Abstract: A system and method of operating a peripheral device in a plurality of functional modes is disclosed. The device may be part of a computer system including a host computer and the method includes selecting a functional mode of the device. In response to the selection of the functional mode, firmware is transferred to the device, the firmware corresponding to the selected functional mode. The firmware is stored in the device and is executed in the device to operate the device in the selected functional mode. The device may be a printer or other peripheral device having a plurality of functional modes.

Abstract: A prepolymer is prepared by reacting a mixture containing (a) at least one multifunctional compound, (b) at least one diisocyanate, and (c) at least one diol. The diol has a weight average molecular weight of at most 6000. The prepolymer, when reacted with an excess of water, forms a hydrogel polymer. The mixture of the prepolymer and water may be reaction molded, and used to form a contact lens.

Abstract: A circuit sheet comprising a substrate and wells dispersed on the substrate operable to hold conductive polymers that form circuit devices.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for a computer peripheral device comprises an interface translator that receives subsystem control instructions from a computer, translates those instructions into an internal format understood by the subsystems of the peripheral device, and passes the instructions to the appropriate subsystem component. The peripheral device requires no processing capabilities. Instead, all of the data processing is performed by a host computer and the host computer's central processing unit (CPU). Appropriate computer peripheral devices for the present invention include printers, scanners, and devices having a combination of functions such as printing, faxing, and copying.

Abstract: Ethernet, or more generally any packetized network system, remote management techniques are provided, where management instructions and data (“management packets”) are presented during the active idle signal period (e.g., during the inter-packet gap). The management packets are separated from the signalling before normal packet data processing. Thus, remote management is achieved transparently and without using payload bandwidth. Line cards, media converters, and other network devices can employ the management techniques. The management channel enables write and read commands to remote devices on the network, and alarm reporting by a remote device. Also, monitoring of remote device parameters (e.g., temperature, power status), monitoring of remote statistics, remote link testing (loopback), remote adjusting of maximum burst size, and bandwidth provisioning are enabled.

Abstract: An Ethernet, or more generally any packetized network system, remote management device and system operable via Ethernet connections according to non-Ethernet message instructions presented during the active idle signal period, e.g. during the inter-packet gap (IPG), which are separated from the Ethernet signalling before detection. A locally managed device includes a physical layer interface adapted to receive a secondary signal which is encoded to provide a corresponding signal while conforming to the active idle and minimum IPG requirements, and is received by a remote device managed according to the encoded signals provided from the local device during the IPG. Further embodiments provide multiple (serial) nesting of such remote devices along the Ethernet path, with the instructions to and data from the most distant such remote devices forwarded through intermediate remote devices according to the present invention.

Abstract: A prepolymer is prepared by reacting a mixture containing (a) at least one multifunctional compound, (b) at least one diisocyanate, and (c) at least one diol. The diol has a weight average molecular weight of at most 6000. The prepolymer, when reacted with an excess of water, forms a hydrogel polymer. The mixture of the prepolymer and water may be reaction molded, and used to form a contact lens.