Abstract: The present invention relates to a garment with enhanced knee support.

Abstract: The present invention is a toneable conduit that can transmit a signal and that can therefore be readily detected by toning equipment. In addition, the conduit of the invention can be readily coupled with other conduit to provide extended lengths of conduit. The toneable conduit includes an elongate polymeric tube having a wall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a predetermined wall thickness. A channel preferably extends longitudinally within the wall of the elongate polymeric tube and a stabilizing rib extends longitudinally along the interior surface of the wall of the elongate polymeric tube and is located radially inward from the channel. A continuous wire is coincident with the channel in the elongate polymeric tube and is preferably coated with a coating composition that prevents the wire from adhering to the polymer melt used to form the elongate polymeric tube.

Abstract: A method for constructing a dual fluoroscopy system according to embodiments of the present invention includes providing a first c-arm and a second c-arm, each of which include an x-ray generator and an imaging device, synchronizing exposure timing of the two x-ray generators, decoupling the x-ray generators from the imaging devices and mounting them on a gantry system, aligning one x-ray generator with an imaging device and aligning the other x-ray generator with the other imaging device, and performing a calibration test to determine the dual fluoroscopy system configuration, and attaching a triggering and visualization device. An imaging system of the imaging device may be upgraded to permit faster data capture rates, according to embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and system for improving the output quality of an image forming device. The method includes comparing an amount of speckle present in the images with a predefined amount of speckle. Thereafter, it is evaluated whether an adjustment of an angle of inclination of an image capture assembly in the image forming device is required for improving the output quality of the images. Accordingly, the height of one or more spacers of a spacer assembly may be altered for inclining the image capture assembly with respect to a transparent surface on which an object to be scanned by the image forming device is placed. The height of the spacer assembly may be adjustable by a user or pre-set to an optimum level for reducing the speckle to a value less than or equal to the predefined amount of speckle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.

Abstract: A cleaning composition comprising from about 0.001% to about 25% of nanoparticles comprising a water insoluble metal or semimetal compound having an effective diameter of less than about 65 nanometers, a grass stain removal index greater than 0 and a grease stain removal index greater than 0; and adjunct ingredients.

Abstract: The invention is a device for the safe and efficient collection of debris displaced across a collection field. Utilizing a plurality of spikes which pierce and penetrate articles of debris, the invention contemplates the accumulation of articles of debris on the spikes. When the device has become loaded with debris, the device self ejects the debris using a compression spring force trigger mechanism.

Abstract: A sync community may include a group of synchronization endpoints. When two synchronization endpoints of the sync community synchronize with one another, a synchronization data conflict may be detected when the two synchronization endpoints make a change to a same particular data item and the two synchronization endpoints were unaware of the changes to the same particular data item made by the other respective synchronization endpoint at the time the changes were made. Resolution of the detected synchronization data conflict may be delayed and data indicative of the detected synchronization data conflict may be propagated to other synchronization endpoints during a synchronization operation.

Abstract: A rotating union (10) comprises a housing (12), a bushing (14), a fluid conduit (16), an annular seal (18) and a cap (20) secured to the housing and having a fluid inlet. The bushing is received within a cylindrical recess (32) in the housing, and the fluid conduit is rotatably received by the bushing and passes through the bushing and a bore (40) in the housing. The annular seal is received within the housing recess, and sealingly engages a cylindrical outer surface (80) of the fluid conduit and the cylindrical wall (46) of the housing recess. The cap has a circular recess (104) and surrounding annular projection (106) which receives the input end of the fluid conduit. The annular seal is sandwiched between the bushing and the annular projection. When the fluid conduit rotates, its outer surface rotates under friction against the annular seal to maintain the seal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for mechanically attached connections of conduits may include a conduit gripping member (34), a drive member (36), and a seal member (48), the drive member causing axial movement of the conduit gripping member to indent into an outer surface of the conduit when the assembly is pulled-up, the drive member causing the seal member to form a zero clearance seal at a location that is axially spaced from the conduit gripping member. The zero clearance seal may comprise a face seal arrangement including a gasket (48), and the conduit gripping member may be a ferrule, ring or other device that can grip and optionally seal against the conduit outer surface. The assembly may include a sensing function for detecting or sensing a characteristic or condition of an assembly component or the fluid or both, hi one embodiment, a body coupling member has a two piece construction of a main body and a conduit socket insert. A flared fitting embodiment is also provided.

