Abstract: Disclosed is a device for protecting a user from smoke or fire, including a sealed dome-like cover. An opening provided in the cover front portion enables emergency oxygen to force smoke present under the cover to be expelled by positive air pressure through a space below the waist. The dome-like cover is overlaid from above the top of the head to at least the waist of the user and connected to a source of oxygen. The device is reversible so that it can also be used as a stretcher. The materials used enable use as a thermal blanket. The device can be provided compactly folded in a bag that can provide lumbar support thereby ensuring that miners will always carry the device with them. A step of vacuum sealing for a predetermined amount of time ensures malleability of the compact device for enhanced lumbar support and device longevity.

Abstract: An instrument comprising a shank and a working portion, the working portion having a tip and a plurality of flutes being defined by at least two lands having a land margin; wherein the working portion has a parabolic cross-section defining opposing convexed surfaces extending between at least two opposing land margins.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for protecting a user from smoke or fire, including a sealed dome-like cover. An opening provided in the cover front portion enables emergency oxygen to force smoke present under the cover to be expelled by positive air pressure through a space below the waist. The dome-like cover is overlaid from above the top of the head to at least the waist of the user and connected to a source of oxygen. The device is reversible so that it can also be used as a stretcher. The materials used enable use as a thermal blanket. The device can be provided compactly folded in a bag that can provide lumbar support thereby ensuring that miners will always carry the device with them. A step of vacuum sealing for a predetermined amount of time ensures malleability of the compact device for enhanced lumbar support and device longevity.

Abstract: An instrument comprising a shank and a working portion, the working portion having a tip and a plurality of flutes being defined by at least two lands having a land margin; wherein the working portion has a parabolic cross-section defining opposing convexed surfaces extending between at least two opposing land margins.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for image rendering with per-frame buffer scene segmentation. A user specifies how geometric objects, light sources, and various types of rendering operations in a graphics scene are associated. A segmentation API translates scene data into specific instructions used by a rendering engine that cause the rendering engine to generate a set of scene segments within a set of user specified frame buffers. The scene segments may be composited together using a variable contribution value for each scene segment to generate a final image.

Abstract: A method for generating a shader that is used by a rendering engine to render a visual representation of a computer model. A shader generation engine receives a set of surface data that describes a surface in view of various lighting conditions. The shader generation engine compresses the set of surface data to generate a compressed representation of the set of surface data based on a selected compression algorithm. The shader generation engine generates a shader based on the compressed representation that is configured to be implemented with a rendering engine, and generates a set of shader data based on the compressed representation that includes a set of material characteristics for coloring pixels of the visual representation. Advantageously, the shader generation process is simplified because different compression algorithm-rendering engine shader combinations can be generated without manually programming the shaders.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique rendering an image pixel within a graphics image with multiple shaders in a single rendering phase using a modular shader architecture. A user specifies how geometric objects, light sources, and various types of rendering operations in a graphics scene are associated. A rendering application provides computational infrastructure for rendering operations that includes finding an intersected object for each pixel of a target graphics image. The modular shader architecture includes a means for efficiently developing and incorporating custom shader modules for use by the rendering application.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique rendering an image pixel within a graphics image with multiple shaders in a single rendering phase using a modular shader architecture. A user specifies how geometric objects, light sources, and various types of rendering operations in a graphics scene are associated. A rendering application provides computational infrastructure for rendering operations that includes finding an intersected object for each pixel of a target graphics image. The modular shader architecture includes a means for efficiently developing and incorporating custom shader modules for use by the rendering application.

Abstract: A gripping device for gripping sheet material. The gripping device comprises a frame structure and a first gripping member connected thereto. A second gripping member is rotatable mounted to the frame structure. The second gripping member is rotatable between an open position and a closed position for providing a gripping force acting on an object disposed between the first gripping member and the second gripping member. A disengaging mechanism is connected to the second gripping member for moving the second gripping member from the closed position to the open position by providing pushing action acting on the second gripping member.

Abstract: A gripping device for gripping sheet material. The gripping device comprises a frame structure and a first gripping member connected thereto. A second gripping member is rotatable mounted to the frame structure. The second gripping member is rotatable between an open position and a closed position for providing a gripping force acting on an object disposed between the first gripping member and the second gripping member. A disengaging mechanism is connected to the second gripping member for moving the second gripping member from the closed position to the open position by providing pushing action acting on the second gripping member.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique rendering an image pixel within a graphics image with multiple shaders in a single rendering phase using a modular shader architecture. A user specifies how geometric objects, light sources, and various types of rendering operations in a graphics scene are associated. A rendering application provides computational infrastructure for rendering operations that includes finding an intersected object for each pixel of a target graphics image. The modular shader architecture includes a means for efficiently developing and incorporating custom shader modules for use by the rendering application.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique rendering an image pixel within a graphics image with multiple shaders in a single rendering phase using a modular shader architecture. A user specifies how geometric objects, light sources, and various types of rendering operations in a graphics scene are associated. A rendering application provides computational infrastructure for rendering operations that includes finding an intersected object for each pixel of a target graphics image. The modular shader architecture includes a means for efficiently developing and incorporating custom shader modules for use by the rendering application.

Abstract: A method for generating a shader that is used by a rendering engine to render a visual representation of a computer model. A shader generation engine receives a set of surface data that describes a surface in view of various lighting conditions. The shader generation engine compresses the set of surface data to generate a compressed representation of the set of surface data based on a selected compression algorithm. The shader generation engine generates a shader based on the compressed representation that is configured to be implemented with a rendering engine, and generates a set of shader data based on the compressed representation that includes a set of material characteristics for coloring pixels of the visual representation. Advantageously, the shader generation process is simplified because different compression algorithm-rendering engine shader combinations can be generated without manually programming the shaders.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for image rendering with per-frame buffer scene segmentation. A user specifies how geometric objects, light sources, and various types of rendering operations in a graphics scene are associated. A segmentation API translates scene data into specific instructions used by a rendering engine that cause the rendering engine to generate a set of scene segments within a set of user specified frame buffers. The scene segments may be composited together using a variable contribution value for each scene segment to generate a final image.