Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a contextual gesture interface for electronic devices. The contextual gesture interface activates a function corresponding to the characteristics of an object making contact with a display. The system may determine the time period of the contact as well as the size of the contact. The functions may include a wide array of navigation tools or editing tools. The contextual gesture interface of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for sensing a selected parameter such as pressure or temperature at a selected site, which is typically a remote site, and for generating outputs, normally to a control site, which outputs are either selected steady state or non-steady state outputs, the non-steady state outputs being indicative of the parameter being within a normal or acceptable range and/or the parameter being within an unacceptable or alarm range. The steady state outputs can be indicative either of the parameter being within a normal range or of a device failure. A particular steady state output, for example a null output, may be indicative of all failure conditions or different steady state outputs may be utilized to indicate different failure conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new and useful device and method for stabilizing cardiac tissue at a surgical site during heart surgery, and specifically useful during beating heart surgery. The device includes a foot for contacting a heart tissue and two arms movably connected together for selective movement to vary and adjust the position of the foot on the heart. The foot and the arm assembly are designed to optimize stability of the foot in contact with heart tissue, and therefore, to optimize stability of the heart during surgical procedure. The device is capable of being mounted on a chest spreader. The foot has a bottom surface which is angled for better stabilization and engagement with the heart.

Abstract: An integrated message center operates on telecommunications equipment, having a display and a processor, to consolidate messages of different types for viewing and manipulation by a user. The telecommunications equipment receives notification messages corresponding to pending messages of different types and determines the message type of the pending messages. The integrated message center associates a message type indicator with each of the received notification messages based on the determined message type and displays on the display a portion of the received notification messages and the associated message type indicators as entries in a single selectable list. The user can select one of the pending messages for retrieval based on the entries in the single selectable list. In response to user selection, the integrated message center retrieves the selected pending message for viewing and manipulation by the user.

Abstract: A telecommunications system with multiple modes of interfacing with users. The device accepts, for example, speech or key input and outputs both graphical display data and vocal data. A display at the user site displays various communication options to the user such to call a number, call by name, or look at a directory of names. The user site also includes a voice processor that speaks information reflecting the status of the telecommunication system or reflecting the information on the display.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a touch-responsive graphical user interface for electronic devices. The graphical user interface determines a pointer size of the object making contact with a display and activates a function corresponding to the pointer size. The graphical user interface may invoke a wide array of functions such as a navigation tool, draw function, an erase function, or a drag function. The graphical user interface of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a graphical icon identifying the caller and the location of the call for a communication device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a desired record amongst a plurality of records in a telephone directory involves associating a frequency field with each of the records, the frequency field being operable to store a frequency metric. A characteristic field is also associated with each of the records, the characteristic field being operable to store a characteristic representation of at least one identifying characteristic of a rendering associated with the record. An input representation of a rendering purporting to identify the desired record is produced and the input representation is compared with the contents of the characteristic fields of at least some of the records and confidence metrics are assigned to the records respectively, each of the confidence metrics representing a respective probability that a respective record is the desired record. A determination is then made as to which of the records have the first and second highest confidence metrics.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a lens comprising providing a photosoluble substrate having opposed first and second surfaces; exposing one of the surfaces of the substrate to a photoactive etchant; and exposing said etchant to patterned light such that a convex or concave, generally semi-spherical bulge or recess is formed in said substrate.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a directory with graphical icons representing characteristics of the entries for a communication device. The graphical icons are associated with additional information for the corresponding entry.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides improved graphical navigation tool for electronic devices. The graphical navigation tools may be used to navigate through documents at any direction at varying speeds. The navigation tool is preferably transparent to prevent obscuring the text of the underlying document. Accordingly, the navigational tool does not take up additional screen real estate. The GUI of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.

Abstract: A bath toy mounting device adapted to be releasably secured to the side or bottom wall of a bathtub partially filled with water. The bath toy mounting device maintains a secure attachment to the bathtub but may be easily removed by an adult. The bath toy mounting device further includes a toy holding device, such as elongated bar, for suspending toys above the water. Toys are secured to and hang from the toy holding device by means of a coupling member. In this way, the coupling member allows the child to move the toys while restricting movement to the immediate vicinity of the toy holding device. Additionally, the bath toy mounting device insures that toys are readily accessible to the child while he or she takes a bath.

Abstract: A reactive gas generator cell includes a high voltage assembly having a high voltage electrode plate and a low voltage assembly having a low voltage electrode plate. Each of the high and low voltage assemblies may include a cover plate and a channel plate. A welded metallic seal may join the high voltage assembly and the low voltage assembly to create a permanently sealed chamber between the assemblies. A refractory metal surface, which may be a tungsten surface, is disposed on at least one of the low voltage electrode plate and the high voltage electrode plate. A dielectric barrier is disposed between the high voltage electrode plate and the low voltage electrode plate. A discharge region for confining a reactive gas is defined, at least in part, by the refractory metal surface and a surface of the dielectric barrier. A spacer, which may be formed from a refractory material, may be positioned between the surface of the dielectric barrier and the refractory metal surface to define a predetermined gap.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention improves searching and display features of graphical user interfaces by providing automatic compression and expansion of the display during the scroll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dialling out via a phone device a phone number displayed within a screen image generated by a software application executed on a computer. The computer is connected to the phone device, and the phone device includes a dial button. In response to activation of the dial button, a process is spawned within the computer for locating the phone number within the screen image and transmitting the phone number to the phone device whereupon the phone device dials out the phone number.

Abstract: There is described an improved apparatus for azimuthal orientation of a tool in a wellbore. The apparatus comprises a tubular housing, a mandrel rotatably supported in the tubular housing and extending therefrom for connection to a tool for rotation thereof, a piston mandrel axially aligned with and connected to the mandrel, a piston longitudinally movable in an annulus between the piston mandrel and the tubular housing and being non-rotatable relative to the tubular housing, at least one pin longitudinally movable in concert with the piston arranged to track in respective helical grooves in the mandrel causing rotation of the mandrel in response to longitudinal movement of the pins, and a flow path for selective delivery of pressurized hydraulic fluid to either side of the piston for rotating the mandrel in either the clockwise or counterclockwise directions, or to both sides of the piston equally to maintain the mandrel in a fixed annular orientation.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for the drilling and servicing of bore holes in the earth, comprising a first sub-assembly adapted for the drilling and servicing of bore holes using jointed and coiled tubing, a second sub-assembly adapted for the drilling and servicing of bore holes using a continuous length of coiled tubing, and a platform adapted to support the first and second sub-assemblies thereon.

Abstract: A method for capturing amplified target DNA on a solid substrate comprising incorporating a ligand into said DNA by a polymerase chain reaction using a set of primers wherein one of the primers bears the ligand, and contacting the so treated DNA with a solid substrate having a binding reagent for said ligand immobilized thereon.

Abstract: There is described an improved apparatus and method of treating a section of unlined well bore comprising the steps of establishing a flow path from the top of the well bore to a location opposite the section of unlined well bore to be treated, pumping an erosive fluid through the flow path at a predetermined rate and pressure, directing a stream of the erosive fluid against a surface of the section of well bore to be treated to cause the initiation of a cut thereinto, and moving the stream of erosive fluid past a length of the surface to be treated to extend the cut formed therein in the direction of movement of the stream.