Abstract: Insole includes a base having a shape for placement onto a sole of or in a shoe, and which base has at least one cavity extending inward from a lower surface over only a part thereof, and surrounded peripherally by the base, such that over a remaining part, the lower surface is a lowermost surface of the insole. A mesh is attached to an upper surface of the base and forms an uppermost surface of the insole. An air cushion is present in each cavity, and includes a sealing structure and lightweight foam pieces held in each cavity by the sealing structure such that when in the respective cavity, each air cushion is a lowermost surface of the insole. The sealing structure may be a plastic membrane attached to the base around a periphery of the respective cavity or a plastic membrane that surrounds the foam pieces.

Abstract: Combined wrist band and towel apparatus includes a tubular wrist band having an inner surface and an outer surface, a towel made of absorbent material, and an attachment structure for attaching the towel to the inner surface the wrist band. When worn by a user, the towel is partially between the wrist band and the user, and the user sees the outer surface. The attachment structure provides a direct attachment of the towel to the wrist band such that the towel is in direct contact with the wrist band. The attachment structure may also provide a permanent attachment of the towel to the wrist band, for example, stitches connect a portion of the towel to the inner surface.

Abstract: Smoking device includes a housing defining two chambers, and a heating system that heats material in the chambers when in contact with part of the heating system. An activation system activates the heating system. An outlet portion includes a mouthpiece and an adapter configured to fit over the mouthpiece. The outlet portion also includes an upper cap having a first conduit leading from an area above one chamber, a second conduit leading from an area above the other chamber, and a single outflow conduit communicating with both chambers and in flow communication with the mouthpiece. A plunger system presses material in each chamber against the part of the heating system and includes a spring retained at one end on the housing and a board attached at an opposite end of the spring and that is urged by the spring toward the heated part of the heating system.

Abstract: Smoking device includes a housing defining a chamber, and a selectively activated heating system that heats material in the chamber when in contact with part of the heating system. A manual activation system activates the heating system. An outlet portion includes a mouthpiece having an interior in flow communication with the chamber and an adapter configured to fit over the mouthpiece. The outlet portion has a first configuration when the adapter is not over the mouthpiece and a second configuration when the adapter is over the mouthpiece and provides an outer circumference for the outlet portion that is larger than the outer circumference provided when the adapter is used. A user can thus place their mouth over the mouthpiece and directly inhale material being heated in the material chamber or connect an inlet of a water pipe or bong to the adapter when the adapter is fit over the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A method of operating a memory controller is provided. The method includes determining a data state based on an input stream including multiple alphabet letters, converting a part of the input stream, which corresponds to a conversion size, into alphabet letters in a lower numeral system when the data state is determined to be a first state among multiple predetermined data states, inserting one of the converted alphabet letters into the input stream, and outputting each of the alphabet letters in the input stream as is when the data state is determined to be a second state among the predetermined data states.

Abstract: A method of operating a memory controller is provided. The method includes determining a data state based on an input stream including multiple alphabet letters, converting a part of the input stream, which corresponds to a conversion size, into alphabet letters in a lower numeral system when the data state is determined to be a first state among multiple predetermined data states, inserting one of the converted alphabet letters into the input stream, and outputting each of the alphabet letters in the input stream as is when the data state is determined to be a second state among the predetermined data states.

Abstract: Error correction is tailored for the use of an ECC for correcting asymmetric errors with low magnitude in a data device, with minimal modifications to the conventional data device architecture. The technique permits error correction and data recovery to be performed with reduced-size error correcting code alphabets. For particular cases, the technique can reduce the problem of constructing codes for correcting limited magnitude asymmetric errors to the problem of constructing codes for symmetric errors over small alphabets. Also described are speed up techniques for reaching target data levels more quickly, using more aggressive memory programming operations.

Abstract: We investigate a novel storage technology, Rank Modulation, for flash memories. In this scheme, a set of n cells stores information in the permutation induced by the different charge levels of the individual cells. The resulting scheme eliminates the need for discrete cell levels, and overshoot errors when programming cells (a serious problem that reduces the writing speed), as well as mitigate the problem of asymmetric errors. We present schemes for Gray codes, rewriting and joint coding in the rank modulation paradigm.

