Abstract: A copolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, e.g. acrylic or methacrylic acid, and an aromatic sulphonate or carboxylate, e.g. sodium styrenesulphonate, either alone or supported on a substrate, may be used as a separator for an electrochemical cell such as a silver-zinc cell or a zinc-air cell.

Abstract: Provided herein is a dual-function fireplace poker, whose dual-function, includes the ability to manipulate logs within a fireplace as well as the ability to deliver air from the lungs of the user to embers contained within the fireplace, to enhance the burning of the wood or other fuel contained within the fireplace.

Abstract: A header assembly includes an insulative housing comprising a plurality of walls defining an interior cavity, and a plurality of contacts within said cavity and extending through one of the walls to an exterior of the housing for surface mounting to a circuit board. The insulating housing comprises at least one alignment rib extending on an exterior surface thereof. The contacts are formed to abut the alignment rib, thereby ensuring coplanarity of the contacts for surface mounting to a circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ceiling fixture support assembly for mounting an electrical fixture to at least one structural support member. The assembly includes an electrical box that has a base member and a side member. The base member is substantially disk shaped, having a first beveled edge and a second beveled edge disposed parallel to the first beveled edge. The side member is connected to the base member to form an interior volume. The side member has a first flat portion corresponding to the first beveled edge, and a second flat portion corresponding to the second beveled edge. A fixture support assembly includes a first fixture support configured to be coupled to the first flat portion, and a second fixture support configured to be coupled to the second flat portion. The fixture support assembly is configured to support a ceiling fixture within the interior volume. A mounting assembly is configured to couple the electrical box to the structural support member.

Abstract: A thick-film resistor component may include a thick film component formed between a thick-film resistor and an electrically conductive sheet, wherein a portion of the sheet is selectively removed to form resistor contacts while exposing a portion of the thick-film component. Electrical terminals to a thick-film resistor may be sized to reduce stress and/or be selectively positioned relative to the resistor to define a desired resistor value. A thick-film resistor may include one or more resistor segments configured to be selectively open-circuited to incrementally adjust the value of the resistor.

Abstract: A pressure transducer suitable for use as a component of a passive occupant detection system installed in a passenger vehicle. The transducer comprises first and second contact members separated by a spacing member. The first contact member has on a surface thereof a primary contact comprising first and second terminations and portions spaced apart in a first direction. The second contact member has on a surface thereof a plurality of secondary contacts crossing and facing the spaced-apart portions of the primary contact through an opening in the spacing member. Application of an increasing force causes the contact members to move toward each other, causing an increasing number of the spaced-apart portions to be shorted out by the secondary contacts and causing an increasing number of secondary contacts to contact the primary contact, thereby altering the electrical path between the terminations of the primary contact.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet includes a shell having first and second laterally spaced, upstanding side walls that are interconnected by a top wall, each of the walls includes an in-turned front edge portion defining a liner receiving cavity. The shell further includes a mullion bar, which partitions the shell into first and second liner cavities, and a base member. Both the mullion bar and base member have respective liner receiving portions. With this arrangement, first and second liners are adapted to be inserted into their respective cavities and flexed such that three sides are inserted into the liner receiving cavities, while the remaining side is positioned against a land of the mullion bar or base member. Once in place, the liners are secured through a mullion bar cover and a base member cover. This construction combines the benefits of a front-load process with that of a flex-load process, lowering assembly time without the need to reinforce the liner.

Abstract: A system (and methods) for transferring multimedia information from a source location to a destination location through one or more networks, which may be different. The system has a source output which provides a first stream of information in a first format. The system also has a destination input which receives a second stream of information in a second format. A proxy transcoder server (“PTS”) is coupled between the source output and the destination input. The PTS has a transcoding module transcoding data. The PTS also has a capability module identifying a first capability of the source output and a second capability of the destination input, and selecting a transcoding process based upon the first capability and the second capability.

Abstract: A connection component is provided. The connection component includes (1) a first interposer having a first surface to which a microelectronic may be mounted and a second surface opposite from the first surface, (2) a second interposer that is more flexible than the first interposer and that is disposed under the second surface of the rigid interposer, and (3) a plurality of conductive parts that may be positioned in the first and second interposers and that may be exposed at the first surface of the first interposer, a bottom surface of the second interposer, or both the first and bottom surfaces. The electrically conductive parts may include leads. A socket assembly or a microelectronic element such as semiconductor chip may be mounted onto the first surface of the rigid interposer. The connection component may be mounted onto a support substrate.

Abstract: A connection component is provided. The connection component includes (1) a first interposer having a first surface to which a microelectronic may be mounted and a second surface opposite from the first surface, (2) a second interposer that is more flexible than the first interposer and that is disposed under the second surface of the rigid interposer, and (3) a plurality of conductive parts that may be positioned in the first and second interposers and that may be exposed at the first surface of the first interposer, a bottom surface of the second interposer, or both the first and bottom surfaces. The electrically conductive parts may include leads. A socket assembly or a microelectronic element such as semiconductor chip may be mounted onto the first surface of the rigid interposer. The connection component may be mounted onto a support substrate.

Abstract: The ShopLive system supports existing merchants and malls to better serve customers by providing easy access to merchandise and sales assistance. The shopper accesses the ShopLive system through various portals. They can be a PC, Web TV, mall kiosk, store kiosk, mobile terminal, screen telephone or any other communication device capable of connecting to a communications network. When the shopper starts the shopping mission they can logon in or if already enrolled, they can use a password for a quick entry. They may chose to shop anonymously. A shopper can set up a shopping mission by defining class of goods, price, color and the like and set out to search for that either in their physical location or remotely. Once the items are located video cameras scan the merchandise to the shopper through the terminal. The cameras may be remotely operable to swing through different views to better display the goods. Or they can view items according to pre-determined scan patterns.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for treating plant material such as sunflower seed meal with water and a hydrolytic enzyme in an aqueous environment to increase its nutritional value and to enzymatic methods for converting plant derived material into useful products.

Abstract: A system for detecting Barrett's metaplasia utilizes an illumination and imaging probe at the end of a catheter. The probe illuminates the wall of the esophagus and returns reflected light to be processed to provide a visual indication of the color of the esophageal wall. The position of the probe along the length of the esophagus is also measured to allow a medical practitioner to determine the location of the transition from the pink stomach lining to the white esophageal lining.