Abstract: A system and method for visualizing the trade-off between overall production and/or sales of a portfolio of products and a resulting aggregate contribution margin (ACM). The method includes solving an optimization model, or other suitable operation, that has an objective function that describes the ACM across a portfolio of products to determine the price, sales and production levels of the products that maximize the ACM for a particular set of constraints. The optimization model is solved for increasing aggregate sales levels for those constraints. The relationship between the aggregate sales level and the aggregate ACM is then graphed, and the optimization model is solved for different sets of constraints and increasing sales. The resulting graphs are analyzed to determine which constraints maintain sales volume while maximizing ACM, maintain ACM while maximizing sales volume, maximize ACM and maximize sales volume regardless of impact on ACM.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically creating an image. In one non-limiting embodiment, the image is created for an advertisement that may be targeted to an individual. The method includes identifying image input parameters that the image will be based on, such as a particular product to display, a specific viewer of the image, etc. The method selects image elements from a database of image elements, such as backgrounds, messages, animation, etc., based on the image parameters. The method then creates the image using the image elements where the design and creation of the image is subject to certain rules and constraints that must be followed, such as font size, color schemes, etc.

Abstract: A method for automatically creating personalized ads to target a specific individual. The method includes first identifying a potential customer who may be interested in a particular product. An automated process then learns about and understands the customer based on his location and how that person interacts with the particular medium on which the ad is going to be presented. Once the information about the customer is developed, an advertisement is created that includes a collection of ad components that identify parts of the ad that may be of interest to the customer based on the learned information. The ad components are selected from a database of available components. The advertisement is then scheduled and placed in the medium and its measure of effectiveness is determined based on the customer's reaction thereto. These measures of effectiveness are used to further refine parameters in understanding the customer and designing the ad.

Abstract: A lamp and socket assembly (10) comprises a housing (12) including a socket cavity (25). The socket cavity (25) is defined by side walls and a bottom wall (80). A vent hole (82) passes though the bottom wall (80) of the socket cavity. A lamp (16) has a lamp base (17). A lamp socket (14) is disposed in the socket cavity (25) and includes a through passage (42) for receiving the lamp base (17) and at least one retaining finger (38a, 38b) for retaining the lamp base (17) in the through passage (42). An electrical contact insert (26) is received in the socket cavity (25). A plurality of electrical contacts (28) are received in and retained by the contact insert (26). A plurality of blade terminals (46) are interlocked with the contact insert (26), with respective ones of the contacts (28), and with the housing (12).

Abstract: A protective coating for a metal substrate is provided that is light, durable, galvanically protective, and easily applied at the site of manufacture. The coating has at least two layers, one of which is a galvanizing layer and one of which is a micro-composite of a galvanic metal and a non-conducting material, such as polymer. Such coatings are useful for example to protect pipes or other metal surfaces in corrosive environments. Methods of producing the coating are provided, including methods that use advanced spraying techniques to provide very thin but consistent layers. Using the advanced spraying methods the composite layer can be created by co-spraying the galvanic metal and the nonconductive material onto the surface of the galvanic coating. Optionally, an outer coat of insulating material can be applied to provide further protection to the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is provided that includes a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of multiplexed heater electrodes, wherein the heater electrodes are part of a multiplex circuit including a common lead connecting the heater electrodes to a power supply, each of the heater electrodes being associated with one of the microfluidic channels. The microfluidic device also includes a control system configured to regulate power applied to each heater electrode by varying a duty cycle, the control system being further configured to determine the temperature each heater electrode by determining the resistance of each heater electrode.

Abstract: A control system, for controlling a process that repeats in a number of cycles, is arranged to control at least one input to the process and to modify the input or inputs iteratively over successive cycles so that an output of the process approaches a desired reference output, and so that, at each iteration a current input is determined by a two stage process the first being to minimize a cost function, the cost function including the tracking error between a calculated output for the current input and the reference output, and the change between the input of a previous iteration and the current iteration, the second through the introduction of a relaxation parameter obtained by empirical methods or mathematical optimization.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for integrated electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail messaging. A common message format is defined for use by an electronic mail service and a telecommunications service so electronic mail messages that may include voice and fax mail attachments may be exchanged between the services. Message senders and receivers may choose from a variety of filter and forward options that allow them to manage their communications and specify a preference for receiving messages at the electronic mail or telecommunications service. Forwarding and conversion of messages is performed automatically. The options are used to define a set of rules to be applied to inbound and outbound messages so that messages are sent and received in accordance with the preferences of the senders and receivers.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a temperature sensor and a 4-20 mA transmitter on a single flexible circuit subassembly with a separate housing suitable for use in industrial control or HVAC applications. In a preferred embodiment, a narrow flex circuit substrate includes a silicon diode-based surface-mount sensor at a sensor end, a surface-mount programmable transmitter IC on a flex circuit substrate in the transmitter section, conductive traces connecting the sensor to the transmitter IC, and two conductive pads at an output end for connecting the 4-20 mA output to a pair of external wires. Additional traces on the flex subassembly are provided for testing and programming the transmitter IC and sensor. The sensor end of the flex subassembly is mounted in a metal sensor tube, filled and sealed in the same manner as RTD or thermistor sensors with leads are currently assembled for use in industrial control or HVAC applications.

