Abstract: An optical communications system includes a receiver subsystem with at least two heterodyne receivers. The receiver subsystem receives a composite optical signal having two or more subbands of information and corresponding tones. An optical splitter splits the composite optical signal into optical signals. Each optical signal includes a subband(s) and corresponding tone. Each heterodyne receiver receives an optical signal. The receiver includes a heterodyne detector coupled to a signal extractor. The heterodyne detector mixes the optical signal with an optical local oscillator to produce an electrical signal which includes a frequency down-shifted version of the subband and the tone of the optical signal. The signal extractor mixes the frequency down-shifted subband with the frequency down-shifted tone to produce a frequency component containing the information.

Abstract: A conveyor belt drip pan assembly having a deck frame with a main surface section for receiving falling particles from a traveling conveyor belt. Elongated upright ramp members are secured to the sides of the deck frame. A scraper blade is reciprocally movable by a power source opposite the direction of travel of the conveyor belt and arranged to scrape particles off the main surface section of the deck frame. The scraper blade is moveable in the reverse direction elevated on the ramp members above the main surface section of the deck frame.

Abstract: A surgical instrument adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue includes a cartridge module having a cartridge housing containing a plurality of surgical fasteners and a knife. The cartridge module includes a driver disposed to push surgical fasteners out of the cartridge housing. The instrument also includes a firing mechanism associated with the cartridge housing for ejecting the surgical fasteners and the knife from the cartridge housing. The knife includes a detent disposed to contact a mating detent of the cartridge module during longitudinal travel of the knife thereby preventing undesired forward and rearward motion of the knife. The driver includes a detent disposed to contact at least one mating detent formed on the cartridge module.

Abstract: The invention relates to assembled particles of a plant virus containing a predetermined foreign peptide as part of the coat protein of the virus, and a method for their production. The foreign peptide is preferably a biologically functional peptide, the biological application of which requires or is enhanced by presentation of the peptide in association with a larger molecule or particle.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for improving release, on a surface, of a fragrance from an entrapment structure of at least one fragrance oil and at least one entrapment material. The method destabilizes the entrapment structure by providing at least one trigger molecule which preferentially associates with the entrapment material; and/or at least one release agent which at least partially disrupts the entrapment structure. The invention also provides a composition for improving release of a fragrance from a surface. The composition comprises at least one fragrance oil; at least one entrapment material, the at least one fragrance oil and the at least one entrapment material being capable, in use, of forming an entrapment structure on the surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension assembly that includes a load beam having a bend section with a bending stiffness and an in-plane stiffness. The assembly also includes a constraint or stiffening layer cooperatively attached to the bend section. The constraint layer includes a pattern formed therein, and the constraint layer is arranged and configured to increase the in-plane stiffness of the bend section and to maintain a substantially constant bending stiffness of the bend section. The constraint layer pattern may be preformed or may be formed in the constraint layer after the constraint layer has been mounted to the bend section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a VGA stage having a novel circuit configuration for amplifying/attenuating a differential input signal which is transmitted via a transmission line (H). The VGA stage comprises an operational amplifier (OPV1, OPV2), which is connected as shunt feedback, for amplifying the input signal; a string of resistors (R01, R01?) for attenuating the signal; and a control device (2) for switching the string of resistors (R01, R01?).

Abstract: An electronic media distribution system which facilitates the distribution of media to consumers over a network, such as the Internet, while achieving commercial business objectives and protecting the intellectual property rights associated with the media being distributed. The system provides the infrastructure and support for various market participants to engage in buying, selling, finding and distributing music. The system provides an interface for consumers to locate, access and receive musical content over the Internet. The system facilitates continued control over the musical content sent to consumers by dynamically enforcing retailer agreements and restrictions governing the purchase, use, and distribution of the content. The system also provides a service to retailers and distributors in assisting with the management of sales and distribution of music over the Internet.

Abstract: The present invention allows for a pre-licensing process for content that is subject to rights management in order to allow a principal access to the content when the principal does not have access to the rights management server. Rather than requiring the principal to submit a rights account certificate and request for a use license to the rights management server, the present invention allows the message server to obtain a use license on behalf of the principal. Accordingly, the principal can access the use license from the message server and decrypt protected content without having to request the use license from the rights management server.

Abstract: There is described a sensor comprising an excitation winding, a signal generator operable to generate an excitation signal and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the excitation winding, a sensor winding electromagnetically coupled to the excitation winding and a signal processor operable to process a periodic electric signal generated in the sensor winding when the excitation signal is applied to the excitation winding by the signal generator to determine a value of a sensed parameter. The excitation signal comprises a periodic carrier signal having a first frequency modulated by a periodic modulation signal having a second frequency, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency. In this way, the sensor is well suited to using digital processing techniques both to generate the excitation signal and to process the signal induced in the sensor windings. In an embodiment, the sensor is used to detect the relative position of two members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described according to various embodiments, for flowing current from one region of a coil to another region of the coil. The flowing induces—through flux linkage —a voltage across a second coil. A second current substantially does not flow though the second coil. The method and apparatus also includes measuring the current with the voltage between the two coils.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pile compartment for flat postal articles placed in an upright position, comprising a pile compartment bottom (7) and a pile compartment wall (6) perpendicular thereto. The postal articles (1) inside the pile compartment (5) rest against said pile compartment wall. The pile compartment also comprises a pile support (8), which holds the pile (11) and can be displaced along the pile compartment wall (6) in an approximately horizontal piling direction. At the end of the pile compartment (5), the pile support (8) can be lowered into the plane of the pile compartment bottom, and the pile compartment bottom (7) is provided, at least in part, with a profiled design. The pile support (8) is designed so that it meshes with the bottom profile via the pile support surface that, when raised, slides on the pile compartment bottom (7).

Abstract: A communication device includes an earpiece housing adapted for fitting to an ear of a user such that the earpiece does not block the canal, an inertial sensor operatively connected to the earpiece housing for sensing positional changes of the user's ears, a processor operatively connected to the inertial sensor and disposed within the earpiece determining presence of an alert condition at least partially based on positional changes, and a speaker operatively connected to the processor.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for tolerating control link faults in a packet communications switch fabric. The method comprises: accepting information packets including a plurality of cells, at a plurality of port card ports, the plurality of information packets addressing a plurality of port card ports; selectively connecting port card ports to port card backplane data links; in response to backplane control link communications, selectively connecting port card backplane data links and crossbars; sensing a connection fault in a control link; and, in response to sensing the control link fault, reselecting connections between the port card ports and the port card backplane data links. In some aspects, selectively connecting port card backplane data links and crossbars includes: for a particular backplane data link, fixedly connecting each port card to a corresponding interface of an assigned crossbar; and, selectively enabling the connection to each crossbar.

Abstract: A fluid gel obtainable by a process which comprises subjecting a solution comprising a mixture of xanthan and one or more non-gelling polysaccharides selected from galactomannans or glucomannans in a solvent to shear while cooling the solution from a temperature above the gelation temperature of the mixture, and recovering the resulting continuous gel. The gel is useful in cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions where it may, for instance, be generated in situ.