Abstract: This invention description details systems and methods for improving human conversations by enhancing conversation participants' ability to: —Distill out and record core ideas of conversations. —Classify and prioritize these key concepts. —Recollect commitments and issues and take appropriate action. —Analyze and uncover new insight from the linkage of these ideas with those from other conversations.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the efficiency of speech transcription by automating the management of a varying pool of human and machine transcribers having diverse qualifications, skills, and reliability for a fluctuating load of speech transcription tasks of diverse requirements such as accuracy, promptness, privacy, and security, from sources of diverse characteristics such as language, dialect, accent, speech style, voice type, vocabulary, audio quality, and duration.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the efficiency of speech transcription by automating the management of a varying pool of human and machine transcribers having diverse qualifications, skills, and reliability for a fluctuating load of speech transcription tasks of diverse requirements such as accuracy, promptness, privacy, and security, from sources of diverse characteristics such as language, dialect, accent, speech style, voice type, vocabulary, audio quality, and duration.

Abstract: This invention description details systems and methods for improving human conversations by enhancing conversation participants' ability to: —Distill out and record core ideas of conversations. —Classify and prioritize these key concepts. —Recollect commitments and issues and take appropriate action. —Analyze and uncover new insight from the linkage of these ideas with those from other conversations.

Abstract: A security hook includes a shaft with a chain receiving portion disposed at an end. The chain receiving portion has an arm and is configured to receive a chain. A blocking member protrudes from the shaft toward the arm of the chain receiving portion. The blocking member is configured to restrict disengagement of the chain from the chain receiving portion. The blocking member can be tapered to facilitate receiving the chain into engagement with the chain receiving portion. The arm of the chain receiving portion also can be tapered. A second blocking member can extend from the arm.

Abstract: A process for protecting an article using an anti-icing coating includes the steps of applying upon at least one surface of an article an anti-icing composition comprising at least one polysiloxane free of additives; and curing the anti-icing composition to form an anti-icing coating exhibiting an ice shear strength of about 19 kPA to about 50 kPa.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for characterizing a (scanned) ion beam pattern. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a semiconductor calibration wafer having a buried ion implanted region with a known profile, exposing the calibration wafer to the (scanned) ion beam to implant a dose of ions therein so as to augment the ion implanted region, measuring a profile of the augmented region, e.g. along a specific diameter aligned with the (scanning) axis of the ion beam pattern under measurement, and characterizing the (scanned) ion beam pattern by comparing the measured profile of the augmented region with the known profile of the calibration region.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for removing particles from an ion implantation chamber by introducing at least one sacrificial wafer into the implanter and subjecting it to ion implantation. As the sacrificial wafer is exposed to the ion beam, it becomes charged. Particles present in the implantation chamber are then drawn to a charged wafer surface by electrostatic forces. The sacrificial wafer thus serves as a gettering element, attracting and capturing particulates from the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A vehicle skirt panel assembly includes a skirt panel comprising a thermoplastic material and including a plurality of panel sections each having one or more ribs on its exterior. The skirt panel is mounted to the vehicle so the skirt panel projects below the side of the vehicle and the skirt panel can move relative to the vehicle to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of the skirt panel without deforming the skirt panel. One or more struts are mounted between the vehicle and a lower portion of the skirt panel. The strut is adjustable and is deformable to absorb an impact to the exterior of the skirt panel. The strut is bendable by hand to allow the skirt panel to be returned to the original position.

Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.

Abstract: In an air handling unit for discharging a flow of air into the surrounding ambient, having a series of horizontal louvers and a series of vertical louvers mounted in the discharge flow. A first multi-phase stepper motor is arranged to step the horizontal louvers to deflect the air flow in a vertical direction and a second multi-phase stepper motor is arranged to step vertical louvers to deflect the flow in a transverse direction. A controller is programmed to alternately apply power from a single power source to each of the motors during phase to step each motor in equal increments during each phase.

