Abstract: A non-emissive display includes a backlight controller sending a pulse during each sub-frame of a plurality of frames to row and column drivers that drive backlight zones. The row drivers count each pulse to keep a pulse count total, and reset the pulse count total when it is equal to a first number indicating how many row drivers are present. Each row driver activates its channels and waits for a next pulse if the pulse count total is not equal to the first number and if the pulse count total is equal to a second number indicating in which sub-frame that first driver is to be activated. Each row driver waits for a next pulse if the pulse count total is not equal to the first number and the second number. Each column driver activates its channel in response to receipt of each pulse.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the operating parameters of espresso coffee machines, including: a filter-holder body configured to be associated with a water dispensing nozzle of an espresso coffee machine; said body internally defining a chamber for the passage of the water dispensed by said nozzle; a filling element arranged in said chamber and having a cavity for the passage of the water dispensed by the nozzle towards an outlet duct; a water outlet terminal element associated with said filter-holder body downstream of said chamber and defining said water outlet duct; and reading means for the water pressure and temperature values passing from the chamber to the outlet duct; said reading means include at least one pressure reading device operatively engaged with said water outlet terminal element and at least one temperature reading device operatively engaged at said cavity obtained in the filling element.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a backlight panel illuminating a display panel. The backlight panel includes an array of light emitting pixels, each light emitting pixel having at least one subpixel with one or more light emitting diodes positioned on a substrate. The pixel further includes at least one photodetector positioned on the substrate and arranged to detect an amount of reflected light emitted by said subpixel and reflected by the display panel.

Abstract: A totemic system and method operating to sell preselected goods and services proximal to a totem and simultaneously to a remote consumer of beauty products in communication with an optimized remote beauty-consultant, to stimulate the consumer to travel to the totem's location for said goods or services. The method displays transactional information and facilitates beauty product sales, comprising at least one remote offer from a beauty consumer, at least one remote response from a beauty consultant regarding appropriate products available nearby as displayed to said consultant by a content database. The method facilitates brand and store loyalty, combining software and human interaction, preferably at retail location or by closing online sales.

Abstract: A appliance immersion tank system comprising: a generally rectangular tank adapted to immerse in a dielectric fluid a plurality of appliances, each in a respective appliance slot distributed vertically along, and extending transverse to, the long axis of the tank; a primary circulation facility adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank; a secondary fluid circulation facility adapted to extract heat from the dielectric fluid circulating in the primary circulation facility, and to dissipate to the environment the heat so extracted; and a control facility adapted to coordinate the operation of the primary and secondary fluid circulation facilities as a function of the temperature of the dielectric fluid in the tank. A plenum, positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, is adapted to dispense the dielectric fluid substantially uniformly upwardly through each appliance slot.

Abstract: A appliance immersion tank system comprising: a generally rectangular tank adapted to immerse in a dielectric fluid a plurality of appliances, each in a respective appliance slot distributed vertically along, and extending transverse to, the long axis of the tank; a primary circulation facility adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank; a secondary fluid circulation facility adapted to extract heat from the dielectric fluid circulating in the primary circulation facility, and to dissipate to the environment the heat so extracted; and a control facility adapted to coordinate the operation of the primary and secondary fluid circulation facilities as a function of the temperature of the dielectric fluid in the tank. A plenum, positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, is adapted to dispense the dielectric fluid substantially uniformly upwardly through each appliance slot.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the operating parameters of espresso coffee machines, comprising: a filter-holder body configured to be associated with a water dispensing nozzle of an espresso coffee machine; said body internally defining a chamber for the passage of the water dispensed by said nozzle; a filling element arranged in said chamber and having a cavity for the passage of the water dispensed by the nozzle towards an outlet duct; a water outlet terminal element associated with said filter-holder body downstream of said chamber and defining said water outlet duct; and reading means for the water pressure and temperature values passing from the chamber to the outlet duct; said reading means comprise at least one pressure reading device operatively engaged with said water outlet terminal element and at least one temperature reading device operatively engaged at said cavity obtained in the filling element.

Abstract: A totemic system and method operating to sell preselected goods and services proximal to a totem and simultaneously to a remote consumer of beauty products in communication with an optimized remote beauty-consultant, to stimulate the consumer to travel to the totem's location for said goods or services. The method displays transactional information and facilitates beauty product sales, comprising at least one remote offer from a beauty consumer, at least one remote response from a beauty consultant regarding appropriate products available nearby as displayed to said consultant by a content database. The method facilitates brand and store loyalty, combining software and human interaction, preferably at retail location or by closing online sales.

