Abstract: A shielded microphone, and method for shielding a microphone, are provided for use in a communications device having a circuit board and a microphone. The microphone is provided in an electromagnetic shield and a resilient separator is provided over the shield. The device housing is stacked over the separator and shield, while the latter are stacked over the circuit board so that the separator and shield, with microphone there under, are sandwiched between the housing and the circuit board. By this sandwiching the separator is loaded onto the shield to drive the shield directly against the circuit board to make an electrical ground connection therewith, the microphone also being electrically connected to the printed circuit board. The resilience of the separator accommodates the variation in the stacking of the components.

Abstract: A shielded microphone, and method for shielding a microphone, are provided for use in a communications device having a circuit board and a microphone. The microphone is provided in an electromagnetic shield and a resilient separator is provided over the shield. The device housing is stacked over the separator and shield, while the latter are stacked over the circuit board so that the separator and shield, with microphone there under, are sandwiched between the housing and the circuit board. By this sandwiching the separator is loaded onto the shield to drive the shield directly against the circuit board to make an electrical ground connection therewith, the microphone also being electrically connected to the printed circuit board. The resilience of the separator accommodates the variation in the stacking of the components.

Abstract: A method for using bird eggs to detect the presence of at least one botulinum toxin.

Abstract: A shielded microphone, and method for shielding a microphone, are provided for use in a communications device having a circuit board and a microphone, especially where the device also has an antenna in close proximity to the microphone. The microphone is provided in an electromagnetic shield (e.g. formed as a shielding can) and a resilient separator (e.g. o-ring or disk) is provided over the shield. The device housing is stacked over the separator and shield, while the latter are stacked over the circuit board so that the separator and shield, with microphone there under, are sandwiched between the housing and the circuit board. By this sandwiching the separator is loaded onto the shield to drive the shield directly against the circuit board to make an electrical ground connection therewith, the microphone also being electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A spacer for use in a mobile device fills the space between a component assembly and a housing. The spacer includes a layer of compressible material for insertion between the component assembly and the housing. A plurality of compressible features are provided on a face of the layer. Upon insertion of the component assembly and assembly of the housing, the compressible features are compressed to fill a gap between the component assembly and the housing without over-compressing the main body of the spacer, allowing the body of the spacer to cushion any subsequent impact to the mobile device.

Abstract: A spacer for use in a mobile device fills the space between a component assembly and a housing. The spacer includes a layer of compressible material for insertion between the component assembly and the housing. A plurality of compressible features are provided on a face of the layer. Upon insertion of the component assembly and assembly of the housing, the compressible features are compressed to fill a gap between the component assembly and the housing without over-compressing the main body of the spacer, allowing the body of the spacer to cushion any subsequent impact to the mobile device.

Abstract: A spacer for use in a mobile device fills the space between a component assembly and a housing. The spacer includes a layer of compressible material for insertion between the component assembly and the housing. A plurality of compressible features are provided on a face of the layer. Upon insertion of the component assembly and assembly of the housing, the compressible features are compressed to fill a gap between the component assembly and the housing without over-compressing the main body of the spacer, allowing the body of the spacer to cushion any subsequent impact to the mobile device.

Abstract: A spacer for use in a mobile device fills the space between a component assembly and a housing. The spacer includes a layer of compressible material for insertion between the component assembly and the housing. A plurality of compressible features are provided on a face of the layer. Upon insertion of the component assembly and assembly of the housing, the compressible features are compressed to fill a gap between the component assembly and the housing without over-compressing the main body of the spacer, allowing the body of the spacer to cushion any subsequent impact to the mobile device.

Abstract: A handheld computing device includes a system motherboard; and a display secured to the system motherboard. The display comprises a display panel, and a circuit board carrying display electronics for the display panel. The system motherboard includes a cavity, and the display electronics extend from the circuit board into the cavity. Preferably, the cavity comprises an aperture, and the display electronics are compactly disposed on the circuit board within a common area that is aligned with the aperture.

Abstract: An antenna in a wireless mobile communication device is often sensitive to its operating environment, such that variations in other device components typically affect performance of the antenna. A floating conductor pad comprising a patch of conductive material is configured to be positioned adjacent the antenna to couple to the antenna. The floating conductor pad thereby has a dominant effect on the antenna in the operating environment. This reduces the effects of variations in the other device components on the antenna. Effective selection of the dimensions and location of the floating conductor pad can also cancel noise generated by the other device components from de-sensitizing communications circuitry in a wireless mobile communication device.

Abstract: A blended electrical/friction braking system includes an electric brake feedback monitor which monitors a first signal corresponding to an electric brake effort request of an electric motor of an electrically powered vehicle. The electric brake feedback monitor detects one or more electrical conditions of the electric motor during electric braking and selectively supplies/terminates the first signal to/from a brake controller as a function of the first signal and the one or more electrical conditions. In response to termination of the first signal thereat, the brake controller causes a friction brake of the vehicle to assume the entire braking effort of the vehicle.

