Abstract: A speaker device includes a bass driver mounted in the internal space of an enclosure for generating a bass output. The bass driver has a central axis along which a piston area of the bass driver actuates oriented at an oblique angle relative to the bottom end of the enclosure to increase bass driver size and acoustic output and to reduce acoustic frequency distortion by providing a varying distance between the bass driver and the top and bottom ends of the enclosure. An elastomeric reflector-damper plate is spaced apart from the bass driver in the internal space in the enclosure. The reflector-damper plate radially disperses low to midrange audio frequencies of the bass output of the bass driver around the enclosure to further reduce acoustic frequency distortion. Electronic subsystems in the internal space coupled to the bass driver receive and process input audio signals to be rendered by the bass driver.

Abstract: A networked speaker device includes a sealed housing and an Ethernet port in the housing for receiving power and audio data from a network router via an Ethernet cable. A power supply subsystem in the housing manages the power received at the Ethernet port. A microprocessor subsystem, powered by the power supply subsystem, receives and processes the audio data to generate output audio signals. A digital audio amplifier, powered by the power supply subsystem, amplifies the output audio signals to drive a speaker driver to render an audio output. The device also includes at least one heater resistor in the housing powered by the power supply subsystem. The at least one heater resistor is controlled by the microprocessor subsystem to automatically heat the interior of the housing when temperature inside the housing falls below a given temperature.

Abstract: A networked speaker device includes a sealed housing and an Ethernet port in the housing for receiving power and audio data from a network router via an Ethernet cable. A power supply subsystem in the housing manages the power received at the Ethernet port. A microprocessor subsystem, powered by the power supply subsystem, receives and processes the audio data to generate output audio signals. A digital audio amplifier, powered by the power supply subsystem, amplifies the output audio signals to drive a speaker driver to render an audio output. The device also includes at least one heater resistor in the housing powered by the power supply subsystem. The at least one heater resistor is controlled by the microprocessor subsystem to automatically heat the interior of the housing when temperature inside the housing falls below a given temperature.

Abstract: A speaker device includes a bass driver mounted in the internal space of an enclosure for generating a bass output. The bass driver has a central axis along which a piston area of the bass driver actuates oriented at an oblique angle relative to the bottom end of the enclosure to increase bass driver size and acoustic output and to reduce acoustic frequency distortion by providing a varying distance between the bass driver and the top and bottom ends of the enclosure. An elastomeric reflector-damper plate is spaced apart from the bass driver in the internal space in the enclosure. The reflector-damper plate radially disperses low to midrange audio frequencies of the bass output of the bass driver around the enclosure to further reduce acoustic frequency distortion. Electronic subsystems in the internal space coupled to the bass driver receive and process input audio signals to be rendered by the bass driver.

Abstract: A networked speaker device includes a sealed housing and an Ethernet port in the housing for receiving power and audio data from a network router via an Ethernet cable. A power supply subsystem in the housing manages the power received at the Ethernet port. A microprocessor subsystem, powered by the power supply subsystem, receives and processes the audio data to generate output audio signals. A digital audio amplifier. powered by the power supply subsystem, amplifies the output audio signals to drive a speaker driver to render an audio output. The device also includes at least one heater resistor in the housing powered by the power supply subsystem. The at least one heater resistor is controlled by the microprocessor subsystem to automatically heat the interior of the housing when temperature inside the housing falls below a given temperature.

Abstract: A speaker device includes a bass driver mounted in the internal space of an enclosure for generating a bass output. The bass driver has a central axis along which a piston area of the bass driver actuates oriented at an oblique angle relative to the bottom end of the enclosure to increase bass driver size and acoustic output and to reduce acoustic frequency distortion by providing a varying distance between the bass driver and the top and bottom ends of the enclosure. An elastomeric reflector-damper plate is spaced apart from the bass driver in the internal space in the enclosure. The reflector-damper plate radially disperses low to midrange audio frequencies of the bass output of the bass driver around the enclosure to further reduce acoustic frequency distortion. Electronic subsystems in the internal space coupled to the bass driver receive and process input audio signals to be rendered by the bass driver.

Abstract: A speaker device includes a bass driver mounted in the internal space of an enclosure for generating a bass output. The bass driver has a central axis along which a piston area of the bass driver actuates oriented at an oblique angle relative to the bottom end of the enclosure to increase bass driver size and acoustic output and to reduce acoustic frequency distortion by providing a varying distance between the bass driver and the top and bottom ends of the enclosure. An elastomeric reflector-damper plate is spaced apart from the bass driver in the internal space in the enclosure. The reflector-damper plate radially disperses low to midrange audio frequencies of the bass output of the bass driver around the enclosure to further reduce acoustic frequency distortion. Electronic subsystems in the internal space coupled to the bass driver receive and process input audio signals to be rendered by the bass driver.

Abstract: A data collecting device including a microcontroller communicatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of sensors, the sensors being configured to detect vital signs of a patient including at least one of temperature, blood oxygen saturation level, blood pressure, and a level of carbon dioxide exhaled by the patient, the microcontroller being configured to, in response to receiving data from at least one of the sensors, perform noise filtering and aggregate the received sensor data into a plurality of data packets, and transmit the filtered and aggregated data to portable mobile computing device communicatively coupled thereto.

