Abstract: The present inventions provide improved funding and administrative arrangements that allow an employer to provide enhanced benefits to certain employees. In general, the arrangement includes means by which the cost of certain insurance, such as life insurance, is reduced through the use of a trust and financing contract. Proceeds from the financing contract are used to pay premiums on the insurance to reduce the cost of that insurance to the employee. The insurance policy may be used to collateralize the financing contract. When a qualifying event occurs, the employee (or designated beneficiaries) is paid a predefined benefit amount and the financing contract is paid off. One benefit of such an arrangement is that it is portable with the employee, who may continue to retain the benefit of the insurance even though he or she may change jobs, or may be unemployed or retired.

Abstract: A multiport memory 18, 20 is provided with multiple data access paths A, B, each having a respective independent clock signal CLKA, CLKB. During self test operation a duplicate clock enable signal DPCLKTESTEN is used to enable one of these clock signals CLKA, CLKB to be used as a shared clock signal by all data access paths A, B. An external memory adjust signal EMAA. EMAB is used to adjust one of these shared clock signals to form a modified shared clock signal for at least one of the data paths being tested. In this way, worst-case scenarios can be more readily investigated comprising clocks with the same frequency but small differences in phase.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) generates a bandwidth grant message corresponding to a time segment. The CMTS identifies a portion of the time segment to be assigned according to received bandwidth request messages originating from downstream cable modems. The CMTS determines whether a remaining portion of the time segment can accommodate more than N broadcast contention slots, and if so, selects at least one of the cable modems for receiving an upstream bandwidth boost.

Abstract: Apparatus and articles of manufacture are provided for governing the transfer of data characterizing a user's behavior, physiological parameters and/or psychological parameters. One embodiment provides a computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation for handling a request, from a requesting application, for emotion data characterizing an emotional state of a user. A firewall ruleset defining rules governing the transfer of the emotion data to requesting applications is accessed to determine whether to provide the emotion data the requesting application. The request is denied if the firewall ruleset rules are not satisfied.

Abstract: A method of controlling a method of dynamically controlling the use of a video analysis program in a video surveillance system having a plurality of video sources connected to a network comprising the steps of providing a video analysis program to the video surveillance system, allowing the video analysis program to be used with a predetermined number of video sources, and allowing the use of the video analysis program to be transferred from one of the plurality of video sources to another of the plurality of video sources provided that the total number of video sources using the video analysis program at one time is less than the predetermined number of video sources.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for hub-and-spoke website browsing and navigation on a multipaned platform for the communication, distribution and collaboration of information and data. The invention allows multiple non-collocated users to collaborate on an interface created by a server-based application by utilizing a plurality of application spokes and a plurality of application fasteners to facilitate data exchange between a hub and at least one viewing pane on a display device.

Abstract: A touch screen display system for use in an electronic device includes a display device, a capacitive touch-sensor assembly disposed on the display device for detecting a touch occurrence on the display, and an optical touch-sensor assembly at the display device for determining a location of the touch occurrence at the display in response to the capacitive touch-sensor assembly detecting the touch occurrence on the display.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to bone cement formulations that have an extended working time for use in vertebroplasty procedures and other osteoplasty procedures together with cement injectors that include energy delivery systems for on-demand control of cement viscosity and flow parameters. The bone cement formulations may include a liquid component having at least one monomer and a non-liquid component including polymer particles and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The non-liquid component may be further configured to allow controlled exposure of the BPO to the liquid monomer so as to enable control of the viscosity of the bone cement composition.

Abstract: One embodiment of an electrochemical cell for an implantable medical device is presented. The electrochemical cell includes a first electrode. The first electrode includes at least one current collector with a tab extending therefrom. The at least one tab comprises one of vanadium and vanadium alloy.

Abstract: An inflatable container having an inflatable chamber having a main storage compartment and a main storage compartment access opening, and further having a lower portion that includes at least one storage cavity having a storage cavity access opening. The inflatable container also includes an outer cover formed over the exterior of the inflatable chamber. The inflatable container also provides a storage bag that is formed such that when the inflatable chamber is deflated, the inflatable container may be contained within the storage bag.

