Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a plurality of layers including attachment layers and routing layers; and via patterns formed in the plurality of layers, each of the via patterns including first and second signal vias forming a differential signal pair, the first and second signal vias extending through at least the attachment layers; ground vias extending through at least the attachment layers, the ground vias including ground conductors; and shadow vias located adjacent to each of the first and second signal vias, wherein the shadow vias are free of conductive material in the attachment layers. The printed circuit board may further include slot vias extending through the attachment layers and located between via patterns.

Abstract: For determining a match factor regarding color match of a printed product with target values for colors, measuring fields of a printout are spectrally measured and actual measured values of the printout recorded. The target values are compared with actual measured values by determining for the printed product a color value axis from a unique color value as a start point to a second unique color value as end point and interpolation points between the first and second unique color values; determining target values for start and end points and interpolation points; determining actual measured values for start and end points and interpolation points of the printout from the actual measured values; determining a distance value representing the distance between target value and actual measured value for each start point, end point, and interpolation point; and calculating and outputting the match factor as statistical average of the distance values.

Abstract: For determining a match factor regarding color match of a printed product with target values for colors, measuring fields of a printout are spectrally measured and actual measured values of the printout recorded. The target values are compared with actual measured values by determining for the printed product a color value axis from a unique color value as a start point to a second unique color value as end point and interpolation points between the first and second unique color values; determining target values for start and end points and interpolation points; determining actual measured values for start and end points and interpolation points of the printout from the actual measured values; determining a distance value representing the distance between target value and actual measured value for each start point, end point, and interpolation point; and calculating and outputting the match factor as statistical average of the distance values.

Abstract: A wheelchair lifting device is disclosed. The wheelchair lifting device has a stationary platform, a movable lift assembly, a number of motorized lifting jacks, a foot stand platform, a battery power supply and a wireless lift controller and receiver. The movable lift assembly is attached to the stationary platform by the lifting jacks, and the movable lift assembly can be lifted and lowered relative to the stationary platform by the lifting jacks. The base of the movable lift assembly may be level with or nearly level with the stationary platform when in a lowered position to enable a wheelchair to roll onto the lift assembly without requiring a ramp. In some embodiments, the wheelchair lift includes a scale to weigh the occupant.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a standby mode during videoconferencing, the standby mode having reduced bandwidth consumption and configured to indicate whether a person is present while protecting a privacy of the person. For example, a local device may capture low resolution video data at a low sampling rate, downsample the video data and send the downsampled video data to a remote device, which may upsample the downsampled video data and display the upsampled video data on a display. The upsampled video data indicates an environment of the local device while blurring details, enabling a user of the remote device to identify movement or activity while maintaining privacy for anyone near the local device. The local device may identify activity, motion and/or objects of interest in the video data and may apply a special effect emphasizing the activity, motion and/or objects of interest.

Abstract: A smoking apparatus includes a tubular member having a loading end, and a rear end, wherein an axial throughbore is formed along a longitudinal axis from the rear end to the loading end of the tubular member defining an axial smoke passage. A plurality of annular grooves are formed in an outer surface of the tubular member that are configured to increase an available surface area for heat transfer. In some embodiments, the tubular member includes a threaded joint connector at the rear end and an annular beveled surface at the loading end having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the tubular member. A cutting surface is formed at an intersection of the beveled surface and an inner circumferential surface of the loading end of the tubular member.

Abstract: A wheelchair lifting device is disclosed. The wheelchair lifting device has a stationary platform, a movable lift assembly, a number of motorized lifting jacks, a foot stand platform, a battery power supply and a wireless lift controller and receiver. The movable lift assembly is attached to the stationary platform by the lifting jacks, and the movable lift assembly can be lifted and lowered relative to the stationary platform by the lifting jacks. The base of the movable lift assembly may be level with or nearly level with the stationary platform when in a lowered position to enable a wheelchair to roll onto the lift assembly without requiring a ramp. In some embodiments, the wheelchair lift includes a scale to weigh the occupant.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a standby mode during videoconferencing, the standby mode having reduced bandwidth consumption and configured to indicate whether a person is present while protecting a privacy of the person. For example, a local device may capture low resolution video data at a low sampling rate, downsample the video data and send the downsampled video data to a remote device, which may upsample the downsampled video data and display the upsampled video data on a display. The upsampled video data indicates an environment of the local device while blurring details, enabling a user of the remote device to identify movement or activity while maintaining privacy for anyone near the local device. The local device may identify activity, motion and/or objects of interest in the video data and may apply a special effect emphasizing the activity, motion and/or objects of interest.

