Abstract: The integration of news about members of a group into symmetrical group communications is described. Group members are delivered news items and information regarding members of the group, and are able to communicate with other members of the group in response to the news items. One embodiment dynamically generates aggregated RSS news feeds for a group of people or entities and correlates that aggregated data with biographical information, audio, and video media to provide rich information about the relevant parties to the news story. The embodiment also provides the capability of transmitting email or other electronic messages to the parties in the news story to facilitate two-way communication while maintaining the group members' privacy and anonymity.

Abstract: Thermoformed polymeric foam articles and methods of forming the same are described. In some embodiments, thermoformed articles are produced from multi-layer foamed sheet where the formed article has a density equal to or less than the precursor multi-layer sheet. One of the layers of the thermoformed article may be a polymer foam layer having a density reduction between 5% and 50% as compared to the solid polymer. Such polymer foam layers can be referred to as “medium density” or “high density” foams. Advantageously, the methods described herein are practical for commercial use and, for example, can be used to produce a variety of thermoformed articles suitable for use in many different applications.

Abstract: A method includes checking an optical detector with a field of view for degradation by: directing the optical detector to a surface of an object in the field of view, wherein the surface is positioned at a given distance from the optical detector, and wherein the surface has a known reflectance; detecting an optical return from the surface with the optical detector to generate a return signal; and determining whether the return signal is representative of a degraded signal. The method includes outputting an alert for maintenance action if the return signal is indicative of a degraded signal.

Abstract: The beverage brewing device, which is configured for use with a beverage brewer having an inlet probe for dispensing water and an outlet probe, includes a body defining a brew chamber configured to contain a dry beverage medium and at least one outlet probe receptacle extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the body. The outlet probe receptacle is sized and configured to receive an outlet probe of a beverage brewer. A lid is removably securable to the body and is engageable with the body to selectively enclose a top opening of the body. An inlet probe opening is defined in the lid for receiving an inlet probe of the beverage brewer. At least one filter is defined within in the body, wherein the filter is configured to retain a dry beverage medium within the brew chamber while allowing a brewed beverage to pass through the brew chamber.

Abstract: The integration of news about members of a group into symmetrical group communications is described. Group members are delivered news items and information regarding members of the group, and are able to communicate with other members of the group in response to the news items. One embodiment dynamically generates aggregated RSS news feeds for a group of people or entities and correlates that aggregated data with biographical information, audio, and video media to provide rich information about the relevant parties to the news story. The embodiment also provides the capability of transmitting email or other electronic messages to the parties in the news story to facilitate two-way communication while maintaining the group members' privacy and anonymity.

Abstract: The integration of news about members of a group into symmetrical group communications is described. Group members are delivered news items and information regarding members of the group, and are able to communicate with other members of the group in response to the news items. One embodiment dynamically generates aggregated RSS news feeds for a group of people or entities and correlates that aggregated data with biographical information, audio, and video media to provide rich information about the relevant parties to the news story. The embodiment also provides the capability of transmitting email or other electronic messages to the parties in the news story to facilitate two-way communication while maintaining the group members' privacy and anonymity.

Abstract: The integration of news about members of a group into symmetrical group communications is described. Group members are delivered news items and information regarding members of the group, and are able to communicate with other members of the group in response to the news items. One embodiment dynamically generates aggregated RSS news feeds for a group of people or entities and correlates that aggregated data with biographical information, audio, and video media to provide rich information about the relevant parties to the news story. The embodiment also provides the capability of transmitting email or other electronic messages to the parties in the news story to facilitate two-way communication while maintaining the group members' privacy and anonymity.

Abstract: The integration of news about members of a group into symmetrical group communications is described. Group members are delivered news items and information regarding members of the group, and are able to communicate with other members of the group in response to the news items. One embodiment dynamically generates aggregated RSS news feeds for a group of people or entities and correlates that aggregated data with biographical information, audio, and video media to provide rich information about the relevant parties to the news story. The embodiment also provides the capability of transmitting email or other electronic messages to the parties in the news story to facilitate two-way communication while maintaining the group members' privacy and anonymity.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting multiple users to one another based on a specific course is disclosed. The specific course is associated with a classroom-based course. A web server and an electronic device in communication with the web server are provided. The electronic device is configured to permit authentication of a user identifier representing a user based on the user identifier's association with a common education focus such as a specific course. The user represents a student enrolled in the classroom-based course. The electronic device is configured to allow the user identifier to establish or join a session associated with the specific course. The session includes at least one other user identifier representing another student enrolled in the specific course.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the visual blur of an object being viewed by an observer experiencing vibration. In various embodiments of the present invention, the visual blur is reduced through stroboscopic image modulation (SIM). A SIM device is operated in an alternating “on/off” temporal pattern according to a SIM drive signal (SDS) derived from the vibration being experienced by the observer. A SIM device (controlled by a SIM control system) operates according to the SDS serves to reduce visual blur by “freezing” (or reducing an image's motion to a slow drift) the visual image of the viewed object. In various embodiments, the SIM device is selected from the group consisting of illuminator(s), shutter(s), display control system(s), and combinations of the foregoing (including the use of multiple illuminators, shutters, and display control systems).

