Abstract: A dimensional measuring device sends a beam of light to a remote probe having a retroreflector and a pitch/yaw sensor. The pitch/yaw sensor passes the light through an aperture and a lens to a position sensor that generates an electrical signal indicative of the position of the received light. A processor uses the electrical signal to determine a pitch angle and a yaw angle of the remote probe.

Abstract: A dimensional measuring device sends a beam of light to a remote probe having a retroreflector and a pitch/yaw sensor. The pitch/yaw sensor passes the light through an aperture and a lens to a position sensor that generates an electrical signal indicative of the position of the received light. A processor uses the electrical signal to determine a pitch angle and a yaw angle of the remote probe.

Abstract: A device including a zoom-camera assembly having a first lens group, a magnifier lens group, a beam splitter, an imaging sensor, a motor, and an illuminator, the illuminator generating a first beam of light and cooperating with the beam splitter to send the beam of light through the first lens group to a retroreflector, the first lens group receiving the second beam of light and cooperating with the beam splitter to pass the received second beam of light through the magnifier lens group onto the imaging sensor, the motor adjusting a spacing between the first lens group and the magnifier lens group.

Abstract: A target and method of manufacturing the target is provided. The method of manufacturing includes providing the cube cornered retroreflector, the cube cornered retroreflector including a first, second and third planar reflectors. Each planar reflector capable of reflecting light, each planar reflector perpendicular to the other two planar reflectors, each planar reflector intersecting the other two planar reflectors in a common vertex, and each planar reflector having two intersection junctions. Each intersection junction shared with an adjacent planar reflector for a total of three intersection junctions within the cube corner retroreflector. The method further including the step of directing ions from a focused ion beam etching (FIBE) device onto the first intersection junction defined by the first planar reflector and second planar reflector. A first material is removed from at least a first portion of the first intersection junction to define a first non-reflecting portion.

Abstract: A floatation spar for an oil containment boom having a vertically suspended oil containment curtain is provided. The floatation spar includes a buoyant body having an attachment surface and a retainer strip having a plurality of surface penetrating fasteners projecting from and spaced along an inwardly facing side of the retainer strip. The retainer strip is secured to the attachment surface with the containment curtain sandwiched between the retainer strip and the attachment surface by the fasteners penetrating through the attachment surface and into the body. The body is elongated and hollow at its lower end and includes apertures at the lower end into the interior thereof, the body is weighted at the lower end and includes a buoyant material at its upper end, wherein when the body is dropped onto a body of water, it will self-right and float in a generally vertical orientation.

Abstract: A router receives a transaction message. The router determines whether the transaction message may include an affinity indicating a preference regarding processing of the transaction message. The transaction message may be modified to include an identification of a server system to process the modified transaction message based on the determination of the affinity. The router may route the modified transaction message to a coupling facility. A notification message may be received from the coupling facility, where the notification message requests a server associated with or including the router to send a bid to process the modified transaction message. The router may send the bid to process the modified transaction message to the coupling facility. An authorization message, to process the modified transaction message, may be received from the coupling facility based on a timestamp of the bid.

Abstract: A router receives a transaction message. The router determines whether the transaction message may include an affinity indicating a preference regarding processing of the transaction message. The transaction message may be modified to include an identification of a server system to process the modified transaction message based on the determination of the affinity. The router may route the modified transaction message to a coupling facility. A notification message may be received from the coupling facility, where the notification message requests a server associated with or including the router to send a bid to process the modified transaction message. The router may send the bid to process the modified transaction message to the coupling facility. An authorization message, to process the modified transaction message, may be received from the coupling facility based on a timestamp of the bid.

Abstract: A transaction message is received at a router. A determination is made whether the transaction message includes an affinity. The affinity indicates an administrator-specified preference regarding processing of the transaction message. When the transaction message includes the affinity, a server system to process the transaction message is identified based on the affinity and based on a system affinity of the server system. The system affinity specifies processing characteristics of the server system. The server system includes a set of servers. The transaction message is modified to identify the server system and routed to a message queue.

Abstract: A system for monitoring website visits is implemented by an implementing server (110) in communication with a host server (101) hosting a website owned by a website operator (104). The implementing server comprises an identification module (111), a communication module (112), a database module (113), and an association module (114). The identification module identifies a user (102) as a new visitor or as a return visitor and assigns a unique user code to the user or retrieves a previously assigned unique user code associated with the user. The communication module (112) provides the user with the unique user code and receives user information provided by the user. On entry to the website, the user receives a cookie which comprises the unique user code as well as other user related information. The user may be prompted to enter their unique user code into communications with the website, or the unique user code may be automatically attached to communications.

