Abstract: A system and method are described for aligning a sheet for simultaneous modification of a plurality of areas of the sheet. The sheet may be received by an alignment device from a feeder. The alignment device may angularly align the sheet, which may cause the sheet to become flush to the alignment device. The alignment device may adjust the sheet to correct for an offset alignment which may cause the sheet to be aligned with the direction of travel of the sheet. The alignment device may also align the sheet with a plurality of print heads. A conveyor may then pass the sheet beneath the plurality of print heads. The plurality of print heads may simultaneously modify the plurality of areas of the sheet.

Abstract: A file transfer system including a client and a server capable of updating portions of the file stored on the server. The system is capable of uploading portions of a file before the file has been specified at the client side. The files are stored in raw at the client and the server, which preserves the block list mapping. The file transfer protocol is capable of compressing and encrypting transferred data. As a result, the partial file writes are possible while maintaining current bandwidth usage. The write request data structure is provided with additional features in the form of flags and fields to provide reliable transmission of partial file data.

Abstract: A lightweight, armored protective garment for protecting an arm or leg from blast superheated gases, blast overpressure shock, shrapnel, and spall from a explosive device, such as a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) or a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The garment has a ballistic sleeve made of a ballistic fabric, such as an aramid fiber (e.g., KEVLAR®) cloth, that prevents thermal burns from the blast superheated gases, while providing some protection from fragments. Additionally, the garment has two or more rigid armor inserts that cover the upper and lower arm and protect against high-velocity projectiles, shrapnel and spall. The rigid inserts can be made of multiple plies of a carbon/epoxy composite laminate. The combination of 6 layers of KEVLAR® fabric and 28 plies of carbon/epoxy laminate inserts (with the inserts being sandwiched in-between the KEVLAR® layers), can meet the level IIIA fragmentation minimum V50 requirements for the US Interceptor Outer Tactical Vest.

Abstract: A process for cleaning the silicon surface of a semiconductor device material layer. The surface undergoes a pre-clean process followed by exposure to a nitrogen-containing gas. A polysilicon layer is formed on the surface in the same chamber and at about the same temperature as the cleaning and nitrogen exposing steps.

Abstract: A method for a consumer to receive compensation to subscribe to receiving marketing messages for certain marketers. The method allows for an interactive web site allowing a consumer to store a plurality of personal information and set the rate of compensation for each marketing message received, the marketer accessing a searchable database of consumers' personal information and identifying certain consumer criteria and a maximum price the marketer will pay to a consumer to receive the marketer's message, the consumer and marketer being able to edit information at any time, the marketer sending one or more marketing messages to a list of consumers which meet the marketer's criteria, and the consumer receiving compensation at the request rate for each marketing message received.

Abstract: A method for play of a parlor entertainment unit including a remote activation assembly and an activation-sensing unit. The activation-sensing unit, which may be battery operated and housed in the entertainment unit, may be in an energy-conserving sleep mode until the activation-sensing unit receives a wake-up signal. In one embodiment, the wake-up signal may be generated by the engagement of an activation mechanism, such as a coin slide. After being awoken, the activation-sensing unit may transmit an inquiry to the remote activation assembly as to whether the associated entertainment unit has been selected for play and/or whether there is a sufficient number of credits available for play. If that entertainment unit has not been selected for play, the activation-sensing unit may return to a sleep mode. However, if sufficient play credits are available for the entertainment unit, play may commence.

Abstract: An airborne wireless communications system includes circuitry configured to access information describing a configuration of a terrestrial wireless communications base station that has become disabled. The terrestrial base station is configured to implement wireless communications between wireless devices located within a geographical area and a network when the terrestrial base station is not disabled. The circuitry is further configured to, based on the information, configure the airborne station to have the configuration of the terrestrial base station. An airborne communications method includes answering a 911 call from a terrestrial cellular wireless phone using an airborne wireless communications system.

Abstract: A method of spacing a plurality of electrical conductors for carrying electrical current in an electrical machine may include positioning between the electrical conductors an uncured spacer body. The uncured spacer body may include a curable material, and an activatable heat generating material mixed with the curable material. The method may further include activating the activatable heat generating material to heat the curable material to form a cured spacer to thereby space the electrical conductors in the electrical machine.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for forming an insulated rotor conductor by bonding an insulating material onto a single side of a flat electrical conductor under controlled heat and mechanical pressure. The rotor conductor is suitable for assembly into the rotor assembly of a rotating electrical machine such as an alternating current generator. The apparatus includes modules to facilitate easy relocation within a manufacturing environment and to make efficient use of available manufacturing space. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a low-profile clip adapted to secure a listing bead to a foam substrate. Such a low-profile clip employs a novel geometry and is constructed from a material that affords resilience, durability, high resistance to a wide range of temperatures during field use and seat assembly and ease of bead installation with high pull-out strength. In an illustrative embodiment, the clip includes a base and a pair of legs extending upwardly from the base and defining therebetween a central region constructed and arrangement to capture the listing bead. Each of the legs extends upwardly from the base to a top barb that defines a gap narrower than central region. In this embodiment, the legs each extend upwardly from the base at a first angle of approximately 80 to 85 degrees and therefrom to each of the respective barbs at a second angle, with respect to a plane parallel to the base of approximately 88 to 90 degrees.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an automated manufacturing system and method for manufacturing photomasks wherein information provided by a customer at a remote location is interfaced, via a network, to a photomask manufacturer's computer system and automatically processes data for manufacturing a photomask and automatically formats and routes data to processing equipment. The present invention reduces the need for manual intervention, thereby avoiding costly delays and transcription errors associated therewith. The software of the present invention provides for automatic generation of data arrays, which can be used to process and monitor the status of a photomask during manufacture. Further, the software is capable of automatically modifying design data provided by a photomask user. Additionally, the software of the present invention includes an automatic messaging system which can notify users of the system, of status and errors in manufacture of photomasks.

