Abstract: A sight for a firearm is provided. The sight is structured to fit within a channel defined within the firearm. In some examples, the channel is defined within the slide of a semi automatic handgun. The sight includes a base that fits within the channel, and a visual index portion extending outward from the base. A removable firearm component blocks an open end of the channel, thereby retaining the sight, when the removable firearm component is installed on the firearm. In some examples, a rear sight may be secured within a channel defined within a slide by a firing pin stop. In other examples, a front sight may be secured within a channel defined within a slide by a barrel bushing. Some examples of the sight may include an adjustment mechanism for moving the visual index portion with respect to the base.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing asymmetric Graphical Processing Unit (“GPU”) processors in a para-virtualized environment. A virtual GPU (“vGPU”) within a child partition of the para-virtualized environment includes a kernel-mode driver (“KMD”) and a user-mode driver (“UMD”). The KMD includes a plurality of virtual nodes. Each virtual node performs a different type of operation in parallel with other types of operations. The KMD is declared as a multi-engine GPU. The UMD schedules operations for parallel execution on the virtual nodes. A render component within a root partition of the para-virtualized environment executes GPU commands received from the vGPU at the physical GPU. A plurality of memory access channels established between the KMD and the render component communicate GPU commands between a corresponding virtual node at the KMD and the render component.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing asymmetric Graphical Processing Unit (“GPU”) processors in a para-virtualized environment. A virtual GPU (“vGPU”) within a child partition of the para-virtualized environment includes a kernel-mode driver (“KMD”) and a user-mode driver (“UMD”). The KMD includes a plurality of virtual nodes. Each virtual node performs a different type of operation in parallel with other types of operations. The KMD is declared as a multi-engine GPU. The UMD schedules operations for parallel execution on the virtual nodes. A render component within a root partition of the para-virtualized environment executes GPU commands received from the vGPU at the physical GPU. A plurality of memory access channels established between the KMD and the render component communicate GPU commands between a corresponding virtual node at the KMD and the render component.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and a system for cloning a source drive to a target drive. A cloning program launches in a host device, and an amount of partitions and a size of each said partition of the source drive are obtained. The size of each corresponding partition in the target drive is adaptively determined according to a size of the source drive and a size of the target drive. The host device is rebooted and contents of the source drive are copied to the target drive.

Abstract: A method and a removable device for backing up/restoring a host device are disclosed. A portable application is resident in a removable device, which is external to the host device and is capable of being electrically coupled to the host device. The portable application is launched to the host device after the removable device is coupled to the host device. If a backup function is selected, a backup process begins by moving data to be backed up from the host device to the removable device; and if a restore function is selected, a restore process begins by moving data to be restored from the removable device to the host device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to enable a personal transportation vehicle, such a motorcycle, to turn up to 180 degrees around while remaining in a confined, compact space. The apparatus comprises a lightweight inner platform rotating inside a lightweight, fixed, outer platform and uses translated power from the personal transportation vehicle as a motive force to turn the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus that enables a personal transportation vehicle, such a motorcycle, to turn up to 180 degrees around while remaining in a confined, compact space. The apparatus comprises a lightweight inner platform rotating inside a lightweight, fixed, outer platform and uses translated power from the personal transportation vehicle as a motive force to turn the vehicle.

Abstract: Adaptable accelerated content streaming allows data to be streamed from a server to a client over a network at an accelerated rate for an amount of time before reducing the rate. In accordance with one aspect, the accelerated rate is prohibited from exceeding a threshold amount, which is based at least in part on both a total bandwidth of the server and an amount of bandwidth currently being used by the server. In accordance with one aspect, the data can be streamed to the client at up to an adaptable accelerated rate.

Abstract: Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.

Abstract: The disclosed roller switch has a roller, a flag arm, and a photoelectric detector. The roller is connected to the flag arm and vertical movement of the roller causes the flag arm to move. The movement of the flag arm causes the photoelectric detector to send a signal. The signal may be used to measure the length of a material passing under the roller. The inventive roller switch has a pair of flag arms, and the roller is mounted on a shaft extending between the pair of flag arms. By providing a pair of flag arms connected by the roller, the roller switch is more robust and durable. The roller switch is also capable of pivoting across a conveyor belt.

