Abstract: A pod encapsulated brewing machine allowing a user to brew coffee or tea within the device using premeasured sealed filter pods then eject the pod from the machine into a waste receptacle for disposal without the user having to touch the pod.

Abstract: A method of creating a deduction information repository. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a plurality of templates, wherein a payroll procedure consists of a plurality of payroll tasks, wherein each of the templates is an abstract representation of one of the payroll tasks. Each of the payroll tasks comprises at least one of a plurality of payroll operations. The templates are stored in a single repository. The single repository is configured to maintain the payroll tasks of the payroll procedure.

Abstract: An acoustic treatment panel that is connected to an air intake of an aircraft nacelle, includes at least one acoustically resistive structure (30) and a reflective layer (32), between which are located—in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the nacelle—bands (34) of alveolar cells spaced in such a way as to allow the passage of hot air provided for a frost treatment, characterized in that it includes pipes (36) for hot air that are each delimited by at least one partition that extends from the acoustically resistive layer (30) up to the reflective layer (32) in such a way as to insulate the bands (34) of cells in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aircraft turbine engine. The turbine engine includes an air intake having a tubular internal wall and a fan enclosed by a tubular fan casing, and the rear end of the said air intake internal wall and the front end of the fan casing are joined together by at least one fastener. The air intake internal wall, the fan casing, or both, are comprised of a resin/fiber composite. The rear end of the air intake internal wall and the front end of the fan casing are uniform, and have no projections that join the internal wall and casing together.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are detectors of audio ringing feedback, that is decaying feedback with a gain of less than one, those detectors utilizing a repeated gain measurement that applied to a range of gain values characteristic of ringing-type feedback. Those gain measurements, while in the range, increase a probability measurement of feedback. When the probability of feedback reaches a threshold, a detection of feedback is made and feedback countermeasures, such as the application of a notch filter, may be applied. Optionally, the audio gain around likely frequencies of feedback may be enhanced for a time to increase the resolution of identification of a feedback frequency, which may be identified through an interpolative method. Repeated gain measurements may also identify building-type feedback. A ringing detector may include more than one range of detection, for example for building, strong-ringing and weak-ringing feedback.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are detectors of audio ringing feedback, that is decaying feedback with a gain of less than one, those detectors utilizing a repeated gain measurement that applied to a range of gain values characteristic of ringing-type feedback. Those gain measurements, while in the range, increase a probability measurement of feedback. When the probability of feedback reaches a threshold, a detection of feedback is made and feedback countermeasures, such as the application of a notch filter, may be applied. Optionally, the audio gain around likely frequencies of feedback may be enhanced for a time to increase the resolution of identification of a feedback frequency, which may be identified through an interpolative method. Repeated gain measurements may also identify building-type feedback. A ringing detector may include more than one range of detection, for example for building, strong-ringing and weak-ringing feedback.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are portable teleconferencing products that implement a doubletalk detector in a low frequency range or in a frequency range commensurate with the frequencies through which sound may be efficiently transferred between a speaker and a microphone through an enclosure. Also disclosed herein are teleconferencing systems that implement a secondary doubletalk detector, a non-presumptive doubletalk detector, a confirmatory doubletalk detector, and/or a false doubletalk detector, whereby echo cancellation coefficients may be better adapted after echo path changing events through the use of accelerated coefficient adaptation or half-duplex operation until adaptation is restored.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a multi-pod conferencing system for local conference participants to communicate with remote conference participants that includes a plurality of pods for local conference participants where an individual pod connects to one or more plurality of pods through a data communication means. The individual pods further include the following: pod processor means; an input device and a display; a loudspeaker that couples to a digital to analog converter; 3 physical bi-polar microphones positioned at 120 degree intervals in the horizontal resting plane of the pod, each individual physical microphone connects to a pair of audio ports with each audio port being equal distance from the loudspeaker, the physical microphones couple to analog to digital converting mean and pod processor means; 3 virtual microphones; pod echo cancellation means; and microphone gating means. The disclosed system further includes a base unit that couples to the plurality of pods through the data communication means.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are detectors of audio ringing feedback, that is decaying feedback with a gain of less than one, those detectors utilizing a repeated gain measurement that applied to a range of gain values characteristic of ringing-type feedback. Those gain measurements, while in the range, increase a probability measurement of feedback. When the probability of feedback reaches a threshold, a detection of feedback is made and feedback countermeasures, such as the application of a notch filter, may be applied. Optionally, the audio gain around likely frequencies of feedback may be enhanced for a time to increase the resolution of identification of a feedback frequency, which may be identified through an interpolative method. Repeated gain measurements may also identify building-type feedback. A ringing detector may include more than one range of detection, for example for building, strong-ringing and weak-ringing feedback.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are portable teleconferencing products that implement a doubletalk detector in a low frequency range or in a frequency range commensurate with the frequencies through which sound may be efficiently transferred between a speaker and a microphone through an enclosure. Also disclosed herein are teleconferencing systems that implement a secondary doubletalk detector, a non-presumptive doubletalk detector, a confirmatory doubletalk detector, and/or a false doubletalk detector, whereby echo cancellation coefficients may be better adapted after echo path changing events through the use of accelerated coefficient adaptation or half-duplex operation until adaptation is restored.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of a product, in particular a product contained within a hermetically sealed pouch or other plastic container, the apparatus having, a heating unit to contain a product as product is brought towards a treatment temperature and pressure, a sterilization unit to contain product at a predetermined treatment temperature and pressure to sterilize product, and a cooling unit to bring a product from the treatment temperature and pressure towards ambient; each unit being selectively sealable from another unit, the apparatus further having: a plurality of conduits carrying heat-exchange fluids allowing heat to be transferred between units; and having a heater, preferably producing steam, to supply heat to the apparatus; a heat-exchange unit enabling heat energy to be transferred from one conduit to another; and a hot well to retain a reservoir of heat exchange fluid at the highest temperature required by the apparatus.

