Abstract: A strap locking device for binding freight, or goods loaded on a truck is provided. The locking device includes a plurality of strap length adjustment devices, or strap adjustment devices mixed with a simple strap hanger. Straps of adjustable length are combined with each strap adjustment device to be clamped and thereby stably bind freight loaded on a truck. A hook is secured to a distal end of each strap for engagement with a respective hook of the truck.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for implementing a controller in a system having a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators. In one embodiment, the inventive method includes the steps of measuring a transfer function P, the measured transfer function P representing a neutralization path in a Q-parameterized version of the controller, and designing a transfer function Q, the designed transfer function Q representing the feed forward path in the Q-parameterized version of the controller. The invention further includes the step of sparsifying both the transfer functions P and Q for a given accuracy threshold using wavelet transforms, thereby forming transfer functions Ps and Qs respectively for implementing the controller.

Abstract: A teapot with an adjustable tea infuser includes a container having a bottom with a front plate, a rear plate and two side plates extending from four sides of the bottom so as to define an open top, a handle disposed to the rear plate and extending from an upper edge of the rear plate, the handle having at least one notch defined therein, a cover mounted to the container and engaged with the open top, a gap defined between the cover and the handle when the cover mounted to the container, a flexible plate having a first end with a positioning device connected thereto and a second end connected to a tea infuser such that the tea infuser is positioned by adjusting the flexible plate which extends through the gap into the container, and engaging the positioning device with the notch.

Abstract: An improved structure is provided for supporting pillars of automotive vehicles which provides energy absorption through provision of three stamped metallic panels (24,26,28) defining first and second energy absorbing chambers (56,58) therebetween and an interior trim cover (30) joined to all the panels and defining a third chamber (62) between it and the interior of the three panels and selected energy absorbing media carried between the trim cover and the interior of the panels. Generally C-shaped spring structures (74) and plastic honeycomb structures (68) are preferred for the energy absorbing media.

Abstract: An iron golf club set comprising a plurality of clubs with varying lofts and insets, in which the inset of each club is equal to or less than the inset for the next club in the set with less club loft and there are at least three different insets within the set. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of clubs have offsets, in which the offset of each club is equal to or less than the offset for the next club in the set with less club loft and there are at least three different offsets within the set.

Abstract: A system and method which includes a user interface for automation of the build sheet is provided. The database icon or command of the user interface is executed to select an appropriate package for an IC chip, and a blank bond master is downloaded to the hard disk of the work station. The engineer can choose either the suggest die icon/command or the die cleaner icon/command to create an image file of the die pad ring based on a mask layer best representative of the die pad ring. Thereafter, the die pads and bond fingers are identified and a net list is complied when the wire bonding icon or command is executed to create a bonding device diagram without the die image. A die image is created based on a mask layer best representative of the die using either the TIF to AutoCAD icon/command or the GDS to AutoCAD icon/command. The Die Image Merge icon/command merges the die image with the bonding device diagram to complete the build sheet.

Abstract: A processor controlled system for correlating an electronic index according to speaker for audio data being recorded in real time. The system includes a source of training data for each of the plurality of individual speakers and audio input system for providing real time audio data including speech for the individual speakers. The audio data is converted into spectral feature data by an audio processor, and is simultaneously recorded on a storage medium by a recording device. A system processor accepts the training data to create individual speaker models, which are combined in parallel to form a speaker network. The system processor then accepts the spectral feature data of the audio data and, using the speaker network, determines segments in the audio data corresponding to each speaker.

Abstract: A stereoselective glycosylation process for preparing beta- and alpha-anomer enriched 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluoronucleosides and 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoronucleosides by reacting a concentrated alpha- or beta-anomer enriched 2 -deoxy-2,2-difluorocarbohydrate or 2-deoxy-2 -fluorocarbohydrate with at least a molar equivalent of a nucleobase derivative in a high boiling inert solvent.

Abstract: A method of making a speech recognition model database is disclosed. The database is formed based on a training string utterance signal and a plurality of sets of current speech recognition models. The sets of current speech recognition models may include acoustic models, language models, and other knowledge sources. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a set of confusable string models is generated, each confusable string model comprising speech recognition models from two or more sets of speech recognition models (such as acoustic and language models). A first scoring signal is generated based on the training string utterance signal and a string model for that utterance, wherein the string model for the utterance comprises speech recognition models from two or more sets of speech recognition models. One or more second scoring signals are also generated, wherein a second scoring signal is based on the training string utterance signal and a confusable string model.