Abstract: A method of making a metal-terephthalate polymer from polyester ethylene terephthalate includes reacting polyester ethylene terephthalate with a metal compound in a non-aqueous melt environment at an elevated temperature. The elevated temperature will be greater than 270° C., and preferably rises to a temperature of about 520° C. The method is preferably carried out at a low pressure. The method may be used in the recycling of passenger vehicle tire shreds to produce a carbon black rrich ppowder that is enriched in the metal-terephthalate polymer.

Abstract: A method of making a metal-terephthalate polymer from polyester ethylene terephthalate includes reacting polyester ethylene terephthalate with a metal compound in a non-aqueous melt environment at an elevated temperature. The elevated temperature will be greater than 270° C., and preferably rises to a temperature of about 520° C. The method is preferably carried out at a low pressure. The method may be used in the recycling of passenger vehicle tire shreds to produce a carbon black rich powder that is enriched in the metal-terephthalate polymer.

Abstract: A cannulated marker device for use in a spinal fixation procedure, particularly for insertion of pedicle screws, is disclosed. The marker device is configured to be inserted over a guide wire or directly with an insertion device into the spinal bone at a desired location, and left in place without interfering with subsequent steps of the spinal fixation procedure. Also provided, is an insertion device comprising a shaft attached to a handle at a first end, and a second end being configured to be detachably attached to a marker device of the present invention. A method for marking a location on a patient's spinal column is also provided in connection with the marker device and the insertion device of the present invention.

Abstract: An impoved barrier or drug delivery system which is highly adherent to the surface to which it is applied is disclosed, along with methods for making the barrier. In the preferred embodiment, tissue is stained with a photoinitiator, then the polymer solution or gel having added thereto a defined amount of the same or a different photoinitiator is applied to the tissue. On exposure to light, the resulting system polymerizes at the surface, giving excellent adherence, and also forms a gel in the rest of the applied volume. Thus a gel barrier of arbitrary thickness can be applied to a surface while maintaining high adherence at the interface. This process is referred to herein as “priming”. The polymerizable barrier materials are highly useful for sealing tissue surfaces and junctions against leaks of fluids. In another embodiment, “priming” can be used to reliably adhere preformed barriers to tissue or other surfaces, or to adhere tissue surfaces to each other.

Abstract: An impoved barrier or drug delivery system which is highly adherent to the surface to which it is applied is disclosed, along with methods for making the barrier. In the preferred embodiment, tissue is stained with a photoinitiator, then the polymer solution or gel having added thereto a defined amount of the same or a different photoinitiator is applied to the tissue. On exposure to light, the resulting system polymerizes at the surface, giving excellent adherence, and also forms a gel in the rest of the applied volume. Thus a gel barrier of arbitrary thickness can be applied to a surface while maintaining high adherence at the interface. This process is referred to herein as "priming". the polymerizable barrier materials are highly useful for sealing tissue surfaces and junctions against leaks of fluids. In another embodiment, "priming" can be used to reliably adhere preformed barriers to tissue or other surfaces, or to adhere tissue surfaces to each other.

Abstract: An anti-theft control provides for the delivery indirectly and from a remote location a signal that causes enabling of the starter apparatus of a vehicle, for example, to start the vehicle engine. Thus, the major portion of the anti-theft control may be well hidden in the vehicle. The means for operating the anti-theft control by providing indirectly a signal thereto from a remote location may be, for example, a permanent magnet or an electromagnet which produce a magnetic field that can be directed to a switch or the like that closes in response to the magnetic field. Very importantly, such switch or like device in particular may be hidden within the vehicle seat, dashboard, door, console, roof covering fabric, etc. and ordinarily need never be exposed.