Abstract: A blended electrical/friction braking system includes an electric brake feedback monitor which monitors a first signal corresponding to an electric brake effort request of an electric motor of an electrically powered vehicle. The electric brake feedback monitor detects one or more electrical conditions of the electric motor during electric braking and selectively supplies/terminates the first signal to/from a brake controller as a function of the first signal and the one or more electrical conditions. In response to termination of the first signal thereat, the brake controller causes a friction brake of the vehicle to assume the entire braking effort of the vehicle.

Abstract: A clip is disclosed for securing a device to a support structure. The clip assembly includes a clip for pivoting about a pivoting axis, wherein the clip includes a securing end for engaging the support structure. A base is attached to the device, for receiving the clip. A biasing member is received between the base and the clip, for biasing the securing end of the clip toward the base, to secure the support structure therebetween. The clip assembly includes a first mating structure, formed on the clip, for attaching to a second mating structure formed on the base. The first and second mating structures are attached by sliding into engagement along the direction of the pivoting axis.

Abstract: A stack of documents to be fed to a document feeding mechanism can be placed on a horizontal surface. A plate is movable relative to the horizontal surface and advances the stack of documents along the horizontal surface towards the document feeding mechanism as the plate moves relative to the horizontal surface. A body is movable between different positions and, when moved between different positions, provides a variable force which acts on the stack of documents as the documents are being fed to the document feeding mechanism. The position of the body depends upon the position of the plate relative to the horizontal surface. The body is coupled to the plate in a manner to allow the body to move between different positions to provide the variable force which acts on the stack of documents while the plate is advancing the stack of documents along the horizontal surface towards the document feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A document feeder apparatus is provided for feeding documents along a document feed path. The document feeder apparatus comprises a picker mechanism for picking a number of documents from a stack of documents stored in a hopper and moving the picked documents along the document feed path. An advance mechanism includes an advance roller having a longitudinal central axis and being rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The advance roller has an outer circumferential surface which is engageable with one side of the picked document moving along the document feed path. A retard mechanism includes an endless retard belt having an outer major side surface which is engageable with the opposite side of the picked document moving along the document path. The outer major side surface of the endless retard belt and the outer circumferential surface of the advance roller cooperate to define at least a portion of the document feed path therebetween.

Abstract: A hopper is located along a document feed path. The hopper stores a stack of documents. A picker wheel has a longitudinal central axis and opposite end portions along the longitudinal central axis. The picker wheel has an outer circumferential surface and is rotatable about its longitudinal central axis. An endless picker belt extends around at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the picker wheel. The picker belt has an endless outer surface which is engageable with a document in the stack of documents to move the document along the document feed path. A pair of jogging devices is disposed at the opposite end portions of the picker wheel. The jogging devices jog the stack of documents while the outer surface of the picker belt is engaging a document in the stack of documents to move the document along the document feed path.

Abstract: A document handling device overturns a document having a first side, a second side lying opposite the first side, a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a relatively long lengthwise dimension between the leading and trailing edges. The device comprises a housing unit including a reference surface defining at least in part an opening through which the document is fed into a document path defined within the housing unit. A transport unit receives the document which has been fed through the opening with the first side of the document facing the reference surface of the housing unit. The transport unit overturns the received document and feeds the overturned document back through the opening with the second side of the document facing the reference surface of the housing unit. The units define an accumulating space into which the document can bulge while the document is being overturned.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a document towards the bottom of a document track as the document is moved in first and second directions within the track. The apparatus includes a feed unit positioned on one side of the document track and a cooperating unit positioned on the opposed side of the track. The cooperating unit has a rod which is pivotally supported in a support. A high friction roller is secured to the top end of the rod and a low friction roller is rotatably supported on the lower end of the rod. The feed unit has an idler roller positioned opposite to the high friction roller and also has a drive roller positioned opposite to the low friction roller in the cooperating unit. As the document is moved in a first direction in the document track, the high friction roller causes the rod to pivot slightly, thereby causing the low friction roller on the bottom of the rod to cant slightly, producing a downward component of force on the document as it is moved in the first direction.

Abstract: A disconnectable, remountable, extension for a document track in a table-top, document processing machine. The extension has first and second fingers which fit into first and second openings in a coupling member which is resiliently biased towards the document track. The extension also has members which cooperate with the document track to keep the extension aligned in a vertical direction relative to the document track. When the extension contacts another member when the machine is moved on the table top, the extension "break away" or is uncoupled from the document track without damage to either of the members. The extension can then be remounted on the document track.

Abstract: An apparatus which facilitates the pocketing of documents in a pocket in a business machine like a sorter. As a document is to be pocketed, it is moved along a rib structure (located on a pusher plate) which has a decelerating portion thereon to decelerate the document and to move the document against a side member in the pocket as it approaches a stop member within the pocket to thereby minimize the noise created by the first few documents entering the pocket. A second rib structure positioned near the top edge of the pusher plate engages the leading edge of a document to direct the document against a side wall in the pocket to also minimize the noise mentioned.