Abstract: Collets for coupling rotary actuators to valves are disclosed. An example collet includes a plurality of flexible members configured to be coupled to an elongated member and each having an inner surface that forms at least a portion of a substantially rectangular bore configured to receive a rectangular shaft. The plurality of flexible members form an involute outer surface for engaging an involute inner surface of an opening of a lever. The opening of the lever is configured to cause the plurality of flexible members to be displaced toward an axis of the elongated member to cause the inner surface of each of the plurality of flexible members to engage one or more surfaces of the rectangular shaft.

Abstract: A media player comprising a display screen is provided. The media player can include a housing having an opening and an area of reduced thickness around the opening. The media player can also include a transparent wall having a flange. Alternatively, the transparent wall may not require a flange but rather can be a flat, substantially transparent piece of material such as plexiglass or glass. The flange can be adhered to a surface of the area of reduced thickness in order to form a transparent protective cover for the display screen. In another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided. The method can include forming a transparent wall having a stepped edge for placing in an opening of a media player. The method can also include adhering an adhesive to at least one surface of the stepped edge of the transparent wall. The method can include as well using the cutting tool to cut away a portion of the underside of a housing that surrounds an opening in a media player.

Abstract: A drill guide assembly in accordance with the present invention provide a bore in a tire. The drill guide assembly includes a first slide rail for lying on the tire when the tire lies on a side and a second slide rail for lying on the tire when the tire lies on a side. The second slide rail is disposed parallel to the first slide rail. A first engagement block is slidingly secured to the first slide rail and the second slide rail. The first engagement block engages a first shoulder portion of a tread portion of the tire. A second engagement block is slidingly secured to the first slide rail and the second slide rail. The second engagement block engages a second shoulder portion of the tread portion of the tire. The second shoulder portion is diametrically opposed to the first shoulder portion. A drill mount positions a drill relative to the tire.

Abstract: The present invention can relate to an electronic device having one or more support tabs that protect a circuit board disposed inside the device from externally applied compressive forces. In particular, when a force is applied to a housing of the device, the support tabs can buttress the housing of the device, either directly or through other intervening components disposed within the device, to reduce the likelihood that the housing or intervening components will contact and damage the circuit board. The present invention also can relate to methods for manufacturing such an electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention can facilitate the coupling between electrical components and a circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into a housing of an electronic device. An electrical component can be integrated with a flexible circuit of another electrical component. The flexible circuit can be electrically and mechanically coupled to the circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into the housing. Alternatively, electrical contacts can be disposed on a body of the electrical component and a complementary set of electrical contacts can be disposed on the circuit board. When the circuit board is disposed within a receptacle of the electrical component, the electrical contacts on the electrical component are coupled directly to the electrical contacts on the circuit board.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of apparatus, methods, and systems for securing electronic articles, such as computers, for theft deterrence or prevention. In one embodiment, a body is provided, which is secured to an intermediary structure. The intermediary structure is, in turn, secured to the electronic article. The body may be configured as a mass such that it is of sufficient weight, shape, and/or size to allow for deterring theft. In some embodiments, the system is configured to render inaccessible, or at least impede access to, at least one piece of fastening hardware between the intermediary structure and the body and/or between the intermediary structure and the electronic article, thereby further deterring theft.

Abstract: Use a centrifuge, especially a peeler centrifuge, that has a coarse salt particle layer deposited on its screen to effect recovery of an epoxy resin, especially a liquid epoxy resin, from a product slurry, which epoxy resin has a lower residual salt content than an epoxy resin recovered without use of the coarse salt particle layer.

Abstract: The present invention can relate to an electronic device having one or more support tabs that protect a circuit board disposed inside the device from externally applied compressive forces. In particular, when a force is applied to a housing of the device, the support tabs can buttress the housing of the device, either directly or through other intervening components disposed within the device, to reduce the likelihood that the housing or intervening components will contact and damage the circuit board. The present invention also can relate to methods for manufacturing such an electronic device.

Abstract: This is directed to a liquid vaporization process for depositing an oleophobic ingredient on a surface of an electronic device component using a PVD process. A raw liquid material that includes the oleophobic ingredient can be placed in a liquid supply system coupled to a vacuum chamber. The liquid supply system can be pressured by an inert gas to prevent undesired chemical reactions between the oleophobic ingredient and air. The liquid, including the oleophobic ingredient, can vaporize upon reaching the vaporizing unit, and the oleophobic ingredient can be deposited on the component.