Abstract: Various mechanisms are presented that allow for the coordination of transactions in a managed runtime environment. In one aspect, a runtime environment that is hosted in a database system, includes an application programming interface (API). The API can surface the database transactions as ambient transactions, and present them to some user code. When the user code connects to some remote resource, the ambient transaction can be implicitly propagated to the remoter resource, resulting in coordination of the database transaction with any given transaction running in the remote resource.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly comprises a generally planar substrate. A functional switch and at least one identification switch are mounted to the substrate. A switch body supports a switch actuator which is movable between multiple positions. An arrangement of one or more projecting members extends from the switch body. The switch body is mounted on or to the substrate such that the switch actuator operatively engages the functional switch, and the arrangement of projecting members operatively engages at least one of the identification switches to create a unique electronic identifier for the electrical switch assembly.

Abstract: The MEMS Sensor Suite on a Chip provides the capability, monolithically integrated onto one MEMS chip, to sense temperature, humidity, and two axes of acceleration. The device incorporates a MEMS accelerometer, a MEMS humidity sensor, and a MEMS temperature sensor on one chip. These individual devices incorporate proof masses, suspensions, humidity sensitive capacitors, and temperature sensitive resistors (thermistors) all fabricated in a common fabrication process that allows them to be integrated onto one micromachined chip. The device can be fabricated in a simple micromachining process that allows its size to be miniaturized for embedded and portable applications. During operation, the sensor suite chip monitors temperature levels, humidity levels, and acceleration levels in two axes. External circuitry allows sensor readout, range selection, and signal processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.

Abstract: Structures and methods for forming the same. A semiconductor chip includes a substrate and a transistor. The chip includes N interconnect layers on the substrate, N being a positive integer. The chip includes a cooling pipes system inside the N interconnect layers. The cooling pipes system does not include any solid or liquid material. Given any first point and any second point in the cooling pipes system, there exists a continuous path which connects the first and second points and which is totally within the cooling pipes system. A first portion of the cooling pipes system overlaps the transistor. A second portion of the cooling pipes system is higher than the substrate and lower than a top interconnect layer. The second portion is in direct physical contact with a surrounding ambient.

Abstract: Signal converter system embodiments are provided to substantially reduce symmetrical and asymmetrical conversion errors. Signal-processing stages of these embodiments may include a signal sampler in addition to successively-arranged signal converters. In system embodiments, injected analog dither signals are initiated in response to a random digital code. They combine with a system's analog input signal and the combined signal is processed down randomly-selected signal-processing paths of the converter system to thereby realize significant improvements in system linearity. Because these linearity improvements are realized by simultaneous processing of the input signal and the injected dither signal, a combined digital code is realized at the system's output. A first portion of this combined digital code corresponds to the analog input signal and a second portion corresponds to the injected analog dither signal.

Abstract: A multi-segment tool and tooling system for vacuum forming a composite part. A tool can include a first tool having first and second surfaces. A second tool can have an opening positioned on a first tool in a location other than the first surface or the second surface. The first tool and second tool can receive at least a portion of a preform composite. The first tool can have a vacuum barrier attached to the first surface and to the second surface encapsulating the preform composite and the second tool. A tooling system can include a first tool having a core and a base with a core extending upwards from the base. A second tool can be positioned upon the core where the core extends above the second tool. A vacuum barrier sealed to the base and the core can include a composite, the first tool and the second tool.

Abstract: Dispensers and method for controlled dispensing of products, preferably paper products, are discussed in this patent disclosure. Various embodiments of the present invention can comprise a housing, a separating assembly, a feed mechanism, and an advancing mechanism. The housing can support inner components of the dispenser. The housing can hold a stack of paper product to be dispensed. The separating assembly can comprise a separating member. The separating member can separate one or more napkins from the stack. The separating member can be controlled by a controller for controlled dispensing operations. The feed mechanism can move the separated napkin or napkins toward a dispensing slot for dispensing. The advancing mechanism can advance the stack of napkins such that, as the stack is depleted from one end of the stack, a remainder of the stack is advanced toward the separating member for dispensing. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable removal of data from an endpoint, while not propagating such removal to other endpoints when synchronizing data sources associated therewith. A designation component can indicate items as forgotten items, wherein such items are being known to an endpoint and deleted therefrom—yet, reintroduced therein and reappearing (e.g., as a create) upon re-synchronizing with the replica over again. Moreover, the forgotten items can employ additional metadata such as in from of an additional bit that indicates whether an item is a forgotten item.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and second diode connected in parallel. The first diode has a first breakdown voltage and has first P type region and first N type region adjacent to each other at the surface of the substrate of a substrate to form a lateral diode. The second diode has a second breakdown voltage less than the first breakdown voltage and has a second P type region and second N type region lateral adjacent to each other in the substrate to form a lateral diode below the surface The first and second N type regions overlap and the first and second P type region being electrically connected whereby the first and second diodes are in parallel.