Abstract: Adaptable accelerated content streaming allows data to be streamed from a server to a client over a network at an accelerated rate for an amount of time before reducing the rate. In accordance with one aspect, the accelerated rate is prohibited from exceeding a threshold amount, which is based at least in part on both a total bandwidth of the server and an amount of bandwidth currently being used by the server. In accordance with one aspect, the data can be streamed to the client at up to an adaptable accelerated rate.

Abstract: Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.

Abstract: Operating system enhancements that enable an application program to create and perform graphics operations on device-independent bitmaps (DIBs) efficiently. The enhancements are in the form of functions that return to the application program a handle to the DIB and a pointer to the location of the DIB in memory. With the handle, the application program can use the capabilities of the operating system to perform graphics operations on the DIB. With the pointer, the application program can use its own drawing capabilities and address the DIB directly. The operating system enhancements also streamline the design and content of graphics drivers such as display drivers by placing basic graphics functions in a graphics engine that communicates with the graphics driver. Simple graphics operations are passed from the graphics driver to the graphics engine, allowing the driver to be limited to more complex operations that utilize special characteristics of graphics hardware associated with the driver.

Abstract: A flow field for an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is provided, having micro-flow channels having a width or depth of less than 800 &mgr;m, a pitch of less than 800 &mgr;m, or a proportion of inter-channel land area of less than 25%. The channels may further comprise micro-features within the channels. A flow field plate comprising the subject flow field is provided.

Abstract: Operating system enhancements that enable an application program to create and perform graphics operations on device-independent bitmaps (DIBs) efficiently. The enhancements are in the form of functions that return to the application program a handle to the DIB and a pointer to the location of the DIB in memory. With the handle, the application program can use the capabilities of the operating system to perform graphics operations on the DIB. With the pointer, the application program can use its own drawing capabilities and address the DIB directly. The operating system enhancements also streamline the design and content of graphics drivers such as display drivers by placing basic graphics functions in a graphics engine that communicates with the a graphics driver. Simple graphics operations are passed from the graphics driver to the graphics engine, allowing the driver to be limited to more complex operations that utilize special characteristics of graphics hardware associated with the driver.

Abstract: The disclosed roller switch has a roller, a flag arm, and a photoelectric detector. The roller is connected to the flag arm and vertical movement of the roller causes the flag arm to move. The movement of the flag arm causes the photoelectric detector to send a signal. The signal may be used to measure the length of a material passing under the roller. The inventive roller switch has a pair of flag arms, and the roller is mounted on a shaft extending between the pair of flag arms. By providing a pair of flag arms connected by the roller, the roller switch is more robust and durable. The roller switch is also capable of pivoting across a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and applying a strip component (11) such as a tire tread is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing the strip component on a belt conveyer (16), determining a guideline (52) of the strip component (11) at an exit end (20) of the belt conveyor (16), and laterally adjusting the exist end (20) of the belt conveyor (16) to align the guideline (52) of the strip component (11) with a predetermined guideline such as the guideline of a tire building drum (12). The apparatus includes a belt support transverse housing (76) which is laterally moveable by a motion controller (64) in response to a sensor (58) which detects the guideline (52) of the strip component (11). Guides on the transverse housing (76) move the belts of the conveyor (16) on slider plates without physically touching the conveyed strip component (11), thereby preventing damage to the component material.

Abstract: Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.

Abstract: Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.

Abstract: In response to a change in the color depth of a computer system's display device, the invention dynamically changes the color depth of existing objects in system memory to match the changed color depth of the device. As a result open applications need not be shut down and then reopened to change the color depth of objects already in system memory. The dynamic changing is accomplished through a number of functions calls between an application, the operating system and a display driver. In one embodiment of the invention, copies with the changed color depth are made at one time of all objects in system memory and the original objects discarded. The copies are then transferred to screen memory (if the display device is a video display terminal) for display as they are requested. In another embodiment of the invention, copies with the changed color depth are made selectively as the objects are transferred to the screen memory.