Abstract: Changed Host Display Information (HDI) may be captured, selectively encoded, and optionally transmitted between participants over a session. Hints indicative of which portions of the HDI may have changed are collected and used to select areas of HDI for processing. Changed HDI is encoded using an encoding process selected from a number of encoding processes by determining which process is likely to efficiently encode that portion of the HDI. Where the HDI is divided into tiles for processing the encoding method selection may take place on a tile-by-tile basis, for example by counting the number of colors in the tile to be encoded. Changed HDI may be transmitted to viewers using paint commands containing pixel information and copy commands indicating that a portion of the HDI has been moved.

Abstract: Changed Host Display Information (HDI) may be captured, selectively encoded, and optionally transmitted between participants over a session. Hints indicative of which portions of the HDI may have changed are collected and used to select areas of HDI for processing. Changed HDI is encoded using an encoding process selected from a number of encoding processes by determining which process is likely to efficiently encode that portion of the HDI. Where the HDI is divided into tiles for processing the encoding method selection may take place on a tile-by-tile basis, for example by counting the number of colors in the tile to be encoded. Changed HDI may be transmitted to viewers using paint commands containing pixel information and copy commands indicating that a portion of the HDI has been moved.

Abstract: A blanket with an integral watering system covers the ground associated with a garden and assists in delivering water thereto. The blanket is provided by first and second sheets of material, at least one of said sheets of material being porous. The sheets are interconnected together and form an intermediate space for receiving at least a first conduit for conveying the water to the ground through the porous sheet of material. The first conduit may comprise layflat hose. Preferably, a plurality of channels are formed in the space, each for receiving a second conduit, such as a drip tape or like perforated hose, connected to the first conduit. The first conduit may extend in a first or longitudinal direction of the blanket, and the second conduits may extend in a second, transverse direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for operating a self-cleaning oven in which a gas sensor, such as for measuring concentrations of CO gas, is located remote from, yet in gas communication with, an exhaust flue of the oven. The gas sensor is located at the end of an outlet tube which extends from the exhaust flue. A sample gas flow is provided to the gas sensor through the outlet tube to isolate the sensor from the heat of the oven and a filter device is located in the outlet tube for filtering the sample gas flow. A valve may be provided at the inlet to the outlet tube. The rate of change (slope) of successive readings of gas concentrations may be used to determine when the combustion of food material is complete, in order to terminate a self-cleaning cycle.

Abstract: An oven and a method for controlling the ambient temperature in an oven comprising a baking cavity that is preheated with respect to a user-selected temperature set point. The baking cavity can include a rack for supporting a pan that conceptually divides the cavity into an upper heating region and a lower heating region. A broil heating element and corresponding broil temperature sensor are disposed in the upper heating region of the baking cavity. A bake heating element and corresponding bake heating sensor are disposed in the lower heating region of the baking cavity. A controlled is provided to control the activation of the broil and bake heating elements in response to the sensed temperature of the upper and lower heating regions to maintain the entire oven at a temperature substantially equal to a target temperature set point, which is determined based on the user-selected temperature set point.

Abstract: A fire control system with a decocking lever that operates to decock the hammer and also as a safety. The fire control system also has a magazine safety to complement the decocking lever's dual functions. The magazine safety is in the “safety on” position when a magazine is not fully seated in the magazine well and in the “safety off” position when the magazine is fully seated. In one embodiment, rotating the decocking lever by lifting one of the thumb tabs applies the safety if the hammer is cocked and rotating the decocking lever in the other direction causes the sear to release the hammer but catch it before it reaches the firing pin. In an alternate embodiment, the decocking lever can be used as a safety regardless of whether the hammer is cocked or not. Further rotation lower a cocked hammer.

Abstract: A fire control system with a decocking lever that operates to decock the hammer and also as a safety. The fire control system also has a magazine safety to complement the decocking lever's dual functions. The magazine safety is in the “safety on” position when a magazine is not fully seated in the magazine well and in the “safety off” position when the magazine is fully seated. In one embodiment, rotating the decocking lever by lifting one of the thumb tabs applies the safety if the hammer is cocked and rotating the decocking lever in the other direction causes the sear to release the hammer but catch it before it reaches the firing pin. In an alternate embodiment, the decocking lever can be used as a safety regardless of whether the hammer is cocked or not. Further rotation lowers a cocked hammer.

Abstract: An oven and a method for controlling the ambient temperature in an oven comprising a baking cavity that is preheated with respect to a user-selected temperature set point. The baking cavity can include a rack for supporting a pan that conceptually divides the cavity into an upper heating region and a lower heating region. A broil heating element and corresponding broil temperature sensor are disposed in the upper heating region of the baking cavity. A bake heating element and corresponding bake heating sensor are disposed in the lower heating region of the baking cavity. A controlled is provided to control the activation of the broil and bake heating elements in response to the sensed temperature of the upper and lower heating regions to maintain the entire oven at a temperature substantially equal to a target temperature set point, which is determined based on the user-selected temperature set point.

