Abstract: Container systems for manipulating growth of a plant or a portion thereof in a controlled environment are provided. The growth of the plant can be controlled for ornamental benefit, commercial benefit or both. The container system may comprise separable modular sections, thereby allowing control over the growth of different parts of the plant. The separate modular sections may be assembled together to control the growth of the entire plant.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a rotor having a dovetail slot with a bulbous fillet region, and in some cases, recessed inclined bearing surfaces. Various embodiments include methods of forming such a slot in a turbomachine rotor.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a rotor having a dovetail slot with a bulbous fillet region, and in some cases, recessed inclined bearing surfaces. Various embodiments include methods of forming such a slot in a turbomachine rotor.

Abstract: Conventional internal gear systems for example planetary gear systems with a small gear ratio of the internal gear to that of the driving pinion, problems include tooth ‘tip’ interference and limited contact between teeth, in conjunction with number of teeth in true positive contact when orbiting. An internal gear system using ring gear (14) and pinion (16) of the same number of teeth where the pitch diameters can be different. When the pinion pitch diameter is smaller than the ring gear, one element is offset to the others rotational center, maintaining constant tooth engagement, with one element transmitting torque to the other.

Abstract: A processor includes a triple-base-number-system (TBNS) Arithmetic Unit architecture. TBNS processing enables extremely high-performance digital signal processing of larger word-size data, and enables a processor architecture having reduced hardware complexity and power dissipation. With demanding signal processing applications a TBNS processing is much more efficient as compared to either traditional SBNS or even DBNS. In a processor, a Multiplication Unit comprises at least three Adders to each add an extracted pair of like powers of two numbers to be multiplied. A result of one Adder controls a number of bits of shift of a barrel shifter, and a result of remaining Adders are input to a lookup table feeding the barrel shifter. A register holds an output of the barrel shifter. TBNS processing system includes a binary-to-TBNS data converter adapting a Binary-Search-Tree and Range Table to convert binary data/numbers into TBNS representation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wearable stutter reducing device incorporating novel methods that make extensive use of digital signal processing (DSP) technology. The wearable stutter reducing device of the present invention has an audio signal receiver for receiving speech signals corresponding to a wearer's voice. An input conversion means for converting the speech signals and noise mixed with the speech signals into frequency domain components is in communication with the audio signal receiver. A channelization means in communication with the conversion means separates the frequency domain components into a plurality of channels. An identifying means in communication with the plurality of channels identifies which channels of the plurality of channels contain substantially more speech corresponding frequency domain components than noise corresponding frequency components. An amplification means for amplifying signals identified as speech is in communication with the identifying means.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wearable stutter reducing device incorporating novel methods that make extensive use of digital signal processing (DSP) technology. The wearable stutter reducing device of the present invention has an audio signal receiver for receiving speech signals corresponding to a wearer's voice. An input conversion means for converting the speech signals and noise mixed with the speech signals into frequency domain components is in communication with the audio signal receiver. A channelization means in communication with the conversion means separates the frequency domain components into a plurality of channels. An identifying means in communication with the plurality of channels identifies which channels of the plurality of channels contain substantially more speech corresponding frequency domain components than noise corresponding frequency components. An amplification means for amplifying signals identified as speech is in communication with the identifying means.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a retail transaction at a digital image forming device are disclosed. Paper and blank electronic media may be purchased at the digital image forming device. The electronic media includes CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs and floppy disks. A computer file may be transferred to the storage media as part of the transaction. The file may be transferred from any external electronic media. The file may be transferred from any storage media controlled by a portable digital device, such as a digital camera, a cell phone, a portable computer or a PDA. Alternately, the file may be transferred from a remote storage device accessible via the Internet to either media sold at or external to and in communication with the digital image forming device.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a neutral event specification file for manufacturing line analysis. The method includes the steps of constructing a neutral event specification file having a specification format including at least one event, wherein each event has a name, description, at least one signal, and at least one action. The method also includes the step of executing a manufacturing line analysis model using the neutral event specification file.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a neutral event file for manufacturing line analysis. The method includes the steps of constructing a neutral event file and executing a manufacturing line analysis model using the neutral event file. The method also includes the steps of determining whether a good manufacturing line exists based on the manufacturing line analysis model and using the manufacturing line analysis model to build the manufacturing line if a good manufacturing line exists.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a neutral event specification file for manufacturing line analysis. The method includes the steps of constructing a neutral event specification file having a specification format including at least one event, wherein each event has a name, description, at least one signal, and at least one action. The method also includes the step of executing a manufacturing line analysis model using the neutral event specification file.