Abstract: A totemic beauty-consultation method to stimulate said beauty consumer to travel to retail location for preselected goods or services. The method displays transactional information and facilitates beauty product sales, comprising at least one remote offer from a beauty consumer, at least one remote response from a beauty consultant regarding appropriate products available nearby as displayed to said consultant by a content database. The method facilitates brand and store loyalty, combining software and human interaction, preferably at retail location or by closing online sales.

Abstract: A appliance immersion tank system comprising: a generally rectangular tank adapted to immerse in a dielectric fluid a plurality of appliances, each in a respective appliance slot distributed vertically along, and extending transverse to, the long axis of the tank; a primary circulation facility adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank; a secondary fluid circulation facility adapted to extract heat from the dielectric fluid circulating in the primary circulation facility, and to dissipate to the environment the heat so extracted; and a control facility adapted to coordinate the operation of the primary and secondary fluid circulation facilities as a function of the temperature of the dielectric fluid in the tank. A plenum, positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, is adapted to dispense the dielectric fluid substantially uniformly upwardly through each appliance slot.

Abstract: A appliance immersion tank system comprising: a generally rectangular tank adapted to immerse in a dielectric fluid a plurality of appliances, each in a respective appliance slot distributed vertically along, and extending transverse to, the long axis of the tank; a primary circulation facility adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank; a secondary fluid circulation facility adapted to extract heat from the dielectric fluid circulating in the primary circulation facility, and to dissipate to the environment the heat so extracted; and a control facility adapted to coordinate the operation of the primary and secondary fluid circulation facilities as a function of the temperature of the dielectric fluid in the tank. A plenum, positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, is adapted to dispense the dielectric fluid substantially uniformly upwardly through each appliance slot.

Abstract: A appliance immersion tank system comprising: a generally rectangular tank adapted to immerse in a dielectric fluid a plurality of appliances, each in a respective appliance slot distributed vertically along, and extending transverse to, the long axis of the tank; a primary circulation facility adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank; a secondary fluid circulation facility adapted to extract heat from the dielectric fluid circulating in the primary circulation facility, and to dissipate to the environment the heat so extracted; and a control facility adapted to coordinate the operation of the primary and secondary fluid circulation facilities as a function of the temperature of the dielectric fluid in the tank. A plenum, positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, is adapted to dispense the dielectric fluid substantially uniformly upwardly through each appliance slot.

Abstract: A appliance immersion tank system comprising: a generally rectangular tank adapted to immerse in a dielectric fluid a plurality of appliances, each in a respective appliance slot distributed vertically along, and extending transverse to, the long axis of the tank; a primary circulation facility adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank; a secondary fluid circulation facility adapted to extract heat from the dielectric fluid circulating in the primary circulation facility, and to dissipate to the environment the heat so extracted; and a control facility adapted to coordinate the operation of the primary and secondary fluid circulation facilities as a function of the temperature of the dielectric fluid in the tank. A plenum, positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, is adapted to dispense the dielectric fluid substantially uniformly upwardly through each appliance slot.

Abstract: A detector for luminous radiation transmitted by an optical fiber comprises an avalanche photodiode whose light-receiving surface, separated by a high-resistivity portion of a semiconductor body from a reverse-biased p/n junction, is serrated with major sawtooth flanks substantially parallel and minor sawtooth flanks substantially perpendicular to the direction of incident radiation. The optical fiber emitting that radiation is laterally offset from the semiconductor body and has an axis including a small angle with the plane of the p/n junction.

Abstract: A junction transistor with a collector layer, a base layer and an emitter layer formed in a monocrystalline semiconductor body is provided with an ancillary layer of the same conductivity type as the emitter layer to accelerate the sweep-out of minority carriers at the instant of cutoff, the ancillary and base layers being bridged by a common metallic contact layer. The ancillary layer, which may be divided into several zones, is wholly surrounded by the base layer so as to be bounded by one or more closed lines along a body surface carrying the contact layer, the latter partly or completely overlying these lines. The ancillary and emitter layers may be formed in a single diffusion step through a common mask.