Abstract: A device is described that can be used quickly and accurately by surgeons to provide uniform facial tissue planes that are tunnel-free and wall-free thus optimizing face lifting, tightening, and implant delivery. The device is comprised of a shaft with a substantially planar tip further comprised of relative protrusions and energized relative recession lysing segments. Forward motion of the device precisely divides and energizes various tissue planes causing contraction, especially via the fibrous tissues. Other forms of energy and matter can be delivered down the shaft to further enhance desirable tissue modification and contraction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transceiving multiple service data from multiple communication services to a SONET/SDH communication system or network is provided. A SONET/SDH universal framer (SURF) bidirectionally provides communication between a SONET/SDH communication port and multiple service communication ports using their native data format. A provisioning register stores provisioning information describing the communication system and the communication ports. A SONET/SDH byte engine processes complex hierarchical SONET/SDH frames storing intermediate states when it changes to process a byte of data of a different STS-1 equivalent frame in a SONET/SDH STS-N frame. A service byte engine processes the multitude of service data formats and generally its intermediate states are restored, processed, and saved when it changes to process a different data stream or a different frame of data of a given service.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of apparatus, methods, and systems for securing articles, such as electronic articles (for example, laptop computers and the like) for theft deterrence or prevention. In some embodiments, theft deterrence is provided by securing the article(s) to an object that makes the task of removing the article more difficult for a would-be thief. Locking the article into the system or device often inhibits access to various fastening devices to further deter/prevent theft.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus socket-equipped arrangement (USB-SEA) configured for mating with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug having a plug metal housing and an aperture disposed in the plug metal housing. The arrangement includes a plug-receiving cavity configured to receive the USB plug. The arrangement further includes a spring-loaded mechanism disposed within the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is biased toward an interior region of the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is also configured to slide along the connector metal housing of the USB plug when the USB plug is inserted into the plug-receiving cavity and to movably mate with the aperture disposed in the plug metal housing when the USB plug is in a terminal mating position with the USB socket assembly. The spring-loaded mechanism represents one of a spring-loaded ball and a spring-loaded pin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transceiving multiple service data from multiple communication services to a SONET/SDH communication system or network is provided. A SONET/SDH universal framer (SURF) bidirectionally provides communication between a SONET/SDH communication port and multiple service communication ports using their native data format. A provisioning register stores provisioning information describing the communication system and the communication ports. A SONET/SDH byte engine processes complex hierarchical SONET/SDH frames storing intermediate states when it changes to process a byte of data of a different STS-1 equivalent frame in a SONET/SDH STS-N frame. A service byte engine processes the multitude of service data formats and generally its intermediate states are restored, processed, and saved when it changes to process a different data stream or a different frame of data of a given service.

Abstract: The present invention can relate to multiple-connector assemblies for use in, for example, electronic devices. Each of the connectors are constrained to another connector by aligning one or more complementary sets of reference features. A locating bracket may be used to couple multiple connectors together. Alternatively, the connectors may be coupled to each other directly. The electronic device also may include a retainer coupled to the connectors (either directly or indirectly through the locating bracket). The retainer and a surface of one of the connectors may form a single plane to which an end cap of the housing may be coupled, thereby accurately locating the end cap with respect to the connectors. The present invention also can relate to methods of manufacturing such an electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention can relate to an electronic device having one or more support tabs that protect a circuit board disposed inside the device from externally applied compressive forces. In particular, when a force is applied to a housing of the device, the support tabs can buttress the housing of the device, either directly or through other intervening components disposed within the device, to reduce the likelihood that the housing or intervening components will contact and damage the circuit board. The present invention also can relate to methods for manufacturing such an electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention can relate to multiple-connector assemblies for use in, for example, electronic devices. Each of the connectors are constrained to another connector by aligning one or more complementary sets of reference features. A locating bracket may be used to couple multiple connectors together. Alternatively, the connectors may be coupled to each other directly. The electronic device also may include a retainer coupled to the connectors (either directly or indirectly through the locating bracket). The retainer and a surface of one of the connectors may form a single plane to which an end cap of the housing may be coupled, thereby accurately locating the end cap with respect to the connectors. The present invention also can relate to methods of manufacturing such an electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention can relate to an electronic device having one or more support tabs that protect a circuit board disposed inside the device from externally applied compressive forces. In particular, when a force is applied to a housing of the device, the support tabs can buttress the housing of the device, either directly or through other intervening components disposed within the device, to reduce the likelihood that the housing or intervening components will contact and damage the circuit board. The present invention also can relate to methods for manufacturing such an electronic device.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus socket-equipped arrangement (USB-SEA) configured for mating with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug having a plug metal housing and an aperture disposed in the plug metal housing. The arrangement includes a plug-receiving cavity configured to receive the USB plug. The arrangement further includes a spring-loaded mechanism disposed within the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is biased toward an interior region of the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is also configured to slide along the connector metal housing of the USB plug when the USB plug is inserted into the plug-receiving cavity and to movably mate with the aperture disposed in the plug metal housing when the USB plug is in a terminal mating position with the USB socket assembly. The spring-loaded mechanism represents one of a spring-loaded ball and a spring-loaded pin.

Abstract: A drill guide assembly in accordance with the present invention provide a bore in a tire. The drill guide assembly includes a first slide rail for lying on the tire when the tire lies on a side and a second slide rail for lying on the tire when the tire lies on a side. The second slide rail is disposed parallel to the first slide rail. A first engagement block is slidingly secured to the first slide rail and the second slide rail. The first engagement block engages a first shoulder portion of a tread portion of the tire. A second engagement block is slidingly secured to the first slide rail and the second slide rail. The second engagement block engages a second shoulder portion of the tread portion of the tire. The second shoulder portion is diametrically opposed to the first shoulder portion. A drill mount positions a drill relative to the tire.