Abstract: A window breaking system has a seatbelt buckle interfaced to a vehicle through a seatbelt and a seatbelt receiver interfaced to the vehicle for removably receiving the seatbelt buckle. A window breaking mechanism is integrated to the seatbelt buckle such that, in the event escape from the vehicle is needed, the seatbelt buckle is released from the seatbelt receiver and the window breaking mechanism is used to break a window, through which the user (occupant) is now able to escape.

Abstract: This invention is for a dispenser of cooled water or other beverage in a size and construction suitable for single-person use in locations such as a dorm, hospital, or motel room, where cooled water is desirable but often not at hand. This cooler consists of an insulating shell in the shape of a rectangular prism and comprises various internal off-the-shelf components, including a Peltier chip for cooling and a Kent valve for secure insertion of water, combined for the purpose of dispensing a clean, cooled beverage.

Abstract: A microarchitecture and instruction set that supports multiple, simultaneously executing threads. The approach is disclosed in regard to its applicability in connection with a recently developed microarchitecture called “WaveScalar.” WaveScalar is a compiler that breaks a control flow graph for a program into pieces called waves having instructions that are partially ordered (i.e., a wave contains no back-edges), and for which control enters at a single point. Certain aspects of the present approach are also generally applicable to executing multiple threads on a more conventional microarchitecture. In one aspect of this approach, instructions are provided that enable and disable wave-ordered memory. Additional memory access instructions bypass wave-ordered memory, exposing additional parallelism. Also, a lightweight, interthread synchronization is employed that models hardware queue locks. Finally, a simple fence instruction is used to allow applications to handle relaxed memory consistency.

Abstract: A microarchitecture and instruction set that supports multiple, simultaneously executing threads. The approach is disclosed in regard to its applicability in connection with a recently developed microarchitecture called “WaveScalar.” WaveScalar is a compiler that breaks a control flow graph for a program into pieces called waves having instructions that are partially ordered (i.e., a wave contains no back-edges), and for which control enters at a single point. Certain aspects of the present approach are also generally applicable to executing multiple threads on a more conventional microarchitecture. In one aspect of this approach, instructions are provided that enable and disable wave-ordered memory. Additional memory access instructions bypass wave-ordered memory, exposing additional parallelism. Also, a lightweight, interthread synchronization is employed that models hardware queue locks. Finally, a simple fence instruction is used to allow applications to handle relaxed memory consistency.

Abstract: An electrostatic filter assembly is provided that utilizes electrostatic forces to attract charged particulate matter entrained in a fluid stream to the operating elements in the electrostatic filter assembly and a residual charge between the particulate matter and the electrostatic filter assembly to retain the separated material in the electrostatic filter assembly.

Abstract: A separator for separating entrained particles from a fluid flow incorporates a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region; a fluid inlet for introducing a cyclonic fluid flow to the cyclonic flow region; a fluid outlet for removing the fluid flow from the cyclone chamber; a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures; and a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member for receiving particles passing into the particle receiving chamber through the apertures. In operation, a fluid is introduced to flow cyclonically in a chamber having a cyclonic flow region and a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber to define a particle receiving chamber. The back pressure in the chamber is adjusted to promote the formation of a laminar boundary layer adjacent the particle separation member.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner includes structure for inducing vortices in the incoming air travelling between the sole plate and the surface to be cleaned. The vortices assist in entraining dust and dirt particles raised from the surface to be cleaned by a cleaning implement which may be a brush, beater bar or the like. The axis of the vortices is substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and the vortices b ring the rotating air substantially adjacent to and preferably in contact with the surface to be cleaned.