Abstract: Disclosed is a compact disc recording device that includes a housing, sound receiving means for receiving audio signals, a compact disc recorder for recording onto a compact disc, and data storage structure in the housing for storing audio signals. The compact disc recording device is configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in the data storage structure, and the compact disc recording device includes means for selecting a set of sound tracks from the music library to be recorded onto a compact disc by the compact disc recorder. The housing includes a display which identifies at least one sound track of the music library.

Abstract: A system and method providing read-time external signals to and from a gaming application executing within a platform independent programming environment on a computing system. The system has an input packet queue located within a block of system RAM, a main processing module, and an intelligent I/O interface module all coupled to the main system bus. The system generates an input signal data packet in response to a change in state of one or more external signals. The intelligent I/O interface module itself includes a control processor, an plurality of external signal interfaces, and a dual-port RAM. The control processor generates and stores the input signal data packet within the dual-port RAM before asserting an interrupt signal to the main processing module. Finally, the interrupt signal causes the main processing module to transfer the input signal data packet from the dual-port RAM to the input packet queue.

Abstract: A multi-stripe scrolling apparatus has a beam splitter (13) that internally reflects white light onto a movable array of holographic elements (30, 32, 34) that respectively emit three different color beams that are focused onto a light valve (36), causing bands of the three colors to sequentially scroll across the light valve (36).

Abstract: A method for processing a silver halide photographic material comprises the steps of loading the material into a chamber adapted to hold the material therein, introducing a metered amount of a first processing solution into the chamber, processing the photographic material with the first processing solution, introducing a metered amount of a second processing solution which is other than a second part of the first processing solution into the chamber without removing the first processing solution so that at least part of the total volume of the second processing solution is provided by the first processing solution and processing the photographic material with the second processing solution, the total volume of solution for each processing stage being spread over the whole area of the photographic material in a repetitive manner to enable uniform processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing photographic material has a chamber which is manufactured such that temperature uniformity is maintained across the chamber.

Abstract: A method of optimising the componentry of an optical data transmission link, the link comprising a series of optical components interconnected by a fiber network, the method comprising the steps of: (a) calculating an equivalent fiber representation for the link; (b) utilising an optimisation algorithm to eliminate redundant optical components from the link; (c) utilising an optimisation algorithm to determine the input channel power of the link.

Abstract: Automatic energy management is provided, in even the most complex multi-building system. The necessity of a human operator for managing energy in a complex, multi-building system is reduced and even eliminated. Computer-based monitoring and computer-based recognition of adverse energy events (such as the approach of a new energy peak) is highly advantageous in energy management. Immediate automatic querying of energy users within a system of buildings for energy curtailment possibilities is provided. Such immediate, automatic querying may be answered by the energy users through artificial intelligence and/or neural network technology provided to or programmed into the energy users, and the queried energy users may respond in real-time. Those real-time computerized responses with energy curtailment possibilities may be received automatically by a data processing facility, and processed in real-time.

Abstract: A proprietary position display process includes an ask-side display process for displaying, in a multi-column format, an ask-side entry for a specific security that is offered for sale by a market participant on a securities market. This ask-side entry includes a market participant identifier, a lot size, a reserve size, and an ask price. A bid-side display process displays, in a multi-column format, a bid-side entry for the specific security that is sought for purchase by a market participant on a securities market. This bid-side entry includes a market participant identifier, a lot size, a reserve size, and a bid price. The bid-side display process is configured to display the bid-side entry such that it is essentially a mirror image of the ask-side entry.

Abstract: An accessory system of a vehicle comprises an accessory module assembly having a mounting portion, a head portion and a rearview mirror assembly. The mounting portion extends generally upward when mounted to an attachment member at a vehicle windshield. The head portion may extend generally horizontally and rearwardly with respect to the vehicle from an upper portion of the mounting portion. The head portion comprises electronic circuitry for at least one accessory. The mirror assembly is mountable to the mounting portion, with the head portion of the accessory module assembly extending generally above the mirror casing. The head portion may be viewable and/or user accessible above the mirror casing when the mirror assembly is mounted to the mounting portion. The head portion may be pivotable or articulatable relative to the base portion of the accessory module assembly.

