Abstract: A wire guide includes a mandrel that has a proximal portion and a distal portion. A first coating with a low coefficient of friction is disposed on the proximal portion of the mandrel. A second coating is disposed on the distal portion of the mandrel, where the second coating provides a sub-structure. A third coating is disposed on the second coating, where the third coating comprises a surface that allows for easy maneuverability of the wire guide. The first coating on the proximal portion provides enough lubricity to keep the wire guide from becoming bound or stuck in a catheter or medical device while still allowing a user to have a good grip of the wire guide. The second coating on the distal portion provides lubricity for the wire guide, which allows the user to easily maneuver the wire guide through a vascular anatomy.

Abstract: A dual stage coalescer includes a separator in a separator chamber separating gas and liquid by inertial impaction, and a coalescer filter element in a coalescer chamber separating gas and liquid by coalescence. A transfer tube extends between the separator chamber and a downstream subchamber in the coalescer chamber at the downstream face of the coalescer filter element, and supplies pre-separated liquid from the separator chamber through the transfer tube to the noted downstream subchamber as driven by pressure differential between the separator chamber and the downstream subchamber, to eliminate a dedicated housing drain outlet from the separator chamber. The coalescer may provide a crankcase ventilation filter for an internal combustion engine having blowby gas containing an air-oil mixture.

Abstract: A filter includes a housing with multiple flow passages and filter elements, including at least first and second flow passages therethrough including respective first and second filter elements in parallel. Respective internal dividing walls separate flow passages in space saving relation.

Abstract: A relationship graph representing a social network connecting multiple entities is created and maintained as nodes and edges. Data received for an entity is used to create a new node. A strength of relationship value is calculated for each relationship between the new entity and an entity represented by an existing node and assigned to an edge is created to represent each relationship. Data received for an existing node causes the node to be updated, and the strength of relationship values for each of its relationships to be recalculated and assigned to the appropriate edge. More than one node may exist for an entity and conflicts among the data of the multiple nodes are reconciled. The received data may be extracted from data sources owned by a user in accordance with privacy criteria for the user, or may result from processing data in the relationship graph.

Abstract: A filter includes a housing with multiple flow passages and filter elements providing volume-efficient bottom-in, top-out flow or top-in, bottom-out flow. In another embodiment, parallel filtering flow paths are provided with multiple filter elements having respective overlapped sections axially aligned, with at least one filter element having a radial extension section non-axially aligned with another of the filter elements.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method for generating a curved pipe object in a computer-aided design drawing where the geometry of a curved pipe object is generally represented as a segment of a helix. A user selects a curved pipe creation method and a set of geometric attributes from which the helix parameters may be determined. From the helix parameters, a display representation of the curved pipe object may then be generated and displayed in the CAD drawing.

Abstract: A fluid filter assembly of a filtration system is described. The filter assembly described includes a cover member and a filter cartridge having at least one filter element and a plate member. The plate member includes a seal surface on one side facing the cover member, and a seal surface on another side facing away from the cover member. The seal surface facing the cover member is configured to seal with the cover member, and the seal surface facing away from the cover member configured to seal with another component of the filtration system. The assembly provides a structure that can retain a seal between sealing surfaces of the cover and the filter cartridge, at least while the fluid filter assembly is being serviced, so as to at least minimize fluid dripping and leakage.

Abstract: Portable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like may obtain power from fuel cells that consume fuel from fuel reservoirs of the portable devices. A network of fueling stations permits users of portable devices to main the devices operational by frequently topping up the fuel reservoirs. Payment systems combine payments for fuel with larger payments for other transactions to avoid the overhead of processing individual payments for very small amounts.

Abstract: A relationship graph of nodes representing entities and edges representing relationships among the entities is searched to find a match on search criteria, such as an individual or a company. Paths through the relationship graph to the match are identified and a relevance value is associated with each path. A node in each path is specified as a connector for the path. The connectors and relevance values may be displayed to allow a choice of paths. If more than one match is found, a selection may be made by a user. Additionally, any matches may be filtered according to privacy rules.

