned between panel segments and panel segment support surfaces either side of said securing slot for supporting edges of the solar panels. Fasteners engage the securing slot and the upper edge of the panels to secure the panels to the upper surface of the support beams.

Abstract: A method for the co-production of silica and at least one other useful industrial chemical such as ethanol, comprises the steps of: pre-treating siliceous plant matter derived from plants, such as horsetail weeds from the genus Equisetum, to create a feedstock having exposed cellulose; placing the feedstock in a reactor containing a biological agent effective to break down the cellulose into at least one useful organic chemical reaction product and a silica-containing co-product; separating the at least one useful organic chemical product from the reactor; separating the silica-containing co-product from the reactor; and refining the silica-containing co-products into silica or other industrially useful silicon containing products. The biological agent may be an anaerobic thermophyllic bacteria, enzymes, or a co-mixture of enzymes and yeast.

Abstract: An electro chemical conversion cell that can break down certain gasses to provide ozone and monovalent oxygen from a supplied volume of a suitable 02-containing gas. The conversion cell is provided with at least one metal mesh electrode within a generator reaction chamber, and a power supply which is adapted to supply a high alternating electric current voltage to at least partially break-down O2 in the input gas to yield ozone. A fluid flow passage extends through the reaction chamber as a generally elongated passage through the reaction cavity. The fluid flow passage extends from an upstream end, where the O2-containing gas is initially supplied into the housing, to a downstream end where treated gas either flows outwardly therefrom under pressure or is evacuated from the housing. In a simplified construction, the fluid flow passage is delineated by a series of electrically insulating plates and/or spacers which are used to partition the reaction cavity.

Abstract: The puck-deflector is a one-piece moulding in polyurethane, having a sloping apron for deflecting the puck up and into the net. The puck-deflector fits around the bottom pipe of the goalframe, and prevents incoming pucks from striking the bottom pipe, and rebounding back out over the goal-line.

Abstract: A trim piece is diclosed that allows from easier placement of trim pieces around corners. An elongated member has a block at an end. The block has an abutment face pointed in a direction to extend around a corner and face down the direction for the next trim piece to be placed. The abutment face may alternatively face in the longitudinal direction of the elongate member, or face in a direction for the next trim piece to be placed on the same surface as the first trim piece.

Abstract: Improved formulations for detecting asthma are disclosed. The formulations comprise methacholine or histamine in a dry particulate form wherein the particles are of a respirable size, preferably 2 &mgr;m to 5 &mgr;m. The dry formulations can be inhaled directly from an inhaler and can be used to detect airway narrowing which is diagnostic of asthma.

Abstract: A film wrap coating used to coat both metallic and non-metallic profiles for architectural and/or automotive components including a PVC backing layer which is bonded and at least partially cross-linked to a polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film layer, and a paint or pigment layer applied to the PVF layer, most preferably, the paint applied to thermally reflective latex paint. The film wrap is formed by aligning a sheet of PVF overtop of a flexible sheet of PVC. Following the alignment of the PVC and PVF sheets, a third layer of paint is then applied to the exposed surface of the PVF sheet and the three layers are heated so that the PVC and PVF sheets fuse to each other resulting in at least partial cross-linking therebetween, and the paint on the pigment layer cures and fuses to the PVF sheet.

Abstract: A harmonic mitigating device connected between the power distribution system and the load provides a flux shifting multiple-winding reactor with a capacitor bank connected between the reactor windings. At least one line winding is oriented in a first polarity on a core, and at least one compensating winding oriented in the opposite polarity on the core and connected between the output of the first winding and the load. The opposing fluxes generated by the line winding and the compensating winding cancel and thus reduce the through-reactance of the device between the load and the power supply. The input of a cross-link circuit comprising a capacitor is connected between the line winding and the compensating winding. The reactance through the cross-link circuit to the neutral (or another phase) is lower than the reactance through the line winding. Harmonic currents thus flow through the cross-link circuit, and are largely prevented from penetrating the power distribution system.

Abstract: A smoker's accessory for filtering cigarette smoke includes an exhaust fan, a smoke filter cartridge having a cigarette tube with an open end through which the burning end of the cigarette is placed, a porous tubular filter element at an end of the cigarette tube, a fresh air inlet and a temperature sensor adjacent the cigarette tube. The temperature sensor activates a signal upon detection of a burning cigarette in the cigarette tube.

Abstract: A lumbar support has a pair of laterally spaced cushions with a strap extending between them. The lateral spacing of the cushions may be adjusted by varying the length of the strap. The cushions are supported on the chair back by a pair of hooks that locate the cushions vertically.

Abstract: A panel for a concrete forming structure including two siderails and two end rails extending between and connecting the ends of the siderails. A corrugated, aluminum core member is located inside the area formed by the rails and substantially covers the interior space of the panel. An outer structural sheet extends between the two sets of rails and has the core member connected thereto. An inner plywood sheet extends between the two sets of rails and is attached thereto. The core member is also connected to the plywood sheet. Rigid insulating material fills the inner and outer troughs formed by the corrugated member. A tubular connecting member is provided to connect the afore-mentioned panel to an adjacent panel. It has two connecting flanges extending outwardly from one side and bolt receiving slots formed in each of these flanges. The tubular member has aligned holes therein for passage of a tie rod and special projections that form a channel to receive flanges provided on the edges of the panels.