Abstract: A multiple handset cordless telephone includes a Caller ID/handset association table to identify a desired intended handset to receive an incoming call before the call is answered. When a match is made as between received call related information and a pre-stored entry in the Caller ID/handset association table, one or more intended handsets are provided with the subsequent ring signals and/or the subsequent voice conversation. If no match is found the cordless telephone operates otherwise in conventional fashion, i.e., all handsets ring in response to the incoming call, and any or all of the handsets may join the conversation at any time.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a neutral event file for manufacturing line analysis. The method includes the steps of constructing a neutral event file and executing a manufacturing line analysis model using the neutral event file. The method also includes the steps of determining whether a good manufacturing line exists based on the manufacturing line analysis model and using the manufacturing line analysis model to build the manufacturing line if a good manufacturing line exists.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cordless telephone having the ability to operate when power fails to the base unit. In a first embodiment, the handset includes a switch and a telephone line interface to connect a speaker and microphone directly to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) bypassing the base unit and allowing corded telephone operability of the handset of the cordless telephone. In a second embodiment the handset provides power to the base unit in the event of an AC power failure to the base unit. In this corded mode, the battery of the handset provides auxiliary power to the base unit. To further reduce power consumption and increase operation time of the battery in the handset, the RF transceivers of the base unit and handset can be unpowered by the provided direct serial connection between serial interfaces of the base unit and handset. In both embodiments, the cordless telephone operates in conventional fashion when in a wireless mode.

Abstract: The modem of a portable computer device draws a portion of its required power from the telephone line using a low noise switching power supply. The switching power supply can alternatively or additionally assist in keeping the battery of the portable computer device charged. The generation or propagation of electrical noise on the input telephone line is minimized by actively maintaining a constant input impedance from the telephone line to the modem. In one embodiment, a switchable shunt impedance is placed in parallel with the input to a PWM switching power supply and actively controlled to maintain the impedance of the input of the PWM switching power supply constant to the extent that a constant current draw is maintained.

Abstract: In a voice messaging system, as voice memory fills, voice messages are retrieved from memory, re-compressed at a higher compression ratio and re-stored to memory as necessary to maintain a balance between stored voice quality and available memory for storage of new voice messages. The messages may be compressed using ADPCM, CELP, LPC or bit robbing. By re-compressing previously-stored voice messages on an as needed basis, a balance can be maintained between the need to maximize available memory while at the same time maintain the highest voice quality possible for the newest messages. While memory utilization is low, messages can be maintained in memory using a high voice quality, low compression ratio. However, as memory utilization is shrunk due to the storage of more messages, previously stored or other selected voice messages are re-compressed at a higher compression ratio while the newer messages continue to be compressed at the lowest compression ratio.

Abstract: Two rails are disposed in a direction of wheel travel and joined at their ends so as to permit continuous rolling of the wheel from one rail to the other. These rails maintain the wheel at a predetermined elevation, and the ends have a gap therebetween. The wheel is supported in a region overlapping the gap at an elevation equal to the predetermined elevation of the rails without any significant drop of the wheel into the gap. The wheel may be elevated to maintain the predetermined elevation by contacting a rolling surface location thereon, differing from that normally contacted by at least one of the two rails. The wheel may also be elevated over the gap by a support positioned along the side of at least one of the two rails that extends outward away from the end of the rail in the direction of wheel travel.

Abstract: An energy absorber which comprises in cross-section at least one limb of rubber-plastic composite material comprising a layer of rubber and a layer of plastics, said layers being united together and each extending substantially in the direction of the length of the limb, and the layer of plastics material being capable of absorbing more energy than the layer of rubber during deformation of the limb by bending or buckling.