Abstract: An electrical junction assembly for a wiring harness (10) couples one or more branch wires (18) to a main trunk line (12). The junction assembly includes a housing (16) having an internal cavity into which is received first (34) and second (36) trunk terminals which interlock with one another and establish electrical conductivity therethrough. A branch wire (18) is inserted into the housing (16) through a branch opening (28). The branch wire (18) has a branch terminal (48) on its end which is adapted to mechanically connect to the interlocked first (34) and second (36) trunk terminals, thereby establishing electrical conductivity between the branch wire (18) and the main trunk line (12). A mounting member (56) is formed integrally on the housing (16) to provide a secure connection to a suitable mounting structure (58). A hook (40) within the cavity in the housing (16) automatically engages and securely retains the second trunk terminal (36) when inserted into a full operative position.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for integrated electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail messaging. A common message format is defined for use by an electronic mail service and a telecommunications service so electronic mail messages that may include voice and fax mail attachments may be exchanged between the services. Message senders and receivers may choose from a variety of filter and forward options that allow them to manage their communications and specify a preference for receiving messages at the electronic mail or telecommunications service. Forwarding and conversion of messages is performed automatically. The options are used to define a set of rules to be applied to inbound and outbound messages so that messages are sent and received in accordance with the preferences of the senders and receivers.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling the temperature of a heater electrode associated with a microfluidic channel of a microfluidic device, wherein power applied to the heater electrode is regulated by varying the duty cycle of a pulse width modulation (PWM). In another aspect, the present invention a controller configured to compute the temperature of the heater electrode during the power-on portion of the duty cycle and the during the power-off portion of the duty cycle and to adjust the duty cycle as necessary to achieve a desired temperature in the heater electrode.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a systems and methods for the real-time amplification and analysis of a sample of DNA.

Abstract: A security system is disclosed for detecting intrusions at a plurality of predetermined locations having moveable closure members. The system comprises a plurality of intrusion sensors disposed at the locations for detecting movement of the closure members. Primary and secondary optical fiber sensor lines are routed through the intrusion sensors, and primary and secondary scanning units pulse signals along the sensor lines and receive reflected signals back from the sensor lines. A processor processes the reflected signals to determine if a reflection and/or attenuation change has occurred in a reflected pulse signal signifying a prescribed level of unauthorized intrusion activity which matches a signature intrusion signal. In the event of a cut through in the sensor lines, the primary sensor line monitors the sensors downstream of the break, and the secondary sensor line is activated to monitor the sensors downstream of the break.

Abstract: A molded lamp socket. The molded lamp socket includes a lamp base body molded from a first plastic material providing a socket cavity with an opening for receiving a lamp bulb. The molded lamp socket also includes a lead extending from a first contact portion disposed in the socket cavity to a second contact portion spaced from the socket cavity. The molded lamp socket also includes a mounting body molded from a second plastic material providing a plug cavity encircling the second contact portion. The mounting body is overmolded with respect to the lamp base body.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for improving the accuracy of the voltage reference output of a floating gate voltage reference circuit by minimizing the temperature coefficient, Tc. The system and method provides a minimized Tc on output reference voltage, for a wide variety of such output voltages. In a dual floating gate voltage reference circuit wherein a voltage reference output (Vref) is generated as a function of the difference in charge of said floating gates, a method includes causing each of the floating gates to change voltage substantially the same amount as a function of temperature such that, during a read mode of the reference circuit, the temperature coefficient, Tc, of the voltage reference output is substantially reduced. The system and method achieves very low Tc over a wide range of reference or comparator voltages using low cost analog test equipment and methods.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a nerve adjacent the distal end of at least one probe, comprising: determining relative neuro-muscular response onset values for a plurality of spinal nerves; emitting a stimulus pulse from a probe or surgical tool; detecting neuro-muscular responses to the stimulus pulse in each of the plurality of spinal nerves; and concluding that the electrode disposed on the distal end of the at least one probe is positioned adjacent to a first spinal nerve when the neuro-muscular response detected in the first spinal nerve is detected as a current intensity level less than or equal to a corresponding neuro-muscular response onset value of the first spinal nerve.

Abstract: Data exchanged between at least one server and at least one user is intercepted in a capturing module that operates independently from the server and the user. A copy of the intercepted data is stored in a database. The intercepted data that is destined for the server is forwarded to the server, or the intercepted data that is destined for the user is forwarded to the user. The intercepting and storing are performed transparently to the user. Interception of data may be performed continuously, and storing of data may be performed during a predetermined time window or at predetermined time intervals. The intercepted data may include events, attributes, images, user identifications, requests, and/or responses. Only a predetermined portion of the data and/or data that satisfies predefined rules is stored. The user may be a web server or a web browser, and the server may be a web server. The data may be exchanged in the form of an Internet protocol and assembled into a web page view for the user.

Abstract: A circuit for setting a reference voltage in a floating gate circuit is configured as a precise voltage comparator circuit with a built-in programmable voltage reference. Once the one or more floating gates in the floating gate circuit are set during the a SET operation, the floating gate circuit is configured during a READ mode as a comparator circuit with a built-in voltage reference.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for improving the accuracy of the voltage reference output of a floating gate voltage reference circuit by minimizing the temperature coefficient, Tc. The system and method provides a minimized Tc on output reference voltage, for a wide variety of such output voltages. In a dual floating gate voltage reference circuit wherein a voltage reference output (Vref) is generated as a function of the difference in charge of said floating gates, a method includes causing each of the floating gates to change voltage substantially the same amount as a function of temperature such that, during a read mode of the reference circuit, the temperature coefficient, Tc, of the voltage reference output is substantially reduced. The system and method achieves very low Tc over a wide range of reference or comparator voltages using low cost analog test equipment and methods.