Abstract: Disclosed is an evaluation technique for text search with black-box scoring functions, where it is unnecessary for the evaluation engine to maintain details of the scoring function. Included is a description of a system for dealing with blackbox searching, proofs of correctness, as well experimental evidence showing that the performance of the technique is comparable in efficiency to those techniques used in custom-built engines.

Abstract: A system for elimination of unwanted species from contaminated ship ballast water. The apparatus comprises an electrolytic cell containing at least one pair of electrodes, electric alternating current, and parallel perforated electrodes, for providing an effective and safe method to render ballast water or other conductive bodies of water free of aquatic invasive species and/or unwanted biologics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a utility device, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that is powered in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, includes an analog sensor which monitors the utility device to derive an output signal representative of the PWM signal. An integrating analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which is coupled to the sensor and has its operation synchronized with an integral multiple of the period of the PWM signal, produces an output representative of an average of the output of the utility device.

Abstract: An extensible identification system for nodes in a hierarchy is described wherein each node is assigned a concatenation of decimal based values. The values assigned uniquely identify the node, provides an order for the node, and identifies its parent, child, and sibling relationships with other nodes Furthermore, the IDs assigned can be encoded to be byte comparable. Furthermore, the ID's assigned to nodes need not be modified when changes (adding/deleting a child node or a subtree of nodes) are made in the hierarchy. Additionally, in the event of such a change, the order and relationships between the parent, child, and sibling nodes are retained.

Abstract: A phase-modulated, double-ended, full-bridge topology-based DC-AC converter supplies AC power to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp used to back-light a liquid crystal display. First and second converter stages generate respective first and second sinusoidal voltages having the same frequency and amplitude, but having a controlled phase difference therebetween. By employing a voltage controlled delay circuit to control the phase difference between the first and second sinusoidal voltages, the converter is able to vary the amplitude of the composite voltage differential produced across the opposite ends of the load.

Abstract: A phase-modulated, double-ended, half-bridge topology-based DC-AC converter supplies AC power to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp used to back-light a liquid crystal display. First and second converter stages generate respective first and second sinusoidal voltages having the same frequency and amplitude, but having a controlled phase difference therebetween. By employing a voltage controlled delay circuit to control the phase difference between the first and second sinusoidal voltages, the converter is able to vary the amplitude of the composite voltage differential produced across the opposite ends of the load.

Abstract: A double-ended, DC-AC converter supplies AC power to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp used to back-light a liquid crystal display. First and second converter stages generate respective first and second sinusoidal voltages having the same frequency and amplitude, but having a controlled phase difference therebetween. By employing a voltage controlled delay circuit to control the phase difference between the first and second sinusoidal voltages, the converter is able to vary the amplitude of the composite voltage differential produced across the opposite ends of the load. The converter may be either voltage fed or current fed.

Abstract: A method and device implementing a downloadable operatively connected to a plurality of gaming machines either by a direct communications link or through the use of one or more site controllers or PCs. Each gaming machine and site controller or PC contains two executable spaces, one of which typically contains the software image currently being implemented by the device. The other executable space is designated to receive from the central system a new software image that will be utilized by the device. The central system transfers a new image to be executed, via packet encrypted communications, to a networked device which stores the image in an executable space, while continuing to run the currently designated image. Upon instruction from the central system, the device switches over to the new image, allowing one or more machines to implement a software upgrade on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A system and method for managing and storing logically grouped hierarchical data via physical block storage is provided. Logical groups of parsed XML node data forming node ID ranges are indexed by creating and inserting an index entry into a node ID range. Index entries indicate node ID range bounds for blocks in which nodes are stored. Consulting a node ID range index facilitates XML node traversal via logical links between nodes in different blocks. Additionally, physical links between nodes within a block allow for fast node traversal. Node update including insertion and deletion as well as document order based pre-fetch and XML document re-organization is also facilitated by this architecture.

Abstract: An AC power supply system modulates a high frequency switching signal with a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to produce a composite signal. The duty cycle of the PWM component of the composite signal is used to control the brightness of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp for backlighting a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A distributed controller and DC voltage switch-driver system supplies AC power to a cold cathode fluorescent lamp of the type used to backlight a liquid crystal display. The system includes a local controller and lamp operation-monitoring subsystem, which generates two pairs of low voltage drive signals. These drive signals are distributed over low voltage wires to respective pairs of step-up transformer-driving switches installed at opposite ends of the lamp. The high voltage AC outputs of the two transformers have the same frequency, but opposite phase, to reduce the voltage ratings of the components that are installed at the opposite ends of the lamp. The use of low voltage connections from the local controller to driver circuitry at the far end of the lamp serves to reduce the cost of the components, and results in lower emitted noise and lower energy lost to capacitive coupling.

