Abstract: Fill material for a direct contact heat exchanger wherein the fill material has flow pathways bounded by an array of linear elements, namely a mesh. The invention intentionally uses surface tension and capillary action to anchor the fluid/fluid interface in a desired location. The heat exchanger is wick or collector in direct contact with the fill material (matrix) to extract fluid without formation of large droplets. The mesh is made from a neutrally wetting material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that pulls campaign criteria from a plurality of servers, including a publisher's ad server, and processes user-input campaign criteria to generate a media plan wherein delivery goals and rates for each ad placement, and flight dates for fixed ad placements are determined by the system. While the delivery goals and the rates for each ad placement and the date for fixed ad placements are automated, there is a graphical user interface wherein a user can edit these values to meet the advertiser's specific needs. This media plan can then be sent to the advertiser via the system and pushed to the publisher's ad server as an order capable of receiving creative assets for ad trafficking.

Abstract: A humidification-dehumidification water desalination system uses a contoured interior chamber, essentially onion shaped, in order to balance the thermodynamics of the evaporation/condensation process completely by facilitating the needed fluid bypass with air and the contoured shape of the interior chamber so that the desalination can occur energy efficiently in a single stage humidification-dehumidification system. The contour of the internal wall of the interior chamber is loosely proportional to the differential of the percentage of water vapor that can be carried by air as a function of temperature, with the interior chamber being essentially symmetrical about a horizontal midplane through the interior chamber.

Abstract: A method of generating and executing offers and rewards to cardholders and/or program participants where an Offer Platform receives a request to create an offer to associate a value token with a financial institution, determines a list of available offers for qualifying cardholders, and tracks when offers are received and executed by the cardholders. The Offer Platform may work in conjunction with financial institutions and vendors to provide these services, and the determination of available offers and qualifying cardholders may be made based upon information provided by these entities regarding consumer products and goods/services.

Abstract: A laser barrier system for an optical table includes a plurality of laser barrier panels hingeably mounted to the edge of the table by a plurality of spaced hinge brackets. The hinge brackets include a horizontal flange secured to the surface of the table, a lower pivot support extending downwardly from the flange and an upper support column extending upwardly from the flange. Each hinge bracket supports a vertically extending jamb member secured to the upper support column. Each laser barrier panel is hingeably supported by pivot pins between a pair of spaced hinge brackets and their associated jamb members, and is hingeably movable about the pivot pins between a closed position and an open position. Each laser barrier panel is maintained in the closed position by a spaced pair of rotatable latch tabs that selectively engage with the adjacent jamb members.

Abstract: A laser barrier system for an optical table includes a plurality of laser barrier panels hingeably mounted to the edge of the table by a plurality of spaced hinge brackets. The hinge brackets include a horizontal flange secured to the surface of the table, a lower pivot support extending downwardly from the flange and an upper support column extending upwardly from the flange. Each hinge bracket supports a vertically extending jamb member secured to the upper support column. Each laser barrier panel is hingeably supported by pivot pins between a pair of spaced hinge brackets and their associated jamb members, and is hingeably movable about the pivot pins between a closed position and an open position. Each laser barrier panel is maintained in the closed position by a spaced pair of rotatable latch tabs that selectively engage with the adjacent jamb members.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for manipulating graphics objects within a display viewed by an end-user is disclosed. The method involves: receiving motion information generated in response to the end-user moving an object that is external to the display; determining at least one zone of motion in which the end-user moves the object; determining a first motion type associated with the movement of the object within the at least one zone of motion; and based on the at least one zone of motion and the first motion type, determining at least one change to a viewpoint associated with one or more graphics objects displayed to the end-user within the display. The at least one change to the viewpoint causes an alteration in how the one or more graphics objects are displayed to the end-user within the display.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber with an innovative wall structure. Instead of a conventional homogenous wall structure, the invention uses an array of internally-pressurized, thin-walled cells to contain an enclosed volume. The walls are arranged so that when a vacuum is present in the enclosed volume, the cell walls are placed primarily in tension. In this way the likelihood of buckling instability is substantially reduced. The result is a much lighter vessel compared to a conventional homogenous wall vessel of similar strength.

Abstract: An ink builder to build an ink for a hard copy device. The ink has at least one property that deteriorates in storage. The ink builder comprises an ink tank and apparatus for building ink in the ink tank from a plurality of components and/or an ink maintaining apparatus arranged to inhibit deterioration of the at least one property of the ink in the ink tank. The ink builder may be used in cooperation with a separate hard copy device to which the ink tank can be transferred. Methods of producing hard copies using such a hard copy device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber with an innovative wall structure. Instead of a conventional homogenous wall structure, the invention uses an array of internally-pressurized, thin-walled cells to contain an enclosed volume. The walls are arranged so that when a vacuum is present in the enclosed volume, the cell walls are placed primarily in tension. In this way the likelihood of buckling instability is substantially reduced. The result is a much lighter vessel compared to a conventional homogenous wall vessel of similar strength.

