Abstract: A unified mechanism of scene description includes layering and cross-referencing relationships. The scene description specifies components using one or more layers. A layer includes an opinion of value for one or more attributes of one or more components. A layer can be sparsely populated with opinions of attribute values for only portions of components' attributes. Layers express opinions of value for an attribute using the semantic structure associated with the attribute. The scene description organizes layers in a layer hierarchy, which determines a layer stacking order. The layer stacking order specifies the compositing of opinions of attribute values to determine the complete authored state of the component. The layer stacking order enables attributes of components to be selectively overridden without disturbing other attribute values. Cross-referencing relationships enable encapsulation and reuse of components. Cross-referencing relationships can encapsulate components defined by one or more layers.

Abstract: A mirror display system comprising a multiplicity of scan lines that are combined to generate an image. The multiplicity of scan lines are orthogonally positioned in response to a slow speed cyclic drive signal (for example, sinusoidal or repetitive triangular shape). To increase the brightness of the display, and unlike a typical raster scan display, scan lines are generated during both the positive going portion and the negative going portion of the cyclic drive signal.

Abstract: A method for aligning consecutive scan lines of a mirror based visual system produced by the bi-directional scan of a resonant mirror is disclosed. The actual position for the mirror is determined or measured by any suitable method. The measured position of the mirror is used to generate a first trigger signal to start a scan line in a first direction at a selected location and to generate a trigger to start a scan line in the reverse direction at a second location.

Abstract: System, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for the improved use and maintenance of electronic user profiles. Profile entries reflect personal user information comprising a user action and associated circumstance (result) of that action. Action and circumstance information in the profile preferably includes a semantic reference value that improves usability of profile information across various devices, applications, data services, and the like.

Abstract: Watercraft can be manufactured from a blush-resistant gel coat composition which in its cured state resists long-term water immersion. The cured gel coat composition forms an outer opaque layer in a multilayer (e.g., two-layer) laminate, and is made from an unsaturated polyester resin, reactive diluent, and sufficient pigment to provide an opaque cured coating. The composition is sufficiently free of extender filler so that the cured coating will not exhibit blushing after 6 hours immersion in 66° C. water.

Abstract: In an optical wireless network, where light beams are transmitted over-the-air, reflections of the transmitted light beams may cause a receiver of an optical wireless device to detect and subsequently lock onto the signal that it transmitted. By doing so, the network is effectively broken. A method and apparatus to detect the reception of reflected signals using minimal additional hardware and data is presented. Should a reflected signal be detected, the receiver is prevented from locking onto the signal, allowing the receiver to detect and subsequently lock onto light beams originating from other optical wireless devices.

Abstract: A pool table (10) having a plurality of corner assemblies (12, 14, 16, and 18) which allow the pool table (10) to be easily disassembled while concomitantly allowing the pool table (10) to be sturdy.

Abstract: Optical wireless links automatically align themselves using feedback information that is transmitted over the light beams being aligned. Each link performs an acquisition routine in which its light beam is swept through a pre-defined pattern while transmitting its beam alignment information. When a link receives beam alignment information from a remote link, it updates its transmission to include the alignment information received from the remote link. At some point during the acquisition routine, the remote link will receive its own alignment information “echoed back” from the first link and will re-align its beam accordingly. At some point, each link will have received its own alignment information echoed back from the other link and will have aligned itself to that position. Data communication can begin at that point, or a more refined alignment step can then be performed. The alignment information can be based upon position, sample number, or time transmitted.

Abstract: The present invention describes compositions comprising a calcium source and a magnesium source. The compositions are surprisingly palatable when delivered in a fruit juice beverage matrix at amounts which are nutritionally meaningful. In particular, the present invention relates to beverage compositions comprising: (a) a calcium source comprising a form selected from calcium carbonate, solubilized species thereof, and mixtures thereof; (b) at least about 20 milligrams of a magnesium source per reference serving of the composition; wherein the compositions are substantially free of milk base solids.

Abstract: In optical wireless networks, light beams are transmitted over-the-air and maximum performance is achieved when light beams are aligned with corresponding light detectors. A feedback control system is created between transmitting and receiving units, wherein the receiving unit provides positional data about the light beam from the transmitting unit. The transmitting unit uses the data provided to make adjustments to its light beam. However, in order to use the positional data, the units must be operating with a common coordinate basis. A method is provided for determining the basis and generating the transformation needed to modify positional data from one unit into information that is useful for the other unit. Additionally, a method is presented for using the positional data to maintain proper alignment of the light beam.

