Abstract: A system is provided for transmitting generally static media. The system (10) comprising an electronic device (12) and a digital audio transmitter (14). The electronic device (12) has a CPU (16), a storage medium (18), a display (20), a user interface (22), and a digital audio broadcast receiver (26). The digital audio transmitter (14) has a specialized broadcast server (30). The digital audio broadcast receiver (26) receives and decodes the digital audio signal transmitted by the digital audio transmitter (14).

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which the principle of phase-coupling is used to stabilize the polarization of laser radiation emitted by a plurality of phase-coupled vertical cavity surface emitting laser elements. Due to a suitable coupling strength between adjacent VCSEL elements, the probability of polarization flips of VCSEL devices operated in the single mode region is zero or at least drastically reduced. Moreover, a VCSEL device is disclosed, comprising a polarization adjusting means for controlling the polarization direction of an arrangement of a plurality of phase-coupled VCSEL elements, wherein the polarization direction of each VCSEL element is substantially kept constant.

Abstract: A method for checking the integrity of GPS measurements for a moving vehicle includes determining a first inter-vehicle distance between a first vehicle and a second vehicle based on GPS measurements obtained at both vehicles, independently determining a second inter-vehicle distance based on relative motion of the first vehicle and the second vehicle obtained using INS sensors at both vehicles, and comparing the the first and second inter-vehicle distances. The integrity of the GPS measurements are checked if the first and second inter-vehicle distances are nearly equivalent. Methods for error detection and for mapping GPS multipath levels at each point in a vicinity for an entire range of satellite constellations are also described.

Abstract: A notebook computer contains in addition to the normal motherboard an additional self-contained low-power unit, such as an embedded PDA. With such a notebook computer there are two modes of operation possible, a high-power mode and a low-power mode. In order to make use of the embedded PDA, files, such as word processor documents, presentations and so forth are made available to the PDA. In accordance with the present invention this is done by establishing a set of working files. This may be done based on their modification date and it may depends on the requirements of the user as well as on the available resources of the embedded PDA.

Abstract: A thin electronic chip card with an IC chip and a galvanic element as an energy store, which has at least one lithium-intercalating electrode and has a thin, flexible housing comprising two metal foils, which bear directly against the electrodes and are connected to each other in a sealed manner with an adhesive or sealing layer, the element is arranged in a recess in the chip card and the chip card and the element are covered on both sides by an overlay plastic film, which is firmly bonded to the chip card and the element with an elastic stress-compensating adhesive, which adheres simultaneously on metals and plastics.

Abstract: Described is a method for routing an electronic message from an electronic device to an output unit. Automatically controlled steps are comprised of determining at least one of several output units based on a result of a message classification process, and of initiating the message to be routed to the determined output unit for presenting the message to a user of the electronic device. Further there is described an electronic device, having interfaces for connecting output units to the device, and a control unit for controlling the routing of messages. The messages are determined to be presented to a user of the device via at least one of these output units. The control unit is configured for determining at least one of these output units for routing a message to based on a result of a message classification process, and for routing the message to that interface serving the determined output unit.

Abstract: A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser comprises one or more quantum well layers and one or more barrier layers to define an gain region, a first mirror means and a second mirror means, wherein the first and second mirror means define a resonator. Moreover, the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser further comprises a first indium phosphide layer adjacent to the gain region and a second indium phosphide layer adjacent to the gain region to define a laser cavity.

Abstract: Scheme and apparatus (10) for distinguishing services offered by a service-providing device in adjacency of the apparatus (10) from services offered by a service-providing device not being in the apparatus' adjacency. All devices—including the apparatus—are part of a wireless local network. The apparatus (10) maintains a record with information about services and associated identifiers as well as a list of identifiers about the service-providing devices. The associated identifiers and the list of identifiers are compared to determine an associated service as being in adjacency of the apparatus if it is rendered by a service-providing device being listed in the list of identifiers. An associated service is determined as not being in adjacency of the apparatus if it is rendered by a service-providing device not being listed in the list of identifiers.

Abstract: A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser comprises one or more quantum well layers and one or more barrier layers to define an gain region, a first mirror means and a second mirror means, wherein the first and second mirror means define a resonator. Moreover, the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser further comprises a first indium phosphide layer adjacent to the gain region and a second indium phosphide layer adjacent to the gain region to define a laser cavity.

Abstract: A process for extracting a fat from a feedstock (e.g., chocolate liquor), includes mixing the feedstock with a liquefied gas solvent (e.g., butane), filtering, washing the retentate with additional solvent, refiltering, drying, granulating, aerating the granulate, and separating the fat from the solvent in the original filtrate. The mixing, filtering, washing, refiltering, drying, and granulating are conducted under an atmosphere consisting essentially of the solvent vapor. An improved solvent extraction process includes repeatedly loading and unloading an extractor with solvent and feedstock to extract fat from the feedstock, wherein throughout loading, extracting, unloading and repeating: (a) a pressure in the extractor is continuously maintained above atmospheric pressure; (b) the extractor is continuously maintained under an oxygen-free atmosphere; and/or (c) the extractor is continuously maintained under an atmosphere consisting essentially of a vapor of the solvent.

Abstract: Methods, system and apparatus are provided for advertising service offerings in a communication system. An example embodiment comprises at least one device. A first device broadcasts a message of a first type, chooses a value for a time limit and listens for a message sent by a second device. If no message has been received before time limit, elapse, it again broadcasts a message of a first type. Otherwise, the message received from said second device is analyzed and if said message includes valid information about said first device chooses a value for the time limit. However, if said message received does not include valid service description about said first device, a message of a second type is broadcast. This reduces useless broadcast of a complete service list. Broadcast may be initiated more often and, service discovery for new devices coming into proximity takes less time.

