Abstract: Techniques to automatically manage overlapping objects are described. An apparatus may include a context module operative to receive context information for a multimedia event, and determine various context parameters and control parameters for the multimedia event. The apparatus may further comprise a blending module communicatively coupled to the context module, the blending module operative to receive multiple media content streams for multiple media content views for the multimedia event, and blend the media content streams for the multiple media content views based on one or more control parameters to form a blended media content stream. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-absorbing composition comprising water-absorbing polymer structures, on the surface of which is at least one tannin fraction which has a number-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, which has a weight-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, or which is a hydrolysable gallotannin. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a water-absorbing composition, the water-absorbing composition obtainable by this process, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, chemical products, such as, for example, hygiene articles, the use of a water-absorbing composition or of a composite and the use of a tannin fraction.

Abstract: Techniques to generate a visual composition for a multimedia conference event are described. An apparatus may comprise a visual composition component operative to generate a visual composition for a multimedia conference event. The visual composition component may comprise a video decoder module operative to decode multiple media streams for a multimedia conference event, an active speaker detector module operative to detect a participant in a decoded media stream as an active speaker, a media stream manager module operative to map the decoded media stream with the active speaker to an active display frame and the other decoded media streams to non-active display frames, and a visual composition generator module operative to generate a visual composition with a participant roster having the active and non-active display frames positioned in a predetermined order. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques to automatically manage overlapping objects are described. An apparatus may include a context module operative to receive context information for a multimedia event, and determine various context parameters and control parameters for the multimedia event. The apparatus may further comprise a blending module communicatively coupled to the context module, the blending module operative to receive multiple media content streams for multiple media content views for the multimedia event, and blend the media content streams for the multiple media content views based on one or more control parameters to form a blended media content stream. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for the identification of unknown particles contained in a fluid. The method utilizes a source of radiation and at least one radiation detector to measure the radiation scattered by an unknown particle in the fluid. The measurement for the unknown particle is compared with a standard radiation scattering pattern capable of uniquely identifying a previously identified particle and the unknown particle is identified based upon the comparison.

Abstract: An improvement is described for use in a system that identifies particles in a fluid such as water by passing the fluid through a passage in a transparent carrier and detecting light from a laser beam that is scattered by particles, followed by comparing the scatter pattern to those of known particles, which increases the rate at which particles are detected. A plurality of transparent carriers with through passages are provided, and a narrow beam is directed through each carrier to scatter light from particles at a detect zone in each carrier passage. In one arrangement (60), the carriers (62, 64, 66) are connected in series, so a limited amount of water passes through detect zones (24A, 24B. 24C) to generate a high rate of particle detection. In another arrangement (130), the carrier passages are connected in parallel, so when a larger sample of water is available different parts of the water sample pass through different carrier passages, to again increase the rate of particle detection.

Abstract: A method for the identification of unknown particles contained in a fluid. The method utilizes a source of radiation and at least one radiation detector to measure the radiation scattered by an unknown particle in the fluid. The measurement for the unknown particle is compared with a standard radiation scattering pattern capable of uniquely identifying a previously identified particle and the unknown particle is identified based upon the comparison.

Abstract: A method for the identification of unknown particles contained in a fluid. The method utilizes a source of radiation and at least one radiation detector to measure the radiation scattered by an unknown particle in the fluid. The measurement for the unknown particle is compared with a standard radiation scattering pattern capable of uniquely identifying a previously identified particle and the unknown particle is identified based upon the comparison.

Abstract: A method for the identification of unknown particles contained in a fluid. The method utilizes a source of radiation and at least one radiation detector to measure the radiation scattered by an unknown particle in the fluid. The measurement for the unknown particle is compared with a standard radiation scattering pattern capable of uniquely identifying a previously identified particle and the unknown particle is identified based upon the comparison.

