Abstract: A computer system has processing circuitry to control a force feedback unit to progressively increase a force feedback applied to the input device in response to a manual maneuvering of the input device towards a virtual stop position being defined in between an equilibrium position and a mechanical end position of the input device. The virtual stop position is a software-defined set point acting as an intermediate trigger for the input device. The force feedback is progressively increased until it reaches a maximum force feedback at the virtual stop position; and control the force feedback unit to reduce the force feedback applied to the input device at the virtual stop position in response to a force of a manual maneuvering of the input device exceeding the maximum force feedback value.

Abstract: A method to control a marine vessel comprising two or more drive units. The method involves registering an operating command indicating a requested sideways or bow bollard push function; detecting a current vessel position; registering the current vessel position as a desired vessel position; executing the requested bollard push function; and monitoring the current vessel position in order to detect a deviation relative to the desired vessel position. If it is detected that a deviation between the desired vessel position has exceeded a predetermined value, then the requested bollard push function is deactivated. The disclosure further relates to a control unit arranged to control a marine vessel and a marine vessel comprising such a control unit.

Abstract: An operating command indicating a requested vessel direction and plotting a course represented by a reference line for the requested vessel direction from an initial position is registered. It is then monitored if the vessel has deviated from the reference line and if a deviation from the reference line is detected, then a value for current vessel speed is detected. The detected vessel speed value is compared to a predetermined reference speed value to determine if the current vessel speed value is within a high speed interval or a low speed interval relative to the reference speed value. Depending on the determined speed interval the vessel is controlled according a low speed control strategy; or a high speed control strategy in order to move the vessel from a current vessel heading to the reference line and the requested vessel direction.

Abstract: A maneuvering device for controlling navigation of a marine vessel is provided. The device has an input source movable between an equilibrium position and at least one displaced position, A variable resistance device adjusts a movement resistance of the input source. A control unit controls the variable resistance device by: obtaining a requested release input of the input source to move from the displaced position towards the equilibrium position, obtaining a longitudinal speed of the marine vessel, and controlling the variable resistance device to adjust said movement resistance of the input source based on the requested release input and the longitudinal speed.

Abstract: A method to control a marine vessel comprising two or more drive units. The method involves registering an operating command indicating a requested sideways or bow bollard push function; detecting a current vessel position; registering the current vessel position as a desired vessel position; executing the requested bollard push function; and monitoring the current vessel position in order to detect a deviation relative to the desired vessel position. If it is detected that a deviation between the desired vessel position has exceeded a predetermined value, then the requested bollard push function is deactivated. The disclosure further relates to a control unit arranged to control a marine vessel and a marine vessel comprising such a control unit.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a control unit to control a marine vessel comprising two or more drive units. The method involving the steps of registering an operating command indicating a requested vessel direction and plotting a course represented by a reference line for the requested vessel direction from an initial position. It is then monitored if the vessel has deviated from the reference line and if a deviation from the reference line is detected, then a value for current vessel speed is detected. The detected vessel speed value is compared to a predetermined reference speed value to determine if the current vessel speed value is within a high speed interval or a low speed interval relative to the reference speed value. Depending on the determined speed interval the vessel is controlled according a low speed control strategy; or a high speed control strategy in order to move the vessel from a current vessel heading to the reference line and the requested vessel direction.

Abstract: A method for processing a discount for an off-peak transaction includes: receiving an off-peak offer, the offer including a merchant identifier, start time, end time, and transaction modifier; identifying an offer identifier; storing the offer with offer identifier; transmitting the stored offer; receiving a discount request, the request including a consumer identifier and offer identification; identifying a selected offer where the offer identifier matches the offer identification; receiving an authorization request including a consumer identification, merchant identification, transaction time, and transaction amount; calculating a new amount based on the transaction amount and the transaction modifier for the selected offer if the consumer identification matches the consumer identifier, the merchant identification matches the merchant identifier, and the transaction time is within the start and end times; and transmitting an authorization response for the new amount, where the response is for a final author