Abstract: An improved redundant computing apparatus has a chassis assembly configured to (i) mount to a standard electronic equipment rack and (ii) consume substantially 1U of space in a particular direction within the standard electronic equipment rack. The chassis assembly includes a housing and a midplane disposed within the housing. The apparatus further includes a set of power supply/blower assemblies configured to electrically connect to and electrically disconnect from the midplane of the chassis assembly in a hot swappable manner, and a set of computing devices configured to electrically connect to and electrically disconnect from the midplane of the chassis assembly in a hot swappable manner. By way of example, the set of computing devices is adapted to move data into and out of a set of disk drives on behalf of a set of external host computers.

Abstract: A crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine has a jet pump suctioning scavenged separated oil from the oil outlet of an air/oil separator and pumping same to the crankcase.

Abstract: A multi-display computer system comprises a display member rotatably coupled to a base member. The display member has a first display device disposed on an interior surface thereof and a second display device disposed on an exterior surface thereof. The computer system also comprises a display manager executable by a processor and adapted to enable a user to automatically control a display mode of the second display device independent of a display mode of the first display device.

Abstract: A method for a client to receive streaming media over a network includes receiving data having the streaming media encoded therein and storing the received data in a de-jitter buffer thereby increasing a fullness of the de-jitter buffer. The method further includes, when the fullness reaches a fill level, initiating play out of the stored data from the de-jitter buffer, and changing the fill level while playing out the stored data.

Abstract: A filter includes a filter element formed of filter media, and a plastic framework molded and bonded to and structurally supporting the filter media. One embodiment desirably provides a two-component assembly consisting solely of two components, namely the filter media and the plastic framework molded thereon. In a further embodiment, the plastic framework includes a resilient seal integrally molded therewith and of the same plastic material thereof, eliminating a separate component for the seal. In a further embodiment, a filter combination includes a primary filter element and a secondary filter element. In a further embodiment, a resilient integrally molded seal is provided.

Abstract: A filter includes a filter element formed of filter media, and a plastic framework molded and bonded to and structurally supporting the filter media. One embodiment desirably provides a two-component assembly consisting solely of two components, namely the filter media and the plastic framework molded thereon. In a further embodiment, the plastic framework includes a resilient seal integrally molded therewith and of the same plastic material thereof, eliminating a separate component for the seal. In a further embodiment, a filter combination includes a primary filter element and a secondary filter element. In a further embodiment, a resilient integrally. molded seal is provided.

Abstract: A filter with installation integrity permits fluid flow only in a first installation condition and not in a second undesired or mis-installation condition, including improper alignment or mounting of a filter element in a housing, an incorrect replacement filter element, absence of a filter element, and an incorrect housing cover. A magnetically actuated valve has a piston controlling fluid flow according to installation condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for diverting chad in a paper printer including a paper supply, a cutting mechanism for cutting the paper perpendicular to the path of the paper and a diverter flap positioned downstream of the cutting mechanism, the diverter flap being biased to reside in a first position defining a first path for chad to travel to be delivered into a receptacle, the diverter flap moving to a second position when a cut sheet falls thereon thereby allowing the cut sheet to travel a second path into a receiving tray.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided including a fuel cell stack having a first end and second end, the stack comprising at least one fuel cell, a first end unit disposed adjacent the first end of the fuel cell stack, a second end unit disposed adjacent the second end of the fuel cell stack, and a compression retention system. The compression retention system includes at least one generally planar strip forming at least one bend, wherein the at least one strip extends from the first end unit to the second end unit of the fuel cell system. The at least one bend of the planar strip can form at least one serpentine shape.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for correcting scan position errors in an imaging system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes determining an image beam velocity error as a function of a position within a scan line of an image, and using the image beam velocity error to determine a plurality of pixel clock frequencies to be respectively applied to a plurality of positions within the scan line.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for minimizing the startup delay of streaming media transmitted through networks. A server maintains a portion of the media stream stored in an initial burst transmit buffer. At startup, the stored portion is transmitted at a rate higher than the fixed frame rate, exploiting the full available bandwidth. The initial burst transmission fills up the de-jitter receive buffer at the receiving end faster, thereby shortening the startup delay. Then transmission is switched to the regular rate, from the regular buffer. A variable bit rate transcoder is optionally used for the data of the initial transmission. The transcoder diminishes the size of these frames, so they can be transmitted faster. This shortens the start up delay even more. A receiver has a buffer with a fill level started at a value lower than a final value. This triggers the beginning of play out faster, further shortening the delay time.