Abstract: A ladder strap (150) is made by joining—for example, by co-molding—a first, relatively supple material, defining a lower strap portion (155) with a second, relatively hard material defining an upper strap portion (165). The teeth (167) of the ladder strap are comprises substantially of the harder, second material. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second materials are thermoplastic urethanes, and the co-molding is done using an injection molding process. The co-molding process may be accomplished with co-injection, wherein the two materials are injected at about the same time, or the first material may be injected into a first mold cavity and allowed to partially set, after which the cavity is modified to accommodate the second material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a shift operation on a packed data element having multiple values. The apparatus having multiple muxes, each of the multiple muxes having a first input, a second input, a select input and an output. Each of the multiple bits that represent a shifted packed intermediate result on a first bus is coupled to the corresponding first input. Each of the multiple bits representing a replacement bit for one of the multiple values is coupled to a corresponding second input. Each of the multiple bits driven by a correction circuit is coupled to a corresponding select input. Each output corresponds to a bit of a shifted packed result.

Abstract: A process for enhancing a multivariate calibration through optimization of a calibration data set operates on a large calibration set of samples that includes measurements and associated reference values to automatically select an optimal sub-set of samples that enables calculation of an optimized calibration model. The process is automatic and bases sample selection on two basic criteria: enhancement of correlation between a partner variable extracted from the independent variable and the dependent variable and reduction of correlation between the dependent variable and interference. The method includes two fundamental steps: evaluation, assigning a measurement of calibration suitability to a subset of data; and optimization, selecting an optimal subset of data as directed by the measurement of suitability.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating insurance related services between an insured and an insurer through an Internet communication scheme includes a processing system for processing acquired event and sensored data to compute the cost of insurance for the same period as the data is acquired. An enhanced Internet communication scheme provides an insured access to the acquired data and its processing through enhanced presentation systems (e.g., maps with usage, service or special event processing or even automobile service diagnostics.) In addition, communication packages can provide estimates based upon user-supplied information identifying projected usages.

Abstract: A method is provided for distributing multimedia content in an electronic media distribution system. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing active hidden data, where the active hidden data includes a plurality of executable machine instructions; (b) embedding active hidden data into the host data stream, thereby forming an embedded data stream; (c) transmitting the embedded data stream from a content provider device to a player device; (d) extracting the active hidden data from the embedded data stream on the player device; and (e) executing the active hidden data on the player device.

Abstract: A high pressure filter cap configured to withstand a high pressure differential and to minimize the deposit of residue on the filter cap threads. The body of the cap has, protruding from its lower surface, two circular flanges concentrically arranged about a central axis. The outer flange is threaded on its inner surface to engage the threads of a filter housing. The inner flange accommodates, on its outer surface, a sealing component such as an o-ring. A retainer, removably attached to the cap, holds the sealing component in place.

Abstract: An intermittent internal drive system for a drum conveyor, where the conveyor is started, stopped and restarted and having a drive drum with a hollow interior, a drive motor mounted within and enclosed by the drum for rotating the drum, a clutch located within and enclosed by the drum and connected to the motor and for transmitting rotation from the motor to the drum, and, a brake within and enclosed by the drum and connected to the drum for restraining rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A method to automatically and adaptively tune a leaky, normalized least-mean-square (LNLMS) algorithm so as to maximize the stability and noise reduction performance in feedforward adaptive noise cancellation systems. The automatic tuning method provides for time-varying tuning parameters &lgr;k and &mgr;k that are functions of the instantaneous measured acoustic noise signal, weight vector length, and measurement noise variance. The method addresses situations in which signal-to-noise ratio varies substantially due to nonstationary noise fields, affecting stability, convergence, and steady-state noise cancellation performance of LMS algorithms. The method has been embodied in the particular context of active noise cancellation in communication headsets. However, the method is generic, in that it is applicable to a wide range of systems subject to nonstationary, i.e., time-varying, noise fields, including sonar, radar, echo cancellation, and telephony.