Abstract: A method for controlling the duration of a self-cleaning operation in an oven responsive to the oven usage. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a heating device for supplying heat into the cooking chamber, an exhaust outlet from the cooking chamber leading to atmosphere, and a heat control device for controlling the heating device for baking, broiling and self-cleaning cycles. The method of controlling the duration includes the steps of maintaining a count at the heat control device of the length of oven operation time performed since a last self-cleaning cycle, accepting an input at the heat control device to begin a self-cleaning operation, and controlling the heating device to heat the oven cavity for a time period based upon the length of oven operation time performed since a last self-cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A selectively compliant chuck for assembling tiles into larger LCD displays facilitates alignment between a cover plate and a tile. A linear clutch is positioned between the tile chuck and the tile chuck carrier. This allows each chuck to float in the axis perpendicular to the tile's mating surface. The chuck has freedom to move linearly in this axis, and allows for pitch and roll motion as well. This floating connection can be turned on or off at will. Thus, a tile attached to the chuck can be lowered to intimately contact a cover plate and the chuck will compliantly move for high mating tolerances. Thereafter, the clutch can be locked to fix the chuck in it's current position. In this manner, the tile can be raised so that an adhesive can be applied to the cover plate. The tile can then be lowered back over the adhesive with the clutch locked and alignment maintained.

Abstract: A method for controlling the duration of a self-cleaning operation in an oven responsive to the oven usage. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a heating device for supplying heat into the cooking chamber, an exhaust outlet from the cooking chamber leading to atmosphere, and a heat control device for controlling the heating device for baking, broiling and self-cleaning cycles. The method of controlling the duration includes the steps of maintaining a count at the heat control device of the length of oven operation time performed since a last self-cleaning cycle, accepting an input at the heat control device to begin a self-cleaning operation, and controlling the heating device to heat the oven cavity for a time period based upon the length of oven operation time performed since a last self-cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for operating a self-cleaning oven in which a gas sensor, such as for measuring concentrations of CO gas, is located remote from, yet in gas communication with, an exhaust flue of the oven. The gas sensor is located at the end of an outlet tube which extends from the exhaust flue. A sample gas flow is provided to the gas sensor through the outlet tube to isolate the sensor from the heat of the oven and a filter device is located in the outlet tube for filtering the sample gas flow. A valve may be provided at the inlet to the outlet tube. The rate of change (slope) of successive readings of gas concentrations may be used to determine when the combustion of food material is complete, in order to terminate a self-cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A top reading bituminous paving depth gauge is used to determine the thickness of paving layers. The gauge comprises a depressible rod operatively associated when a rod support system comprising an upper portion having a graduated measuring gauge fixed on the rod support system and a bottom support devise fixed to the lower end of the rod support system. The bottom or the support device acts as a foot for the measuring gauge and also acts to receive the lower portion of the depressible rod. The top reading bituminous paving depth gauge operates without any washers on the measuring depressible rod to prevent false measurements due to the presence of large aggregates.

Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an oven during preheating wherein the oven includes an oven cavity having an interior with at least one heating element for raising the temperature within the oven cavity and a temperature sensor provided for sensing the temperature within the oven cavity. The method of the present invention includes the steps of sensing the temperature within the oven cavity a plurality of times during the preheating period of the oven cycle, calculating the temperature rise within the oven cavity during the preheating period, and cycling the at least one heating element on and off during the preheating period such that the temperature rise within the oven cavity during the preheating period is controlled to match a predetermined temperature rise slope.

Abstract: An electric circuit for a system to prevent accidental discharge of hot-mix asphalt at asphalt plants with multiple silos includes a manual switch which energizes a relay holding the circuit closed. A time delay relay is also energized to provide a time period to determine whether the process should continue. When the time delay times out, a solenoid is energized to open a hot mix storage silo. A closed circuit TV camera and a system of flashing lights are included to provide a fixed view of the loading area with a monitor at the control panel. When hot-mix asphalt is to be discharged into a truck, a switch is activated which causes a light beneath the bin to flash. This identifies the bin selected to open. The TV monitor is viewed and the position of the truck can now be visually confirmed along with the flashing light on the bin that has been activated. The manual switch must be pushed in order to complete the discharge of the hot-mix asphalt from the bin.

Abstract: A system to prevent accidental discharge of hot-mix asphalt at asphalt plants with multiple silos includes a closed circuit TV camera and a system of flashing lights. The TV camera has a fixed view of the loading area with a monitor at the control panel. When hot-mix asphalt is to be discharged into a truck, a switch is activated which causes a light beneath the bin to flash. This identifies the bin selected to open. The TV monitor is viewed and the position of the truck can now be visually confirmed along with the flashing light on the bin that has been activated. A second button must be pushed in order to complete the discharge of the hot-mix asphalt from the bin. Ideally, the second button is located either on the monitor or as close to it as possible in order to force the viewing of the screen before activating the second switch.

Abstract: The invention is an electric range with a reversible electrical element. When the electric element is positioned in its non-reversed position, it can be used as a normal electric element for traditional cooking. When the reversible element is positioned in the reversed position, the electric element can be used as a slow cooker.

Abstract: A thermal convection oven comprises an enclosure housing an oven cavity having connected rear, top, bottom and side walls to define an oven space having a front opening. A door is hingedly mounted to the enclosure about the front opening providing selective access to the oven space. A bottom plate is mounted in the oven space above the bottom wall separating a heated space from a cooking space, the plate having peripheral bottom vent openings. A heating element is disposed in the heated space. A blower fan is disposed in the heated space in proximity to the heating element. A top vent opening is in the cavity above the bottom plate. The blower fan circulates air heated by the heating element through the bottom vent openings into the cooking space and out the top vent openings.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a self-cleaning oven and a method for operating in a clean mode for a self-cleaning oven are provided. The control system and the method allow for cleaning of the oven in a clean mode between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature over the time period required for cleaning the oven. The maximum temperature is reached at least once during the clean mode and is, preferably, cycled to reach the maximum temperature a number of times during the clean mode. As a result of the cycling during the clean mode, a significantly reduced average temperature is required for cleaning of the oven during its self-cleaning operation.