Abstract: An inverter assembly including a phase-control chamber and a direct current (DC) chamber. The phase-control chamber includes a direct current (DC) link capacitor electrically connected a control circuit board via multiple connectors. The DC chamber includes a ferrite filter fixed to a DC bus bar via a support component.

Abstract: A means for holding fingers for use with a cell phone has a first and a second set of cut patterns made into a compliant resiliently deformable material are configured for modifying the material so as to form an arcuate shape allowing an intended user's fingers to engage the means for holding fingers. The first cutting is made by removing material so as to create two generally parallel and generally elliptical openings; the second cuttings are located on opposite ends of the finger holder and are created by removing material so as to form a pair of identical—in a mirror image fashion—semi-circular shapes.

Abstract: A means for holding fingers for use with a cell phone has a first and a second set of cut patterns made into a compliant resiliently deformable material are configured for modifying the material so as to form an arcuate shape allowing an intended user's fingers to engage the means for holding fingers. The first cutting is made by removing material so as to create two generally parallel and generally elliptical openings; the second cuttings are located on opposite ends of the finger holder and are created by removing material so as to form a pair of identical—in a mirror image fashion—semi-circular shapes.

Abstract: The generation of characters within computer animations is a labor intensive and expensive activity. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations to the businesses employing them. Accordingly the invention provides the user with a simple and intuitive mechanism to affect the weightings applied in establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar generated using an inheritance based avatar generator. The inheritance based generator allowing, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents, affect the weightings in generating the second generation parents, and subsequently affect the weightings in generating the third generation off-spring avatar from these parents, therein providing a wide range of avatars from an initially limited set of avatars.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating and customizing graphical models. In one embodiment, a design application receives a morphological attractor created from the same mesh as one or more inheritance-based character generation ancestor models. Upon receiving the morphological attractor, the design application may use the attractor to align and transform the ancestor models to create a new set of ancestor models which resemble the attractor. The new set of ancestor models is referred to herein as being in the “genetic space” of the attractor. A user may then create child character models in this same genetic space by, globally or locally, blending two or more of the new ancestor models.

Abstract: The generation of characters within computer animations is currently a labor intensive and expensive activity for a wide range of businesses. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations. According to the invention a user is provided with a simple and intuitive mechanism to affect the weightings applied in establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar generated using an inheritance based avatar generator. The inheritance based generator allowing, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents, affect the weightings in generating the second generation parents, and affect the weightings in generating the third generation off-spring avatar from these parents.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating and customizing graphical models. In one embodiment, a design application receives a morphological attractor created from the same mesh as one or more inheritance-based character generation ancestor models. Upon receiving the morphological attractor, the design application may use the attractor to align and transform the ancestor models to create a new set of ancestor models which resemble the attractor. The new set of ancestor models is referred to herein as being in the “genetic space” of the attractor. A user may then create child character models in this same genetic space by, globally or locally, blending two or more of the new ancestor models.

Abstract: A method of provisioning avatars comprises receiving at a first computer system associated with a first user, a metadata file relating to an avatar of a second user. In particular, the metadata file comprises data for use with an avatar generator process that is in execution on the first computer system. Data is extracted from the metadata file, and is provided as input data to the avatar generator process, thereby generating locally to the first computer system the avatar of the second user. The avatar of the second user so generated is displayed to the first user within a virtual environment.

Abstract: The generation of characters within computer animations is currently a labor intensive and expensive activity for a wide range of businesses. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations. According to the invention a user is provided with a method for establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar by using a process based upon inheritance. The inheritance based avatar generator allows, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents based upon selected characteristics, the generator thereupon determining the physical characteristics of a second generation, being the parents of the final avatar, and then determining the physical characteristics of the third generation off-spring.

Abstract: A method of provisioning avatars comprises receiving at a first computer system associated with a first user, a metadata file relating to an avatar of a second user. In particular, the metadata file comprises data for use with an avatar generator process that is in execution on the first computer system. Data is extracted from the metadata file, and is provided as input data to the avatar generator process, thereby generating locally to the first computer system the avatar of the second user. The avatar of the second user so generated is displayed to the first user within a virtual environment.

Abstract: The generation of characters within computer animations is a labor intensive and expensive activity. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations to the businesses employing them. Accordingly the invention provides the user with a simple and intuitive mechanism to affect the weightings applied in establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar generated using an inheritance based avatar generator. The inheritance based generator allowing, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents, affect the weightings in generating the second generation parents, and subsequently affect the weightings in generating the third generation off-spring avatar from these parents, therein providing a wide range of avatars from an initially limited set of avatars.

Abstract: The generation of characters within computer animations is currently a labor intensive and expensive activity for a wide range of businesses. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations. According to the invention a user is provided with a simple and intuitive mechanism to affect the weightings applied in establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar generated using an inheritance based avatar generator. The inheritance based generator allowing, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents, affect the weightings in generating the second generation parents, and affect the weightings in generating the third generation off-spring avatar from these parents.

Abstract: The generation of characters within computer animations is currently a labor intensive and expensive activity for a wide range of businesses. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations. According to the invention a user is provided with a simple and intuitive mechanism to affect the weightings applied in establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar generated using an inheritance based avatar generator. The inheritance based generator allowing, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents, affect the weightings in generating the second generation parents, and affect the weightings in generating the third generation off-spring avatar from these parents.

Abstract: A substrate interface system and method are provided for connecting a coplanar waveguide transmission line to a coaxial connector. The system comprises a substrate having a top surface with a coplanar waveguide having a transmission line interposed between coplanar groundplanes. A housing wall assembly has an aperture and an interior surface adjacent the substrate coplanar waveguide. A coaxial connector, mounted in the housing wall assembly through the aperture, has a center conductor connected to the coplanar waveguide transmission line and a ground connected to the housing wall assembly. Extensions are mounted on the wall assembly interior surface, connected to the coplanar waveguide groundplanes. The substrate need not be grounded to the coaxial connector through a substrate bottom surface groundplane/chassis interface.

Abstract: An electronic package, such as a ball grid array (“BGA”) package, includes a high speed signal trace formed at a conductive layer and a corresponding reference plane formed at another conductive layer. The reference plane includes a cutout region formed therein; the cutout region is positioned over the signal solder ball to which the high speed signal trace is coupled. The lateral center point of the cutout region is offset relative to the lateral center point of the signal solder ball. The offset configuration reduces the capacitance between the signal solder ball and the reference plane and improves the high frequency transmission characteristics of the electronic package.