Abstract: A system is described for simultaneously modifying a plurality of areas on a sheet. The system may include a plurality of print heads, a sheet, a conveyor, a memory, an interface, and a processor. The plurality of print heads may be operatively connected to the processor and may be configured to modify a plurality of areas on a sheet. The conveyor may be operatively connected to the processor and may pass the sheet beneath the plurality of print heads. The memory may be operatively connected to the processor and may store a set of data comprising a plurality of modifications to the plurality of areas on the sheet. The interface may be operatively connected to the processor and the memory and may receive the set of data. The processor may be operatively connected to the conveyor, the memory, the interface and the plurality of print heads. The processor may receive the set of data via the interface.

Abstract: This invention provides a deformable dispensing tube (1) with an internal device (8). The device is contained within the deformable dispensing tube but is a separate physical entity to the deformable dispensing tube and has the ability to move within the deformable dispensing tube. The object of the device is to aid the dispensing of part or all of the contents (16) of the deformable dispensing tube by the user.

Abstract: A wear assembly that includes a wear member and a boss to define an opening for receiving a lock forward of the front edge face of the lip which can mount the wear member in a stable and balanced manner without a through-hole in the lip. The wear member includes an aperture and a rib to define bearing faces on opposite sides of a central plane of the lip. The boss includes rails to hold the wear member in place, and a brace at the rear end, which supports the rails on the boss, abuts the rear of the wear member to reduce the loading on the lip, and deflects earthen material away from the wear member under reverse loading.

Abstract: This invention provides a single or multi-ganged clip that can be grouped into a festooned arrangement. That is, a plurality of clips are arranged together into a discrete assembly along a line of extension so that a human or automated handler can retrieve a grouping, separate one-clip-at-a-time from the grouping, and apply the separated clip to a mold cavity or other assembly structure. Each clip can include a base with opposing ends aligned in the direction of extension and transverse to an elongation direction for a connecting segment (if any) between ganged clip members. In an illustrative embodiment, these base ends include opposing male and female connectors. In this embodiment the male connector is a cylinder with an axis that extends transverse to the direction of elongation and the female connector defines a conforming cylindrical inner diameter, which allows it to nest over the male cylinder.

Abstract: A mattress shaping device that is placed below a mattress to allow a sleeper to customize the shape of substantially the entire mattress. The mattress shaper having a plurality of individually inflatable cells that may correspond with integral inlets that are accessible while the shaping device is placed underneath the mattress.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of forming a trailer receiver for use in connection with a trailer hitch assembly for towing trailers, campers, boats and the like. The invention relates to an improved method for forming a trailer receiver that utilizes cold forward extrusion and a tooling arrangement to efficiently and cost effectively produce custom trailer receivers.

Abstract: A projection data rebinning device for nearest-neighbor rebinning in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using on-line 3D axial LOR-to-bin mapping. The PETLINK™ DMA Rebinner (PDR) of the present invention includes a PCI card for on-line translation of detector-pair event packets into bin-address packets. The PDR delivers accurate axial and transaxial LOR nearest-neighbor rebinning and enables the more oblique LOR to be mapped into the proper sinogram bins. The PDR is used in association with hardware architecture in electrical communication with a medical imaging device. The data acquisition architecture includes a processor, random access memory (RAM), an operating system, and a data storage device. The PDR includes a plurality of FPGAs and flash chips. The FPGAs are in communication with each other via a high-bandwidth connection. The flash memory chips are used for look-up tables. The PDR performs on-line translation of detector-pair event packets into bin-address packets.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for initiating game play on a pay-for-play parlor game, such as a pool table having a playing surface, rails, pockets, a ball holding rack that retains pool balls, and an internal activation-sensing unit. The method includes depositing a game play fee into a remote activation assembly, remotely transmitting an activation signal once the game play fee is deposited, receiving the activation signal at the internal activation-sensing unit, and providing access to the pool balls upon said receiving step. A method is also disclosed for automatically scoring a pool-based game including detecting detectable devices embedded within the pool balls.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for monitoring tire pressure of a vehicle, involving a sensor having a structure for carrying a primary current to generate a primary electromagnetic field; and a pressure target module having a structure for inducing a secondary current to generate a secondary electromagnetic field when disposed in a vicinity of the sensor during a revolutionary incident.