Abstract: Apparatus for changing the display state of a bistable liquid crystal display on a display tag having a plurality of electrical contact pads connected to a corresponding plurality of electrodes in the liquid crystal display includes a body defining a slot for receiving and locating the display tag with respect to the body; a plurality of contact pins located in the body and being mounted for movement into the slot to contact the electrical contact pads of a display tag located in the slot; drive electronics electrically connected to the contact pins for receiving display command signals from an external source and for applying electrical drive signals to the electrodes of the display when the contact pins are in contact with the electrical contact pads; and operator control means for moving the contact pins into electrical contact with the electrical contact pads and causing the drive electronics to apply the electrical drive signals to the contact pins.

Abstract: A display system includes a display arranged to receive an image wise pattern of light to form an image, including, a pair of conductors, at least one conductor being transparent, a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material disposed between the conductors, the liquid crystal material having multiple stable optical states at zero electrical field, and a light absorber for forming an image wise thermal pattern in the liquid crystal sufficient to change the optical state of the cholesteric liquid crystal in response to an image wise pattern of light; a display writer, including, a light source for producing a flash of light of sufficient intensity to generate sufficient heat in the light absorber to change the optical state of the cholesteric liquid crystal, a mask located between the light source and the display for defining the image wise pattern of light, a display drive connectable to the conductors for generating an electric field between the conductors for changing the optical state of the cholesteric l

Abstract: A reflective memory display is disclosed which includes: a flexible polymeric substrate; a patterned first conductor disposed over the substrate; and a layer including a polymeric dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal material coated over the first patterned conductor. The memory display further includes a patterned second conductor disposed over the polymeric dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal; and control means for repeatedly applying selective unipolar voltages across particular portions of the patterned first and second conductors to cause electric fields which are applied to portions of the polymeric dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal layer to change its reflectance thereby presenting a series of different reflectance images.

Abstract: A shuttle blow molding machine having two groups of mold units located on opposite sides of a series of workstations spaced along a horizontal workstation path. Each mold unit includes a mold that reciprocates in a direction transverse to the workstation path between a retracted position that is spaced from the workstation path and an extended position aligned with the workstation path. The mold units within each group are located in side-by-side relation adjacent each other and each group is indexed as a single unit along a path parallel to the workstation path. The transverse motion of the molds between their retracted and extended positions allows one group to be retracted out of the way while the other group advances through the workstations.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus (10) including four molds (21, 22, 23, 24) that move into a common parison receiving position (26) from directions different from the directions that the molds move out of the parison receiving position (26). When in the parison receiving position (26), each mold receives, encloses and severs a length of parison then shapes the parison during blow molding. Two molds (21, 22) alternately move in respective first and second radial directions (36, 40) from the parison receiving position (26) to respective first and second outer positions (38, 39), to a common article take-out position (45) and then back to the parison receiving position (26) from a third radial direction (96). The third radial direction is angularly spaced between the first and second radial directions.

Abstract: A barrier for limiting accessibility to electrically conductive boards includes a plurality of board-engaging sides having proximal and distal edges to the board. A cover side is formed between the distal edges. Securements extend from at least one of the sides securing the barrier into a fixed position relative to the board, as well as preventing tactile access to the board. The barrier includes slits that allow wires to enter and exit the barrier as well as allow adequate air flow to pass over the board.

Abstract: A copolymer comprising imidazole ring units having nitrogen at the 1 and 3 positions of the ring; a carbon at each of the 2, 4 and 5 positions of the ring; and radical substituents G1 and G2 carried at the 4 and 5 positions together with a non-imidazole monomer capable of undergoing addition polymerization. In the imidazole, G1 and G2 are each independently selected from cyano, substituents derived from cyano, and substituents which replace cyano. The invention also provides a method for using the co-polymers as a coupling/activator for synthon synthesis.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving a cholesteric liquid crystal display wherein the display includes cholesteric liquid crystals having a first planar reflective state and a second transparent focal conic state, which is respectively responsive to different applied fields. The apparatus further includes an addressing structure having rows and columns of conductors arranged so that when a column and a row overlap, they define a selectable pixel or segment to be viewable or non-viewable, and a single drive chip responsive to a single input voltage for applying selected voltages to rows and columns of conductors, so that selectable unipolar fields are applied across the cholesteric liquid crystals of the pixels to selectively change the state of the cholesteric liquid crystal.

Abstract: A barrier for limiting accessibility to electrically conductive boards includes a plurality of board engaging sides having proximal and distal edges to the board. A cover side is formed between the distal edges. Securements extend from at least one of the sides securing the barrier into a fixed position relative to the board, as well as preventing tactile access to the board. The barrier includes slats that allow wires to enter and exit the barrier as well as allow adequate air flow to pass over the board.

Abstract: A lighting fixture including a housing having an exterior wall with interior and exterior surfaces, a tray contained in the housing, at least one heat-sensitive component contained in the housing, and a mount secured to the tray supporting the heat-sensitive component. The mount maintains the heat-sensitive component in thermal contact with the interior surface of the exterior wall of the housing, thereby facilitating dissipation of heat from the heat-sensitive component through the exterior wall of the housing.