Abstract: A hair clip which includes a base plate, which has a center opening, two retaining notches at two opposite ends of the center opening, a plurality of downward teeth around the center opening, a pair of first downward lugs, a pair of second downward lugs, and two inward retainer rods raised from one first downward lug at different elevations, an ornament plate covered on the center opening of the base plate and having two downward retainer rods respectively fastened to the retaining notches, and a clamping plate, which has a coupling portion at one end pivoted to the second downward lugs of the base by a pivot, a retaining loop at an opposite end for fastening to one inward retainer rod of the base plate, a raised portion at one side corresponding to the center opening of the base plate, and a plurality of teeth raised from the raised portions for holding down the hair when the clamping plate is closed, or for grooming the hair when the clamping plate is opened.

Abstract: An improved frame-type, manually-operated hydraulic car jack consists of a base, a pressure release valve, a socket, a lever, a hydraulic oil cylinder, a piston, a pair of pulling bars, a pair of links, a pair of pushing bars, a load-engaging head and a locking rod. A pair of horizontally aligned holes which have a diameter slightly larger than that of the locking rod are defined in the pushing bars. When the car jack is driven to lift a car supported by the car jack to a desired level, the locking rod is inserted into and extended through the holes on the pushing bars thereby to prevent an unintentional lowering of the car jack and the car.

Abstract: The panel wall pool includes a sidewall with spaced apart panels supported in an upright position when the pool is empty by an inflatable ring, which also provides the protection of a cushion along the top of the sidewall area. The sidewall also includes a reinforcing band which encircles the panels to bind the panels together to substantially prevent individual panels from being forced outward and to help to prevent the outward bending or bowing of the sidewall of the pool.

Abstract: A pair of swimming goggles includes a frame made of plastic material and including a pair of rims each defining an engaging groove therein. Each of the rims includes an annular member extending inwardly from an inner periphery which defines the engaging groove and thus separating the engaging groove into an outer portion and an inner portion. A lens of rigid transparent material is received in the outer portion of each of the rims and has a first engaging member formed on a first side thereof. An engaging ring of rigid material is mounted in the inner portion of each of the rims and has a second engaging member on a first side thereof, in which one of each of the first engaging members and the second engaging members extends through the associated annular member to engage with one another. The lenses, the frame, and the engaging rings are fused together by ultrasonic waves, thereby forming an integral pair of swimming goggles.

Abstract: A weighted wavelet hierarchical vector quantization (WWHVQ) procedure is initiated by obtaining an N.times.N pixel image where 8 bits per pixel (steps 10 and 12). A look-up operation is performed to obtain data representing a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) followed by a quantization of the data (step 14). Upon completion of the look-up, a data compression will have been performed. Further stages and look-up will result in further compression of the data, i.e., 4:1, 8:1, 16:1, 32:1, 64:1, . . . etc. Accordingly, a determination is made whether the compression is complete (step 16). If the compression is incomplete, further look-up is performed. If the compression is complete, however, the compressed data is transmitted (step 18). It is determined at a gateway whether further compression is required (step 19). If so, transcoding is performed (step 20). The receiver receives the compressed data (step 22).

Abstract: A bicycle frame with shock absorbing system is used to eliminate the shocking force occurring on the connecting portion of a seat tube fixedly mounted on a bottom bracket and a down tube. The system includes a shock absorber mounted between the seat tube and the down tube. A pair of brackets are integrally formed with bottom bracket and extend toward the down tube. A pivot is fixedly secured to the brackets. A pivot mounting tube is integrally formed on a rear end of the down tube and pivotably mounted on the pivot.

Abstract: A technique for automatically producing, or training, a set of bitmapped character templates defined according to the sidebearing model of character image positioning uses as input a text line image of unsegmented characters, called glyphs, as the source of training samples. The training process also uses a transcription associated with the text line image, and an explicit, grammar-based text line image source model that describes the structural and functional features of a set of possible text line images that may be used as the source of training samples. The transcription may be a literal transcription of the line image, or it may be nonliteral, for example containing logical structure tags for document formatting and layout, such as found in markup languages.

Abstract: A thermal mass transfer imaging process comprises the thermal mass transfer of a dye-receptive transparent donor layer which is then at least partially over-coated with a thermally transferred dye image.

Abstract: A stereoselective glycosylation process for preparing beta-anomer enriched 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluoropyrimidine nucleosides and 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoropyrimidine nucleosides which involves reacting an alpha-anomer enriched 2-deoxy-2,2-difluorocarbohydrate or 2-deoxy-2-fluorocarbohydrate with at least a molar equivalent of a pyrimidine nucleobase derivative in a low freezing inert solvent.