Abstract: An instant messaging user may be able to convey information about the user by displaying self-expression items in the instant message communications. Examples of self-expression items generally include non-animated icons, animated avatars, sounds, wallpaper, or objects associated with an avatar or wallpaper. A user may select an avatar, and one or more other types of self-expression items, from among many available avatars and other types of self-expression items. A user profile that provides information about the user (e.g., geographical location of the user, the user's occupation, and various interests held by the user) may be used to identify a subset of the universe of available avatars and self-expression items to be presented to the user for selection.

Abstract: An instant messaging user may be represented in communications with other users by an avatar that is capable of being animated or may convey information about the user by displaying other types of self-expression items, such as non-animated icons, sounds, wallpaper, or objects associated with an avatar or wallpaper. In such a case, the avatar and self-expression items may have characteristics that relate to information that corresponds to or represents the user or their interests. The characteristics of the avatar and self-expression items chosen by the instant messaging user may be used to glean user characteristics or other types of information that describe the user in some way, such as the user's geographical location, occupation, and various hobbies and interests.

Abstract: A graphical user interface on a display device for using a computer to communicate using an avatar includes an instant message sender display. The instant message send display has a sender portion that displays a sender avatar capable of displaying multiple animations, a message compose area capable of displaying text included in the message sent from the sender to the recipient, and communication controls. At least one communication control is operable to receive an indication that the message displayed in the message compose area is to be send from the sender to the recipient. The sender avatar is animated in response to a trigger related to content of a message sent from a sender to a recipient.

Abstract: A mechanism (100) for fixing the relative position of two members including a first member (104) having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second member (102) positioned adjacent to the first member and having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first member (104) is adapted to receive thermal energy. The first and second members are mounted for relative motion therebetween at a first temperature and are in contact at a relative fixed position at a second temperature. In a specific embodiment, a microwave control valve (100) for use in a waveguide is disclosed and includes a housing (104) having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a first plurality of housing waveguide openings (130). A rotor (102) is positioned within the housing and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion and a plurality of rotor waveguide openings (132). The housing (104) is adapted to receive RF energy.

Abstract: A system for supporting a dielectric resonator in a circular waveguide. A dielectric resonator is held in its optimum position using support posts or rods. The support rods are made from a suitable dielectric material, and slip fitted in holes provided at 90.degree. intervals around the periphery of the dielectric resonator. The support rods are affixed to the waveguie, by gluing or being screwed in place. The support rods are slip fitted such that they are allowed to expand, due to temperature, without causing stress on the dielectric resonator, thus the dielectric resonator is held in position without being affixed to its supporting structure. This is an inexpensive and simple solution to a complex problem. The support system is self-centering and free from all stress. The support system utilizes a minimum amount of supporting material which permits realization of the best unloaded Q.

Abstract: Circularly polarized radiation is tapped off from an input waveguide through a input iris into an entry cavity, where it is resolved into two orthogonal linearly polarized components. These respectively proceed along two discrete paths to an exit cavity. In each path six independently tunable resonances--traversed by both direct and bridge couplings--provides enough degrees of freedom for quasi-elliptic filter functions. In the exit cavity the resultants from the two paths are combined to resynthesize circularly-polarized radiation, which traverses another iris to the output waveguide. In one layout, four resonant tri-mode cavities form a rectangular array--with entry and exit cavities at diagonally opposite corners and intermediate cavities for the two discrete paths in the two remaining corners.