Abstract: A business rules engine includes dynamic objects to support dynamically addressable facts. The business rules engine is configured to reduce the need for developer resources to provision resources and adjust/adapt input data and output which would traditionally be required. As a result significant cost advantages are provided in the use of a business rules engine.

Abstract: A chroma-key/matte display screen system with a touch input device that allows a user to interact with the display by selecting or pointing to composite images on the display. Touch input devices include camera based, infrared, membrane, and acoustic. Displays screens include CRT, various flat screen displays such as plasma, LCD, OLED, and various projection display systems.

Abstract: A syntactic foam comprising hollow metallic shells and a solid metal foam matrix. The metal foam composites show high strength, particularly in comparison to previous metal foams, while maintaining a favorable strength to density ratio. The composite metal foams can be prepared by various techniques, such as powder metallurgy and casting or aspiration casting.

Abstract: An NDIR gas detector includes a photodetector for detecting a portion of stray visible light emitted from an incandescent lamp so as to generate an induced electrical signal, which is compared with a preset reference signal associated with a predetermined constant level of the stray visible light corresponding to a constant temperature of the lamp so as to obtain a level difference between the induced electrical signal and the reference signal. Electrical power supplied to the lamp is repeatedly regulated based on the level difference until the induced electrical signal and the reference signal have the same level, thereby stabilizing IR emission of the lamp in response to the lamp being kept at the constant temperature.

Abstract: A surface motor direct-drive sucker-rod screw pump device is driven by a vertical three-phase permanent magnet brush-less DC motor, and comprises a motor controller (6), a rectifying circuit, an inversion circuit, a CPU and a driving circuit. The motor controller (6) is used to adjust the voltage and frequency of the motor by the rectifying circuit, the inversion circuit, the CPU and the driving circuit. Thus, the speed of the motor can vary from zero to the maximum. The device is easy to operate and has a higher efficiency.

Abstract: A voice-enabled web portal system includes a web portal server and a call manager software module. The web portal server is operable to download data according to parameters of a web portal. The call manager software module is operable to accept a voice query from a user via telephone, to retrieve a portion of the downloaded data in response to the voice query, and to provide the portion of downloaded data to the user via telephone. A method of providing information from a web portal includes downloading data via a web portal according to parameters of the web portal at a predetermined time interval, filtering the downloaded data to produce portal information, and selectively providing portions of the portal information in response to a voice query.

Abstract: A robotic system that identifies surgical instruments, sorts them by type, stores them, and retrieves them for packaging in surgical containers. The system is comprised of robotic components, a surgical instrument input mechanism, a surgical instrument identification system, a machine-vision system to assist in locating and identifying these items, a set of surgical instrument storage bins or stacks, a set of robotically accessible mechanisms for organizing surgical instruments within their containers, and a software control system that allows the device to perform its functions autonomously.

Abstract: A single substrate AC and/or DC gas discharge (plasma) display device with hollow shells containing ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, each shell being positioned on the surface of the substrate or within a substrate cavity, well, or hollow. Each shell is in electrical contact with at least one electrode, typically two, three, or more electrodes. The AC or DC gas discharge within each shell emits photons in the visible and/or invisible range. In one embodiment, photons from the gas discharge within a shell excite a luminescent substance or material such as a phosphor that emits photons in the visible and/or invisible spectrum. The shell may contain the luminescent substance or the substance may be located separately from, but in close proximity to the shell.

Abstract: A gas discharge device such as a plasma display panel (PDP) device having one or more substrates and a multiplicity of pixels or subpixels. Each pixel or subpixel is defined by a hollow Plasma-shell filled with an ionizable gas. One or more addressing electrodes are in electrical contact with each Plasma-shell. The Plasma-shell may include inorganic and organic luminescent materials including quantum dots that are excited by the gas discharge within each Plasma-shell. The luminescent material, including quantum dots, may be located on an exterior and/or interior surface of the Plasma-shell or incorporated into the shell of the Plasma-shell. Up-conversion and down-conversion materials may be used. The substrate may be rigid or flexible with a flat, curved, or irregular surface. In one embodiment, the Plasma-shell is in the geometric shape of a cube or cuboid.

Abstract: A surface motor direct-drive sucker-rod screw pump device is driven by a vertical three-phase permanent magnet brush-less DC motor, and comprises a motor controller (6), a rectifying circuit, an inversion circuit, a CPU and a driving circuit. The motor controller (6) is used to adjust the voltage and frequency of the motor by the rectifying circuit, the inversion circuit, the CPU and the driving circuit. Thus, the speed of the motor can vary from zero to the maximum. The device is easy to operate and has a higher efficiency.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent display system comprising at least one organic-light-emitting diode (OLED), a zener diode in series to the organic light-emitting diode, a rectification diode, and a capacitor used as a memory device. During a frame period of the display device, there are address and light emission periods. A reverse bias voltage is applied across the organic light-emitting diode during the address period to prevent metal migration into the organic layers of the OLED. Current mode data programming is used to address the display device. During the light emission period, charge previously stored in selected capacitors during the address period supplies a forward current for the OLEDs. A ramp waveform applied to the row electrode during the light emission period, forces the capacitor to discharge through the OLED and controls the forward current level. This keeps the operation of the OLEDs in their area of maximum performance.

