Abstract: Presently many audio chips suffer from pop issues, which is especially serious for single ended audio drivers. An audio pop is a disturbance in the output caused by a sudden transition of chip power, particularly when a chip is powered on or powered off. Furthermore, compensation networks included in the amplifiers on audio chips for stability offer a significant path for transmitting power disturbances to the output. Hence, circuitry is developed to suppress pops in the output stages of an amplifier.

Abstract: A battery assisted level shifter comprises a pull up transistor pulling up an output when a received input signal is high, a pull down transistor pulling down the output when the received input signal is low, and a battery element to provide voltage offsets. The battery element can be implemented using one or more pull-up transistors for assisting with pulling up the output. The level shifter can be used in class-D amplifiers, DC-DC power converters and interfaces between circuits having different reference voltages.

Abstract: Direct current (DC) offset in and audio driver can cause a constant drain on power even when there is no sound. Furthermore it can cause an audible pop when the audio driver is enabled. A scaled replica output stage can be employed to perform DC offset cancellation offline during a sampling phase. Once DC offset cancellation is achieved, the audio driver uses a full scale output stage during the operation phase.

Abstract: An integrated audio codec includes a high-pass filter to prevent damage to personal computer speakers and other components. The audio codec may be compliant with HD audio standards and can operate with generic software drivers. Tuning of the high-pass filter is provided through an external pin-out where either an external capacitor or external resistors provide an ability to tune the high-pass filter. In one implementation, a tuning voltage is digitized into a tuning code used by a digital high-pass filter. In addition, multiplexers can be used to insure only the audio path leading to the speakers is filtered.

Abstract: Challenges to the implementation of equalization in the 2.1 environment arise from the constraints imposed by HD audio requirements and Windows® Vista™. A hybrid software hardware solution overcomes many of the challenges by exploiting the software capability for equalization and using a hardware codec to perform the separation into high frequency and low frequency audio streams needed to drive stereo speakers and a subwoofer.

Abstract: Presently many audio chips suffer from pop issues, which is especially serious for single ended audio drivers. An audio pop is a disturbance in the output caused by a sudden transition of chip power, particularly when a chip is powered on or powered off. Furthermore, compensation networks included in the amplifiers on audio chips for stability offer a significant path for transmitting power disturbances to the output. Hence, circuitry is developed to suppress pops in the output stages of an amplifier.

Abstract: A driver controller comprising a state machine for controlling transitions between a plurality of states. An output switch for providing a low impedance path to ground during transition periods. An output stage for decoupling output signal from driver amplifier during the transition periods.

Abstract: A flying disc is formed entirely of a knotted filament, such as knotted, stitched, or crocheted filament, which may comprise yarn, rope, or the like. A generally flat, generally circular web, defining a plane, is formed by pulling loops of the filament through other loops to form successive interconnected rows of knots using, e.g., crochet stitches. In one embodiment, the knotting proceeds in a helical pattern from a central portion of the circular web to a peripheral portion, with stitches added to an otherwise uniform stitching pattern as necessary to maintain a generally flat shape to the web. The center of the circular web may comprise knotted filament, or may include a void or hole. A circumferential lip connected to the periphery of the circular web and extending out of the plane of the circular web, at least during flight, is formed by dropping stitches from a uniform stitching pattern as necessary to create the desired shape.

Abstract: In the disclosed computerized lending systems, terms of contracts are coordinated between a plurality of parties, each of which operate party client systems to interface to the electronic transaction processing system, including a database of transactions representing contracts, parties to the contracts and at least essential terms of the contracts. Signaling to each of the parties can be done without identifying each party to the other, including throughout execution of the contract. The logic to coordinate can be contract term negotiating logic and/or auction logic and the binding contract can be a loan contract, with the loans being obtained through an auction process directly between lender and borrower. A lender might have a standing order that can be filled with loans to multiple borrowers, to provide diversification.

Abstract: In the disclosed computerized lending systems, terms of contracts are coordinated between a plurality of parties, each of which operate party client systems to interface to the electronic transaction processing system, including a database of transactions representing contracts, parties to the contracts and at least essential terms of the contracts. Signaling to each of the parties can be done without identifying each party to the other, including throughout execution of the contract. The logic to coordinate can be contract term negotiating logic and/or auction logic and the binding contract can be a loan contract, with the loans being obtained through an auction process directly between lender and borrower. A lender might have a standing order that can be filled with loans to multiple borrowers, to provide diversification.

