Abstract: Various embodiments disclose devices and methods for fabricating microporous particulate filters with regularly spaced pores wherein sheet membrane substrates are exposed to energetic particle radiation through a mask and the damaged regions removed in a suitable developer. The required depth of field is achieved by using energetic particles to minimize diffraction and an energetic particle source with suitably small diameter.

Abstract: A drillable bridge plug includes a mandrel having external splines disposed on an outer surface of the mandrel, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, an upper cone disposed around the mandrel proximate an upper end of the sealing element, and a lower cone disposed around the mandrel proximate the lower end of the sealing element, wherein an inner surface of the lower cone comprises internal splines configured to engage the external splines. The drillable bridge plug also includes an upper and a lower slip assembly disposed around the mandrel, and an upper and lower ring assembly each including a first segmented barrier ring, a second segmented barrier ring, and a back-up ring disposed proximate sealing element. A method of setting the drillable bridge plug and a method of removing the drillable bridge plug are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for electronically managing remote review of documents that are stored on a central repository. The remote review system advantageously enables a remote reviewer, lacking repository access, to remotely review and record decisions in respect to documents stored in the repository and then electronically integrate those remotely made decisions back into the repository. In this way, the inventive system and method promotes efficiency and consistency in responding to document requests for legal purposes.

Abstract: A conveyor diverter and method provides a device for diverting articles from a transport conveyor at increased throughput by urging a subsequent article onto the diverter before a prior article has been directed off of the diverter. The diverter raises a downstream portion of diverter surface while leaving upstream portions of the diverter surface in a lowered position, thereby permitting articles entering the diverter in a first direction to be diverted in a second direction. The diverter includes a transport conveying surface for conveying articles in the first direction and a lift assembly for raising and lowering the upstream portions and downstream portions of the diverter surface. The diverter may be configured to provide turn, cross-transfer, cross-transfer with increased throughput, and transport functions. Thus, a method is provided for achieving increased throughput and/or multiple divert functions.

Abstract: A method of generating cursor motion signals for improved usability is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting object motion in a sensing region and providing cursor motion signals in accordance with cursor motion values generated responsive to continuation of the object motion in the inner region. This embodiment further comprises providing cursor motion signals configured to generate cursor motion that combines incremental cursor motion with additional cursor motion responsive to the object moving from the inner region into the outer region, where the incremental cursor motion comprises motion toward an edge of the display correlating to an edge of the sensing region proximate the object, and where the additional cursor motion comprises cursor motion indicated by cursor motion values generated responsive to continuation of the object motion in the outer region of the sensing region.

Abstract: A conveyor system aligner, method of aligning and continuous aligning belt includes providing a belt support assembly having a generally vertical support surface and a channel defined in the support surface. A belt drive propels the aligning belt along the support surface and items, such as cartons, are conveyed past the aligning belt. A continuous aligning belt is provided that has a contact portion and a guide member. The contact portion has a contact surface and a glide surface. The glide surface is configured to travel along the support surface. The guide member is adapted to be captured by the channel and travels in the channel to support the aligning belt.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclose devices and methods for fabricating microporous particulate filters with regularly space pores wherein sheet membrane substrates are exposed to energetic particle radiation through a mask and the damaged regions removed in a suitable developer. The required depth of field is achieved by using energetic particles to minimize diffraction and an energetic particle source with suitably small diameter.

Abstract: An energetic neutral particle lithographic apparatus is disclosed for replicating sub-micron and nanoscale patterns including a source producing a beam of energetic neutral particles, comprising atoms or molecules, by charge transfer scattering of energetic ions from the molecules of a gas, a mask member having open stencil windows in a supporting membrane, an energetic neutral particle protective layer on the membrane, and a reproduction member consisting of an energetic neutral particle-sensitive layer between a substrate and the mask for absorbing energetic neutral particles in a pattern created by the mask.

Abstract: The present inventors have developed an accurate method for forming a plurality of images on a substrate. The present method provides an improved pattern replication technique that provides submicron resolution, for example 20 nm or less, especially 10 nm or less. The method may involve moving a structured beam of energetic radiation across a target substrate. The motion of an image of the template mask on the substrate is achieved by tilting a mask and substrate assembly relative to the axis of the incident beam. The technique does not require high precision motion of the template mask relative to the target substrate. The energetic radiation may comprise energetic particles. The technique is insensitive to particle energy and can be applied to uncharged, neutral particles.

Abstract: A method of indicating a gesture proximate a touch-sensor pad is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting a first presence of a conductive object proximate to the touch-sensor pad, and initiating a gesture signal if the first presence lasts a first duration of time that is less than a first reference amount of time. In this embodiment, the method further comprises detecting a second presence occurring a first elapsed time after an end of the first presence, and terminating the gesture signal if the first elapsed time is greater than a second reference amount of time, otherwise maintaining the gesture signal at least until an end of the first elapsed time and at least until an occurrence of a terminating event. This and other embodiments can be used to initiate virtual-button signals in response to specific gestures by the user.

