Abstract: A system and method for releasing a security tag from an article automatically at a point of sale without the need for store employee involvement, assuming a valid sale is occurring. A system and method for releasing a security tag from an article automatically at a point of sale that tracks the detacher operation and the time and date of such operation.

Abstract: A portable electricity generation device comprises a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an anode end with a catalyst facilitating the separation of hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons, a cathode end facilitating the combination of the electrons and protons into water molecules in the presence of oxygen, and a current bearing portion providing a current path for the electrons to traverse. The electricity generation device also includes a fuel storage container for storing a supply of hydrogen and delivering the supply of hydrogen to an anode end of the plurality of fuel cells so as to initiate a flow of the electrons through the current bearing portion. In addition, the portable electricity generation device includes an air moving device configured to direct atmospheric air toward a cathode end of the plurality of fuel cells, wherein the air moving device is positioned to convectively cool the plurality of fuel cells as it supplies atmospheric air to the cathode end.

Abstract: A method and system for starting up a network or network device with particular discussion regarding Fibre Channel networks and switches. The method and system relate to powering on or re-starting a plurality of Fibre Channel switching devices, each of those devices having ports. The system generally calls for the selection of a priority threshold that relates to the importance of tasks in fabric formation. Some embodiments of the system exploit a port authentication procedure to separate the execution of tasks higher in priority than the threshold from tasks lower in priority than the threshold.

Abstract: A system which enables the presentation of alternating gas samples to a gas sensor in a detection zone without substantial change of the sample pressure at the sensor in the zone, whereby pressure variations that can produce unwanted sensor signals are mitigated; along with apparatus for facilitating, and a method for implementing, the foregoing.

Abstract: A flowmeter includes a vibratable flowtube that has internal damping characteristics that substantially result in a desired dynamic response of the vibratable tube to a change in a flow of fluid through the vibratable flowtube. The dynamic response may be to a change in a property of the flow of fluid, a step change in the flow, and/or a change in the mass flow rate. The vibratable flowtube may have frequency-dependent internal damping characteristics such that damping of a driven mode of vibration is not substantially increased and damping at one or more modes other than the driven mode are substantially increased.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a system for thermally treating a photosensitive element to form a relief structure suitable for flexographic printing. The system of the invention comprises a plurality of consecutively arranged blotting stations for removing uncured photopolymer from the imaged surface of the photosensitive printing element. The flexographic plates produced in the apparatus of the invention are especially suited for use in printing newspapers and other publications.

Abstract: A method of synthesis of a model representing a design of an integrated circuit is provided including associating a test environment with a first model representing a design of an integrated circuit; translating the first model of the design to a second model of the design; and automatically generating an adaptor that adapts the second model to the test environment.

Abstract: An system for detecting contraband, particularly explosives or other energetic materials. The system includes a source of ionizing radiation that irradiates an item under inspection. The radiation stimulates the emission of RF energy from objects within the item under inspection. The characteristics of the emitted RF energy reveals information about the material composition of the objects. The system detects this emitted RF energy and comparers it to a signature of RF emissions from contraband objects. Apparatus to detect and analyze RF emissions may be constructed as a stand-alone unit or may be incorporated into an imaging system in which the ionizing radiation is used to form an image of the item under inspection. Similarly, the RF analysis may be used, in the first instance, to determine whether an object contains a contraband item or may be used as a second level analysis to clear alarms generated by analysis of images formed by the imaging system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an implantable pulse generator comprises: pulse generating circuitry for generating pulses and delivering the pulses to outputs of the implantable pulse generator; a controller; wherein the pulse generating circuitry comprises a voltage multiplier for multiplying a battery voltage, the voltage multiplier including multiple outputs, wherein a first output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is programmably selectable from a plurality of voltages including non-integer multiples of the battery voltage, wherein a second output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is a fixed multiple of the battery voltage; wherein the controller controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a first pulse for stimulation of the patient using a first output of the multiple outputs and controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a second pulse to discharge output capacitors of residual charge from the first pulse using a second output of the multiple outputs.

Abstract: An underground porosity water storage reservoir minimizes the impacts on surface uses of the reservoir site. Furthermore, a method of operating an underground porosity storage reservoir minimizes damage to the reservoir due to injecting sediment-laden water or water that is chemically incompatible with the porous material in the underground reservoir. The underground porosity water storage reservoir reduces temperature impacts on surface waters due to the discharge of stored water. A method of using the porosity storage reservoir to minimize adverse temperature impacts when discharging water to a surface body is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of synthesis of a model representing a design is provided comprising: inputting to a synthesis tool information representing a design at a level of abstraction; using a synthesis tool to automatically translate the information representing a design at a level of abstraction to a model representing the design at a lower level abstraction; and producing a record the information input to the tool representing the design at the level of abstraction.

Abstract: An equivalence checking method provides first and second logic functions. Don't care gates are inserted for don't care conditions in the first and second logic functions. The insertion of the don't care gates creates a first intermediate circuit and a second intermediate circuit. All 3DC gates of the first intermediate circuit are propagated and merged into a single 3DC gate when 3DC gates and SDC gates coexist in either of the first and second intermediate circuits. All 3DC gates of the second intermediate circuit are propagated and merged into a single 3DC gate when 3DC gates and SDC gates coexist in either of the first and second intermediate circuits. First and second circuit are produced in response to propagating and merging the 3DC gates. A combinational equivalence check is then performed of the first circuit to the second circuit under different equivalence relations.

Abstract: A method for actuating one or more exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine during positive power operation is disclosed. The expansion stroke of an engine cylinder is effectively lengthened and the exhaust stroke is effectively shortened by delaying the opening and/or advancing the closing of the exhaust valve relative to conventional exhaust valve timing during the exhaust stroke. Selective variation of the exhaust stroke during positive power operation of the engine may reduce NOx production.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and program for facilitating the design of a bare board circuit board include transmitting a user interface application to a user over a publicly-accessible global network. The user interface application is updated in response to circuit board design data entered by the user.

Abstract: Virtual channels are used to improve quality of service through a large port count switch. Data frames are sent from one small switch to another small switch within the large port count switch on virtual channels. The use of virtual channels helps prevent congestion caused by a first external source device sending data to a first external destination device from affecting a second external source device sending data to a second external destination device.

Abstract: A method of electrical testing devices such as integrated circuits that include conductive pads formed on the surface. A material having a desired bulk resistivity and viscosity is applied to either the device or the electrical probe prior to testing. The application of the material has been found to substantially reduce the need for cleaning of the probe.

Abstract: A system for, and method of recovering primary channel operation in a facsimile (fax) receiver and a fax machine that incorporates the system, the method or both. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a signal receiver that receives a signal containing first and second points located at first and second angles and (2) angle determination circuitry that determines an offset angle by which the signal has been rotated based on the first and second angles.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of nucleic acid binding compounds comprising 7-substituted 7-deaza-8aza-2,6-diamino-purine bases, compounds useful for the preparation of such compounds, various uses thereof and methods for the determination of nucleic acids using said compounds in the field of diagnostics.

Abstract: A control circuit for a lawn tractor having an engine and a power take off driven implement. The control circuit includes an inhibit circuit component for preventing operation of a power take off driven implement with the tractor in reverse. Two versions of the inhibit circuit are disclosed, one grounds an engine magneto and a second disables an electric clutch for coupling the power take off to the driven element. The circuit includes first and second override switches and an override circuit component that allows operation of a power take off driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse after the first and second override switches are activated in a proper order by a tractor operator.