Abstract: Refrigerator appliances, including active air filter assemblies for use therein, are provided herein. The active filter assembly may include a housing, a filter medium, a field tag, and a field sensor. The filter medium may be removably positioned within the housing. The field tag may be fixed to the filter medium. The field sensor may be attached to the housing to detect the field tag. The controller may be in operable communication with active filter assembly.

Abstract: A filter assembly that includes one or more features that enhance installation, inspection, and replacement of the filter is provided. In one exemplary aspect, the filter assembly includes a manifold and a filter media assembly that includes a filter media and an end cap attached thereto. The end cap and manifold include features that provide for secure mounting of the filter media assembly with the manifold so as to facilitate inspection, installation, and removal of the filter assembly.

Abstract: A water filter assembly includes a manifold mountable to a water conduit. An end of the water conduit is receivable between a manifold body and a mounting clamp of the manifold. A fastener is configured for drawing the manifold body and the mounting clamp together in order to clamp the water conduit to the manifold. A face seal is configured to be compressed between the manifold body and the mounting clamp when the fastener draws the manifold body and the mounting clamp together. An O-ring is positionable on the water conduit such that the O-ring extends between an inner surface of the manifold body and an inner surface of the mounting clamp.

Abstract: An anti-drip filter assembly is provided herein. The filter assembly may define a filtration path between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The filter assembly may include a filter medium and an end cap. The filter medium may define a filtered volume and unfiltered volume. The filter medium may extend along an axial direction between a first end and a second end. The first end may be proximal the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, and the second end may be distal the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The end cap may be disposed on the first end of the filter medium. Moreover, the filter assembly may define a capillary passage directing a fluid flow along the filtration path. The capillary passage may have a passage width equal to or less than a capillary width of water therein.

Abstract: An anti-drip filter assembly is provided herein. The filter assembly may define a filtration path between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The filter assembly may include a filter medium and an end cap. The filter medium may define a filtered volume and unfiltered volume. The filter medium may extend along an axial direction between a first end and a second end. The first end may be proximal the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, and the second end may be distal the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The end cap may be disposed on the first end of the filter medium. Moreover, the filter assembly may define a capillary passage directing a fluid flow along the filtration path. The capillary passage may have a passage width equal to or less than a capillary width of water therein.

Abstract: A filter cartridge includes a casing. A filter medium is disposed within the casing, and a sleeve is disposed within a port of the casing. The filter cartridge also includes features, such as an annular ring or a flow restriction body, for limiting spillage of water from the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A primary ion source subassembly for use with a secondary ion mass spectrometer may include a unitary graphite ionizer tube and reservoir base. A primary ion source may include a capillary insert defining an ionizer aperture. An ionizer aperture may be centrally arranged in an outwardly protruding conical or frustoconical surface, and may be overlaid with a refractory metal coating or sheath. Parameters including ionizer surface shape, ionizer materials, ionizer temperature, and beam stop plate orifice geometry may be manipulated to eliminate ghost images. A graphite tube gasket with a dual tapered surface, or an externally threaded graphite tubular connecting body, may promote sealing of a source material cavity.

Abstract: A primary ion source subassembly for use with a secondary ion mass spectrometer may include a unitary graphite ionizer tube and reservoir base. A primary ion source may include a capillary insert defining an ionizer aperture. An ionizer aperture may be centrally arranged in an outwardly protruding conical or frustoconical surface, and may be overlaid with a refractory metal coating or sheath. Parameters including ionizer surface shape, ionizer materials, ionizer temperature, and beam stop plate orifice geometry may be manipulated to eliminate ghost images. A graphite tube gasket with a dual tapered surface may promote sealing of a source material cavity.

Abstract: A filter cartridge includes a casing. A filter medium is disposed within the casing, and a sleeve is disposed within a port of the casing. The filter cartridge also includes features, such as an annular ring or a flow restriction body, for limiting spillage of water from the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A filter cartridge includes a filter medium disposed within a housing. At least one lug is mounted to the housing at a port of the housing. The lug is sized, positioned and/or oriented such that the filter cartridge couples to a manifold in one orientation. As an example, a cross-sectional shape of a first lug mounted to the housing may be different than a cross-sectional shape of a second lug mounted to the housing.

Abstract: A primary ion source subassembly for use with a secondary ion mass spectrometer may include a unitary graphite ionizer tube and reservoir base. A primary ion source may include a capillary insert defining an ionizer aperture. An ionizer aperture may be centrally arranged in an outwardly protruding conical or frustoconical surface, and may be overlaid with a refractory metal coating or sheath. Parameters including ionizer surface shape, ionizer materials, ionizer temperature, and beam stop plate orifice geometry may be manipulated to eliminate ghost images. A graphite tube gasket with a dual tapered surface may promote sealing of a source material cavity.