Abstract: A system for satisfying a request from a client for a send-then-commit transaction includes a front-end information management system (IMS) server. Shared message queues (SMQ) communicate with the front-end IMS server and plural back-end IMS. The front-end IMS server receives the request from the client and transmits the request to the SMQ. A back-end IMS server accesses the SMQ and generates a transaction output in response to the request. The back-end IMS server transmits the result to the front-end IMS server and the front-end IMS server interfaces with the client to communicate the response thereto. The back-end IMS server and front-end IMS server operate in separate system images, but work together in a resource recovery services (RRS) environment to commit or backout the transaction output.

Abstract: A transaction message is received at a router. A determination is made whether the transaction message includes an affinity. The affinity indicates an administrator-specified preference regarding processing of the transaction message. When the transaction message includes the affinity, a server system to process the transaction message is identified based on the affinity and based on a system affinity of the server system. The system affinity specifies processing characteristics of the server system. The server system includes a set of servers. The transaction message is modified to identify the server system and routed to a message queue.

Abstract: A system for satisfying a request from a client for a send-then-commit transaction includes a front-end information management system (IMS) server. Shared message queues (SMQ) communicate with the front-end IMS server and plural back-end IMS. The front-end IMS server receives the request from the client and transmits the request to the SMQ. A back-end IMS server accesses the SMQ and generates a transaction output in response to the request. The back-end IMS server transmits the result to the front-end IMS server and the front-end IMS server interfaces with the client to communicate the response thereto. The back-end IMS server and front-end IMS server operate in separate system images, but work together in a resource recovery services (RRS) environment to commit or backout the transaction output.

Abstract: A system for satisfying a request from a client for a send-then-commit transaction includes a front-end information management system (IMS) server. Shared message queues (SMQ) communicate with the front-end IMS server and plural back-end IMS. The front-end IMS server receives the request from the client and transmits the request to the SMQ. A back-end IMS server accesses the SMQ and generates a transaction output in response to the request. The back-end IMS server transmits the result to the front-end IMS server and the front-end IMS server interfaces with the client to communicate the response thereto. The back-end IMS server and front-end IMS server operate in separate system images, but work together in a resource recovery services (RRS) environment to commit or backout the transaction output.

Abstract: A hand-held printer includes two or more tracking devices, such as optical sensors, located adjacent a print head. The two or more tracking devices permit the identification of a printing surface underneath at least one of the tracking devices, such that the movement of the hand-held printer along or near an edge of the printing surface can be identified even where at least one tracking device falls off of the printing surface.

Abstract: An ink-mist control system for an edge-to-edge printer having a scanning carriage and ink cartridge utilizing a printhead therein comprises a print zone disposed beneath the scanning carriage and ink cartridge utilizing a printhead, a T-shaped duct housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion disposed beneath the print zone. The first housing portion has an inlet extending along the print zone, the second housing portion has an outlet. At least one basin waste collection is in fluid communication with the inlet to receive entrained ink particles, a first duct leg disposed in the first portion and a second duct leg offset from a lowermost position of the first duct leg, the first duct leg in fluid communication with the second duct leg. A fan is in fluid communication with said outlet for directing air and entrained ink mist particles from said inlet through said T-shaped duct and out said outlet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle hood assembly that is operative to raise the rearward and frontward portions of a vehicle hood. The system includes an actuator selectively extendable to raise the rearward portion of a vehicle hood from a first position to a higher second position. A striker of novel design enables the frontward portion of the hood to rise as the rearward portion rises when the striker is engaged with a latch member. The latch member may be disengaged from the striker without extending the actuator, enabling the hood to reach a third position ideal for vehicle service and thus allowing a nonreversible-type actuator to be employed. A method of elevating the vehicle hood with respect to the vehicle body is also provided.

Abstract: A hood elevation system for a vehicle includes an actuator configured to selectively move at least a portion of a vehicle hood between an elevated and a retracted position. The hood elevation system also includes a self-locking mechanism configured to allow movement of the hood between the elevated and retracted positions initiated by the actuator, but to resist retraction of the hood as a result of certain loads applied to the hood. The self-locking mechanism thus enables repeated elevation and retraction of the hood. In a preferred embodiment, the self-locking mechanism is configured to deform, thereby absorbing energy from an impact to the hood.

Abstract: A system for satisfying a request from a client for a send-then-commit transaction includes a front-end information management system (IMS) server. Shared message queues (SMQ) communicate with the front-end IMS server and plural back-end IMS. The front-end IMS server receives the request from the client and transmits the request to the SMQ. A back-end IMS server accesses the SMQ and generates a transaction output in response to the request. The back-end IMS server transmits the result to the front-end IMS server and the front-end IMS server interfaces with the client to communicate the response thereto. The back-end IMS server and front-end IMS server operate in separate system images, but work together in a resource recovery services (RRS) environment to commit or backout the transaction output.