Abstract: An ion implantation system for producing silicon wafers having relatively low defect densities, e.g., below about 1×106/cm2, includes a fluid port in the ion implantation chamber for introducing a background gas into the chamber during the ion implantation process. The introduced gas, such as water vapor, reduces the defect density of the top silicon layer that is separated from the buried silicon dioxide layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to telephone call processing. In one embodiment, a call processing system receives from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information. The call processing system determines whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information and whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted. If the caller identification information is restricted, the call processing system instructs the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user. The call processing system determines whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call, and if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, the call processing system provides at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user.

Abstract: A programmable thermostat is electronically interconnected to a personal computer having an installed program with a graphical user interface for selecting, on a single screen, a schedule of time and temperature pairs for four periods of each day of the week. This schedule can then be easily downloaded into one or more thermostats by the use of a single button. The interconnection between the thermostat and the computer may be made by a USB cable or the like or by way of a wireless interconnection.

Abstract: A safety hook including a main shaft, a chain receiving portion disposed at a first end of the main shaft, a first bend disposed at a second end of the main shaft, and a second bend depending from the first bend. The chain receiving portion and the first bend are positioned on the same side as the main shaft and are substantially in-line with each other. The second bend bends in substantially the opposite direction of the first bend and has a terminal end that does not extend beyond the first bend.

Abstract: System and method for putting control of incoming telephone calls in the hands of subscribers with the aid of computer software and the Internet. In effect, a very efficient multiplexer is provided that does not require a change in the behavior of the called party or the calling party. This system permits the called party to hear a spoken message by the calling party in real time, and the content of the spoken message permits the called party to decide how to handle the call. The system adaptively learns and captures the rules of the called party for handling calls, and learns which callers the called party always wishes to talk to. The system uses special control software on the called party's computer which is connected to the Internet. The system employs a central server in which all of the required intelligence is resident. Audio signals are exchanged via non-data channels provided by the telephone companies and by the Internet.

Abstract: A high pressure sodium lamp (100) having an evacuated glass envelope (6) with a plurality of electrically conductive support members therein and extending therethrough. An elongated arc tube (14) having a pair of electrodes (26) extending therethrough is affixed to the electrically conductive support members within the glass envelope. A gas fill includes a quantity of mercury and sodium within the elongated tube. The arc tube is selected from a translucent material that, when the lamp is operating, will have a wall temperature of about 1250 degrees Celsius, a wall loading of from about 18.9 to about 22.2 w/cm sqr., and a power consumption of from 150 to 400 watts. Further, the amount of mercury is reduced from 14.4 mgs/arc tube to 10.8 mgs/arc tube, allowing lamps having power consumption from 150 to 400 watts to pass the Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP).

Abstract: A high pressure sodium lamp (100) having an evacuated glass envelope (6) with a plurality of electrically conductive support members therein and extending therethrough. An elongated arc tube (14) having a pair of electrodes (26) extending therethrough is affixed to the electrically conductive support members within the glass envelope. A gas fill includes a quantity of mercury and sodium within the elongated tube. The arc tube is selected from a translucent material that, when the lamp is operating, will have a wall temperature of about 1250 degrees Celsius, a wall loading of from about 18.9 to about 22.2 w/cm sqr., and a power consumption of from 150 to 400 watts. Further, the amount of mercury is reduced from 14.4 mgs/arc tube to 10.8 mgs/arc tube, allowing lamps having power consumption from 150 to 400 watts to pass the Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure TCLP).

Abstract: An ion implantation system for producing silicon wafers having relatively low defect densities, e.g., below about 1×106/cm2, includes a fluid port in the ion implantation chamber for introducing a background gas into the chamber during the ion implantation process. The introduced gas, such as water vapor, reduces the defect density of the top silicon layer that is separated from the buried silicon dioxide layer.

Abstract: An ion implantation system for producing silicon wafers having relatively low defect densities, e.g., below about 1×106/cm2, includes a fluid port in the ion implantation chamber for introducing a background gas into the chamber during the ion implantation process. The introduced gas, such as water vapor, reduces the defect density of the top silicon layer that is separated from the buried silicon dioxide layer.