Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a process material such as powdered plastic to usable fossil fuel. A hollow cylinder having a piston slidably mounted therein is externally heated to produce an internal temperature of approximately 500° C. The powdered plastic is injected into the heated cylinder utilizing an inert gas, thereby vaporizing the powdered plastic and forming a volatile gas. An electric motor rotates a crankshaft to slide the piston and expel the volatile gas from the cylinder. A condenser receives the volatile gas and condenses the gas into the usable fossil fuel. A first stage condenser condenses oil, and a secondary stage condenses Diesel fuel, kerosene, toluene, gasoline, or natural gas.

Abstract: A priority encoder (PE) for a CAM, comprising a plurality of PE blocks, each receiving a plurality of match results corresponding to data entries in a corresponding data array block and, for determining an address of a highest priority data entry based on a physical location in the data array block during a CAM search-and-compare operation a register for storing a user defined priority value assigned to each PE block and means for evaluating priority values and the address determined by the plurality of PE blocks to select a PE block having the highest priority data entry.

Abstract: A micro fuel cell and method of forming such on a substrate (12) is provided that derive power from a three dimensional fuel/oxidant interchange. The fuel cell includes a plurality of porous pedestals (17) formed on the substrate (12), each porous pedestal (17) including an anode (68), a cathode (70) surrounding the anode (68); and an electrolyte (60) filling a cavity between the anode (68) and the cathode (70). The cathode (70) is accessible to ambient air, and the anode (68) has a passageway (30) thereto for receiving a fuel. The anode (68) and cathode (70) may be formed by etching a cavity for the electrolyte (60) or by forming trenches (58, 66) to form each anode (68) and cathode (70), wherein each trench (66) between an anode and cathode is filled with electrolyte.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for obtaining information related to a customer service location and directions for routing a service technician from one customer service location to another. One embodiment includes requesting at least one set of coordinates associated with the customer service location; accessing a technician server to direct a global satellite positioning system to obtain the set of coordinates for the customer service location; obtaining the coordinates and updating one or more databases with said coordinates. The coordinates may include at least one of a latitude and a longitude associated with the customer service location.

Abstract: The invention provides a bicomponent staple fiber comprising poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) wherein the bicomponent fiber has a substantially oval cross-section shape having an aspect ratio A:B of about 2:1 to about 5:1 wherein A is a fiber cross-section major axis length and B is a fiber cross-section minor axis length, a polymer interface substantially perpendicular to the major axis, a cross-section configuration selected from the group consisting of side-by-side and eccentric sheath-core, a tenacity at 10% elongation of about 1.1 cN/dtex to about 3.5 cN/dtex, a free-fiber length retention of about 40% to about 85%, and a tow crimp development value of about 30 to 55%, and a spun yarn comprising the bicomponent staple fiber.

Abstract: A stretch composite having one or more elastomeric members disposed on at least one region of an extensible fibrous substrate to provide stretch properties to a targeted region of the substrate. The composite has been incrementally stretched to at least partially break up the structure of the substrate in order to reduce its resistance to stretch. The stretch composites are useful for disposable and durable articles, such as disposable absorbent articles including diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, incontinence briefs, catamenial garments, baby bibs, and the like, and durable articles like garments including sportswear, outerwear and the like. The present invention also relates to methods of forming such stretch composites.

Abstract: A mobile gateway interface that enables a supervisor to conduct typical office transactions via a remote device while the supervisor is away from the office. The remote device can be one of several items, including, for example, wireless telephones, interactive pagers, personal digital assistants, laptop computers with wireless modem, and the like. The supervisor uses the remote device to log into the mobile gateway interface. After the authentication process, the supervisor makes a transaction request through the remote device. A transaction server, which is part of the mobile gateway interface, interacts with one or more resources to process or execute the transaction request. The resources can include an intranet, the Internet, and various legacy systems. Preferably, the mobile gateway interface includes one or both voice and front-end data servers that facilitate the authentication process and execution of the transaction request.

Abstract: A cushioning member for an article of footwear. The cushioning member is a flexible bladder having a fluidly interconnected heel chamber and forefoot chamber. The bladder is disposed above the sole and beneath the wearer's foot to provided added cushioning to the wearer. The bladder contains air at slightly above ambient pressure and can be formed by thermoforming or by welding two sheets of resilient, flexible material together. A connecting passage fluidly connects the heel chamber and the forefoot chamber. The connecting passage is narrow to control the flow of air between the two chambers.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for enhancing communications line records with Global Positioning System coordinates. One embodiment acquires Global Positioning System information and provides the Global Positioning System information to assemble a line record.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of monitoring memory usage. The method includes determining whether memory monitoring is enabled within an application server environment from within an application within the application server environment and creating a memory allocation event after determining that memory monitoring is enabled. The memory allocation event is associated with an object. The method further includes allocating memory to the object.

