Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a gold plated battery on a circuit board comprises a gold plated circular cover plate having a circumference, a plurality of support legs extending axially from the circumference of the gold plated circular cover plate, a plurality of prongs extending from each support leg wherein each prong is adapted to fit in respective prong holes on the circuit board, and a gold plated electrical conductor with at least first and second contacts, the first contact adapted for connection to the gold plated battery, and the second contact adapted for connection to an electrical circuit. The support legs extending from the circumference of the circular cover plate are rigid which insures alignment when inserted in to a circuit board. Accordingly, the apparatus is well suited for surface mount technology. The gold plated electrical contacts provide maximum conductivity to the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A light collimating film has a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of linear optical elements having a primary axis running the length of the optical elements, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures being oriented at about 90 degrees relative to the primary axis of the linear optical elements. Another embodiment includes a back lighting display device having a lighting device, a display panel, and a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of linear prisms having peaks, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures being oriented at about 90 degrees relative to the peaks of the linear prisms.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an analog signal and methods of operating the same results in a cost effective solution for an audio sound generator. The apparatus for generating an analog signal comprises an I2C interface configured to provide programming data in response to write control signals, a non-volatile memory coupled to the I2C interface configured to store the programming data, a pulse width modulator coupled to the non-volatile memory configured to receive the programming data from the non-volatile memory and provide a pulse width modulated output in response to the programming data, and a d/a converter coupled to the non-volatile memory configured to receive the programming data from the non-volatile memory and provide an analog output in response to the programming data. The pulse width modulated output can be coupled to a piezoelectric speaker to produce audible sound. The analog output provides a line out signal that can be coupled to a dynamic speaker.

Abstract: The application of inkjet printing directly on lenticular lenses to create three-dimensional animated images that do not require film or complex interlacing techniques.

Abstract: A retroreflective structure is disclosed that has cube corner retroreflective elements. The structure includes a first array of retroreflective elements oriented in a first direction within a plane and a second array of retroreflective elements oriented in a second direction within the plane, wherein said second direction being about 90° to said first direction. The structure further includes a third array of retroreflective elements oriented in a third direction within the plane, wherein said third direction being about 180° to said first direction and a fourth array of retroreflective elements oriented in a fourth direction being about 270° to said first direction. In one embodiment, the retroreflective structure includes the retroreflective elements having cube corner elements having a pitch between elements in the range of between about 0.0035 and 0.0045 inches (0.088 and 0.114 millimeters).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interfacing a central processing unit to a network switch with an external memory that transfers data to the network switch at a different clock speed than transfers of data to the central processing unit provides an interlocking mechanism to prevent overwriting of data and underflows from occurring. The interlocking of the state machines, accomplished by the idling and advancing of a processor state machine and an external memory state machine, prevents either one of the separate state machines from outrunning the other state machine.

Abstract: A retroreflective structure includes a retroreflective sheeting having an array of transparent prisms formed into pairs of prisms. Each prism includes a base aperture and three intersecting lateral faces meeting at an apex. Each of the lateral faces includes a base edge which forms a portion of the perimeter of the base aperture. The base edge of each lateral face intersects the base edge of a contiguous lateral face to form a base point, the first face of at least one prism in the array including a first face first planar surface and a first face second planar surface. The first face first planar surface and the first face second planar surface are contiguous along an edge having a first and second end points, wherein the apex, the first end point, and a first base point are coplanar and form a continuous edge from the first base point to the apex.

Abstract: A retroreflective structure is disclosed that has cube corner retroreflective elements. The structure includes a first array of retroreflective elements oriented in a first direction within a plane and a second array of retroreflective elements oriented in a second direction within the plane, wherein said second direction being about 90° to said first direction. The structure further includes a third array of retroreflective elements oriented in a third direction within the plane, wherein said third direction being about 180° to said first direction and a fourth array of retroreflective elements oriented in a fourth direction being about 270° to said first direction. In one embodiment, the retroreflective structure includes the retroreflective elements having cube corner elements having a pitch between elements in the range of between about 0.0035 and 0.0045 inches (0.088 and 0.114 millimeters).

Abstract: A sheeting having linear prisms and method for forming the same are provided in which the prism includes a base, a first side, and a second side. In one embodiment, the first side includes a first planar surface and the second side includes a second planar surface and a third planar surface. In another embodiment, the first side includes the first planar surface extending from the base plane to a fourth planar surface which extends to the second planar surface at an apex of the prism. In particular embodiments, at least three of the planar surfaces can have different cross-sectional lengths.

Abstract: An en route package apparatus and methods for operating the same comprise a reservoir having a fluid, a tilt indicator section having an X direction indicator including an X capillary coupled to the fluid in the reservoir, a Y direction indicator including a Y capillary coupled to the fluid in the reservoir, and a Z direction indicator including a Z capillary coupled to the fluid in the reservoir wherein the fluid from the reservoir flows through one of the X capillary, Y capillary, or Z capillary to a respective corresponding direction indicator in response to tilting the en route package sensing apparatus in a direction corresponding to the particular direction indicator.

Abstract: A light collimating film has a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of prisms, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures. Another embodiment includes a back lighting display device having a lighting means, a display panel, and a sheeting having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a series of prisms, and the second side includes a plurality of subwavelength optical microstructures. A preferred embodiment includes a back lighting display device having a first collimating film having a first surface with a subwavelength optical microstructure thereon and a second surface with linear prisms having an included angle of greater than about 95 degrees, and a second collimating film having a first surface with a subwavelength optical microstructure thereon and a second surface with linear prisms having an included angle of less than about 85 degrees.

Abstract: Designs and manufacturing methods provide flexibility in the manufacture and assembly of the communicating card of this invention. The communicating card includes a housing into which an electronic module is inserted. The housing is configured so that it can be manufactured independently of the electronic module. The electronic module is constructed to allow programming of the communication after the module has been manufactured, before or after insertion into the housing.

Abstract: A retroreflective structure is disclosed that has cube corner retroreflective elements. The structure includes a first array of retroreflective elements oriented in a first direction within a plane and a second array of retroreflective elements oriented in a second direction within the plane, wherein said second direction being about 90.degree. to said first direction. The structure further includes a third array of retroreflective elements oriented in a third direction within the plane, wherein said third direction being about 180.degree. to said first direction and a fourth array of retroreflective elements oriented in a fourth direction being about 270.degree. to said first direction. In one embodiment, the retroreflective structure includes the retroreflective elements having cube corner elements having a pitch between elements in the range of between about 0.0035 and 0.0045 inches (0.088 and 0.114 millimeters).

Abstract: A clock synchronized by date and time information taken from Caller ID information packets delivered with incoming calls on a telephone line provided with Caller ID service.