Abstract: A contact smart card has a smart card contact pad and an IC chip. The smart card contact pad includes a circuit substrate, a card-reader contact element on a first side of the circuit substrate, and a connection element on a second side of the circuit substrate. The card-reader contact element has a noble metal electrically conductive surface, and the connection element has a chip terminal connection surface which is not a noble metal. The IC chip is preferably flip-chip mounted at the second side of the circuit substrate and electrically connected to the chip terminal connection surface. Furthermore, the chip terminal connection surface is preferably an organometallic electrically conductive corrosion protection layer.

Abstract: A method of encoding an input image divided into a set of image blocks and stored in computer readable memory. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a sequence of block test patterns, each (i) identifying, for each image block of the set, a separate portion of the image block; and (ii) determined to minimize a maximum unidentified portion size of the input image when used on all image blocks of the set; assembling an active block test pattern comprising one of the block test patterns; comparing, based on the active block test pattern, at least one image block of the set with a reference image comprising a previously encoded copy of the input image to generate a block change detection; and encoding, based on the block change detection, a changed image block of the at least one image block to generate a portion of an encoded image.

Abstract: A process for recovering 1-hexene comprising: a) separating the mixture obtained from the ethylene trimerization reaction into a top fraction comprising ethylene and a bottom fraction, b) separating a portion of the bottom fraction obtained from step a) into a top fraction comprising 1-hexene and 1-butene and a bottom fraction, c) separating a portion of the fraction comprising 1-hexene and 1-butene obtained from step b) into a top fraction principally comprising 1-butene and into a bottom fraction principally comprising 1-hexene, and in said process: a portion of the bottom fraction obtained from step b) is returned to the reaction section and another portion of said bottom fraction obtained from step b) is used in a recirculation loop connecting the reaction section and the column of said step b), said recirculation loop being used to cool the reaction section and to reboil said column of step b).

Abstract: Two-centre rotary boring bit for boring wells, comprising, on the one hand, a pilot tool (1) comprising a body of revolution with an axial core (3) and radial blades (4) bearing cutting elements (5) and, on the other hand, an enlarging tool (2) fitted behind the pilot tool and laterally offset therefrom, the pilot tool having, on its front face, a central region (11) that has no cutting elements in order to allow the creation of a core sample (12), said central region being in communication with a cavity (13) situated between two blades (4) of the pilot tool (1) and serving to remove the core sample toward the periphery of the boring bit.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for detecting and remedying a potential hypoxic state. A wearable hypoxic state detector includes an SpO2 sensor configured to measure a user's oxygen saturation, an oxygen reservoir, an oxygen conduit positioned to deliver oxygen from the oxygen storage reservoir to the user's inhalation flow path, and a controller. The controller is operably connected between the SpO2 sensor and the oxygen delivery component, and is configured to automatically induce a flow of oxygen from the oxygen reservoir through the oxygen conduit when a predetermined oxygen saturation level is detected by the SpO2 sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a security assembly for protecting a device includes first and second security wraps fitted to the device. The first security wrap covers a first area of the device. The second security wrap partially overlaps the first security wrap and covers a second area of the device. Each of the first and second security wraps has a security screen having first and second screen terminals and a conductive track extending between the first and second screen terminals. A conductive structure is disposed in an overlapping area between the first and second security wraps and coupled to the second screen terminal of the first security screen and to the first screen terminal of the second security screen.

Abstract: A security wrap (20) for protecting an electronic component includes a substrate (22) having a first side and a second side opposite to each other. A security screen (26) is disposed over the first side of the substrate (22) and includes a pair of screen terminals (48) and a frangible and electrically conductive path (46) between the pair of screen terminals (48). A layer of adhesive (30) is over the first side of the substrate (22) and bonds the first side of the substrate (22) to the electronic component with the security screen (26) sandwiched there between.

Abstract: A security wrap (20) for protecting an electronic component (16) having a bonding surface includes a substrate (22) having a first side and a second side opposite to each other. A first security screen (26) is disposed over the first side of the substrate (22) and includes a first pair of screen terminals (48) and a first conductive track (46) between the first pair of screen terminals (48). A second security screen (26) includes a second pair of screen terminals (48) and a second conductive track (46) between the second pair of screen terminals (48) and overlaying the first conductive track (46) on the first security screen (26). A layer of adhesive (30) is over a side of the second security screen (26) remote from the substrate (22) and bonds the second security screen (22) to the bonding surface of the electronic component (16).

Abstract: A security wrap (20) for protecting an electronic component (16) includes a substrate (26) having a first side and a second side opposite to each other. A conductive path (22) is disposed over the first side of the substrate (26) and has first and second ends coupled to the electronic component (16), and a pattern selected from a plurality of predetermined patterns. A layer of adhesive (28) is over the first side of the substrate (26) and bonds the first side of the substrate (26) to the electronic component (16) with the conductive path (22) sandwiched there between.

Abstract: Provided is a utensil for cooking food under pressure including: a vessel and a lid; at least one locking member mounted to move on the lid between a locking position and an unlocking position; a control device for controlling the movement of the locking member, including an operating member suitable for being actuated by a user in such a manner as to cause the locking member to move; wherein the locking member is mounted on the lid in such a manner as to be urged by positioning resilient return means towards its locking position; and the operating member is mounted to be drivingly linked to the locking member in a manner such that the action by the user on the operating member causes the locking member to move towards its unlocking position.

