Abstract: The sound amplifier system disclosed herein can transmit discrete electronic output signals via discrete channels to different speaker types or different speaker sets. For example, in some situations a guitarist may want to play a clean tone through a speaker type designed to play clean tones. In other situations, a guitarist may want to play a distorted tone through a speaker type designed to play distorted tones. The sound amplifier system allows the guitarist to select which speaker type they wish to transmit their guitar output signal to depending on what sound they want to play. In addition, this disclosure also concerns various embodiments of a sound amplifier system which have articulating speakers that may be tilted vertically or horizontally.

Abstract: The sound amplifier system disclosed herein can transmit discrete electronic output signals via discrete channels to different speaker types or different speaker sets. For example, in some situations a guitarist may want to play a clean tone through a speaker type designed to play clean tones. In other situations, a guitarist may want to play a distorted tone through a speaker type designed to play distorted tones. The sound amplifier system allows the guitarist to select which speaker type they wish to transmit their guitar output signal to depending on what sound they want to play. In addition, this disclosure also concerns various embodiments of a sound amplifier system which have articulating speakers that may be tilted vertically or horizontally.

Abstract: A machine is configured to access a search phrase or other communicated phrase and deconstruct the accessed phrase into multiple sub-phrases. The machine performs an analysis of n-grams that occur within the sub-phrases, generates a set of potentially different sub-phrases from the n-grams, and selects which data source among multiple available video sources should be accessed for each generated sub-phrase in the generated set. For example, the machine may allocate each generated sub-phrase to a corresponding data source and cause the corresponding data source to execute a query based on its corresponding sub-phrase. Thus, the machine chooses from which data source to obtain partial search results that correspond to each sub-phrase generated based on the analyzed n-grams in the accessed phrase.

Abstract: A machine is configured to perform an example method that causes the machine to parse sub-phrases within a phrase, recognize that a sub-phrase has or can have a geographically specific meaning, and notify a user that the sub-phrase is being processed using the geographically specific meaning. For example, supposing a user has communicated a phrase, the machine builds sub-phrases from the n-grams of the phrase and detects that an n-gram has a geographically specific meaning, thus disambiguating the n-gram. This disambiguation is performed using one or more geographically specific databases of n-grams. The machine determines that a geographical location is relevant to the n-gram, selects a specialized search procedure for the n-gram, and obtains search results using the selected specialized search procedure. The machine may also notify the user that the n-gram or a sub-phrase in which the n-gram appears is being processed using the geographically specific meaning.

Abstract: A machine is configured to perform an example method that causes the machine to parse sub-phrases within a phrase, recognize that a sub-phrase has or can have a geographically specific meaning, and notify a user that the sub-phrase is being processed using the geographically specific meaning. For example, supposing a user has communicated a phrase, the machine builds sub-phrases from the n-grams of the phrase and detects that an n-gram has a geographically specific meaning, thus disambiguating the n-gram. This disambiguation is performed using one or more geographically specific databases of n-grams. The machine determines that a geographical location is relevant to the n-gram, selects a specialized search procedure for the n-gram, and obtains search results using the selected specialized search procedure. The machine may also notify the user that the n-gram or a sub-phrase in which the n-gram appears is being processed using the geographically specific meaning.

Abstract: A machine is configured to access a search phrase or other communicated phrase and deconstruct the accessed phrase into multiple sub-phrases. The machine performs an analysis of n-grams that occur within the sub-phrases, generates a set of potentially different sub-phrases from the n-grams, and selects which data source among multiple available video sources should be accessed for each generated sub-phrase in the generated set. For example, the machine may allocate each generated sub-phrase to a corresponding data source and cause the corresponding data source to execute a query based on its corresponding sub-phrase. Thus, the machine chooses from which data source to obtain partial search results that correspond to each sub-phrase generated based on the analyzed n-grams in the accessed phrase.

Abstract: An event reporting system includes a computational component 228 operable (a) to receive notification of a change to an attribute of an entity, the entity, prior to the change, being associated with a first surrogate key, and (b) to defer the use of a second surrogate key for the entity until a selected time. The second surrogate key was generated to reflect the change.

Abstract: An event reporting system includes a computational component 228 operable (a) to receive notification of a change to an attribute of an entity, the entity, prior to the change, being associated with a first surrogate key, and (b) to defer the use of a second surrogate key for the entity until a selected time. The second surrogate key was generated to reflect the change.

Abstract: An event reporting system includes a computational component 228 operable (a) to receive notification of a change to an attribute of an entity, the entity, prior to the change, being associated with a first surrogate key, and (b) to defer the use of a second surrogate key for the entity until a selected time. The second surrogate key was generated to reflect the change.

Abstract: A database architecture providing high availability and scalability is provided. According to embodiments of the present invention, multiple data sources are supported by multiple source databases. Partial copies of data stored in one or more of the source databases are provided to a consolidated database in response to requests for data received by the consolidated database from a data client. Multiple consolidated databases may support multiple data clients and data clients that are geographically dispersed. A sparse replication component operates to retrieve data from the source databases for storage in consolidated databases. The sparse data replication component can also monitor source databases for updates to requested data, and retrieve such data for storage in a consolidated database. In addition, each consolidated database may be associated with a data rationalization component to ensure that the data stored in the associated consolidated database does not include pathological data redundancies.

Abstract: A polypropylene closure arrangement for flexible packages comprises a blend having a polypropylene random copolymer as a base resin with a flexible modifier, and a slip component. The polypropylene closure arrangement 10, 110 is sufficiently flexible to be extruded and coiled around guide wheels similar to the fusion process of a polyethylene closure arrangement. The polypropylene closure arrangement in accordance with the present invention has the ability to be fusibly attached to a polypropylene film or other fusibly compatible thermoplastic material launch conditions.