Abstract: A method for electronically responding to requests for product related data, the method includes: collecting product related data from feeder systems; organizing the collected product related data into digital libraries within a document management system; receiving a discovery request from legal counsel to identify related documents; searching the product related data for documents; tagging documents identified in the search and placing copies of the documents in a holding queue; and importing the documents in the holding queue to a litigation support system.

Abstract: The composition of matter includes an alloy formed by vaporization of either magnesium or iron in continuation with one or more metals. This results in an array of alloy members each making up the alloy and extending from a base to an upper end. A fluid at least partially impregnates the spaces between the alloy members to the surrounding areas. A dissolving cap can either be included or deleted to prevent the fluid from diffusing until the cap is dissolved.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed for improved computer network efficiency in use of remote procedure call (RPC) client/server applications functioning within dynamic virtual networks. Specifically, a method and system are disclosed for use of an RPC mapping program to provide a client with the network communications protocol address(es) having the highest probability of successfully establishing a connection with a server, in order to maximize the probability that the communications interface between client and server will be created in the minimum number of calling attempts.

Abstract: The present development relates to a process for enrobing active catalytic materials with a protective coating to form pastilles, and to an apparatus for making the pastilles. The process comprises mixing an active catalyst powder with a hydrocarbon material in a low-shear jacketed blender at a temperature slightly above the congealing point of the hydrocarbon, and then making pastilles from the catalyst/hydrocarbon mixture while cooling the mixture to temperature below the congealing point of the hydrocarbon.

Abstract: This invention provides a system for rapid determination of pharmacologic effects on target tissue types in cell populations cultured in vitro. The cells contain a promoter-reporter construct that reflects a toxicologic or metabolic change caused by the agent being screened. The promoter is taken from a gene known to be up- or down-regulated according to the metabolic state of the cell, and linked to a reporter gene that provides an external signal for monitoring promoter activity. The promoter-reporter cells may be produced by placing these genetic alterations into a line of human embryonic stem cells, bulking up the cells to any extent desired, and then differentiating the cells into the desired tissue type. This disclosure explains some of the powerful features of the promoter-reporter cells of this invention, and shows various ways the skilled reader can use the invention for pharmaceutical development and testing, or to monitor graft survival.

Abstract: This invention provides a system for rapid determination of pharmacologic effects on target tissue types in cell populations cultured in vitro. The cells contain a promoter-reporter construct that reflects a toxicologic or metabolic change caused by the agent being screened. The promoter is taken from a gene known to be up- or down-regulated according to the metabolic state of the cell, and linked to a reporter gene that provides an external signal for monitoring promoter activity. The promoter-reporter cells may be produced by placing these genetic alterations into a line of human embryonic stem cells, bulking up the cells to any extent desired, and then differentiating the cells into the desired tissue type. This disclosure explains some of the powerful features of the promoter-reporter cells of this invention, and shows various ways the skilled reader can use the invention for pharmaceutical development and testing, or to monitor graft survival.

Abstract: A system and method for electronically managing privileged and non-privileged documents in two independent schemas. One schema is a privileged schema for storing privileged documents and the other schema is a non-privileged schema for storing non-privileged documents. The two schemas are separate and distinct so that privileged and non-privileged documents are not commingled. Access to the privileged schema is restricted to privileged users while non-privileged users have access only to the non-privileged schema. As a result, privileged documents are protected against the inadvertent waiver of privilege.

Abstract: A paddle diverter assembly according to the present invention includes an arm and an actuator for actuating the arm to move toward a diverting position. The actuator is adapted to permit the arm to move away from the diverting position upon impact with the object to be diverted and then to return to the diverting position to thereby absorb at least some of the impact between the arm and an object being diverted.

Abstract: A method of generating a signal comprising providing a capacitive touch sensor pad including a matrix of X and Y conductors, developing capacitance profiles in one of an X direction and a Y direction from the matrix of X and Y conductors, determining an occurrence of a single gesture through an examination of the capacitance profiles, the single gesture including an application of at least two objects on the capacitive touch sensor pad, and generating a signal indicating the occurrence of the single gesture.

Abstract: A system and method for electronically managing composite documents including a repository of electronically stored individual documents, where a subset of the individual documents are associated with other individual documents to form composite documents. A search tool is also provided for locating a selected individual document, where the selected individual document is associated with a selected composite document. A selection tool for selecting a function to be applied to the selected individual document includes an option to apply the function to other individual documents within the selected composite document. This allows the selected individual document to be operated on individually or with the other individual documents within the selected composite document.