Abstract: A shuttle blow molding machine having two groups of mold units located on opposite sides of a series of workstations spaced along a horizontal workstation path. Each mold unit includes a mold that reciprocates in a direction transverse to the workstation path between a retracted position that is spaced from the workstation path and an extended position aligned with the workstation path. The mold units within each group are located in side-by-side relation adjacent each other and each group is indexed as a single unit along a path parallel to the workstation path. The transverse motion of the molds between their retracted and extended positions allows one group to be retracted out of the way while the other group advances through the workstations.

Abstract: A light fixture assembly (100) having an electrical component module (110) which may be mounted to the fixture housing (120) without tools and without requiring additional hardware or space upon the electrical component module (110). The electrical component module (110) is capable of being held in a substantially stationary position by at least one bracket (255), at least one stop (270), and a releasable catch (265).

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a baseline geometry and, optionally, a modified geometry. The method can include generating a numerical representation of a baseline geometry having baseline elements identified with first identifiers or element identifiers, and then assigning second identifiers or analyzer identifiers to the elements. A selected characteristic of the geometry, such as structural loading, is analyzed with reference to the second or analyzer identifiers. At least one of the elements of the geometry can then be altered in a manner that at least partially automatically adjusts the surrounding geometry, and the same first identifier or element identifier is associated with the altered element as was associated with the baseline, unaltered element. The altered geometry can be analyzed with respect to a third identifier (or another analyzer identifier) and a correspondence between the identifiers, the baseline element, and the altered element can be established and maintained.

Abstract: A high lumen output illumination device includes a light source secured within a socket and a reflector. The reflector redirects light emanating from the source along a direction of interest. The socket is mobile relative to the reflector and varies the directional output of the device. The socket holds the light source substantially vertical regardless of the relative angle of the reflector. The reflector includes a channel through which the socket moves. The device may also be inverted, keeping the light source substantially vertical, to give a range of illumination complementary to the range offered by tilting the reflector.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a baseline geometry and, optionally, a modified geometry. The method can include generating a numerical representation of a baseline geometry having baseline elements identified with first identifiers or element identifiers, and then assigning second identifiers or analyzer identifiers to the elements. Thermal characteristics of the geometry are analyzed with reference to the second or analyzer identifiers. The results of the thermal analysis can be provided as an input for a structural analysis of the baseline geometry. At least one of the elements of the geometry can then be altered in a manner that at least partially automatically adjusts the surrounding geometry, and the same first identifier or element identifier is associated with the altered element as was associated with the baseline, unaltered element.

Abstract: A removable cartridge with sheets that are to be removed from the cartridge and used by an apparatus comprising a housing for containing the sheets which are to be sequentially used by the apparatus when the cartridge is inserted into the apparatus, means provided in the housing for permitting sheets to be fed by the apparatus from the cartridge, a display provided on the housing which is viewable by a user when the cartridge is removed from the apparatus to indicate the number of sheets remaining in the cartridge. The display comprises a plurality of selectable digit elements each of which corresponds to a particular number, each selectable digit element containing cholesteric liquid crystals when selectively activated indicate a number that corresponds to the number of sheets remaining in the cartridge, and provide a measurable parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection of analytes in a fluid, in one embodiment, includes a light source, a sensor array, sensing elements, and a detector. More particularly, the system and method relate to discriminating mixtures of analytes in a fluid. The sensor array is formed from a supporting member into which a plurality of sensing elements may be formed. The sensing element may have a predefined shape. The sensing element may be configured to produce a signal when the sensing element interacts with the analyte. In one embodiment, the identity of the analyte may be determined by the detection of the signal and the shape of the sensing element. Using pattern recognition techniques, the analytes within a multi-analyte fluid may be characterized.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving a cholesteric liquid crystal display wherein the display includes cholesteric liquid crystals having a first planar reflective state and a second transparent focal conic state, which is respectively responsive to different applied fields; an addressing structure having rows and columns of conductors arranged so that when a column and a row overlap, they define a selectable pixel or segment to be viewable or non-viewable; the apparatus being adapted to switch between a first and a second fixed voltage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a polymer comprising imidazole ring units having nitrogen at the 1 and 3 positions of the ring; a carbon at each of the 2, 4 and 5 positions of the ring; and radical substituents G1 and G2 carried at the 4 and 5 positions. G1 and G2 are each independently selected from cyano, substituents derived from cyano, and substituents which replace cyano. The polymers formed by at least two of the cyclic imidazole units. In another embodiment, the invention provides new imidazole compounds usable as monomers to form the polymers. In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method for using the polymers as a coupling/activator for synthon synthesis.

Abstract: A blow pin assembly for a mold of a rotary blow molding machine includes a base, a carriage supported by and movable relative to the base, a sub-base supported by and movable relative to the carriage, and a blow pin mounted to the sub-base for movement between a home position and a mold-engaging position. The blow pin is constructed with a low profile to clear an extruder head above the mold. This permits a method of forming a blow molded product to be used wherein the blow pin is inserted into the mold (and a parison in the mold), while the mold is at the extrusion workstation of the blow molding machine or very nearly so.