Abstract: A trace gas sensing apparatus includes a cathode, an anode, a vacuum enclosure, and a membrane. The anode coaxially surrounds the cathode, wherein the cathode and the anode define an annular ionization chamber. The vacuum enclosure surrounds the cathode and the anode and includes a gas inlet fluidly communicating with the ionization chamber. The membrane is coupled to the gas inlet in a sealed manner and is permselective to trace gas. The apparatus may further include circuitry for applying a negative voltage potential to the cathode and for measuring an ion current signal generated by the cathode, and a magnet assembly for generating a magnetic field in the ionization chamber. The cathode may include an elongated member located along a longitudinal axis, and first and second end plates orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A trace gas sensing apparatus includes a cathode, an anode, a vacuum enclosure, and a membrane. The anode coaxially surrounds the cathode, wherein the cathode and the anode define an annular ionization chamber. The vacuum enclosure surrounds the cathode and the anode and includes a gas inlet fluidly communicating with the ionization chamber. The membrane is coupled to the gas inlet in a sealed manner and is permselective to trace gas. The apparatus may further include circuitry for applying a negative voltage potential to the cathode and for measuring an ion current signal generated by the cathode, and a magnet assembly for generating a magnetic field in the ionization chamber. The cathode may include an elongated member located along a longitudinal axis, and first and second end plates orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a system, method and article of manufacture for managing federated queries. In general, the availability of one or more databases targeted by a federated query may be determined prior to running the federated query against the targeted databases. In response to determining one or more of the targeted databases are unavailable, a user may be notified. The user may also be presented with options for running the federated query. The options may include being notified when all of the targeted databases are available, automatically running the federated query (in the background) when all of the targeted databases are available, and modifying the query to run against currently available databases.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for laser micro-machining, which may include dividing a long line illumination field into a plurality of individual fields, wherein each of the plurality of fields includes an aspect ratio of about 4:1 or greater, directing the plurality of individual fields onto at least one mask, wherein each individual field illuminates a corresponding area on the mask and translating the mask and/or workpiece relative to one another along a scan axis.

Abstract: Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for providing secure access to data. Public UDTFs, private UDTFs and a metadata processor are utilized to facilitate secure access to data residing in a variety of data repositories.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing an annotation system that includes storing annotations for a document family, i.e., a series of versions of a data source. Annotations created for one version of the data source may be viewed in context from both subsequent and prior versions of the same data source. Embodiments of the invention associate annotations with both a data source “family identifier” as well as a “version identifier.” Other than adding a family ID to the data source, the data source remains unchanged. The family ID is maintained across different versions of the data source, whereas version IDs are determined for a specific version of the data source. Version IDs can be constructed from each data source directly, and do not need to be stored.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for micromachining a conical surface. In one embodiment, such a system may include a rotating platform for receiving a long line of laser illumination, a mask having a predetermined pattern comprising a sector of a planar ring, the mask being positioned on the rotating platform, a workpiece stage having a rotational axis for rotating a removably-affixed workpiece comprising a conical surface, wherein the sector comprises the planar image of the conical surface, an excimer laser for producing a laser beam, a homogenizer for homogenizing the laser beam in at least a single direction, at least one condenser lens, a turning mirror and at least one projection lens.

Abstract: Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are provided for accessing data within data repositories. Public UDTFs, private UDTFs and a metadata processor are utilized to provide access to data residing in a variety of data repositories.

Abstract: A foot prosthesis having improved rollover and stability. The prosthesis includes a first plate and a mounting block having a mounting portion configured to be coupled to a user of the prosthesis, an attachment portion and a gap portion, with the mounting block attached to the first plate at the attachment portion with a gap between the mounting block gap portion and the first plate. Also included is a resilient element positioned at least partially within the gap, the resilient element configured generally to dissipate stress in the first plate and control deflection between the first plate and the mounting block. The mounting block may be substantially rigid with the area of the first plate attached to the mounting block becoming substantially rigid while the remainder of the first plate is at least partially flexible. The resilient element may be interchangeable to adjust performance of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for proving global annotation services are disclosed. Global annotations are used to annotate a data element independently from the internal representation of a data element employed by a particular software application. Data elements are normalized into a form used by a global annotation system to identify the data element, and corresponding global annotations, independent from the application in which the data element may appear. An annotation cache may be used to store the global annotations that have been created for a particular data source, improving the efficiency of the global annotation system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing structured data presented in a hierarchical format are provided. The structured data may contain repeating fields or repeating groups of fields. Ordinal values indicating an order in which the repeating fields or field groups occur in the structured data may be created and stored with the structured data in relational tables. Upon retrieval, the ordinal values may be used to reconstruct the structured data with data for the various fields in the original order in the hierarchical format in which it was presented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of dispersion compensation comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A method of producing a composite film by forming a substrate layer of polymeric material having an at least one surface a heat-sealable layer and applying a particulate additive to the exposed surface of the heat-sealable layer with the particulate additive bonding to and/or penetrating into the heat-sealable layer.The exposed surface of the heat-sealable layer has greater than 100 surface protrusions per mm2 produced by the particulate additive. The surface protrusions have an average peak height in the range from 5 to 400 nm measured from the average level of the surface of the heat-sealable layer.