Abstract: A moon phase wheel chart for determining the phase of the moon for a particular date, past, present, or future, has three wheel members adapted to rotate about a common center. The first wheel member has in its center indicia representing the phases of the moon and has around its circumference indicia representing the century. The second wheel member has in its center a first transparent window and has around its circumference indicia representing the year for aligning with the century indicia of the first member and indicia representing the month of the year. The third wheel member has in its center a second transparent window and has around its circumference an indicator for aligning with the month indicia of the second member and indicia for representing the day of the calendar month for aligning with the moon phase indicia of the first member.

Abstract: A perpetual calendar wheel chart for determining the calendar for a particular year past, present, or future is comprised of two wheel members adapted to rotate about a common center. The first wheel member has in its center indicia representing the tens and ones digits of the year and has around its circumference indicia representing the day of the month. The second wheel member atop the first wheel member is generally transparent and has in its center indicia representing the hundreds and thousands digits of the year for aligning with the ones and tens digits of the year indicia of the first member and has around its circumference twelve transparent windows representing the months of the year that align with the day of the month indicia of the first member to indicate the calendar for a particular year.

Abstract: A rider is suspended a distance beneath a lift cable and moved over a region of water with incoming waves. The distance that the rider is suspended beneath the lift cable is controllably increased and, thereafter, the rider enters the water, such as to surf the waves. The rider can control the increase in distance individually, lowering himself or herself at will after spotting a desirable place to enter the water, e.g., just after the crest of an incoming wave. The initial distance, i.e., the distance below the cable before the rider is lowered toward the water, can be set to carry the rider high enough to pass over the crests of the waves. Various other aspects, apparatus, and variations are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink builder to build an ink for a hard copy device. The ink has at least one property that deteriorates in storage. The ink builder comprises an ink tank and apparatus for building ink in the ink tank from a plurality of components and/or an ink maintaining apparatus arranged to inhibit deterioration of the at least one property of the ink in the ink tank. The ink builder may be used in cooperation with a separate hard copy device to which the ink tank can be transferred. Methods of producing hard copies using such a hard copy device are also disclosed.

Abstract: Dry powder inhalers for dispensing pharmaceutical grade formulations of inhalable dry powder include: an inhaler housing having a mouthpiece associated therewith; and a slidably extendable forward member that is movable between retracted and extended positions, held by the inhaler housing adjacent the mouthpiece. In the extended position, the forward member extends outward a distance beyond a forwardmost portion of the mouthpiece, and in the retracted position, a forwardmost portion of the forward member is positioned rearward of the forwardmost portion of the mouthpiece with an access portion of the mouthpiece accessible by a user.

Abstract: Dry powder blister packages include sealed blisters with a piezoelectric active layer that flexes to vibrate the dry powder in a blister to facilitate active dispersion.

Abstract: Dry powder inhalers with a multi-dose dry powder package for dispensing pharmaceutical grade formulations of inhalable dry powder, include: (a) a blister package comprising a plurality of spaced apart sealed blisters thereon, each blister having a projecting ceiling and a floor defining a blister channel therebetween, the blister channel comprising a dry powder therein; (b) a movable blade cartridge holding a blade at a forward portion thereof; and (c) an extendable mouthpiece attached to the movable blade cartridge. In operation, a user pulls the mouthpiece outward and then pushes the mouthpiece inward to cause the blister package to advance to position a blister in a selected dispensing position in the inhaler and to cause the blade cartridge to move the blade across a blister ceiling held in the dispensing position in the inhaler to thereby open the blister held in the dispensing position.

Abstract: A child-safe, easy-to-use, pocket-sized, thumb operated electronic apparatus using an infrared light as the communication medium between two or more participants for playing a game of electronic tag. The apparatus has a common surface that includes a thumb button and set of light emitting diodes on its topside for keeping score and a speaker in its bottom housing for emitting sounds. The apparatus incorporates a simulated radar by sending out a data packet at timed intervals announcing its presence to other like devices. The two-way communication feature allows for the transfer of text or voice messages between like devices. By holding down said button, the apparatus can toggle between displaying the number of hits received on the unit and the number of hits on displayed on an opponent's device.

Abstract: A hexagonal slide ruler for performing complex calculations such as the day of the week of a particular date, has six body members adapted to move relative to each other. The first body member has a first side with first indicia thereon and a second side with second indicia thereon. The second body member has a third side with third indicia for aligning the second indicia and a fourth side with fourth indicia thereon. The third body member has a fifth side with fifth indicia for aligning with the fourth indicia and a sixth side with sixth indicia thereon. The fourth body member has a seventh side with seventh indicia for aligning with the sixth indicia and an eighth side with eight indicia thereon. The fifth body member has a ninth side with ninth indicia for aligning with the eight indicia and a tenth side with tenth indicia thereon.

Abstract: A watercolor model based on an ordered set of translucent glazes, which are created independently usinig a shallow water fluid simulation. A Kubelka-Munk compositing model is used for simulating the optical effect of the superimposed glazes. The computer generated watercolor model is used as part of an interactive watercolor paint system, or as a method for automatic image “watercolorization.