Abstract: An air frame fastener wrench includes first and second handles pivotally attached to one another. A ratchet head of the first handle includes a selectively rotatable driver mateable with a socket. As the first and second handles are brought towards one another, the driver rotates the mated socket and an engaged collar of an air frame fastener. A key, which is connected to the first or second handle for preventing rotation of the key, extends through the ratchet head and prevents rotation of a pin of the air frame fastener as the collar is tightened thereto.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a method of gating a multi-pod conferencing system for local conference participants to communicate with remote conference participants that includes providing a plurality of pods where an individual pod connects to one or more plurality of pods through a data communication means. The individual pods further include: pod processor means, digital to analog converter means, analog to digital converting means, virtual microphone means, pod echo cancellation means, and microphone gating means. The disclosed method further includes providing a base unit that uses data communication means and base controller means. The disclosed method further includes the computed values of the pod gating means being distributed to other pods to gate the pods on and or off.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are portable teleconferencing products that implement a doubletalk detector in a low frequency range or in a frequency range commensurate with the frequencies through which sound may be efficiently transferred between a speaker and a microphone through an enclosure. Also disclosed herein are teleconferencing systems that implement a secondary doubletalk detector, a non-presumptive doubletalk detector, a confirmatory doubletalk detector, and/or a false doubletalk detector, whereby echo cancellation coefficients may be better adapted after echo path changing events through the use of accelerated coefficient adaptation or half-duplex operation until adaptation is restored.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a method of controlling a multi-pod conferencing system for local conference participants to communicate with remote conference participants. This method includes providing a plurality of pods to local conference participants wherein an individual pod connects to one or more of the plurality of pods through a data communication means. The individual pods further include pod processor means. The pod processor means couples to an input device and a display. The method further includes providing a base unit that couples to the plurality of pods through the data communication means. The base unit further couples to a carrier medium, where the base unit further includes base controller means. The base controller means couples to the converting means.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of a product, especially a food product such as a food product contained within a hermetically sealed container or pouch of plastics or like material, for example for sterilization, pasteurization or cooking, having a heating unit to bring product from ambient towards a heat treatment temperature and pressure; a retort unit to apply a heat treatment to a product; and a cooling unit to allow product to be brought down from heat treatment temperature and pressure towards ambient; wherein each unit and retort is selectably sealable from the others and from ambient conditions.

Abstract: According to the invention, the internal wall (5.1) of the air intake (2) and the housing (12.1) for the fan (3) are pieces of composite fibre/resin material, overlap-jointed at the ends thereof (5.1R) and (12.1A).

Abstract: Portable USB memory modules or devices and methods for using such devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a portable memory module can include a housing having a CompactFlash card form factor and one or more flash memory devices carried by the housing. The portable memory module can also include a USB controller carried by the housing and coupled to the one or more flash memory devices. The portable memory module can further include a connector including a first portion coupled to the controller and a second portion configured to mate with a host device. In several embodiments, the connector includes a plurality of pins to transfer signals to and from the memory module. The pins are configured to mate with a fifty pin socket on the host device.

Abstract: There is disclosed an adaptive illumination device comprising at least one lighting panel bearing an array of light emitters, and control means for selectively energising predetermined groups of light emitters within the array in response to control signals so as to illuminate a predetermined part of a scene.

Abstract: An adaptive illumination device comprising first and second lighting units connected to each other by way of a hinge mechanism, and further provided with a gear mechanism such that angular movement of the first lighting unit about the hinge causes equivalent angular movement of the second lighting unit in an opposite direction about the hinge.