Abstract: A remote controlled light switch cover assembly is described for converting a standard rocker switch into a remote controlled switch. In one embodiment, a method is described, performed by the remote controlled light switch cover, comprising receiving a wireless signal to actuate the standard rocker switch, activating an electric motor that causes a wiper to move along a surface of the standard rocker switch, detecting when the wiper has actuated the standard rocker switch, causing the electric motor to rotate in a reverse direction from the first direction, which causes the wiper to move back towards a valley of the standard rocker switch, detecting when the wiper is positioned over the valley, and in response to detecting when the wiper is positioned over the valley, causing the electric motor to stop rotating, causing the wiper to remain positioned over the valley.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for brokering data access requests and responses. Aspects of the invention include a brokering pipeline that sequentially processes data access requests and data access responses. The brokering pipeline manages access authentications, request brokering, response rewrite, cache, and hosting multiple (e.g., business) entities.

Abstract: A power converter includes an input and an output with an energy storage circuit and a power switching circuit coupled between the input and the output. A feedback circuit generates a feedback voltage which is differentially compared to a reference in an error amplifier circuit to generate an error amplification signal. A comparator circuit generates a control signal for controlling on/off of the power switching circuit based on a first comparison signal related to the error amplification signal and a second comparison signal related to a charging current of the energy storage circuit. A regulating circuit is coupled between an output of the error amplifier circuit and an input of the comparator circuit for receiving the first comparison signal, the regulating circuit is configured to couple a voltage compensation signal related to an input voltage received by the input to an output of the error amplifier, so as to reduce a variation amount of the error amplification signal when the input voltage varies.

Abstract: Ambiguous touch gestures on a touch screen displaying an arrangement of user interface items are resolved. Multiple candidate items are identified from a touch area, and a resolution menu is activated. Resolution menu items have corresponding candidate items, but resolution menu items are positioned relative to one another differently than their corresponding candidate items, with respect to gaps, edge alignment, presentation order, or size. A resolution menu item selection converts to a candidate item selection. Ambiguous Touch Resolution (ATR) code may reside in an operating system, in an application, or both. Some touch areas are circular, quadrilateral, or irregular, and defined in terms of vertex points, center, radius, or bitmaps, using one or more touch locations, previously specified values, offsets from touch locations, tracings, averages, or weighted averages.

Abstract: To assist user interaction through a touch screen, a continuous or discontinuous Area-Based Interaction (ABI) code area-to-magnitude function monotonically relates non-zero contact area sizes to corresponding pressure or other magnitude values as user input interactively controlling variables such as: depth behind the touch screen, paint flow, ink flow, rendered object movement, line width, state changes in a user interface button. Some embodiments use pressure velocity (contact area size change over time change) to zero-zero- or zero-constant-control variables. Some calibrate ABI code using sample contact area(s). Some ABI functions relate contact area sizes separated by thresholds to different respective magnitudes. Some contact areas are circular, quadrilateral, or irregular, and defined in terms of vertex points, center, radius, or bitmaps, using one or more touch locations, previously specified values, offsets from touch locations, tracings, averages, or weighted averages.

Abstract: User Interface Adaptation (UIA) code adapts user interfaces using input source identifiers, touch area size categories, and user interface components. Input source changes are detected by querying an operating system, checking device drivers, noting that touch area sizes crossed a threshold, or by user command. Adaptation includes disabling and/or enabling user interface components, thereby changing font size, layout, shape, and/or component display size. Changes between a mouse and a finger, or between adult fingers and child fingers, or between elastic and inelastic input sources, are some examples of input source changes. Some contact areas are circular, quadrilateral, or irregular, and defined in terms of vertex points, center, radius, or bitmaps, using one or more touch locations, previously specified values, offsets from touch locations, tracings, averages, or weighted averages. Some embodiments calibrate the touch area size categories.

Abstract: In a first step of a two step content selection operation, initial content can be selected by detecting movement of a content selection object with respect to a computing device. The selection area can be calculated based on the object movement that is detected. The content within the selection area can be selected and displayed in a second display area overlaying the original content. The initial content can be copied into the second display area. All or part of the initial content can be enlarged, enabling the second step of the selection operation in which a subset of the initial content is selected.

Abstract: In a first step of a content selection operation, content can be selected by detecting a freeform trajectory of one or more content selection objects with respect to a computing device. The selection area can be calculated based on the maximum area covered by the trajectory of movement that is detected. The selection area can be limited to the area bounded by the start selection point and ending release point. The content within the selection area can be selected. The “roughly selected” content can be copied into a second display area. All or part of the roughly selected content can be enlarged, enabling precise selection of content in a second selection operation.

Abstract: In a first step of a two step content selection operation, initial content can be selected by detecting movement of a content selection object with respect to a computing device. The selection area can be calculated based on the object movement that is detected. The content within the selection area can be selected and displayed in a second display area in which content of different types are separated into logical units. All or part of the initial content can be enlarged, enabling the second step of the selection operation in which a subset of the initial content is selected. Content can be transformed before being pasted into the target.

Abstract: A cavity for receiving insertion of a plunger is designed so that the plunger may be withdrawn without permitting creation of a suction force sufficient to remove from the cavity a workpiece that the plunger carried into the cavity.

Abstract: A fluid pump for delivering cooled working fluid in an engine cooling system includes a housing unit defining front and rear chambers, an inlet disposed upstream of a central region of the front chamber, an outlet disposed downstream of a surrounding region of the front chamber, a canister member dividing the rear chamber into stator- and rotor-side spaces for receiving a stator and a rotor, respectively, a hollow shaft which is rotated with the rotor to turn an impeller in the central region and which defines a passage, and an auxiliary conduit communicated with the inlet and the rear chamber so as to divert part of the working fluid to flow through the internal duct and the passage, thereby diffusing heat generated within the housing unit.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus is described for providing a reduced or moderated gravity environment in a terrestrial payload. The system includes the evaluation of terrain to support an appropriately shaped vehicle guide, the construction of a vehicle guide, the provision of a high-speed vehicle and a control system adapted to control a motion of the vehicle across the vehicle guide with a specific velocity profile so as to produce a moderated gravity environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for providing protected swapping of a peripheral component in a computer system. The method comprises determining a position of a first mechanical retention latch wherein the first mechanical retention latch has an open position and a closed position and is configured to communicatively couple to a computer expansion card slot. Provided the first mechanical retention latch is in the open position, the method further includes filtering power management events and preventing the computer system from powering up. Provided the first mechanical retention latch is in the closed position, allowing the computer system to accept power management events.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for providing protected swapping of a peripheral component in a computer system. The method comprises determining a position of a first mechanical retention latch wherein the first mechanical retention latch has an open position and a closed position and is configured to communicatively couple to a computer expansion card slot. Provided the first mechanical retention latch is in the open position, the method further includes filtering power management events and preventing the computer system from powering up. Provided the first mechanical retention latch is in the closed position, allowing the computer system to accept power management events.

Abstract: A lens locator positions a pair of lenses. The lens locator has a plurality of buckles and a connector which is made a of titanium-nickel alloy. The buckle has a hook extending from one end of the buckle and a generally U-shaped groove defined by the buckle. The U-shaped groove receives a lens of the sunglasses while folded and the U-shaped groove receives a lens of regular glasses while the sunglasses are in.