Abstract: A method for the identification of unknown microscopic particles in a fluid. A laser beam (104) is directed through the fluid while particles move through the beam. Light scattered by each particle moving through a short detect zone (114) along the beam (an “event”) is detected by some of sixteen detectors DA-DP to generate data for the event. First, a known specie of particles (e.g. a particular pathogen specie) is placed in pure fluid and a subpattern, or eventvector, of data is recorded for each of multiple events for that specie. Each eventvector represents the outputs of all detectors. The process is repeated for other known species (e.g. algae) likely to be encountered. The group of eventvectors for all selected species is analyzed by an algorithm that determines a projection direction that results in the closest grouping of eventvectors of the same specie and greatest of separation of groups of eventvectors of different species.

Abstract: In a inkjet print cartridge ink flows from the reservoir around the edge of the silicon substrate before being ejected out of the nozzles. During operation, warm thermal boundary layers of ink form adjacent the substrate and dissolved gases in the thermal boundary layer of the ink form the bubbles. If the bubbles to grow larger than the diameter of subsequent ink passageways these bubbles choke the flow of ink to the vaporization chambers. This results in causing some of the nozzles of the printhead to become temporarily inoperable. The disclosure describes a method of avoiding such a malfunction in a liquid inkjet printing system by providing a method for reducing residual air bubbles in an inkjet print cartridge by flushing the empty cartridge by passing carbon dioxide through the fill port or the ink ejection nozzles prior to filling the print cartridge with ink and thereby eliminating residual air bubbles from the print cartridge when the print cartridge is filled with ink.

Abstract: A method for operating a thermal ink jet printer including a printhead having ink firing heater resistors responsive to pulses provided to the printhead. Warming voltage pulses are applied to the printhead to warm the printhead to a temperature that is at least as high as a temperature that would be produced pursuant to ink firing pulses of a predetermined voltage, a predetermined pulse width, and a predetermined pulse frequency. A continuous series of ink firing pulses are then applied to the printhead, starting with a pulse energy substantially equal to the predetermined reference pulse energy and a pulse frequency equal to the predetermined pulse frequency, and then incrementally decreasing the pulse energy of the ink firing pulses. The temperature of the printhead is repeatedly sampled while the ink firing pulses are applied to the ink firing resistors to produce a set of temperature samples respectively associated with the decreasing pulse energies.

Abstract: In an inkjet print cartridge having a polymer nozzle member with windows formed therein for facilitating bonding of conductors to electrodes on a substrate, an adhesive is dispensed through the windows to encapsulate the exposed conductors bonded to the electrodes. The adhesive typically overflows outside the windows. To prevent the adhesive from flowing uncontrolled towards the nozzles formed in the nozzle member, a disruption or surface discontinuity is formed in the nozzle member surface between the windows and the nozzles. This disruption or surface discontinuity may be formed by either scratching, etching, cutting, pressing a blade into, or laser ablating the tape surface, or forming a raised wall on the tape surface, such that the flow of adhesive is inhibited because of mechanical and surface forces.

Abstract: The device ascertains existence of a small inkdrop to be ejected from a thermal-inkjet pen. It includes a light source (preferably a nonpoint source with extended threadlike form perpendicular to the light path), detector, and optical element--preferably a cylindrical lens--for passing light from source to detector through an inkdrop probe volume, and for causing that light to be concentrated near the detector. Along a segment of the light path near the detector, the light is concentrated into a cross-section which is much smaller than that of the probe volume and is, within that segment, approximately independent of position along the path.

Abstract: A method for operating a thermal ink jet printer including a printhead having ink firing heater resistors responsive to pulses provided to the printhead. Warming voltage pulses are applied to the printhead to warm the printhead to a temperature that is at least as high as a temperature that would be produced pursuant to ink firing pulses of a predetermined voltage, a predetermined pulse width, and a predetermined pulse frequency. A continuous series of ink firing pulses are then applied to the printhead, starting with a pulse energy substantially equal to the predetermined reference pulse energy and a pulse frequency equal to the predetermined pulse frequency, and then incrementally decreasing the pulse energy of the ink firing pulses. The temperature of the printhead is repeatedly sampled while the ink firing pulses are applied to the ink firing resistors to produce a set of temperature samples respectively associated with the decreasing pulse energies.