Abstract: A method of conserving battery life in an electronic device comprises receiving a low power user image size preference. The method additionally comprises adjusting an image size responsive to a user request to invoke the low power user image size preference so that an adjusted image displayed by the electronic device occupies an image zone that is smaller than an entire display size of the electronic device, and illuminating only areas within the image zone.

Abstract: The integration of news about members of a group into symmetrical group communications is described. Group members are delivered news items and information regarding members of the group, and are able to communicate with other members of the group in response to the news items. One embodiment dynamically generates aggregated RSS news feeds for a group of people or entities and correlates that aggregated data with biographical information, audio, and video media to provide rich information about the relevant parties to the news story. The embodiment also provides the capability of transmitting email or other electronic messages to the parties in the news story to facilitate two-way communication while maintaining the group members' privacy and anonymity.

Abstract: System and method for visual and audible communication between a central operator and N mobile communicators (N?2), including an operator transceiver and interface, configured to receive and display, for the operator, visually perceptible and audibly perceptible signals from each of the mobile communicators. The interface (1) presents an audible signal from each communicator as if the audible signal is received from a different location relative to the operator and (2) allows the operator to select, to assign priority to, and to display, the visual signals and the audible signals received from a specified communicator. Each communicator has an associated signal transmitter that is configured to transmit at least one of the visual signal and the audio signal associated with the communicator, where at least one of the signal transmitters includes at least one sensor that senses and transmits a sensor value representing a selected environmental or physiological parameter associated with the communicator.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently and safely loading, unloading and transporting vertically oriented wafer carriers. The apparatus includes a body having a front and a back face, a top portion and a first and a second side, two horizontally aligned handles mounted to respective first and second sides on the front face of the body. The apparatus further includes an arm having a fixed end attached to the top portion of the back face of the body and a free end containing a slot, extending from the free end toward the fixed end, of dimensions suitable to slidably receive the carrier handle and to restrain movement of the carrier parallel to the back face of the body and a top surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently and safely loading, unloading and transporting vertically oriented wafer carriers. The apparatus includes a body having a front and a back face, a top portion and a first and a second side, two horizontally aligned handles mounted to respective first and second sides on the front face of the body. The apparatus further includes an arm having a fixed end attached to the top portion of the back face of the body and a free end containing a slot, extending from the free end toward the fixed end, of dimensions suitable to slidably receive the carrier handle and to restrain movement of the carrier parallel to the back face of the body and a top surface.

Abstract: A video input signal is applied to a delay circuit having a plurality of taps which are coupled to maximum and minimum value selection circuits. In the absence of a video signal transient, the center tap of the delay circuit is coupled to an output terminal via an output switch. When a "white going" transient occurs, the output switch sequentially selects the outputs of the minimum and maximum value selectors for application to the output terminal. When a "black going" transient occurs, the output switch sequentially selects the outputs of the maximum and minimum value selectors for application to the output terminal.

Abstract: Dopable, fully dense polymer membranes are used to form membranes having selective permeabilities. To improve selectivity, the membranes may be subjected to chemical or electrochemical treatment with electron donors or acceptors to alter the doping level of the polymer membrane, generally in a reversible fashion. This leads to significant changes in gas permeation rates relative to what is observed for the non-doped, fully dense polymers. This change in doping level of the polymer films can be precisely controlled by varying the concentration and nature of chemical dopants used. Desirable changes in permeation rates are achieved by a treatment which comprises a reversal doping of the polymeric material, followed by removal of the dopants (to provide an "undoped" polymer).

Abstract: A decoding arrangement for decoding audio signals previously encoded in accordance with the dbx format, includes a wideband expander instead of a full dbx expander. The wideband expander employs a relatively simple, and therefore inexpensive, peak detector in place of the true RMS detector of a full dbx expander, and does not include apparatus for spectral expansion of the audio signal. Although the decoding is noncomplementary with respect to the encoding, the stereo audio reproduction as perceived by a listener, is surprisingly good.

Abstract: A protection circuit for an audio output channel of a television receiver includes a detector which detects the presence of either or both of (1) a sustained DC component applied to the loudspeaker form the audio power amplifier, (2) and the loss of a supply voltage for the power amplifier. The presence of a of a sustained DC component can damage the loudspeaker. The loss of a supply voltage of the power amplifier can damage the power amplifier and can also result in the application of a sustained DC amplifier and can also result in the application of a sustained DC component to the loudspeaker. For example, the loss of the negative supply voltage of a power amplifier incorporated in an integrated circuit results in the removal of potential from the substrate which otherwise serves to electrically isolates various semiconductor devices supported by the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the virtual expansion of the power providing capacity of a power supply, e.g., for a stereophonic audio system with a given number of channels which may be selectively increased to provide a surround audio system. A plurality of amplifiers, each having an adjustable gain, are powered from the power supply. The current drawn from the power supply is sensed. When additional amplifiers are activated, the total amount of power drawn by all of the amplifiers can exceed a predetermined level which corresponds to the original plurality of amplifiers. However, when it is sensed that the total amount of power drawn exceeds the predetermined level, the gain of all of the amplifiers is reduced so that the power drawn from the power supply does not exceed the predetermined level. Thus, the virtual power providing capacity of the power supply is expanded to power the additional amplifiers.