Abstract: A fan/heater includes a body having a spherically shaped resting surface, an air inlet and an air outlet. The body houses a heating element and a fan causing a flow of air from the inlet to the outlet past the heating element. The fan/heater also includes a base having a bottom surface enabling the base to rest on a flat surface such as a floor, and a spherically shaped bearing surface complementing the shape of the body's resting surface and against which the resting surface frictionally bears to support the body on the base in any one of a multitude of desired angles.

Abstract: The specification describes the production of optical fibers and optical fiber preforms using Chemical Powder Deposition (CPD). In this process a slurry of silica powders and dopant powders in a liquid carrier is prepared and the inside surface of a silica glass starter tube is coated with the slurry, then dried. The coating is then consolidated and the tube collapsed as in the conventional MCVD process. Multiple coatings, and coatings with varying compositions, can be used to produce any desired profile. In an alternative embodiment, doped silica glass of the desired final composition is prepared, and then pulverized to form the powder for the slurry. In both embodiments, the use of powders of known composition in the slurry allows direct control over the final glass composition, as compared with conventional processes in which the composition in the final glass is indirectly controlled by control of the thermodynamics of a vapor phase reaction.

Abstract: A fountain includes a bowl for containing a viscous substance such as chocolate sauce. A pair of riser tubes extends upwardly from the bowl. Each riser tube has an inlet to receive the viscous substance from the bowl and a pair of augers, one within each respective riser tube. A gearbox is driven by a motor and includes a pair of output gears both driven to rotate in the same direction. Each output gear is connected to a respective one of the augers.

Abstract: An in-line, distributed optical fiber filter comprises a core region with a raised refractive index (with respect to the surrounding cladding material) so as to allow for total internal reflection (TIR) of the desired transmission wavelength(s). One or more raised index features are formed within the cladding region and are configured so as to result in mode mixing between the cladding mode and core mode at determined wavelength(s) to be removed by filtering. The parameters associated with determining the proper core specifications and cladding specifications can be separately determined to provide for enhanced performance in terms of both filtering unwanted signals and propagation of desired communication signals.

Abstract: The specification describes methods for the manufacture of very large optical fiber preforms wherein the core material is produced by MCVD. Previous limitations on preform size inherent in having the MCVD starting tube as part of the preform process are eliminated by removing the MCVD starting tube material from the collapsed MCVD rod by etching or mechanical grinding. Doped overcladding tubes are used to provide the outer segments of the refractive index profile thus making most effective use of the MCVD produced glass and allowing the production of significantly larger MCVD preforms than previously possible.

Abstract: A stand for a portable computer, includes a base, a platform attached pivotally upon the base and configured to support a portable computer, a support mechanism interacting with the platform and with the base to maintain the platform at one of a number of selectable acute angles with respect to the base. The base has a number of desktop-engaging rollers enabling the base to be moved linearly upon a desktop. A braking mechanism engages two of the rollers, and a user-activated pushbutton releases the braking mechanism upon depression, so that the stand can be moved upon the desktop.

Abstract: An improved MCVD process reduces a rippling structure in the refractive-index profile of a graded-index, multiple-mode optical fiber by incorporating N2O, CO, or NF3 gas in the gas stream during deposition of a soot sub-layer from which the optical fiber is formed. The soot sub-layer is sintered to form a glass sub-layer during deposition of a subsequent soot sub-layer. A dopant species is incorporated in each soot sub-layer during deposition. Fibers made from the doped glass sub-layers have a graded refractive-index profile that is near-parabolic in shape and that has significantly reduced rippling compared to profiles observed for fibers prepared conventionally.

Abstract: A hanging ornament for attachment to a door includes an upper body part having a support surface for bearing against one face of the door, a lower body part for bearing against the other face of the door. The support surfaces are of the same shape and together define a severance across a torso of a body defined by both body parts when aligned. A strap extends from the upper body part to the lower body part for passing over the door to suspend the body parts at either side in an aligned manner —giving the illusion that the body is passing through the door.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing (transporting) data, such as in a data warehouse system. In one embodiment, the data are received from a source and compared to data in a lookup cache comprising a subset of data from a first data set (e.g., a dimension table). Instances of the data not present in a lookup cache (that is, new data) are identified. Information corresponding to these instances are generated (e.g., a unique identifier is associated with each of these instances), and the first data set is updated accordingly. The lookup cache is then updated with the new data and the unique identifiers. Accordingly, the information (data) in the lookup cache and in the first data set are in synchronization. The lookup cache does not need to be rebuilt (e.g., to update a second data set such as a fact table).

Abstract: A method of populating multiple data marts in a single operation from a set of transactional data held in a database in a single aggregation process, in which aggregate values are calculated only once, a determination is made as to which output data marts required the aggregate value, and the aggregate values are output to the appropriate data marts. Dimension data associated with the output aggregate records is also output to the appropriate data marts.

Abstract: A clock includes a support hanger, a hand-moving mechanism attached to the support hanger, a number of time indicators suspended from the support hanger, and hands attached to the hand-moving mechanism to point at the time indicators by action of the hand-moving mechanism. The clock does not have a conventional face.