Abstract: An apparatus for a continuous encapsulation process is provided. The apparatus is a vibrating tubing used alone, in series, or in combination with an encapsulation apparatus, which is used alone or in series. The vibrating tubing is a flat coil, a standing spiral, or a flume. The encapsulation apparatus includes a winding having coils disposed in an aqueous gelling solution. The winding is rotatable about its longitudinal center axis. The winding has adjacently spaced coils forming a plurality of chambers. Objects to be encapsulated are added to the apparatus such that when the winding is rotated, the chambers transport a volume of objects through the length winding in the aqueous gelling solution in a predetermined time.

Abstract: A method and system for preventing identity theft and providing an anonymous payment mechanism, such as a payment card, and for completing transactions using the mechanism. The payment mechanism is prepaid and has associated therewith an address, a unique identifier for the mechanism (e.g., card number), and a password. Transactions are completed by verifying the mechanism identifier, the provided address, and the provided password, and by verifying that a balance sufficient for the transaction remains in the account for the mechanism. Remote payment, such as via the Internet, may be accomplished by requiring delivery to the provided address. Variations allow replenishment of the account balance, cancellation of the card, including automatic cancellation after a predetermined time period, and for adding additional features, such as biometric identification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device comprising a biocompatible medical coating adhered thereto, wherein the coating comprises at least one of a non-crosslinked, water soluble salt of: (i) alginic acid, (ii) hyaluronic acid or (iii) chitosan, wherein the coating is readily dissolvable in at least one mammalian body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting an immune reponse and a method for inhibiting rejection of transplanted tissues. This method comprises preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of gp39 and CD40 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand and preventing an endogenous molecule on a cell selected from the group consisting of CTLA4, CD28, and B7 antigens from binding its endogenous ligand. The prevention of such molecules from binding their ligand thereby blocks two independent signal pathways and inhibits the immune response resulting in transplanted tissue rejection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to seamless capsules and methods for making seamless capsules having a high oil content. More specifically, the present invention is directed to seamless capsules, and methods for making seamless capsules, made from a process involving the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion comprising oil, water, an emulsifier, and at least one of a water-soluble monovalent metal salt, polyvalent metal salt, and an acid, wherein said oil is present in an amount of at least 50% by weight of said emulsion; with the proviso that said emulsion does not contain marmelo mucilage; and (b) adding portions of said emulsion to an aqueous gelling bath comprised of at least one ionic polysaccharide, thereby encapsulating said portions of said emulsion in a polysaccharide gel membrane, and optionally (c) drying the resulting capsules by removing water. The capsule is, for example, an alignate gel. The capsules of the invention are suitable for a variety of applications, e.g.

Abstract: An optical fiber suited for dispersion compensation with simultaneous Raman amplification. The fiber has a central core and an index profile that defines successively concentric regions radially outward of the core. The core has a diameter of between 2 and 5 microns (&mgr;m) and a refractive index difference (&Dgr;n) with respect to the outer cladding of between 0.012 and 0.035. A trench region adjacent the core is between 2 and 6 &mgr;m wide and has a negative &Dgr;n of between −0.015 and −0.003. A ring region adjacent the trench region is between 1 and 5 &mgr;m wide and has a &Dgr;n of between 0.001 and 0.015, and an inner cladding surrounding the ring region has a width of between zero and 5 &mgr;m and a &Dgr;n of between −0.011 and 0.001. A dispersion slope compensating module (DSCM) including the fiber obtains a relatively high Raman gain with respect to conventional DSCMs that are pumped for Raman amplification.

Abstract: Objects are synchronized in a computer-implemented system. One or more operations are performed on one or more objects in a first group. One or more objects in a second group are then synchronized with the objects in the first group by collapsing the operations performed on the objects in the first group into singular operations performed on the objects in the second group.

Abstract: Therapeutic compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of platelet derived growth factor in a hydroxyethyl cellulose gel are provided. These compositions may include a preservative, such as methyl paraben. These compositions may also include ethanol.

Abstract: A pipe having a sealing member (3) in an inner groove (2) at one pipe end (1). The sealing member provides a very effective seal relative to a spigot end (1a) of another pipe inserted in the pipe in question. The free ends of lip portions (6,7) of a sealing ring (4) (the cross section of which is of V-shape when undeformed) are provided with beads (8) so that behind a stiffening ring (5) surrounding said sealing ring (4) there is more volume of lip material than there is room for in the space confined by the adjacent part of the bottom of the groove (2), the exterior (1a') of said spigot end (1a), the rearmost sidewall (2') of the groove (2) and the stiffening ring (5). The pipe is preferably a plastic pipe.