Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which a WAP is coupled to an antenna unit and provides a wireless LAN. In one embodiment, the antenna unit includes at least one remote antenna circuit having one or more ports to receive a control signal and a transmit signal transmitted from the WAP located in a multi-tone transmitter-receiver. Each remote antenna circuit includes a transmit amplifier unit that amplifies the transmit signal, a receive amplifier unit that amplifies a receive signal, and control unit that receives the control signal. The control unit controls an operation of the transmit and the receive amplifier units to extend a range of the wireless WAP with the at least one remote antenna circuit.

Abstract: An antenna unit includes one or more antenna circuits coupled to one or more antenna structures. Each antenna structure includes a first feed point and a second feed point to receive signals from a transceiver unit or transmit signals to the transceiver unit. The first feed point of each antenna structure is configured to maximize coupling into an associated antenna structure at a first frequency band and the second feed point of each antenna structure is configured to maximize coupling into an associated antenna structure at a second frequency band. Each antenna structure has a slot that separates each antenna structure into a first patch associated with the first feed point and the first frequency band and a second patch associated with the second feed point and the second frequency band. Each antenna circuit is operatively coupled to the transceiver unit without an intervening multiplexing functionality or circuitry.

Abstract: Transducers and resonators are embedded in body support structures in contact with a user to for the purpose of conveying musical sound energy to a user's body at selected frequencies and in selected patterns. Body support structures comprise beds, pillows, chairs, and other structures typically used to support people. The sound may be audio tones and/or music. The transducers and resonators may be incorporated into a foam component or in a coil spring component of the body support structure. Latex-type foams and beds made with springs are candidate body support structures for receiving transducer's and resonators. Electro-active polymers are also used as transducers. Floor systems are activated by both mechanical transducers and electro-active polymers.

Abstract: Transducers and resonators are embedded in body support structures in contact with a user to for the purpose of conveying musical sound energy to a user's body at selected frequencies and in selected patterns. Body support structures comprise beds, pillows, chairs, and other structures typically used to support people. The sound may be audio tones and/or music. The transducers and resonators may be incorporated into a foam component or in a coil spring component of the body support structure. Latex-type foams and beds made with springs are candidate body support structures for receiving transducer's and resonators. Electro-active polymers are also used as transducers.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for a pipeline protection system comprises a plurality of barrier valves in series with each other for coupling in a pipeline, wherein the valves are received in a metallic block.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which a WAP is coupled to an antenna unit and provides a wireless LAN. In one embodiment, the antenna unit includes at least one remote antenna circuit having one or more ports to receive a control signal and a transmit signal transmitted from the WAP located in a multi-tone transmitter-receiver. Each remote antenna circuit includes a transmit amplifier unit that amplifies the transmit signal, a receive amplifier unit that amplifies a receive signal, and control unit that receives the control signal. The control unit controls an operation of the transmit and the receive amplifier units to extend a range of the wireless WAP with the at least one remote antenna circuit.

Abstract: An overhead opening door lock device for use with existing types of door systems having horizontally hinged panels carried on rollers confined within channeled roller tracks is attached on the interior side of the door and fixes the door in position relative to the roller track. One leg of a U-shaped device is inserted in the hollow interior of a tube that serves as an articulation axis for a pair of hinged panels. The other leg of the U-shaped device penetrates a suitably positioned aperture in the web of the adjacent channeled roller track. A shear pin or padlock shank may be inserted through an aperture in a tip portion of the other leg that projects past the outside plane of the roller track web.

Abstract: A device which enables a ventilation space to be maintained between an insulating material and an electrical appliance retained by a structure or located in a wall or ceiling space, the device comprising a body having at least one spacer extending therefrom, each spacer terminating in a free end, wherein when the device is placed between a layer of insulation material and the appliance, a ventilation space is formed which allows dissipation of heat generated by the appliance.

Abstract: Transducers and resonators are embedded in body support structures in contact with a user to for the purpose of conveying musical sound energy to a user's body at selected frequencies and in selected patterns. Body support structures comprise beds, pillows, chairs, and other structures typically used to support people. The sound may be audio tones and/or music. The transducers and resonators may be incorporated into a foam component or in a coil spring component of the body support structure. Latex-type foams and beds made with springs are candidate body support structures for receiving transducer's and resonators. Electro-active polymers are also used as transducers.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which a WAP is coupled to an antenna unit and provides a wireless LAN. In one embodiment, the antenna unit includes at least one remote antenna circuit having one or more ports to receive a control signal and a transmit signal transmitted from the WAP located in a multi-tone transmitter-receiver. Each remote antenna circuit includes a transmit amplifier unit that amplifies the transmit signal, a receive amplifier unit that amplifies a receive signal, and control unit that receives the control signal. The control unit controls an operation of the transmit and the receive amplifier units to extend a range of the wireless WAP with the at least one remote antenna circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to generate a common-mode reference signal. A common-mode current is received at a common-mode current sensing circuit. The common-mode current is sampled at a node between the common-mode current sensing circuit and a shunt resistor. The resulting voltage across the shunt resistor from the applied common-mode current is used as a common-mode reference signal.

