Abstract: A condenser and a containment vessel adapted to efficiently condense a gas out of a mixture of condensing and non-condensing gases. In condensers, the fraction of gas within a condenser made up of non-condensing gases can be significantly reduced by withdrawing gas from localised regions of relatively low temperature where the mass fraction of non-condensing gases will be relatively high. In containment vessels, pressures can be reduced by providing a large surface area of the liquid into which the condensing gas condenses in a relatively cool region of the containment vessel. Both these effects result from an appreciation of the manner in which non-condensing gases tend to accumulate in regions which are relatively cold.

Abstract: In a handheld computing device that includes a backlit display having a variable-intensity backlight, a method for controlling the intensity of light produced by the backlight involves the following steps. The computing device also includes user data input means, and data processing means coupled to the user data input means and the backlit display. The data processing means includes at least one software application that is configured to display information on the display. The method involves the steps of (1) setting the intensity to a first intensity level and activating one of the software applications; and (2) setting the intensity to a minimum intensity level, less than the first intensity level, after expiry of a predetermined elapsed time of non-activity from the user data input means. The predetermined elapsed time is based on the activated software application.

Abstract: The invention relates to protective coating systems derived from a functional polyester resin, a cross-linker and a phenol-formaldehyde resin. Also provided is a method of coating a metal substrate using the protective coating systems to produce a cross-linked protective coating. Further provided is a composite material prepared with the coating system and, in certain embodiments, useful in fabricating metal foodstuffs storage containers. The composite material may be particularly useful in fabricating foodstuffs storage containers and “easy-open” end closures wherein the cross-linked protective coating contacts the foodstuffs.

Abstract: A food slicer is provided having a support member including a base portion and an upstanding portion integrally formed with the base portion. The upstanding portion includes a rotating cutting blade secured thereto for slicing food product and at least one motor positioned within the upstanding portion for rotating the cutting blade. The base portion includes a food product table slidably secured thereto and is movable across the cutting blade for holding product while it is being sliced by the cutting blade. An adjustable gage plate also is provided for determining the thickness of a food product to be sliced by the cutting blade. First and second top surfaces are formed by a distal end of the upstanding portion of the support member. The base portion and the upstanding portion are formed as a single piece with a total continuous surface with no openings, seams, crevices or the like below the first and second top surfaces.

Abstract: A food slicer is provided having a support member including a base portion and an upstanding portion integrally formed with the base portion. The upstanding portion includes a rotating cutting blade secured thereto for slicing food product and at least one motor positioned within the upstanding portion for rotating the cutting blade. The base portion includes a food product table slidably secured thereto and is movable across the cutting blade for holding product while it is being sliced by the cutting blade. An adjustable gage plate also is provided for determining the thickness of a food product to be sliced by the cutting blade. A pusher for engagement with the food product during slicing is included where the pusher is secured to the food product table and is capable of being rotated toward a front end of the food product table to a position beneath the food product table for accommodating longer food product while enabling easier access by an operator.

Abstract: Disclosed are Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol F, Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), and Bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE)-free coating compositions for metal substrates including an under-coat composition containing a polyester (co)polymer, and an under-coat cross-linker; and an over-coat composition containing a poly(vinyl chloride) (co)polymer dispersed in a substantially nonaqueous carrier liquid, an over-coat cross-linker, and a functional (meth)acrylic (co)polymer. Also provided is a method of coating a metal substrate using the BPA, BPF, BADGE and BFDGE-free coating system to produce a hardened protective coating useful in fabricating metal storage containers. The coated substrate is particularly useful in fabricating multi-part foodstuffs storage containers with “easy-open” end closures.

Abstract: The results of a performance appraisal are correlated with data collected from a job assessment process. Questions from the assessment that relate to high employee performance, and low employee performance are desirably identified. Questions that have no relation to performance are also desirably identified, as well as any additional questions such as those that show gender, age, or racial bias, for example. For those questions that are shown to predict high or low performance, the relative weights of those questions in the job assessment can be adjusted upwards so that they will have a greater bearing on whether an employee is hired. Those questions that show little or no relation to employee performance can be weighted downward, or removed entirely, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient job assessment process.

Abstract: A job analysis is created for a particular job based on a database of job related skills and abilities. Using the job analysis, a job requisition process, an assessment process, and a performance appraisal process are generated. One or more employees are hired through the requisition and assessment processes. After some period of time, one or more of the employees are assessed through the assessment process. During the assessment process administrators may identify skills or abilities not recognized in the job analysis. A database of job related skills may be searched for the previously unidentified skills or abilities. If found, the skills or abilities are incorporated into the existing job analysis. If the identified skills or abilities are not found, the database is updated to incorporate the newly identified skills or abilities. A new job requisition process, assessment process, and performance appraisal process are then generated using the updated job analysis.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a portable computing device, involves the steps of (1) performing one manufacturing step in the manufacture of the portable computing device by interfacing a hardware component with another component of the computing device; and (2) performing a subsequent manufacturing step in the manufacture by (i) identifying the interfaced hardware component from a response received at the another component; and (ii) initializing the identified interfaced hardware component using a device driver associated therewith.