Abstract: A coaxial loudspeaker for reproducing an electrical sound signal is provided. The loudspeaker has a magnetic driver assembly with a first annular slot and an opposed, coaxial second annular slot, each establishing a permanent magnetic field therein from a single magnet. Independently driven first and second voice coils are positioned within the respective one of the first and second annular slots, each being connected to a transducer element.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a hollow gas-filled Plasma-shells for a gas discharge device. The Plasma-shell is located in or on a substrate within the device with a dome side or flat side facing the viewing direction.

Abstract: Electrode configurations for a plasma-shell gas discharge device having one or more substrates and a multiplicity of pixels or sub-pixels that are defined by a hollow plasma-shell having at least one flat side and filled with an ionizable gas. Two or more addressing electrodes are in electrical contact with each plasma-shell, at least one electrode being in contact with a flat side of the plasma-shell.

Abstract: A method and system for playing video poker wherein a primary five card hand is dealt and secondary hands is played from the discarded cards of the primary hand. The remaining cards for each hand are dealt from the remainder of a deck of cards which can be a standard deck of 52 cards. The game may be played on site at a legal game casino, in a non-gambling mode on-line over the internet, or off-line on a home computer using a disc such as a compact disc. The game could also be played as a legal game in gambling or non-gambling mode at a tavern, bar, or the like.

Abstract: A chip-scale infrared emitter package comprises an emitter chip and an enclosure. The emitter chip includes: a base having a central cavity; a membrane having a peripheral end, the peripheral end being isolated from a periphery of the central cavity by a loop-shaped gap; an electric resistor formed on the membrane; at least one slim supporting beam extending from the peripheral end of the membrane through the loop-shaped gap to the base; and a reflective material coated on the membrane. The enclosure has a can housing and a transparent window plate. The window plate cooperates with the can housing to define an enclosed vacuum chamber. The emitter chip is mounted in the enclosed vacuum chamber. The enclosed vacuum chamber has a pressure less than 0.01 torr.

Abstract: Systems and methods that process a plurality of surgical instruments for cleaning and/or packaging. A device identifies a robot-ready insert having a predetermined configuration for accepting at least one type of surgical instrument. The surgical instruments are identified and oriented according to type using an automated apparatus. Specialized tools are also provided for automatically opening and closing surgical instruments, flipping instruments and assisting in the processing and maintenance of surgical instruments. The automated apparatus then places each of the surgical instrument types in one or more predetermined areas of the insert, configured to accept a predetermined set of surgical instrument types.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system, method, and apparatus for a truck or like vehicle wherein a power source is split and/or divided into a plurality of branch power lines and wherein there is data and power transmitted over the power lines to selected systems and/or subsystems. An intelligent isolation module is provided for selectively transmitting, blocking, and/or altering data and/or power on any branch, sub-branch, and/or selected segment of a branch.

Abstract: A plasma-dome plasma display panel (PDP) comprising a multiplicity of pixels or sub-pixels, each pixel or sub-pixel being defined by a hollow plasma-dome filled with an ionizable gas. Each plasma-dome has a flat side and an opposite domed side. One or more other sides or edges may also be flat. Two or more electrodes are in electrical contact with each plasma-dome. A flat or domed side of the plasma-dome shell is in contact with a substrate. The PDP may also include inorganic and organic luminescent materials that are excited by the gas discharge within each plasma-dome. The luminescent material may be located on an exterior and/or interior surface of the plasma-dome and/or incorporated into the shell of the plasma-dome. The plasma-dome may be made of a luminescent material. Up-conversion and down-conversion materials may be used. The substrate may be rigid or flexible with a flat, curved, or irregular surface.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) includes a coffee design application. The IHS receives first input information from a user that specifies a coffee design mode. The IHS receives second input information from a user that enables the IHS to define a unitless brew formula line ratio of water weight to coffee weight. The IHS displays a brew formula line on a universal brewing control chart graph, the brew formula line being dependent on the brew formula ratio. The IHS operates in a selected one of a brew water volume mode, a desired coffee yield mode and a ground coffee weight mode. The IHS converts input values to selected units and resultant output values to selected units in real time. The IHS projects a target total dissolved solids (TDS) % value on the brew formula line and plots a universal brewing control chart.