Abstract: A printer using a paper supply roll is provided with a capability for conversion between snap-in loading of the paper roll, in which the roll is snapped into place with the tubular core of the paper roll being held to rotate between a pair of bearing members, and drop-in loading, in which the roll is dropped onto a support surface, against which the periphery of the roll then turns. In a first version, each of the bearing members has a flat side and a spherical side, which is turned inward for snap-in loading and outward for drop-in loading. In another version, the bearing members are moved inward for snap-in loading and outward for drop-in loading.

Abstract: A device to assist a beginner in learning how to snowboard. The device connects to the top rear of the snowboard and consists of a base plate that connects to the snowboard, a rotational component that connects to the base plate and allows vertical and horizontal rotation, and a handle that connects to the rotational component on one end and is held by the instructor on the other end. The instructor skis behind the beginner and applies force to the handle which controls the speed, direction and edging of the snowboard, thereby assisting the beginner in learning how to snowboard.

Abstract: A method and system that allows an on-line shopper to be assigned a queue number for each department in a store is presented. Each time the shopper's number comes up in a queue in a specific store department, a real-time audio/video session is initiated between the shopper and a personal assistant who is physically located in that specific department. Thus, the shopper is able to seamlessly and instantly move from department to department with minimal waiting down-time.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for enabling quantities of bulk-type products to be determined using RFID tags that can also be used to determine the existence of product or packaging containing RFID tags. Packaging and/or containers for the bulk products are configured so that the RFID tags contained thereon provide an indication of an approximate relative quantity of the bulk material. More specifically, the position and/or shielded or unshielded state of RFID tags are utilized to identify a quantity of the bulk-type material.

Abstract: A display system is disclosed. The display system includes a base, a screen movably coupled to the base, and a control unit coupled to the screen. The control unit adjusts the screen to a position based on at least one condition. The at least one condition can be an attribute such as a height or an eye position. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the display system increases the convenience of a user by automatically adjusting the screen to an optimal position for the user. As a result, improved readability of the screen is achieved while simplifying the use of the display system.

Abstract: A printer using a paper supply roll is provided with a capability for conversion between snap-in loading of the paper roll, in which the roll is snapped into place with the tubular core of the paper roll being held to rotate between a pair of bearing members, and drop-in loading, in which the roll is dropped onto a support surface, against which the periphery of the roll then turns. In a first version, each of the bearing members has a flat side and a spherical side, which is turned inward for snap-in loading and outward for drop-in loading. In another version, the bearing members are moved inward for snap-in loading and outward for drop-in loading.

Abstract: A duplex check printer includes an upper document path, a print head at one side of the upper document path, and a lower document path having a loop to invert a check so that information can be printed on both sides of the check. The check is driven within the upper document path by feed rolls, which are reversed when the check is driven from the upper document path to the lower document path. The check is driven within the lower document path by belts, which are in turn driven by a separate motor.

Abstract: An alert notification system for customers and sales personnel in a shopping area and a method of use is disclosed. In a first aspect, a system for alerting customers and sales personnel that merchandise has been left in a shopping area is disclosed. The system comprises a merchandise detector for detecting merchandise purchased by a customer and a customer detector for detecting whether the customer has left the merchandise. The system further includes a notification system responsive to the customer and merchandise detectors for alerting the customer when the customer has left the purchased merchandise. In a second aspect, the method comprises detecting the presence of merchandise associated with a customer via a second detector and detecting whether the customer has left the merchandise via a second detector. The method further includes alerting the customer, responsive to the first and second detectors, via a notification mechanism if the customer has left the merchandise.

Abstract: Thin, lightweight footwear made of a polyethylene material that is composed of a top part and a sole part that are sewn together such that when fitted properly to the wearer's foot the footwear encompasses the foot and extends to the level of the ankle. The top part is porous allowing the ingress and egress of soap and water. The sole has slip resistance properties due to the material from which it is made and the texture of its outer surface. The finished product can be folded and compressed for storage, then later unfolded and worn without the folding adversely affecting its intended function of providing a barrier between the wearer's feet and the tub or shower floor on which the wearer stands while the wearer showers.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, novel diagnostic and prognostic methods for detecting, or for detecting and differentiating between or among colorectal cell proliferative disorders. Preferably, said colorectal cell proliferative disorders are selected from the group consisting of colorectal carcinoma, colon adenomas, and colon polyps. The inventive methods are based on analysis of differential CpG dinucleotide methylation of genomic DNA between or among normal and disease states. Additional embodiments provide nucleic acids and oligomers (including oligonucleotides and peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-oligomers), nucleic acid arrays and kits useful for practicing said methods, and in otherwise detecting, or detecting and differentiating between or among colorectal cell proliferative disorders.

Abstract: A device to assist a beginner in learning how to snowboard. The device connects to the top rear of the snowboard and consists of a base plate that connects to the snowboard, a rotational component that connects to the base plate and allows vertical and horizontal rotation, and a handle that connects to the rotational component on one end and is held by the instructor on the other end. The instructor skis behind the beginner and applies force to the handle which controls the speed, direction and edging of the snowboard, thereby assisting the beginner in learning how to snowboard.

Abstract: In a graphics subsystem of a computer system, a method for performing front-side and back-side vertex lighting of successive vertices in the graphics pipeline without incurring pipeline stalls. The method includes computing the dot product terms for a plurality of light sources with respect to a vertex to obtain a magnitude and a sign of the dot product terms, wherein a positive dot product term corresponds to a front-side color and a negative dot product term corresponds to a back-side color. For each of the plurality of light sources having a positive dot product term, a color value corresponding to the light source for the vertex is computed. The resulting color values are multiplied and accumulated in parallel to obtain a respective front-side vertex color and back-side vertex color. The geometric orientation of the polygon corresponding to the vertex is then determined to ascertain whether the polygon is front facing or back facing.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing image data captures images responsive to programmed sequences. The sequences are performed on a periodic basis as well as in response to inputs corresponding to alarm conditions and transactions conducted at automated banking machines or other devices. Image data may also be captured in response to image conditions including the sensing of motion or the loss of usable video from selected cameras. Image data is stored in connection with data corresponding to circumstances associated with each triggering event. Stored image data may be searched by one or more parameters. Parameters include data stored in association with each image, types of events causing image data to be stored, as well as other image conditions in stored images.

Abstract: An interconnect structure having a dielectric layer with low dielectric constant is formed within an integrated circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, portions of a silicon dioxide layer (18) lying adjacent to a conductive interconnect (21) are removed to expose portions of a silicon nitride etch stop layer (16). A dielectric layer (22) having a low dielectric constant is then formed overlying the conductive interconnect (21) and the exposed portions of the silicon nitride etch stop layer (16). A portion of the dielectric layer (22) is then removed to expose the top surface of the conductive interconnect (21) to leave portions of the dielectric layer (22) between adjacent conductive interconnects (21). The resulting interconnect structure has reduced cross-talk between conductive interconnects (21) while avoiding prior art disadvantages of reduced thermal dissipation and increased mechanical stress.