Abstract: Optical wireless links automatically re-acquire alignment after detecting the loss of an incoming signal bearing light beam. The loss of the signal may be due to a temporary blockage of the light path, so the devices will await a programmable period of time before attempt to re-align themselves. If re-alignment is required, the devices will first position their light beams to the last known aligned position and will from that point sweep through a pattern seeking to re-align with the remote device. The devices transmit their beam position information during the sweep, which information will be echoed back or fed back to the device once its beam impinges upon the remote devices photodetectors. If the devices cannot re-align, then a second, longer sweep pattern may be performed, starting at some predefined default location.

Abstract: The present invention describes compositions comprising a calcium source and a magnesium source. The compositions are surprisingly palatable when delivered in a fruit juice beverage matrix at amounts which are nutritionally meaningful.

Abstract: In an optical wireless network, where light beams are transmitted over-the-air, reflections of the transmitted light beams may cause a receiver of an optical wireless device to detect and subsequently lock onto the signal that it transmitted. By doing so, the network is effectively broken. A method and apparatus to detect the reception of reflected signals using minimal additional hardware and data is presented. Should a reflected signal be detected, the receiver is prevented from locking onto the signal, allowing the receiver to detect and subsequently lock onto light beams originating from other optical wireless devices.

Abstract: Optical wireless links automatically align themselves using feedback information that is transmitted over the light beams being aligned. Each link performs an acquisition routine in which its light beam is swept through a pre-defined pattern while transmitting its beam alignment information. When a link receives beam alignment information from a remote link, it updates its transmission to include the alignment information received from the remote link. At some point during the acquisition routine, the remote link will receive its own alignment information “echoed back” from the first link and will re-align its beam accordingly. At some point, each links will have received its own alignment information echoed back from the other link and will have aligned itself to that position. Data communication can begin at that point, or a more refined alignment step can then be performed. The alignment information can be based upon position, sample number, or time transmitted.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a voice coil motor (VCM) and a VCM power source circuit which is coupled to a standard power supply having a fixed voltage. During seek operations the VCM power source circuit provides a boosted voltage, greater than the fixed supply voltage, for the VCM. The VCM power source circuit provides the boosted voltage independently from the back EMF generated in the voice coil motor. The increased VCM voltage allows faster access times and more efficient VCM operation.

Abstract: A method for reducing data access time in a disk drive. The disk drive includes an actuator and a servo controller. The servo controller commands the actuator to perform a seek from a current position to a target position using a profile of command effort to the actuator. The profile comprises an acceleration profile and a deceleration profile. In one aspect, the method includes defining a read profile for a seek used to position the actuator to execute a read command. A write profile is defined for a seek used to position the actuator to execute a write command, the write profile being different from the read profile for a respective seek distance. The read and write seeks are performed using the read profile and the write profile. The average time required for performing a seek command is reduced as a result of the difference between the read profiles and the write profiles.

Abstract: A system which performs chained direct memory access (DMA) operations, includes a working set of buffers, a first-in-first-out memory, a first DMA co-processor, a second DMA co-processor and a controlling processor. The working set of buffers are available for receiving data from chained DMA operations. The first-in-first-out memory store addresses of buffers, from the working set of buffers, which are available for immediate allocation. The first DMA co-processor and the second DMA co-processor perform the chained DMA operations. The controlling processor sets up the chained DMA operations and adds addresses of free buffers to the first-in-first-out memory. When performing a first chained DMA operation, the first DMA co-processor accesses the first-in-first-out memory to allocate for itself a first buffer from the queue of buffers when a first link in the first chained DMA operation requires a buffer. When the first buffer is filled, the first DMA co-processor immediately notifies the controlling processor.

Abstract: A network bridge includes a processor, a common memory, a first interface to a first network and a second interface to a second network. Upon the first interface receiving a first request to transfer data from a device on the first network, the processor seeds a portion of a first buffer within the first common memory with a predetermined polling pattern. The processor polls the portion of the first buffer to determine when data has arrived into the first buffer. When the processor determines that data has arrived into the first buffer, the processor authorizes the second interface to set up a write process with a device on the second network.

Abstract: A method of using a processor-based integrated circuit (IC) tester (12) to automatically invoke diagnostic testing. A diagnostic schedule (30) is user-defined (FIG. 3), and checked by the tester (12) at various times, such as before and after the tester 12 tests an IC lot (FIGS. 6, 7, 8). The schedule (30) has various scheduling parameters that permit diagnostic testing to be scheduled to occur at certain times, at the expiration of intervals, or upon certain events. The schedule (30) also permits different levels of diagnostic testing, each level with its own schedule. The tester (12) is programmed to run an appropriate level of diagnostic testing if more than one level is due to occur.

Abstract: A clinical information reporting system for use with an electronic database for a health care facility, the electronic database being a rotational and modular database for the provision of a scalable and extensible configuration preferably consisting of a workstation as the base configuration and being configurable for use in small and medium network situations and being particularly adapted for the receipt, manipulation, modification and generation of cardiology reports such as resting ECG records and stress ECG records.