Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for filling a carboy with liquid foodstuff designed to be installed in a fountain for distribution of such a liquid. The liquid is introduced in a disposable flexible liner, inserted in the carboy, the flexible liner being such that it is pressed against the internal walls of the carboy at the end of the filling process. During the filling, the internal part of the carboy, which is on the outside of the liner, is preferably maintained at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An electric grill 10 is disclosed as including a body 12 supporting a grill plate 26 for cooking food, a container 34 for contain smoking element 36, and a heat source 18 for heating up the smoking element 36 in the container 34 for producing smoke for smoking the food cooked by the grill plate 26.

Abstract: A lamp base and mating socket locking to prevent axial separation. A lamp base has a locking bridge with arms extending between pairs of contact pins spaced a distance from a surface of the lamp base forming a gap. The contact pins and locking bridge extend through an opening in the socket. Upon rotating the lamp base relative to the socket, locking lands extend under the arms of the locking bridge in the gap preventing unintentional axial separation between the lamp base and the socket. In one embodiment, a key notch is formed in one of the arms of the locking bridge and a mating key pin is formed on the lamp base. The present invention is particularly suited to environments susceptible to vibration or movement; for example, in the treatment of wastewater.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing a single resource (e.g., a serial port) to be shared by multiple applications in a cooperative manner. The first application to use the resource defines a yield callback that is invoked when a second application makes a request for the serial port. The callback allows the first application to decide whether or not it will yield the resource to the second application. If the first application grants the request, the second application is allowed to use the resource; otherwise, the first application continues to use the resource and the second application receives an error message. The first application can be notified when the second application is finished with the resource so that the resource can be returned to the first application for use.

Abstract: A passive low power device for detection of boundary crossings includes a dual element pyro-electric infrared (PIR) sensor. The sensor is designed with a lens that provides a very narrow field of view and two pyro-electric elements that produce a waveform with two voltage swings of opposite polarity when a warm object moves past the sensor. The waveform is filtered and amplified before it is passed on to a comparator. The comparator triggers off the extremes of each waveform. The comparator includes two outputs that are normally high, but go low when a change in infrared radiation is detected. A processor makes an approximation of the zero crossing time based on the rising edge of the first comparator output. This approximate zero crossing time serves as an estimate of the boundary crossing time.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for updating the contents of a first memory of a computer system. In one embodiment, new information intended for the first memory is received by the computer system from an external source, wherein the first memory is for storing information that is required during startup of the computer system. The new information thus received is stored in a second memory capable of retaining information stored therein upon a restart of the computer system. The computer system is restarted without relying on the new information. The new ROM image can be pre-flighted before it is flashed into ROM. In this embodiment, the new information stored in the second memory can be verified to ensure that it is safe to load the new information into the first memory. When a positive verification result is obtained, the new information is loaded from the second memory into the first memory such that the new information can be used for a subsequent startup of the computer system.

Abstract: A germicidal lamp having a non-uniform contour increasing turbulence. An ultraviolet fluorescent lamp used in a purification system having a helical groove increasing turbulence of the fluid flow. The non-uniform contour may be placed directly on the tubular envelope forming the lamp or may be formed on a separate envelope enclosing a conventional cylindrical tubular germicidal lamp. The germicidal lamp having a non-uniform contour when placed in a fluid flow, such as water or air, creates turbulence, which improves the efficiency of the germicidal action. Smaller, more efficient purification systems requiring less exposure time are obtained.