Abstract: An antenna unit includes one or more antenna circuits coupled to one or more antenna structures. Each antenna structure includes a first feed point and a second feed point to receive signals from a transceiver unit or transmit signals to the transceiver unit. The first feed point of each antenna structure is configured to maximize coupling into an associated antenna structure at a first frequency band and the second feed point of each antenna structure is configured to maximize coupling into an associated antenna structure at a second frequency band. Each antenna structure has a slot that separates each antenna structure into a first patch associated with the first feed point and the first frequency band and a second patch associated with the second feed point and the second frequency band. Each antenna circuit is operatively coupled to the transceiver unit without an intervening multiplexing functionality or circuitry.

Abstract: In general, various methods, apparatuses, and systems for a surge protection circuit for a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) are disclosed. The surge protection circuit includes a first voltage protection device coupled to a first wire of the PSTN. A voltage protection device conducts when voltage applied across the voltage protection device at least meets a set voltage threshold. The surge protection circuit includes a second voltage protection device coupled to a second wire of the PSTN. The second voltage protection device is coupled to the first voltage protection device in series. The surge protection circuit includes a voltage divider device to cause a voltage applied differentially across the first wire and second wire to divide evenly across the first voltage protection device and the second voltage protection device.

Abstract: Transducers and resonators are embedded in body support structures in contact with a user to for the purpose of conveying musical sound energy to a user's body at selected frequencies and in selected patterns. Body support structures comprise beds, pillows, chairs, and other structures typically used to support people. The sound may be audio tones and/or music. The transducers and resonators may be incorporated into a foam component or in a coil spring component of the body support structure. Latex-type foams and beds made with springs are candidate body support structures for receiving transducer's and resonators. Electro-active polymers are also used as transducers. Floor systems are activated by both mechanical transducers and electro-active polymers.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which a WAP is coupled to an antenna unit and provides a wireless LAN. In one embodiment, the antenna unit includes at least one remote antenna circuit having one or more ports to receive a control signal and a transmit signal transmitted from the WAP located in a multi-tone transmitter-receiver. Each remote antenna circuit includes a transmit amplifier unit that amplifies the transmit signal, a receive amplifier unit that amplifies a receive signal, and control unit that receives the control signal. The control unit controls an operation of the transmit and the receive amplifier units to extend a range of the wireless WAP with the at least one remote antenna circuit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are described in which a hybrid of two standard types of voltage regulators is formed. The hybrid voltage regulator may share a switching waveform with a switching waveform generator already in use on the circuit board, which may be a switching voltage regulator. This switching waveform acts as a control waveform for the hybrid voltage regulator, thus eliminating the need for another controller. The hybrid voltage regulator combines the functionality of a linear voltage regulator and a switching voltage regulator into one circuit. The shared switching waveform controls during operation as a switching voltage regulator. A second control waveform is generated by a control amplifier, which compares the regulated output voltage to a reference voltage. The second control waveform controls during operation as a linear voltage regulator.

Abstract: A networked Conditional Access Module provided on an IEEE 1394 network, by defining a Conditional Access Module as a Conditional Access Subunit of the IEEE 1394 network, providing AV/C Conditional Access Commands to allow communication between the Conditional Access Subunit and other Subunits on the network, the Conditional Access Subunit including means to receive AV/C Conditional Access Commands over the IEEE 1394 network from another subunit, and means to transmit AV/C responses over the IEEE 1394 network in response to the received AV/C Conditional Access Commands.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reverse auction system for procuring goods and services. A customer business provides details concerning its needs by means of a detailed questionnaire. An invitation to bid is then sent to potential sellers. The invention rates bidders according to quality and risk based on historical data of customer service. The bidding occurs over a specified number of rounds. Bidding is semi-blind, wherein bidders can view the bids, bid evaluations, and bid ranking for each preceding round, but not the current round. Bidding may be done manually or through an automate proxy system. Bidders are identified only by their respective quality and risk ratings. After each round, bidders are ranked according to a three-factor evaluation that combines bid price, quality rating, and risk rating and compares them to the supplied customer information.

Abstract: A method, program and system for analyzing product price structures are provided by the present invention. The invention involves receiving product information about a multi-component product, such as a service plan, and analyzing individual price elements within the multi-component product. These individual price elements may include, purchase price, fixed periodic charges, up-front charges, variable charges, discounts, service contract length, service and maintenance costs, labor costs, and purchase minimums. The invention then determines customer requirements and calculates the total cost over an estimate service life of the product according to these requirements. This projected total cost is then converted to a single figure of merit that reduces the price structure of the product to a single financial figure that can be compared across products with different price structures.