Abstract: A packet switching device having a central shared memory and a number of medium access controllers each coupled to a communications medium to exchange data packets, and a controller coupled to each medium access controller via a data path to exchange data packets with the media access controller. The controller has a number of data path controllers each connected to each medium access controller to exchange a corresponding portion of the data packets with the medium access controller. The data path controllers each have a number of buffers to hold the portion of the data packets exchanged with the corresponding medium access controller. Each data path controller has a selector that selects the buffer from which to exchange the portion of the data packets with the central shared memory and control logic that controls the selector to concurrently select the buffer corresponding to the same medium access controller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using same is provided which includes the use of an apparatus configured to scan and apply labels to parcels moving along a conveyor belt. The apparatus of the present invention includes first and second adjacent conveyors positioned with a gap there between, the gap being sufficiently narrow to allow passage of parcels from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. Parcels crossing the gap are exposed to a reading device having a reading axis passing upwardly through the gap to read indicia. The labels, which are scanned and decoded, provide information which is subsequently sent to a printing device which prints a “second” label which is blown or otherwise transferred to a second side of the parcel. The parcel then exits the second conveyor to be sorted downstream by use of the second label.

Abstract: A sea surface antenna comprises a cylindrical tube of metallic material 13 on a dielectric former. The tube has a longitudinal slot shorted at each end and coupled at its midpoint to a coaxial feed. The slot is bridged by two groups of capacitances each group being distributed along a respective half of the slot. The length of the antenna is less than 0.25 ? and the diameter of the antenna is less than 0.02 ?, where ? is the free space wavelength at the operating frequency. The antenna is dimensioned so as to operate in an evanescent mode at a resonant frequency less than the cut-off frequency.

Abstract: A process (40) is provided for preparing a catalyst (20). A catalyst (20) is formed over a substrate (12). A gas (24) comprising hydrogen and carbon is applied to the catalyst (20), wherein a carbon seeding layer (26) is formed on the catalyst (20). Carbon nanotubes (28) may then be grown from the catalyst (20) having the carbon seeding layer thereon (26).

Abstract: A run-flat support ring, which is a component mounted upon a rim inside a tire to extend the distance the tire may travel at reduced or zero inflation pressure, is provided having an internal fin design that improves the rolling resistance of the support ring without sacrificing the overall load bearing and handling characteristics. Certain embodiments may also include one or more features that improve the process of mounting the support ring onto a rim and better tolerate variations, within manufacturing tolerances, in the respective diameters of the rim and the support ring.

Abstract: A run-flat support ring, which is a component mounted upon a rim inside a tire to extend the distance the tire may travel at reduced or zero inflation pressure, is provided having an integrated shelf design that enhances the handling characteristics of the support ring under run-flat conditions and may also lower the overall mass of the support ring in certain applications. In addition, the support ring has one or more features that improve the process of mounting the support ring onto a rim and better tolerate variations, within manufacturing tolerances, in the respective diameters of the rim and the support ring.

Abstract: A heating appliance includes an outer enclosure including a transparent front panel, a combustion chamber enclosure, and a variable speed blower. The combustion chamber enclosure is positioned within the outer enclosure and defines a combustion chamber wherein radiant heat is generated. The combustion chamber enclosure also includes a transparent front panel. The blower is configured to generate an adjustable airflow between the outer enclosure front panel and the combustion chamber enclosure front panel and to exhaust the airflow to a remote location. The airflow absorbs at least some of the radiant heat and varying a speed of the blower controls an amount of radiant heat transferred from the combustion chamber to a living space in which the heating appliance is exposed.

Abstract: A communications system and method for communicating geographic location-based information to a client computer operating in a communications network is disclosed. The system involves the use of a geographic location-based records database, a client profile database containing at least one user preference, a means for receiving at least one request from a client computer, the request including information about a location of the client computer, and a means for parsing the request to identify the location of the client computer. The system and method involve identifying a set of information records from the database that are relevant to the location of the client computer and the user's preferences, an algorithm that computes a statistical result from the information records, and a communications network for communicating the result to the client computer.

Abstract: An extendable enclosure for circuit cards provides the capability for a customer to purchase a low cost system up-front, but still allow for growth.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel chemical compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and to their use in medicine, particularly use in the amelioration of a clinical condition for which a thrombin inhibitor is indicated.