Abstract: In order to minimize switching-induced electromagnetic interference in a power supply switching circuit of the type used to control the AC power for multiple high voltage devices, such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps employed for backlighting a large scale liquid crystal display, the gating signals that are used to switch lamp-driving inverter circuits ON and OFF are staggered, or slightly offset in time, so that no two switching devices will be switched at the same time. By slightly offset in time is meant that the time differential between any pair of switching signals is relatively small compared to the period of the switching signal frequency. This has the effect of spreading out and thereby diminishing the magnitude of the spectral content of both capacitively and inductively coupled transients that are produced at switching times of the inverter circuits.

Abstract: An enclosure for diverting water spilled from an opened pipe joint includes a pair of housing halves which are able to be mounted on a pipe line and seal the pipe joint within the housing halves. The housing portions may be opened to allow the pipeline to be moved to position each pipe joint in turn within the housing. A plurality of seal sets provide the adaptability to seal the housing to different diameter pipes. The seal sets having a common outside diameter, and a unique inside diameter and are interchangeable within the housing. When the pipe joint is broken within the housing water in the pipe drains into the housing and from a nipple to a hose or other conduit to a drain or storage tank.

Abstract: A method and device implementing a downloadable operatively connected to a plurality of gaming machines either by a direct communications link or through the use of one or more site controllers or PCs. Each gaming machine and site controller or PC contains two executable spaces, one of which typically contains the software image currently being implemented by the device. The other executable space is designated to receive from the central system a new software image that will be utilized by the device. The central system transfers a new image to be executed, via packet encrypted communications, to a networked device which stores the image in an executable space, while continuing to run the currently designated image. Upon instruction from the central system, the device switches over to the new image, allowing one or more machines to implement a software upgrade on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A system for conditioning rotatable polishing pads used to planarize and polish surfaces of thin film integrated circuits deposited on semiconductor wafer substrates, microelectronic, and optical system. The system has a pad conditioning apparatus, process fluids, a vacuum capability to pull waste material out of the conditioning pad, self-contained flushing means, and a piezo-electric device for vibrating the pad conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: A system for conditioning rotatable polishing pads used to planarize and polish surfaces of thin film integrated circuits deposited on semiconductor wafer substrates, microelectronic, and optical system. The system has a pad conditioning apparatus, process fluids, a vacuum capability to pull waste material out of the conditioning pad, self-contained flushing means, and a piezo-electric device for vibrating the pad conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: Applicants have prepared a novel zeolite identified as LZ-281. This zeolite has the framework topology of zeolite EMT. The LZ-281 zeolite is prepared by removing framework aluminum atoms from EMC-2 zeolite while simultaneously replacing the aluminum atoms with extraneous silicon atoms. This increases the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio versus the starting EMC-2 zeolite and results in the LZ-281 zeolite having increased thermal stability, increased number and/or strength of acid sites and increased activity in hydrocarbon processes requiring strong acid sites.

Abstract: Silicalite with increased hydrophobicity may be made by steaming silicalite in an atmosphere of at least 10% water vapor at temperatures of 650-850.degree. C. When used as monodisperse spheres with a diameter in the range of 1-20 microns such ultrahydrophobic silicalite is an excellent adsorbent for chromatographic separation of polar materials, including fatty acids, at both the analytical level and preparative level using simulated moving bed techniques.

Abstract: Applicants have prepared a novel zeolite identified as LZ-281. This zeolite has the framework topology of zeolite EMT. The LZ-281 zeolite is prepared by removing framework aluminum atoms from EMC-2 zeolite while simultaneously replacing the aluminum atoms with extraneous silicon atoms. This increases the SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio versus the starting EMC-2 zeolite and results in the LZ-281 zeolite having increased thermal stability, increased number and/or strength of acid sites and increased activity in hydrocarbon processes requiring strong acid sites.

Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve which is enriched in framework silicon at the surface, resulting in a greater yield of para-xylene compared to prior-art processes.