Abstract: A vertical-surface-emitting laser comprises: a first reflector and a second reflector arranged to define a laser resonator extending along a longitudinal direction and along transverse directions, a laser active region located between the first and second reflectors, a metal layer at the first or second reflectors and patterned to form a radiation emission window, and a phase matching layer arranged within the resonator and having an optical thickness adapted to transversely pattern a reflectivity of the first and/or second reflectors. The VCSEL device may further comprise an aperture formed between the first and second reflectors. The mode selectivity of the VCSEL is substantially determined by a reflectivity difference defined by the transverse dimensions of the radiation emission window. Moreover, one linear polarization state is stabilized by breaking the cylindrical symmetry of the VCSEL.

Abstract: A process for extracting a fat from a feedstock (e.g., chocolate liquor), includes mixing the feedstock with a liquefied gas solvent (e.g., butane), filtering, washing the retentate with additional solvent, refiltering, drying, granulating, aerating the granulate, and separating the fat from the solvent in the original filtrate. The mixing, filtering, washing, refiltering, drying, and granulating are conducted under an atmosphere consisting essentially of the solvent vapor. An improved solvent extraction process includes repeatedly loading and unloading an extractor with solvent and feedstock to extract fat from the feedstock, wherein throughout loading, extracting, unloading and repeating: (a) a pressure in the extractor is continuously maintained above atmospheric pressure; (b) the extractor is continuously maintained under an oxygen-free atmosphere; and/or (c) the extractor is continuously maintained under an atmosphere consisting essentially of a vapor of the solvent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which the principle of phase-coupling is used to stabilize the polarization of laser radiation emitted by a plurality of phase-coupled vertical cavity surface emitting laser elements Due to a suitable coupling strength between adjacent VCSEL elements, the probability of polarization flips of VCSEL devices operated in the single mode region is zero or at least drastically reduced. Moreover, a VCSEL device is disclosed, comprising a polarization adjusting means for controlling the polarization direction of an arrangement of a plurality of phase-coupled VCSEL elements, wherein the polarization direction of each VCSEL element is substantially kept constant.

Abstract: Method for enabling a customer, who has access to a customer system (40) and a mobile phone (43) with associated phone number, to order a deliverable (41) offered by a merchant system (45) at a certain price. The merchant system (45) is accessed through the customer system (40) and a network (44). The deliverable (41) can be ordered using the customer system (40). An order confirmation for the deliverable (41) is sent to the mobile phone (43) using the phone number of this phone and the ordering of the deliverable (41) is confirmed by using the mobile phone (43) to transmit a response to the merchant system (45) or to a carrier system (48). The phone bill (51) issued by the carrier system (48) for the mobile phone (43) is charged with the deliverable's price and the deliverable (41) is made available to the customer.

Abstract: An in-hub brushless permanent magnet DC motor has a radial working gap but uses coils wound in the axial direction of the motor. The coils generate fields that interact with the permanent magnet fields across the radial gap. The stator includes a plurality of angularly spaced stator teeth that have faces radially spaced across the gap from the permanent magnet. The stator teeth are connected to the base and extend axially into a cavity within the hub. The permanent magnet is a magnetically-segmented ring magnet located on an outer rim of the hub radially outwardly from the stator teeth. The magnetic flux from the permanent magnet is directed radially across the gap and into the stator teeth. Each stator tooth has an axially oriented post around which is wound a coil that generates an axial field. The axially-oriented part of each coil forms part of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic flux directed radially into each stator tooth is turned axially into the post and through the coil.

Abstract: An assembly is provided which has integrated suspension and actuator arm regions. At least one actuator coil layer is located in the actuator arm region. The actuator coil layer is mounted to at least one homogeneous support layer which extends between terminal ends of the assembly for supporting all layers. A hole is provided through all layers in the actuator region at a pivot point for receiving an actuator spindle. In some embodiments of the invention, a transducer coil layer may be integrated in the suspension region and may be located in substantially a common plane with the actuator coil layer. The actuator region may be provided with a silicon base which contains integrated processing circuits which are connected to the transducer coil layer. A device may be carried by the assembly for bending the suspension region with respect to the actuator arm region.

Abstract: An apparatus (and a method for producing the same) for preventing internal vibrations produced as a result of rotary motion at a predetermined frequency within a device mounted in an enclosure from being translated into resulting rotary motion of the device comprises n vibration isolation mounts located between the device and the enclosure, said vibration isolation mounts having stiffness characteristics and being positioned so that rotational motion of the device at the frequency of the rotary motion is eliminated. The vibration isolation mounts are arranged and configured so that when the rotary motion produces linear and rotational forces, the net moment of all forces about the center of gravity of the device is equal to zero. The vibration isolation mounts may be isotropic. The isolation mounts may have different stiffness's. Three or more mounts may be used. Alternatively, the vibration isolation mounts may have the same stiffness's but their positions may be varied.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing printed circuit boards is disclosed wherein metallic conductive structures are produced in a desired pattern on a carrier board of isolating material. The method begins with the provision of a carrier board having a metal foil laminated to its surface and thereafter forming conductive traces on the carrier board, deactivating the carrier board to remove substantially all substances deposited on the carrier board other than the conductive traces and forming final conductive structures by electroless chemical metal deposition on the pattern of conductive traces. Circuit boards manufactured in accordance with such a method will have final conductor structures with base layer portions of the original laminated metal foil. In a preferred embodiment, the step of deactivating the carrier board involves rinsing the carrier board with hydrochloric acid.