Abstract: A flexible boot liner (100) having a flexible upper (101) and a semi-rigid sole (140) that provides durability, walkability, and a dimensionally stable fit within a boot (90). The sole includes a lasting board (160) that is fixedly attached to the upper and a nonskid outsole (142). Secondary cushioning devices such as an air cell (144) may also be incorporated into the sole. The upper is of hybrid construction including a relatively flexible bottom portion (120) thermoformed from an ethylene vinyl acetate foam that covers the foot and the malleoli of the user, and a semi-rigid upper portion (110) that wraps about the lower leg of the user. A strap assembly (150) is provided to secure the liner about the foot of the user.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for performing complex digital filters. According to one aspect of the invention, a method for performing a complex digital filter is described. The complex digital filter is performed using a set of data samples and a set of complex coefficients. In addition, the complex digital filter is performed using a inner and outer loop. The outer loop steps through a number of corresponding relationships between the set of complex coefficients and the set of data samples. The inner loop steps thorough each complex coefficient in the set of complex coefficients. Within the inner loop, the data sample corresponding to the current complex coefficient (the complex coefficient currently identified by the inner loop) is determined according to the current corresponding relationship (the corresponding relationship currently identified by the outer loop).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel probes, which can be used to detect and identify target molecules of interest in a sample. The disclosed probes can be used to monitor conformational changes induced by molecular recognition events in addition to providing signaling the presence and/or identity of a target molecule. Methods, including solid phase synthesis techniques, for making probe molecules that exhibit changes in their optical properties upon target molecule binding are described in the disclosure. Also disclosed herein are novel chromophore moieties, which have tailored fluorescent emission spectra.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for including in a processor instructions for performing multiply-add operations on packed data. In one embodiment, a processor is coupled to a memory. The memory has stored therein a first packed data and a second packed data. The processor performs operations on data elements in said first packed data and said second packed data to generate a third packed data in response to receiving an instruction. At least two of the data elements in this third packed data storing the result of performing multiply-add operations on data elements in the first and second packed data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a shift operation on packed data elements having multiple values. One embodiment includes accessing the shift control signal of a first format from a memory. The shift control signal identifyies a first packed shift operation and whether the shift positions are byte positions or bit positions, and causes a processor to execute a set of control signals of a second format, thereby accessing the packed data, shifting the packed data by the number of shift positions according to the first packed shift operation, generating a first replacement data for one of the number of positions, and producing a shifted first packed data comprising the first replacement data.

Abstract: A processor with instructions to operate on different data types stored in a single logical register file. According to one embodiment of the invention, a processor includes a number of physical registers, a memory unit, and a decode/execution unit. The memory unit is to make the number of physical registers appear to software as a single software-visible register file. The decode/execution unit is to execute on the contents of the single software-visible register file instructions of a first instruction type and of a second instruction type, wherein the single software-visible register file is to be operated as a flat register file during execution of instructions of the second instruction type and as a stack referenced register file during execution of instructions of the first instruction type.

Abstract: A method in a computer system, one embodiment includes accessing a packed data instruction and generating a corresponding set of control bits to cause a processor to alter a top of stack to zero of a programmer visible register file, accessing a floating point instruction and generating a corresponding set of control bits that cause the processor to operate on the programmer visible register file as a stack, but accessing a transition instruction between the packed data instruction and the scalar floating point instruction and generating a corresponding set of control bits to cause the processor to alter tag data to indicate that programmer visible register file is empty. The method advantageously provides a means for clearing the packed data state at the end of blocks of packed data instructions to leave the floating point state in a clear condition for subsequent operations (e.g. floating point calculations).

Abstract: A processor with instructions to operate on different data types stored in a single logical register file. According to one aspect of the invention, a first set of instructions of a first instruction type operates on the contents of what at least logically appears to software as a single logical register file. The first set of instructions appears to access the single logical register file as a flat register file. In addition, a first instruction of a second instruction type operates on the logical register file. However, the first instruction appears to access the logical register file as a stack referenced register file. Furthermore, sometime between starting the execution of the first set of instructions and completing the execution of the first instruction, all tags in a set of tags indicating whether corresponding registers in the single logical register file are empty or non-empty are caused to indicate non-empty states.

Abstract: An intelligent system for detecting errors and determining failure modes operates on an absorbance spectrum of in vivo skin tissue. Application of the system results in improved prediction accuracy through rejection of invalid and poor samples. System components include a noninvasive blood glucose meter, such as a near IR spectrometer, an error detection system (EDS); a system for diagnosing and mitigating errors; and a reporting method. In the EDS, a pattern classification engine and hierarchy of levels analyzes, detects and diagnoses instrument, interface and sample errors manifested in the spectrum to determine suitability of an absorbance spectrum for blood glucose measurement. The final component of the system evaluates the error condition, diagnoses the specific mode of failure (if necessary) and reports actions to be taken. Sub-components and levels of the EDS can operate independently of the other system elements to the benefit of a noninvasive glucose measurement system.

Abstract: An intermittent internal drive system for a drum conveyor, where the conveyor is started, stopped and restarted and having a drive drum with a hollow interior,

Abstract: The invention provides a class of samples that model the human body. This family of samples is based upon emulsions of oil in water with lecithin acting as the emulsifier. These solutions that have varying particle sizes may be spiked with basis set components (albumin, urea and glucose) to simulate skin tissues further. The family of samples is such that other organic compounds such as collagen, elastin, globulin and bilirubin may be added, as can salts such as Na+, K+and Cl−. Layers of varying thickness with known index of refraction and particle size distributions may be generated using simple crosslinking reagents, such as collagen (gelatin). The resulting samples are flexible in each analyte's concentration and match the skin layers of the body in terms of the samples reduced scattering and absorption coefficients, &mgr;'s and &mgr;a. This family of samples is provided for use in the medical field where lasers and spectroscopy based analyzers are used in treatment of the body.

Abstract: An anterior buttress staple and screw system is provided that can be used to hold an implant such as a disc prosthesis in place and thereby prevent its migration out of the spinal column. The buttress staple comprises a screw locking plate having a screw locking design that prevents the screw from backing up and away from the plate. The screw is configured to provide an interference fit with the screw locking plate, and can be used as a staple removal tool during revision surgery when the screw locking plate needs to be lifted from the bone surface on which it is attached.