Abstract: A process for recovering 1-hexene comprising: a) separating the mixture obtained from the ethylene trimerization reaction into a top fraction comprising ethylene and a bottom fraction, b) separating a portion of the bottom fraction obtained from step a) into a top fraction comprising 1-hexene and 1-butene and a bottom fraction, c) separating a portion of the fraction comprising 1-hexene and 1-butene obtained from step b) into a top fraction principally comprising 1-butene and into a bottom fraction principally comprising 1-hexene, and in said process: a portion of the bottom fraction obtained from step b) is returned to the reaction section and another portion of said bottom fraction obtained from step b) is used in a recirculation loop connecting the reaction section and the column of said step b), said recirculation loop being used to cool the reaction section and to reboil said column of step b).

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for monitoring a health parameter of a user. A portable monitoring device comprises a housing adapted to couple to a user proximate to the user's respiratory tract; a first audio sensor, disposed in the housing, is adapted to detect a breath sound of the user and create breath sound data; and a processor coupled to the first audio sensor transduces the breath sound data into a modified breath sound signal which is representative of a parameter of the user's breathing, and the processor is adapted to compare the parameter of the user's breathing to a predetermined parameter threshold.

Abstract: A contact pad carrier strip includes a substrate having a lateral extent of or substantially of 35 mm or a multiple of or substantially of 35 mm, and at least three smart card contact pads formed along the lateral extent of the substrate. The contact pads are aligned widthwisely across the lateral extent of the substrate. Each smart card contact pad includes a plurality of contacts. A majority of contacts of the contact pads are oriented to extend widthwisely across the lateral extent of the carrier strip.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for explosive systems such as grenades with novel micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) fuze and novel placement of the MEMS fuze providing increased performance, reliability, and safety. The MEMS fuze is disposed towards a rear portion of the explosive system providing superior performance and design flexibility. Further, the explosive system includes electronics configured to implement a launch timer and to sense impact or when the system stops spinning. The present invention includes an operational method improving safety and reliability by preventing detonation until after the launch timer expires, upon impact, or when the explosive system stops spinning.

Abstract: A flow device adapted to operate as a restrictor as well as provide a pressure relief capability in the event of an over-pressurization event within a fluid system containing the device. The flow device includes an expandable orifice that has an outer perimeter, a plurality of cantilevered tabs surrounded by the outer perimeter, and an opening surrounded and defined by the tabs. The tabs project from the outer perimeter toward the opening, which restricts flow of the bleed air through the expandable orifice at a pressure below a predetermined pressure level, but then expands to relieve an over-pressure condition of the bleed air at a pressure above the predetermined pressure level as a result of the cantilevered tabs being deflected by the over-pressure condition. The device is adaptable for use in aircraft applications, including the regulation of bleed air used in anti-icing/de-icing systems.

Abstract: A flow device adapted to operate as a restrictor as well as provide a pressure relief capability in the event of an over-pressurization event within a fluid system containing the device. The flow device includes an expandable orifice that has an outer perimeter, a plurality of cantilevered tabs surrounded by the outer perimeter, and an opening surrounded and defined by the tabs. The tabs project from the outer perimeter toward the opening, which restricts flow of the bleed air through the expandable orifice at a pressure below a predetermined pressure level, but then expands to relieve an over-pressure condition of the bleed air at a pressure above the predetermined pressure level as a result of the cantilevered tabs being deflected by the over-pressure condition. The device is adaptable for use in aircraft applications, including the regulation of bleed air used in anti-icing/de-icing systems.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating a display image. The method comprises (a) compressing, by a first application on a first processor, initial updates; (b) determining, by the first application, availability of a second processor comprising compression hardware not in the first processor; (c) determining, by a second application on the first processor, a requirement to compress, by the second processor, future image updates; (d) compressing, by the second processor a first future image update; (e) initiating, by the first application on the first or a third processor, compressing by the second processor of a second future image update; (f) determining, by the first application, an unavailability of the second processor; (g) compressing, by the first application subsequent future image updates, including the second future image update, to generate compressed updates; and (h) transmitting the compressed initial updates, the compressed first update, and the compressed updates to a remote computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data from a first to a second memory of a computer system. The method comprises (i) initializing a descriptor with a description of physical addressing of a first section of a first array of the first memory; (ii) updating a mask associated with the descriptor with an indication for transferring data from a first sub-section of the first section to the second memory, the mask and the data managed by an application on a first virtual machine of the computer system, the application isolated from the physical addressing of the first section; (iii) responsive to the updated mask, (a) determining physical addresses of the first sub-section based on the description, and (b), transferring the data from the first sub-section to the second memory; and (iv) clearing at least a portion of the updated mask to indicate completion of transferring the data.

Abstract: A small (0.1 kW to 1000 kW) biomass fired electrical generator consisting of a boiler or furnace designed to burn biomass material, a thermal to mechanical energy converter and a mechanical to electrical energy converter.

Abstract: A hermetically packaged G-switch includes a MEMS structure having a bottom substrate layer, a top device layer and an intermediate oxide layer. A mass disposed in the top device layer is connected to one, two or three anchor portions using spring arms. One end of a spring arm is connected to the mass and another end to an anchor portion. The connection to the anchor portion includes a T shaped arrangement, which has a torsional spring cross piece connected to the spring arm. A cap containing a conductive pad is hermetically sealed to the MEMS structure. When a predetermined acceleration is attained, the mass makes electrical contact with the conductive pad to close the G-switch.