Abstract: A composition of microscopic devices utilizable in a medical diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. Each microscopic device includes a nanostructure provided with a ligand for effectively coupling the nanostructure to a predetermined chemical or molecular site. A medical method in part comprises inserting the medical devices into a patient, attaching the nanostructures via the respective ligands to instances of a predetermined type of target structure inside the patient, and thereafter activating the nanostructures to perform a preselected medical diagnostic or therapeutic function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for repairing turbine engine components, such as vanes and blades, which have airfoils. The method broadly comprises removing oxidation debris from portions of the component by blending areas exhibiting thermal barrier coating spall and/or oxidation damage, removing a ceramic insulating layer from the component, and blending surfaces of the component where nicks, dents, and/or cracks are located. If the component has a depleted aluminum zone, the depleted zone is either removed or replenished. Further, a tip portion of the component, if damaged, is restored and tip abrasives are applied to restore the component's cutting ability. Thereafter, a ceramic coating is applied to the component.

Abstract: Genetic loci that encode polypeptides that regulate the expression of virulence factors in bacteria, particularly S. aureus. Methods of detecting the gene or gene products for purposes of detecting S. aureus or diagnosing a patient suspected of being infected by S. aureus.

Abstract: A market participant profiling process includes a parameter specification process that allows a market participant to define one or more default order processing parameters. A default parameter application process applies the default order processing parameters to all future orders entered by the market participant.

Abstract: A method of evaluating decoupling capacitor placement for Very Large Scale Integrated Chips (VLSI) is disclosed. Included in the method is an analysis of the usage for each decoupling capacitor, the distance from the devices, and the locations of the devices and decoupling capacitors. Also addressed are the orientations and size of the components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a PCI bus switching architecture to allow a pair of PCI processors to have access to a common set of PCI I/O cards. More specifically, this design allows either cross-coupled processor to dynamically take over the operational controls of the common set of PCI I/O cards if the primary processor for the same become inoperative. The present invention achieves the objective by employing a point to point data link connection between each processor and their respective controllers for each common set of PCI I/O cards associated with a PCI bus.

Abstract: A sparing system and method of accommodating failure of equipment in critical systems comprises, in one embodiment, 1:n sparing where an equipment spare is provided for every n pieces of equipment in the system. The spare equipment includes journal memory wherein an image of the operating system, applications and state of each piece of equipment being spared for can be maintained. The image information is updated at appropriate intervals when the equipment is operating without a failure and, in the event of a piece of equipment failing, the spare equipment loads the state of failed equipment from the corresponding image and commences executing the software in the corresponding image, thus resuming performance of the activities of the failed equipment. In a second embodiment, m:n sparing is provided wherein m pieces of spare equipment are provided for n pieces of equipment to accommodate m failures of the equipment.

Abstract: A method of evaluating decoupling capacitor placement for Very Large Scale Integrated Chips (VLSI) is disclosed. Included in the method is an analysis of the usage for each decoupling capacitor, the distance from the devices, and the locations of the devices and decoupling capacitors. Also addressed are the orientations and size of the components.

Abstract: A method for aligning measurements of a hostile environment includes synchronizing at least two clocks, wherein at least a first clock is in the hostile environment, measuring characteristics of the hostile environment, aligning time domain curves of the collected measurements, correlating the curves using one or more events recorded by each clock, and correcting the curves by adding one or more time offsets. The offsets may be added to a found resent event or at other locations on the time domain curve. A second clock may be located outside the hostile environment or within a same or similar hostile environment. The collecting the measurements may be taken by a first measurement tool in a first device near the first clock and in at least a second device coupled to a second clock.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of aspartame involving enzymatic deformylation of an N-formyl-&agr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compound by treatment with an enzyme having formylmethionyl peptide deformylase activity and having as a co-factor group 5 to 11 bivalent metal ions. The invention also relates to selective preparation and recovery of aspartame from a mixture of N-formyl-&agr;- and &bgr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compounds by treatment with such enzyme. And finally, the invention relates to one-pot enzymatic synthesis of aspartame from N-formyl-L-aspartic acid and L- or D,L-phenylalanine methyl ester involving an enzymatic deformylation reaction simultaneously with an enzymatic coupling reaction, as well as to one-pot di- or oligopeptide synthesis by simultaneous enzymatic coupling and deformylation reactions in general.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having circuit structures, including at least one of logic elements and memory elements. A core is disposed at an interior portion of the integrated circuit. The core contains core power contacts and core ground contacts for providing electrical power to the circuit structures during functional operation of the integrated circuit. A peripheral is disposed at an edge portion of the integrated circuit. The peripheral contains signal contacts for sending and receiving electrical signals between the circuit structures and external circuitry. The peripheral also has peripheral power contacts and peripheral ground contacts for providing electrical power to the circuit structures during testing of the integrated circuit. The peripheral power contacts are redundant to at least some of the core power contacts, and the peripheral ground contacts are redundant to at least some of the core power contacts.