Abstract: A method and electronic system for exchanging data between a handheld device and another computer system are described. A data file is transferred to the handheld device using the install application of a synchronization manager. The transferred file is stored as a digital stream file with its native data encoding. After synchronization, a message is sent to notify the exchange manager about the data file. The exchange manager then uses an application registry to identify the application program that corresponds to the stream file based on the extension of the stream file. The pertinent application program is then invoked and the stream file is dispatched to the application for processing. During processing, the pertinent application then formats the stream file such that the data file becomes a record within the database file that is associated with the pertinent application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for utilizing a graphic user interface in a portable electronic device. Specifically, the present invention pertains to a method of using a portion of a graphic user interface display to provide information to the user without disrupting an application in progress. The user interface provides tools that enable the user to answer or reject an incoming call, without interruption of applications already operating on the device during the call. On a portable electronic device that combines computer functions and wireless telephone functions, the user is able to view caller ID information, in an information window, while using another application. Further, the user is able to make a decision about answering or rejecting the call and execute the appropriate response, all without having to interrupt the application currently in use. It is appreciated that the portable electronic device could be a cellular phone, a personal data assistant, a pager, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor (1002) as the rotor rotates. A back plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.

Abstract: Provided herein is an inorganic-organic hybrid conjugated polymer having opto-electronic function and a process to make the same. The disclosed polymer contains inorganic or organic bulky groups in the polymer backbone or as pedant groups and has a general formula: wherein: A is a bulk group, comprising at least one silsesquioxane, serving as a positional anchor for the polymer. S serving as a spacer includes alkyl, cycyloalkyl group of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or aryl or substituted aryl of from 6 to 50 carbon atoms, or herteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl of from 4 to 50 carbons. CP represents any conjugated polymer segment at least one portion thereof comprising an opto-electronic function, for example, polyacetylenes, polyphenylenes, polyphenylenevinylenes, polythiophenes, polypyrroles, polyanilines, polyfluorences, and any conjugated co-polymer segment. x, y and z are positive integers, where x and z is equal or greater than 1.

Abstract: An electric food slicer disposable in at least a storable configuration and an operable configuration, comprising a base portion movably connected to an operating portion, wherein the slicer excluding its cutting blade for processing foodstuffs is made principally of plastics or polymeric materials of relatively light weight, and wherein the slicer further comprises a locking means adapted to secure the relative position of the two portions in either said operable configuration or said storable configuration.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing URL scheme proxies. Embodiments of the invention allow URL schemes that are not natively supported by a computer to be supported via proxy, e.g., using a URL scheme that is native to the computer to forward the non-native transport. More specifically, embodiments of the invention allow a first computer system to support a first URL scheme by encapsulating its transport information into another URL scheme that is natively supported by the first computer. The encapsulated information is then forwarded to a second computer system or server which can provide support for the first URL scheme transport. For instance, if the first computer supports http but does not support ftp, then an ftp transport can be encapsulated inside an http transport and then forwarded to an ftp server which can then extract and process the ftp transport. The ftp response can be handled in an analogous fashion. The invention increases the native URL scheme capabilities of a computer system by proxy.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an improved access control system that provides additional security for the connection between an existing locking system and an access control system, for example, to prevent tampering. The security system preferably includes a control line shield to protect a control line running from an access reader to an external lock incorporated in a door, for example. The control line shield seals the control line into the interior of the door to prevent easy access for interference and tampering Additionally, the control line shield may be removed as necessary to provide service to the access system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating and authorizing online transactions. An authentication cookie is transmitted to a client system. The authentication cookie includes a user encryption key and an encrypted buffer that contains user identification data and a profile code. Subsequent requests for the particular service use the authentication cookie to generate a query that includes the encrypted buffer and user identification data entered by the user. Portions of the query are encrypted using the user encryption key. Queries received at each authentication and authorization server are authenticated by reconstructing the user encryption key using information transmitted in the clear and decrypting the query using both the reconstructed user encryption key and the secret key. The user identification data entered by the user is then compared with the user identification data in the encrypted buffer for further authentication. The profile code is analyzed for determining authorization.

Abstract: A remote sensing system operable to collect sensor timing data comprising a central data hub for detecting the occurrence of an event and processing information about the detected event, the remote sensing system comprising a central data hub, at least one sensor having a simple clock operable to sense an event and transmit data to central data hub. By way of calculating the data transmitted by the at least one sensor, the central data hub can determine the time at which each event occurred and place a plurality of sensed events in sequence.