Abstract: A payment system transfers funds from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. A single use transient credit code provided to the purchaser effects the transfer. The transient credit code is redeemable to a value limited to said transfer of funds thereby preventing subsequent fraudulent use of the code. The payment system apparatus transfers a payment from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. The apparatus incorporates a code issue device which keeps track of and generates a list of limited-value, single-use credit codes. The device issues the codes on request, receives notification of use of the codes and marks respective, ones as used. The transfer is done by single-use transient credit codes provided to the purchaser. The codes are redeemable to the value limited to a payment.

Abstract: A method for querying metadata associated with media, such as multimedia and/or streaming media, on a computer network includes separating the metadata into keywords. The keywords are compared with valid keywords. A score is calculated in accordance with the degree of similarity between the keywords and valid keywords. If the degree of similarity is above a threshold, the metadata is qualified as valid metadata. Valid metadata is available for comparison and correction of other (invalid) metadata.

Abstract: This invention relates to the recording and display three-dimensional (3D) images, notably in real-time video capture. This invention focuses on the ability to alter vergence instantaneously through software in order to amend disparities caused by differences between focal length and vergence distance. No mechanical means are necessary for amending both horizontal and vertical disparity. The ability to vary vergence allows selected images to be made to appear behind, level with, or in front of a display screen. While the invention is useful for consumer displays in television and films, the invention may also be used, for example, for visualizing weather, for mapping, for seismic surveys or for aircraft flight control. It is applicable, in real time, throughout the electro-magnetic spectrum particularly in the visible, infra-red and microwave portions.

Abstract: By defining an angular separation in a train of sequential images, and using an interlaced sequence of pairs of images matched by that defining angle, it is possible to create live 3D video from a single camera mounted on a remote vehicle as though in the in the immediate vicinity of the object being viewed. Such a camera can be mounted on a moving vehicle such as a plane or a satellite In addition, computational power is provided to adaptively (and predictively) smooth out motion irregularities between these image pairs, so that smooth 3D video may be obtained. Continual feature-based correlation between successive frames allows corrections for various transformations so that there is a one-on-one correspondence in size, projection, orientation, etc. between matched frames, which enables capture and display of smooth 3D video.

Abstract: A payment system transfers funds from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. A single use transient credit code provided to the purchaser effects the transfer. The transient credit code is redeemable to a value limited to said transfer of funds thereby preventing subsequent fraudulent use of the code. The payment system apparatus transfers a payment from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. The apparatus incorporates a code issue device which keeps track of and generates a list of limited-value, single-use credit codes. The device issues the codes on request, receives notification of use of the codes and marks respective, ones as used. The transfer is done by single-use transient credit codes provided to the purchaser. The codes are redeemable to the value limited to a payment.

Abstract: A payment system transfers funds from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. A single use transient credit code provided to the purchaser effects the transfer. The transient credit code is redeemable to a value limited to said transfer of funds thereby preventing subsequent fraudulent use of the code. The payment system apparatus transfers a payment from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. The apparatus incorporates a code issue device which keeps track of and generates a list of limited-value, single-use credit codes. The device issues the codes on request, receives notification of use of the codes and marks respective, ones as used. The transfer is done by single-use transient credit codes provided to the purchaser. The codes are redeemable to the value limited to a payment.

Abstract: A payment system transfers funds from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. A single use transient credit code provided to the purchaser effects the transfer. The transient credit code is redeemable to a value limited to said transfer of funds thereby preventing subsequent fraudulent use of the code. The payment system apparatus transfers a payment from a purchaser to a supplier of goods and services. The apparatus incorporates a code issue device which keeps track of and generates a list of limited-value, single-use credit codes. The device issues the codes on request, receives notification of use of the codes and marks respective, ones as used. The transfer is done by single-use transient credit codes provided to the purchaser. The codes are redeemable to the value limited to a payment.

Abstract: An illuminating pompon that includes a handle, a plurality of streamers extending from the handle, and at least one illuminator extending from said handle within said plurality of streamers. The illuminator being adapted to illuminate at least a portion of said plurality of streamers and is in electrical communication with a power source. In the preferred embodiment the illuminators are a plurality of light emitting diodes attached to flexible wires that are controlled with a processor within the power source such that they blink on and off in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: An illuminating pompon that includes a handle, a plurality of streamers extending from the handle, and at least one illuminator extending from said handle within said plurality of streamers. The illuminator being adapted to illuminate at least a portion of said plurality of streamers and is in electrical communication with a power source. In the preferred embodiment the illuminators are a plurality of light emitting diodes attached to flexible wires that are controlled with a processor within the power source such that they blink on and off in a predetermined manner.