Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a system and method that supports Enterprise Resource Planning, Laboratory and Research Management, Product Lifecycle Management, Decision Support Management, Regulatory Document Management, and internal corporate documents and data into a comprehensive, Web-based extranet, that can be a repository for a complete, real-time Body of Knowledge of an organization.

Abstract: An ornamental sandal, with cut outs of text, symbols, logos, or designs on the upper strap to allow penetration of the exposed cut out areas of the epidermal skin on the foot surface to the sun's ultraviolet rays to produce a temporary tanned tattoo-like effect on the skin after the sandals are removed from the feet. The user of the sandal has the option to choose the type of text, symbol, logo, or design when purchasing the sandal. Alternatively, the user may interchange upper straps to display preferred text, symbol, logo, or design of choice to suit the occasion, or have sandals custom made to the user's specifications.

Abstract: There is provided a method of enhancing a hard copy consumable printed item such as a greeting card or a calendar, with a digital package supported by a multi-media system, comprising the steps of: generating a digital package comprising digital content and/or services; making the digital package accessible to the multi-media system; manufacturing the printed item and including with the printed item a unique set of codes; storing in the multi-media system a mapping between the unique set of codes and the digital package; providing access to the digital packages to users of the printed items using the multi-media system on submission of the codes to the multi-media system. In this way the hard copy consumable is enhanced by a digital package which might include the ability to download pre-paid digital content and/or to access digital services.

Abstract: A method of protecting an electromechanical power transfer system from excessive peak electrical potentials, the power transfer system comprising a prime mover, a dynamoelectric machine coupled to the prime mover for generating multiphase alternating current (AC) power, and at least one multiphase AC electrical load coupled to the dynamoelectric machine by way of a multiphase AC power bus, the dynamoelectric machine having a control coil responsive to control current for varying power supplied to the electrical load, comprises the steps of: analysing electrical potentials on the power bus to generate analysed power bus characteristics; comparing the analysed power bus characteristics to predetermined power bus characteristics; simultaneously shunting power across the power bus and reducing control current to the control coil for the dynamoelectric machine when the analysed power bus characteristics approximate the predetermined power bus characteristics to reduce the measured electrical potentials; and simult

Abstract: Automatic switching of fonts on multilingual text runs in one action is provided. After an indication that a new font scheme is to be applied to a multilingual text selection, a client application passes a language identification for each of the multilingual text runs, a major/minor font designation for each text run, a script identification for each text run, if available, and the selected new font scheme to a font scheme application programming interface (API). The font scheme API converts the received language identification to a script identification for each multilingual text run and maps the resulting script identifications to appropriate fonts associated with the selected font scheme for each of the multilingual text runs. Fonts retrieved for each language text run are returned to the client application for rendering the multilingual text runs according to the respective fonts applicable to the selected font scheme.

Abstract: Automatic data collection devices such as barcode readers, RFID readers, magnetic stripe readers and the like may be tested using ADC device test executables, modules or processes stored at a variety of network locations. One or more sets of tests or work lists may be defined to facilitate testing. Tests may be identified by name and/or keyword. Keywords may be indicative one or more functionalities tested by the respective ADC device test module.

Abstract: A hazard protected file backup system includes a storage unit and a backup server. The storage unit is operable to receive and store digital data. A hazard resistant enclosure surrounds the storage unit. The backup server is operable to receive designated backup files and store at least some of the designated backup files on the storage unit.

Abstract: A metal shingle system which is resistant to leakage, even under severe weather conditions. The key attribute of the new system to the design of the side edge of the shingle such that water that seeps between adjacent shingles cannot be blown upward. Briefly, the top edge is overturned and the bottom edge is underturned such that they can be interconnected as is well known in the art. One side edge is folded to form a gutter area into which water that seeps between laterally adjacent shingles is collected and drained onto the lower row of shingles. The top of the gutter area is blocked by the overturned top edge, which extends into the gutter region. Also disclosed is an improved tool for cutting the shingles, such as is needed around obstructions and at the end of the roofline.

Abstract: A tool for separating a gasketed pipe joint includes a body comprising a relatively thin member formed into a partially cylindrical shape having spaced-apart forward and rear edges; and an arcuate reinforcing collar attached to an outer surface of the body adjacent the rear edge. A driving apparatus for the tool includes a first driving ring adapted to be mounted around one of the pipes and sized to bear against the gasket release tool; a second driving ring adapted to be mounted around the other one of the pipes and sized to bear against the socket; and apparatus for drawing the first and second driving rings together so as to drive the gasket release tool into a pipe joint.