Abstract: A polypropylene closure arrangement for flexible packages comprises a blend having a polypropylene random copolymer as a base resin with a flexible modifier, and a slip component. The polypropylene closure arrangement 10, 110 is sufficiently flexible to be extruded and coiled around guide wheels similar to the fusion process of a polyethylene closure arrangement. The polypropylene closure arrangement in accordance with the present invention has the ability to be fusibly attached to a polypropylene film or other fusibly compatible thermoplastic material launch conditions.

Abstract: A personal alert device for a user includes a portable housing to be carried by the user, a processor in the housing, and at least one sensor connected to the processor for detecting a possible physical threat to the user. The processor generates an alert message relating to a recommended course of action for the user to avoid the possible physical threat. The alert message may be an audible speech message, and a visual message displayed on a display connected to the processor. Since a person can be exposed to a variety of physical threats on any given day, the personal alert device carried by the user provides reliable detection of a possible physical threat, and by generating an alert message the user receives a recommended course of action to avoid the possible physical threat.

Abstract: A personal alert device for a user includes a portable housing to be carried by the user, a processor in the housing, and at least one sensor connected to the processor for detecting a possible physical threat to the user. The processor generates an alert message relating to a recommended course of action for the user to avoid the possible physical threat. The alert message may be an audible speech message, and a visual message displayed on a display connected to the processor. Since a person can be exposed to a variety of physical threats on any given day, the personal alert device carried by the user provides reliable detection of a possible physical threat, and by generating an alert message the user receives a recommended course of action to avoid the possible physical threat.

Abstract: A connector for a fuel gauge in a fuel cell which has an inner tube (12) and a spaced-apart concentric outer tube (14). A housing assembly (16) is mountable to outer tube (14) and includes a contact (19) electrically connected to the outer tube. A sleeve assembly (25) is slidably mounted in a bore (24) in the housing assembly and extends through an opening (29) through the outer tube, and a first end (32) of a contact assembly (26) within sleeve assembly (25) extends through an opening (35) in the inner tube and self-secures thereto. The contact assembly of the sleeve assembly makes electrical contact with the inner tube (12) at opening (35) and is connected at second end (33) by an electrical lead to the fuel gauge. An electrical lead also connects contact (19) connected to outer tube (14), to the fuel gauge so that an electrical potential between the inner tube and the outer tube may be measured.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a terminal contact to an electrical conductor is crimped by applying compressive force to the right and left sides of the barrel of the contact but not at the center and not applying it directly toward the center, thus forming an "oblique" crimp. Such an oblique crimp can be formed using a punch die and an opposing anvil die each having a crimping surface with a central recessed relief ara whereby the crimping surface does not compress the center of the contact barrel. On each side of the relief area is a substantial diagonal portion of the crimping surface, and outward therefrom is a transverse shoulder, both of which engage the contact barrel during crimping. This crimp is especially useful for contacts having closed or seamless barrel walls and also especially for crimping a slightly oversized barrel to a many-stranded conductor without an intermediate sleeve, and it is particularly useful where confined crimping is required.

Abstract: A connector assembly is disclosed for terminating multi-conductor flat flexible cable with contacts which pierce the insulation to make good electrical and mechanical engagement with all types of multi-conductor cable conductors, in particular, round wire and stranded wire conductors. Each contact is die stamped from sheet material and has a body portion with a pin or socket electrical termination means extending from one side and a cantilever arm extending from the other side with a forked projection on the free end thereof. The forked projection is angularly offset with respect to the plane of the contact and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the arm.

Abstract: An improved electrical connector assembly is disclosed for terminating multiple conductor cable and, in particular, tri-lead cable. The connector assembly includes a housing having mating top and bottom members molded from rigid insulator material and joined together along one edge by a hinge of resilient insulating material. The housing members define therebetween a pair of contact cavities and at least one cable entry passage leading to the cavities. Top and bottom contacts are inserted into the contact cavities of the respective housing members with portions of the contacts exposed to make an insulation piercing connection with the respective conductors of the cable. Both contacts have opposite end portions adapted to mate with further electrical terminating means. The contacts within the mated housing members can also be probed for electrical continuity.

Abstract: Two hydraulic pressure intensifiers are coupled in parallel between a source of hydraulic fluid at relatively low pressure and an output path. Each intensifier provides a pressurizing stroke in only one direction of linear reciprocation. The intensifiers are so operated, under the control of a hydraulic circuit, as to create a tendency for an initial portion of the pressurizing stroke of each of the intensifiers to overlap a final portion of a preceding pressurizing stroke of the other intensifier, and thereby to deliver high pressure hydraulic fluid to the output path simultaneously with continuing delivery from such other intensifier. Such simultaneous delivery does not actually occur, however, since the hydraulic circuit is so arranged that the delivery of high pressure hydraulic fluid from each intensifier to the output line can begin only upon a falling off in the pressure provided by the other intensifier.

Abstract: A power cord connector is disclosed for detachably connecting an electric power cord to an electrically operated device, which can include all types of appliances, tools and the like. The connector is used to connect a single power cord with any number of separate devices and provides a fast and positive bayonet type locking and unlocking engagement therewith. The connector also provides strain relief for the power cord and guards the cord and extensions against sharp bends and high stress flexing. The connector is polarized and can be adapted for multi-wire configurations. The receptacle portion of the connector can be formed integral with the device, formed as a separate drop in member, or formed for panel mounting.