Abstract: A method of optimizing a waveform of an electrical current applied to an electrode includes the steps of: applying an electrical current to an electrode of a device; determining a waveform of the voltage or the current of the electrical current; representing the waveform by a mathematical description such as a number of points or an analytical function characterized by a number of unknown coefficients and a fixed number of known functions; measuring a function of the device associated with the application of the electrical current; feeding the waveform description and the measurements to an algorithm, which may be in a computer program or other calculating device including manual calculations, including an optimization routine which uses the points or coefficients as independent variables for optimizing the function of the device; and performing the calculations to determine values of the points or coefficients which optimize the function of the device, and thereby determine an optimized waveform of the elect

Abstract: A washing machine is provided with an out-of-balance correction system which can sense an out-of-balance condition of an inner tub during a washing cycle. More specifically, the correction system supplies an amount of balancing fluid to one or more receiving pockets formed in the inner tub about front and rear injection zones of the inner tub. Stationary injectors are provided to selectively dispense the balancing fluid through molded passages extending between an outer tub and the receiving pockets.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a waveform of an electrical current applied to an electrode includes the steps of: applying an electrical current to an electrode of a device; determining a waveform of the voltage or the current of the electrical current; representing the waveform by a mathematical description such as a number of points or an analytical function characterized by a number of unknown coefficients and a fixed number of known functions; measuring a function of the device associated with the application of the electrical current; feeding the waveform description and the measurements to an algorithm, which may be in a computer program or other calculating device including manual calculations, including an optimization routine which uses the points or coefficients as independent variables for optimizing the function of the device; and performing the calculations to determine values of the points or coefficients which optimize the function of the device, and thereby determine an optimized waveform of the elect

Abstract: A method of supplying energy to a set of customer buildings having energy consuming appliances includes establishing a set of customer tolerances for conserving energy use in a set of customer buildings. A remote control system to control appliances in the customer buildings is established. At least some of the appliances in the set of buildings are controlled with the remote control system according to the customer tolerances to reduce the demand for energy.

Abstract: The invention also relates to a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel processor for producing hydrogen from a fuel; and a fuel cell stack including a plurality of polymer electrolyte membranes and a plurality of electrodes; where the polymer electrolyte membrane comprises a proton conducting hydrocarbon-based polymer membrane, the polymer having a backbone and having acidic groups on side chains attached to the backbone. The invention also relates to methods of removing contaminants from the fuel cell electrode.

Abstract: An automatic method and apparatus for providing services on a computer system. A set of services is established providing different functionality for the computer system. With each of the set of services an attribute is stored for identifying characteristics of the function of each of the set of services. Then, the first set of services can be retrieved by a first set of attributes which is specified irrespective of any locales which may be defined in the computer system. Thus, characteristics or attributes of most importance to a service may be used to describe it and used for retrieval of such services. The establishing of the first set of services includes building a structure which references each of the first set of services. Retrieving may include maintaining a reference to one of the services in the structure and iterating through the structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of the services.

Abstract: An automatic method and apparatus for providing services on a computer system. A set of services is established providing different functionality for the computer system. With each of the set of services an attribute is stored for identifying characteristics of the function of each of the set of services. Then, the first set of services can be retrieved by a first set of attributes which is specified irrespective of any locales which may be defined in the computer system. Thus, characteristics or attributes of most importance to a service may be used to describe it and used for retrieval of such services. The establishing of the first set of services includes building a structure which references each of the first set of services. Retrieving may include maintaining a reference to one of the services in the structure and iterating through the structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of the services.

Abstract: An oil filter wrench comprising a gripping strap having an inner and outer surface, a handle for tightening the gripping strap. Gripping fingers extending inwardly from the gripping strap, each gripping finger being round and symmetrical and having a smooth convex gripping inner surface and a smooth concave outer surface. The fingers are provided on the strap in spaced relationship to each other in clusters of nine at spaced intervals around the strap, arranged in parallel rows of three each.