Abstract: An inspection system and an inspection method, the method including detecting flaws on a surface, determining the size, count, and position of flaws on the surface, providing a representation of the detected flaws by size, count, and position on a display, setting a display threshold value which is a function of a number of particles of a particular size to be displayed on the display, determining when the display threshold is breached and in response adjusting the display to cease displaying those flaws, storing at least one inspection threshold value, and determining when the inspection threshold value is breached and in response outputting an inspection interrupt signal to stop the inspection after the inspection threshold value is breached.

Abstract: A pellicle reflectivity monitoring system comprising a radiation source for directing radiation through a pellicle to an object to be inspected, a sensor device positioned to receive the portion of the radiation reflected by the pellicle, a processor, responsive to the sensor device, for determining the intensity of the portion of the radiation reflected by the pellicle, and a lens assembly, positioned in an optical path between the pellicle and the sensor device, for directing the portion of the radiation reflected by pellicles of different heights onto the sensor device. A comparator device compares the intensity of the radiation directed at the object to be inspected with the intensity of the portion of the radiation reflected by the pellicle and outputs a correction factor based on the comparison in order to compensate for the portion of the radiation reflected by the pellicle.

Abstract: An apparatus including a system bus coupled to an I/O interface which includes a pointer register and a rejecting circuit which determines whether a write to the pointer register will be accepted or rejected. The I/O interface is further coupled to at least one I/O bus having at least one I/O device connected thereto. The system bus is further coupled to a main memory and to a Central Processing Unit (CPU) which is capable of executing software instructions, providing a command structure corresponding to an access of an I/O device, and writing to the pointer register an address of a location in main memory of the command structure. The CPU further includes a hardware indicator responsive to the rejecting circuit for providing a status signal indicating the status of a write to the pointer register. The CPU executes the software in accordance with the status signal. The apparatus allows the software being executed by the CPU to software pend accesses to devices not directly connected to the system bus.

Abstract: A plate holder for a plate surface inspection system, the plate holder including a plate holder body and a calibration plate integral with the plate holder body thereby eliminating the need to load a separate special calibration plate in the plate holder each time the surface inspection system needs to be calibrated.

Abstract: A surface displacement detection system including a detector for detecting displacement of a surface in a direction normal to the surface as the surface revolves; an encoder which divides the surface into N sectors; a signal processor responsive to the detector for calculating the amount of displacement of the surface in each sector of the surface as it revolves; a displacement value look-up table; and a routine for writing to the table a displacement value for each sector once per M revolutions, and an adjustment system including a focussing actuating element, a routine to read displacement value look-up table, a routine to for updating the position of the focussing actuating element for every sector, according to the displacement values stored in the look-up table.

Abstract: The invention provides a new process and apparatus for generating and selectively processing command requests issued over a bus. Command requests are generated by devices, each of which may be authorized or not authorized to cause the execution of the requested command. A unique identifier is provided for each device. The command requests are received and the identity of the device which issued the command request is determined. The command is then executed only if the unique identifier associated with the requesting device indicates that the device is authorized to cause the execution of the requested command.

Abstract: An improved optical inspection system for detecting flaws on a diffractive surface containing surface patterns includes: an ultraviolet illumination means for illuminating a region on the diffractive surface to generate a scattered intensity distribution in response to either a flaw or a surface pattern; means for detecting the intensity level of the scattered intensity distribution at a plurality of locations about the diffractive surface; means for establishing a minimum detected intensity level; means, responsive to the minimum detected intensity level, for indicating the absence of a flaw on the illuminated region of the diffractive surface when the minimum detected intensity level is below a threshold intensity level and for indicating the presence of a flaw on the illuminated region of the diffractive surface when the minimum detected intensity level exceeds the threshold intensity level; and means for moving the diffractive surface to generate a scan pattern on the diffractive surface to inspect the en

Abstract: A system for detecting displacement of a surface in a direction normal to the surface, the system including a first grating; a second grating; an optical subsystem for projecting an image of the first grating onto the surface and for directing a secondary image of the first grating reflected off the surface onto the second grating; and a detector, responsive to the fringe pattern formed after the secondary image passes through the second grating, for detecting displacement of the surface in a direction normal to the surface.

Abstract: A system for processing particle size and position data for a surface under inspection, the system including an air spindle for rotating and a translation stage for translating the surface with respect to a beam of radiation used to detect particles on the surface; a rotational encoder for dividing the surface into a number N of angular vectors; a counter of counting the number of revolutions of the surface; a processor for collecting particle size and position data at each angular vector during each revolution; first and second FIFO memories having at least N address spaces, each address space allocated for a specific angular vector; and a routine for writing the collected particle size and position data to the first memory and for reading particle size and position data from the second memory and switching memories every M revolutions. The FIFO memories are programmed to store only the greater of stored size data and incoming size data.