Abstract: A dispensing package with single use integral thermal engine for a product has an upper product tray having a product well for holding the product with a peelable lid removably attached to the upper product tray, covering the product contained in the product well. A lower base tray, having a thermal engine well, is attached to the bottom of the upper product tray. A thermal engine is contained within the thermal engine well. The thermal engine has an oxidizer pouch containing an oxidizing agent and fuel reactive to the oxidizing agent. Applying pressure to the oxidizer pouch causes the oxidizer pouch to rupture or burst thus dispensing the oxidizing agent into the thermal engine well mixing with the fuel and reacting to generate heat.

Abstract: A hot spot filter for a light guide is created by taking an image of the light output pattern of an illiuminated light guide. The hot spot filter may be a film, a layer, or an additional liquid crystal display dedicated to attenuating bright spots from the light guide. The hot spot filter may be incorporated into the image display by adjusting the grey scale of individual pixels to provide sufficient compensation.

Abstract: The invention provides a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.

Abstract: In a handheld computing device that includes a backlit display having a variable-intensity backlight, and a function key, a method for controlling an intensity of light produced by the backlight involves the steps of (1) setting the intensity to a first level sufficient for viewing information on the display under first ambient lighting; and (2) upon activation of the function key, setting the intensity to a second level sufficient for viewing information on the backlit display under second ambient lighting that is different than the first ambient lighting.

Abstract: A method of distributing digital entertainment works at least partly over a global computer network, which includes providing a card containing a code and information as to a digital entertainment work associated with each card, distributing the card to a purchaser, providing a website having a transfer area, the website being accessible over the Internet by the purchaser utilizing a user computer. In response to the purchaser requesting access to a transfer area of the website and inputting the code and prompted information about the digital entertainment work, verifying an authenticity of the card. The purchaser is then provided access to the transfer area for the purpose of transferring the digital entertainment work. Finally the purchaser is permitted to transfer the digital entertainment work onto the user computer.

Abstract: method of distributing digital entertainment works at least partly over a global computer network, which includes providing a printed medium containing a code and identifying information relating to a digital entertainment work, distributing the item to a purchaser, and providing a website accessible over the Internet by the purchaser. In response to an input by the purchaser to the website, the input including the code and identifying information, the authenticity of the printed medium is verified and the digital entertainment work is transferred to the purchaser.

Abstract: A hot spot filter for a light guide is created by taking an image of the light output pattern of an illuminated light guide. The hot spot filter may be a film, a layer, or an additional liquid crystal display dedicated to attenuating bright spots from the light guide. The hot spot filter may be incorporated into the image display by adjusting the grey scale of individual pixels to provide sufficient compensation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a portable computing device, involves the steps of (1) maintaining a table comprising stimulus/response data for possible hardware components that may be interfaced in the computing device; (2) performing one manufacturing step in the manufacture of the portable computing device by interfacing one of the possible hardware components with one other component of the computing device; and (3) performing one other manufacturing step in the manufacture by: (i) applying a stimulus to the interfaced hardware component, and reading a response from the interfaced hardware component in response to the applied stimulus; (ii) identifying the interfaced hardware component from a correlation of the response with the stimulus/response data; and (iii) saving the identification as configuration data in the computing device.

Abstract: In a portable computing device that includes a backlit device having a variable-intensity backlight, a light sensor, and a light controller coupled to the light sensor and the backlight, a method for controlling the intensity of light produced by the backlight involves the steps of (1) with the ambient light sensor determining the ambient light level at the computing device; and (2) with the light controller automatically adjusting the intensity of light produced by the backlight in accordance with the determined light level.

Abstract: A portable computing device includes a housing having an external surface, and an event notifier, a display device, and a light controller disposed within the housing. The event notifier includes an event notification lamp, and a light conduit terminating at the external surface for conveying light between the event notification lamp and the external surface. The display device includes illumination means for improved visualization of information rendered on the display device. The light controller is coupled to the event notifier and the illumination means. The light controller is configured to determine the intensity of ambient light external to the housing via the light conduit, and to adjust the intensity of light emitted by the illumination means in accordance with the determined ambient light intensity.

Abstract: The present invention provides nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and a process for making thereof. The compounds have inhibitory activity on the phosphorylation of kinases, which inhibits the activity of such kinases. The invention also provides intermediate compounds useful in the process, as well as final products produced by the process, and salts or prodrugs thereof. The invention further provides a method of inhibiting kinases and treating disease states in a mammal by inhibiting the phosphorylation of kinases comprising administering an effective amount of a compound according to the invention to a patient in need thereof.