Abstract: The present system is used for metered dispensing of bulk material. The system includes a hopper containing the bulk material, a base supporting the hopper, and a gate removably interposed between a hopper outlet and a base outlet. The gate rotates between positions either allowing or preventing flow of the bulk material from the hopper outlet to the base outlet. An impeller is located inside of the hopper, extending from an inner surface of the hopper to agitate the bulk material before, during, or after dispensing to ensure the hopper outlet is not blocked.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a telescopic cable and wire-pulling device. The device allows an user to easily pull and install cables in high places, such as a ceiling, without risk of injuries. The cable-pulling device comprises an elongated telescopic pole having a plurality of telescoping segments for adjusting the length of the pole. Each telescoping segment is six feet in length, and can be extended or retracted using slip locks or any other similar telescoping locking mechanism. The device further has a hook on the distal end and a mechanical trigger on the proximal end. The mechanical trigger is depressed to actuate and control the hook for gripping a wire or a cable for pulling down and/or installing the wire or cable at a desired place.

Abstract: A method of making a peanut beverage provides for roasting a plurality of peanuts, which have been removed from their shells, at a temperature of at least 350° F. It has been found that this temperature produces the required flavor and boldness to place the peanuts more on par with coffee beverages. The temperature generally will be no higher than 550° F. The plurality of peanuts is roasted for at least 8 minutes. Though the ultimately duration of roasting may vary depending on the temperature, typically the roasting will take place over a period of less than about 35 minutes. The term “plurality” has been used herein as there is no set amount of peanuts which may be roasted at any given time.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for mitigating the effects of burst noise on packets transmitted in a communications system. A transmitting device applies an outer code, which may include, for example, a block code, an exclusive OR (XOR) code, or a repetition code, to one or more packets prior to adaptation of the packets for transmission over the physical (PHY) layer of the communications system, wherein the PHY layer adaptation may include FEC encoding of individual packets. The outer coded packets are then separately transmitted over a channel of the communications system. A receiving device receives the outer coded packets, performs PHY level demodulation and optional FEC decoding of the packets, and then applies outer code decoding to the outer coded packets in order to restore packets that were erased during transmission due to burst noise or other impairments on the channel.

Abstract: The invention is generally a pick apparatus for playing a stringed musical instrument having an elastic and generally cylindrically shaped cot having an opening and a tip, and has a substantially uniform thickness, as well as a pick capable of plucking a string of a musical instrument attached thereto proximate to the cot's hemisphere and extending beyond the hemisphere away from the cot such that the pick is capable of plucking a string of a musical instrument when the cot is being worn on a digit of a user.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for mitigating the effects of burst noise on packets transmitted in a communications system. A transmitting device applies an outer code, which may include, for example, a block code, an exclusive OR (XOR) code, or a repetition code, to one or more packets prior to adaptation of the packets for transmission over the physical (PHY) layer of the communications system, wherein the PHY layer adaptation may include FEC encoding of individual packets. The outer coded packets are then separately transmitted over a channel of the communications system. A receiving device receives the outer coded packets, performs PHY level demodulation and optional FEC decoding of the packets, and then applies outer code decoding to the outer coded packets in order to restore packets that were erased during transmission due to burst noise or other impairments on the channel.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for mitigating the effects of burst noise on packets transmitted in a communications system. A transmitting device applies an outer code, which may include, for example, a block code, an exclusive OR (XOR) code, or a repetition code, to one or more packets prior to adaptation of the packets for transmission over the physical (PHY) layer of the communications system, wherein the PHY layer adaptation may include FEC encoding of individual packets. The outer coded packets are then separately transmitted over a channel of the communications system. A receiving device receives the outer coded packets, performs PHY level demodulation and optional FEC decoding of the packets, and then applies outer code decoding to the outer coded packets in order to restore packets that were erased during transmission due to burst noise or other impairments on the channel.

Abstract: The invention is generally a pick apparatus for playing a stringed musical instrument having an elastic and generally cylindrically shaped cot having an opening and a tip, and has a substantially uniform thickness, as well as a pick capable of plucking a string of a musical instrument attached thereto proximate to the cot's hemisphere and extending beyond the hemisphere away from the cot such that the pick is capable of plucking a string of a musical instrument when the cot is being worn on a digit of a user.

Abstract: The invention is generally a pick apparatus for playing a stringed musical instrument having an elastic and generally cylindrically shaped cot having an opening and a tip, and has a substantially uniform thickness, as well as a pick capable of plucking a string of a musical instrument attached thereto proximate to the cot's hemisphere and extending beyond the hemisphere away from the cot such that the pick is capable of plucking a string of a musical instrument when the cot is being worn on a digit of a user.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for mitigating the effects of burst noise on packets transmitted in a communications system. A transmitting device applies an outer code, which may include, for example, a block code, an exclusive OR (XOR) code, or a repetition code, to one or more packets prior to adaptation of the packets for transmission over the physical (PHY) layer of the communications system, wherein the PHY layer adaptation may include FEC encoding of individual packets. The outer coded packets are then separately transmitted over a channel of the communications system. A receiving device receives the outer coded packets, performs PHY level demodulation and optional FEC decoding of the packets, and then applies outer code decoding to the outer coded packets in order to restore packets that were erased during transmission due to burst noise or other impairments on the channel.

Abstract: The present invention features geothermal systems with improved control strategies for efficient operation of multiple geothermal wells. In many embodiments, each well in a geothermal system of the present invention is operated in cycles. Each cycle includes a heat exchange phase followed by a thermal recovery phase. During a heat exchange phase, the well is engaged in exchanging heat with a heat pump. During a thermal recovery phase, the well is kept inactive for establishing thermal equilibrium with the earth. On many occasions, the geothermal system simultaneously operates a group of wells in a heat exchange phase to serve the building HVAC load, while maintaining other wells inactive for thermal recovery. The switching between different operational stages is regulated for each well to improve the overall performance of the system while satisfying the building demand.

Abstract: A system and method for integration and synchronization of interactive content with television programming uses existing analog or digital television programming that is entirely devoid of interactive content, or can integrate legacy interactive content with fully interactive content to provide a complete interactive experience to television viewers of current and future television programming that is synchronized to the original television content.

Abstract: A system and method for interaction with television programming uses either existing analog television programming with interactive content transmitted via separate communications channel or digital television with embedded interactive content in conjunction with a powerful viewer interface to provide a fully interactive television experience that is dynamic and personalized to each viewer.

Abstract: A system for manually and automatically generating interactive content for integration with television programming uses existing analog or digital television programming that is entirely devoid of interactive content, or can integrate legacy interactive content with fully interactive content generated automatically and/or with authoring tools in order to provide a complete interactive experience to television viewers of current and future television programming.

Abstract: A semiconductor load port alignment device has a housing with a registration face and an alignment measurement face. A plurality of sensors are contained in the housing near the alignment measurement face. A processor is connected to the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A robot alignment system (10) includes a sensor system (12). The sensor system (12) is designed to attach to an end effector of a robot arm (14). A rough alignment target (16) is attached to a work station. A fine alignment target (22) is placed on a work surface of the work station. The sensor system (12) first determines the rough alignment target (16). The robot arm (14) is then moved to detect the fine alignment target (22).

Abstract: An electronic level (10) has a rigid flat disk (12). An electronic level sensor (14) is attached to the rigid flat disk (12). An electronic display (20) is electrically connected to the electronic level sensor (14).

Abstract: A semiconductor load port alignment device has a housing with a registration face and an alignment measurement face. A plurality of sensors are contained in the housing near the alignment measurement face. A processor is connected to the plurality of sensors.