Abstract: A networked speaker device includes a sealed housing and an Ethernet port in the housing for receiving power and audio data from a network router via an Ethernet cable. A power supply subsystem in the housing manages the power received at the Ethernet port. A microprocessor subsystem, powered by the power supply subsystem, receives and processes the audio data to generate output audio signals. A digital audio amplifier, powered by the power supply subsystem, amplifies the output audio signals to drive a speaker driver to render an audio output. The device also includes at least one heater resistor in the housing powered by the power supply subsystem. The at least one heater resistor is controlled by the microprocessor subsystem to automatically heat the interior of the housing when temperature inside the housing falls below a given temperature.

Abstract: The application discloses a hair styling implement 1 that comprises: a handle portion 3; and first 13 and second 17 styling parts, at least one of which is capable of being heated; wherein in a first operating mode one or both of said styling parts 13, 17 is or are moveable relative to at least part of said handle portion 3 to separate said styling parts 13, 17 so as to enable hair to be inserted therebetween for straightening; and in a second operating mode where said styling parts 13, 17 are adjacent hair can be wrapped around the periphery of the styling parts for curling.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for operating an automated reward system through a financial institution over a network for merchants that have enrolled in the institution's reward program and for users that have a banking account at the institution associated with the reward program. The system includes a transaction module coupled to the institution for managing enrollment in and processing of purchase information associated with the program. The method includes receiving information at the institution about a first purchase by an enrolled user at an enrolled merchant; determining if the first purchase and the user qualified for such merchant's reward program; assigning monetary credit to the user's account in connection with such first purchase which may be applied towards a future purchase by the user at the enrolled merchant; receiving information at the institution about a second purchase by the user at the enrolled merchant; and applying the previous credit toward payment of the second purchase.

Abstract: A method carried out by processing a purchase by a user at a merchant; submitting purchase information to a financial institution; and assigning credit to the user according to the purchase and reward program terms tailored for the merchant.

Abstract: An apparatus for predicting the reliability of an electronic system is provided. The apparatus includes at least one component, a stress sensor operable to measure stress of the at least one component, a resistance sensor operable to measure an electrical resistance of the at least one component, and an electronic control system coupled to the stress sensor and resistance sensor operable to predict the reliability of the electronic system using the stress and electrical resistance of the at least one component.

Abstract: The invention relates to sub macro cellular layers of a wireless communications system. An object of wireless communications system design is to reduce the number of base station sites required by increasing their range and or capacity. The term, “capacity” is used herein to refer to any suitable measure which provides an indication of how many conventional mobile terminals or other terminals are able to communicate effectively with a given antenna arrangement. Macro base station sites for cellular systems are particularly expensive, both in terms of the equipment required and the need for a geographical site for each cell site where, inter alia, large structures are frequently employed where planning permission is required. The present invention seeks to provide a system and method for reducing the effects of adjacent channel interference, especially in 3G CDMA base stations.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement (10) for a cellular radio base station is provided with a plurality of r.f. transceivers, including one or more antenna arrays (12) each comprising a plurality of sub-arrays (20) each selectively operpable to form a beam in azimuth. Each sub-army is provided with elevation beamforming means (24) and individual transmit and receive amplifiers (30,32). Each sub-array beamformer is coupled to at least one r.f. transmitter feed (26)nd each r.f. receiver feed is coupled to at least two sub-array beamformers, the sub-arrays of each antenna array together forming a multiplicity of separate substantially coincident beams in azimuth. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sorting system, relying on the identification of items to be sorted by means of codes applied thereto, in which it is possible to infer the identity of items whose codes have become unreadable. The system relies on identifying the item by reference to the codes of items which precede and which follow the item.

Abstract: A process is recited for plating elongated current collectors with indium. The current collectors have particular utility in alkaline electrochemical cells, particularly zinc/manganese dioxide alkaline cells containing "zero-added" mercury. The process of the invention involves electroplating conductive wire with indium and then drawing the plated wire to a lesser diameter. The drawn plated wire may then be cut to the desired lengths, typically in the shape of a nail, for use as current collectors within the alkaline cell.

Abstract: A phased array radar system, such as may be used in a low-angle tracking radar or direction finding equipment, includes a multi-channel digital filter to remove unwanted multipath signals. The R.F. signals from the array are first converted to zero I.F. and digitized. After n-channel Doppler filtering (13) the digital signals are subjected to filtering (14) either to effect band-pass spatial filtering, thereby attenuating generally all signals arriving outside preset angular limits, or notch filtering which heavily attenuates signals arriving from one particular angle. In one embodiment spatial filtering is followed by notch filtering. The filtered signals are then beam-formed (15) before being applied to further digital processing, such as beam peak tracking (16).

Abstract: An array (aperture) signal processor using surface acoustic wave delay lines for reordering of the received signals according to the prime number transform algorithm. The output of the processor is a radar response equivalent to forming a multiplicity of narrow beams essentially simultaneously. Reordering of the received signals is simply a matter of rearranging the hardwired connections to a first SAW delay line, and convolution of the reordered signals is achieved by phase weighting the taps in a second SAW delay line which forms part of a transversal filter.

Abstract: A height finding arrangement for a range/azimuth surveillance radar using a mechanically rotated planar antenna array. The received outputs from the array are combined with suitable weighting functions to give two sectorial pattern signals whose effective phase centers are respectively above and below the center of the array aperture. The phase difference between these two signals is measured to provide the elevation angle of the target.