Abstract: We investigate error-correcting codes for a novel storage technology, which we call the rank-modulation scheme. In this scheme, a set of n cells stores information in the permutation induced by the different levels of the individual cells. The resulting scheme eliminates the need for discrete cell levels, and overshoot errors when programming cells (a serious problem that reduces the writing speed), as well as mitigates the problem of asymmetric errors. In this discussion, the properties of error correction in rank modulation codes are studied. We show that the adjacency graph of permutations is a subgraph of a multi-dimensional array of a special size, a property that enables code designs based on Lee-metric codes and L1-metric codes. We present a one-error-correcting code whose size is at least half of the optimal size. We also present additional error-correcting codes and some related bounds.

Abstract: We investigate a novel storage technology, Rank Modulation, for flash memories. In this scheme, a set of n cells stores information in the permutation induced by the different charge levels of the individual cells. The resulting scheme eliminates the need for discrete cell levels, and overshoot errors when programming cells (a serious problem that reduces the writing speed), as well as mitigate the problem of asymmetric errors. We present schemes for Gray codes, rewriting and joint coding in the rank modulation paradigm.

Abstract: We investigate error-correcting codes for a novel storage technology, which we call the rank-modulation scheme. In this scheme, a set of n cells stores information in the permutation induced by the different levels of the individual cells. The resulting scheme eliminates the need for discrete cell levels, and overshoot errors when programming cells (a serious problem that reduces the writing speed), as well as mitigates the problem of asymmetric errors. In this discussion, the properties of error correction in rank modulation codes are studied. We show that the adjacency graph of permutations is a subgraph of a multi-dimensional array of a special size, a property that enables code designs based on Lee-metric codes and L1-metric codes. We present a one-error-correcting code whose size is at least half of the optimal size. We also present additional error-correcting codes and some related bounds.

Abstract: A coding scheme for data is presented in which data is encoded and decoded such that a sequence of unconstrained input binary symbols, such as 1's and 0's, is encoded into a representation according to an alphabet comprising allowable time intervals between adjacent input binary symbols according to a precision parameter p, a minimum resolution parameter ?, and resolution restriction functions L(t) and R(t), thereby defining a precision-resolution (PR) constrained code, and is modulated into an output signal comprising a waveform having signal peaks corresponding to the representation and separated according to the PR-constrained code for transmission of the output signal over the data channel. In this discussion, the minimum resolution parameter is denoted as a and is not limited to integer values.

Abstract: Error correction is tailored for the use of an ECC for correcting asymmetric errors with low magnitude in a data device, with minimal modifications to the conventional data device architecture. The technique permits error correction and data recovery to be performed with reduced-size error correcting code alphabets. For particular cases, the technique can reduce the problem of constructing codes for correcting limited magnitude asymmetric errors to the problem of constructing codes for symmetric errors over small alphabets. Also described are speed up techniques for reaching target data levels more quickly, using more aggressive memory programming operations.

Abstract: It is provided a rodent management apparatus for exterminating a plurality of rodents comprising extermination chamber provided with exterminating means, a preservation chamber adapted to receive exterminated rodent from the extermination chamber, and at least one of a plurality of open tubes connected to the extermination chamber and adapted to guide the rodents into the extermination chamber. Plurality of rodents is guided to enter into the tubes so as to reach the extermination chamber, where they are exterminated and removed to the preservation chamber while maintained in sanitary conditions.

Abstract: A coding scheme for data is presented in which data is encoded and decoded such that a sequence of unconstrained input binary symbols, such as 1's and 0's, is encoded into a representation according to an alphabet comprising allowable time intervals between adjacent input binary symbols according to a precision parameter p, a minimum resolution parameter ?, and resolution restriction functions L(t) and R(t), thereby defining a precision-resolution (PR) constrained code, and is modulated into an output signal comprising a waveform having signal peaks corresponding to the representation and separated according to the PR-constrained code for transmission of the output signal over the data channel. In this discussion, the minimum resolution parameter is denoted as a and is not limited to integer values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic-card operated mechanism for closing and opening safes and to safes embodying it. The mechanism is powered by batteries and comprises means for reading a magnetic card, an electronic activating circuit and a locking mechanism, and is provided with electronic means for permanently storing information, with means for changing the power drawn from the batteries between at least one high level and one low level, with means for checking the correctness of the card code and of its reading, and with means for enabling the card to actuate the mechanism only if the result of the check is positive. The mechanism comprises an electrically actuated locking device powered by an electric motor and may also comprise additional manual locking means, which are blocked in the locking position or are released therefrom by the electrically actuated device.