Abstract: A ported electroacoustical device uses the action of the port to provide cooling airflow across a heat producing device. The device includes a loudspeaker enclosure including a first acoustic port, and an acoustic driver, mounted in the loudspeaker enclosure. The device also includes a heat producing device. The acoustic driver and the acoustic port are constructed and arranged to coact to provide a cooling, substantially unidirectional airflow across the heat producing device, thereby transferring heat from the heat producing device.

Abstract: A clutch arrangement comprises a rotatable drive input, a rotatable output, and an epicyclic gear arrangement comprising a ring gear, a series of planet gears meshing with the ring gear, a sun gear meshing with the planet gears, and a carrier upon which the planet gears are mounted, the drive input being connected to one of the ring gear and the carrier, the output being connected to the other of the ring gear and the carrier, and a clutch device operable to control relative rotation between the ring gear and the sun gear. The invention also relates to a nosewheel landing gear steering arrangement including such a clutch arrangement.

Abstract: A reserve torque system comprises a first module and a reserve torque module. The first module generates a first signal a predetermined period before an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture supplied to an engine is transitioned from a non-lean EQR to a lean EQR. The reserve torque module creates a reserve torque between when the first signal is generated and when the EQR is transitioned to the lean EQR.

Abstract: A condom package for a singular direction or removal of the contents thereof to assure its proper application onto a user. The package includes a container having a configuration with an essentially flat top side and a bottom side, the top side and the bottom side each having an external surface and an internal surface, the external surfaces of the top side and the bottom side facing in opposing directions, the internal surfaces facing each other, the internal surfaces having peripheral portions removably sealed to each other. The bottom side formed of a material more rigid than that of the top side, the bottom side having a shallow central well proportioned to hold and stabilize the condom.

Abstract: In a semiconductor chip, a thermal adhesive is used to bond an internal heat spreader to an active functional die. In an alternative embodiment a dummy die is place directly on top of the active functional die and a thermal adhesive is used to bond an internal heat spreader to the dummy die. This provides a direct and relatively low thermal conductivity path from the heat source, i.e., the functional device to the top of the package, that is, the internal metal heat spreader which is also exposed to the air.

Abstract: A blow moulding machine for blow moulding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow moulded from a previously injection moulded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.

Abstract: Peer-to-peer currency exchanges and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of facilitating a currency exchange transaction between multiple users of a peer-to-peer currency exchange system can include receiving user instructions at the currency exchange system for a currency exchange transaction. The method can also include funding corresponding user accounts at the currency exchange system based on the respective user's selected amount of money to be converted and a current exchange rate between the first currency and the second currency. The method can further include aggregating funds from the corresponding user accounts at the system and, after aggregating the funds, matching user requests for a conversion of funds into a selected currency pairing. The matching process is based, at least in part, on one or more predetermined matching parameters.

Abstract: A turbocharger having a sliding piston for regulating exhaust gas flow into the turbine wheel includes a set of first vanes mounted on a fixed first wall of the turbine nozzle and projecting axially toward an opposite second wall of the nozzle, and/or a set of second vanes mounted on the end of the piston and projecting in an opposite axial direction toward the first wall of the nozzle. For the/each set of vanes, there are leakage dams formed on the wall that is adjacent the vane tips when the piston is closed. The leakage dams are closely adjacent the vane tips and discourage exhaust gas from leaking in a generally radial direction past the vane tips as the piston just begins to open from its fully closed position.

Abstract: A directional control unit having a fan blade and a counter-weighted door. The fan blade is powered by a motor that spins the fan blade which disperses feed within the directional control unit and causes the counter-weighted door to open. The feed is then distributed solely through the counter-weighted door for distribution in preferably a single, predetermined direction and, at the same time, keeping varmints from getting into the control unit and stealing the feed.

Abstract: An appliance with a simple mechanism for mounting a decorative panel to an exterior surface. The mechanism simplifies the installation process associated with mounting the panel by removing the need for precise tolerances. The mechanism includes a plurality of adjustable mounting brackets and corresponding channel portions which permit an installer to adjust the panel with three degrees of freedom to align it relative to the surroundings, and subsequently secure the panel in place. The mechanism allows translation in substantially horizontal and vertical directions as well as rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the appliance. In a preferred embodiment the mechanism also is also capable of supporting the panel while the adjustments are being performed.