Abstract: A method for drying a thin film stack having a thin film located on a substrate is disclosed. The thin film stack is conveyed past a flashlamp during which the thin film stack is irradiated with a composite light pulse from the flashlamp. The composite light pulse is composed of multiple micropulses. The time duration of the composite light pulse is shorter than a total thermal equilibration time of the thin film stack. In addition, when the thin film stack is being conveyed past the flashlamp, the thin film stack should move less than 10% of the length of the irradiating area in the conveyance direction during the delivery of the composite light pulse.

Abstract: The combination of an optical sight and an attachable/detachable adjustable range sighting device accessory, in which the optical sight comprises a support and an array of fixedly positioned fiber optics sighting devices carried by the support; and the accessory comprising a displaceable fiber optics sighting device and a mechanism for shifting the position of the displaceable fiber optics device relative to the array of fixedly positioned sighting devices.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) lamp includes a base with one or more LED chips, an internal cover over the LED chips, where the cover is a translucent ceramic whose thermal conductivity is greater than glass, where the cover has an interior surface separated from the LED chips by a gap, and where an exterior surface of the cover is coated with a phosphor. The ceramic cover preferably has a bulk thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/(m·K), such as polycrystalline alumina. The LED chips preferably are blue LEDs and the phosphor is selected so that the lamp emits white light. In the method of making the lamp, the phosphor may be applied to the exterior surface of the cover as a preformed sheet or in a coating.

Abstract: A playset system for toy vehicles, preferably wheeled toy vehicles, the playset system having multiple levels including a base level, having one or more and preferably two or more base segments that are interconnectable; and a roadway level having one or more and preferably two or more segments that are interconnectable, wherein the roadway level is located on an upper surface of the base level. In a preferred embodiment, the playset system is specifically designed and scaled to accommodate die cast vehicles, preferably 1:64 scale die cast vehicles that are known in the art. The playset in preferred embodiments utilizes magnetic fields to operatively connect the components of the base level to components of the roadway level.

Abstract: A method comprising introducing an injected gas (e.g., Argon, Xenon) into a beam line region comprising a magnetic scanner is provided herein. The injected gas improves beam current by enhancing (e.g., increasing, decreasing) charge neutralization of the magnetic ion beam (e.g., the ion beam at regions where the scanning magnetic field is non-zero) thereby reducing the current loss due to the zero field effect (ZFE). By reducing the current loss in regions having a magnetic field, the magnetic beam current is increased (e.g., the beam current is increased in regions where the magnetic field is non-zero) raising the overall beam current in a uniform manner over an entire scan path and thereby reducing the effect of the ZFE. In other words, the ZFE is removed by effectively minimizing it through an increase in the magnetized beam current.

Abstract: A steam generation system comprises: an oxygenated water treatment (OWT) sub-system configured to generate water having oxidizing chemistry; a steam generation sub-system configured to convert the water having oxidizing chemistry into steam having oxidizing chemistry; an attemperator or other injection device or devices configured to add an oxygen scavenger to the steam having oxidizing chemistry to generate steam having less oxidizing or reducing chemistry; and a condenser configured to condense the steam having less oxidizing or reducing chemistry into condensed water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for eliminating duplicate data (de-duplication) in substantially real time using an electronic storage medium.

Abstract: A laparoscopic scissor instrument can include a scissor assembly pivotally coupled to an elongate shaft. The scissor assembly can be formed of scissor blades having pivot posts thereon. The pivot posts can engage apertures on the elongate shaft, thus eliminating the need for a through-pinned pivot connection of the scissor blades. The scissor blades can also include actuation posts thereon. An actuation mechanism can include a slot to engage the actuation posts and open or close the blades of the scissor assembly. The scissor assemblies described herein can have a relatively low operational height such that they do not extend beyond a diameter of the elongate shaft during opening and closing of the scissor assembly.

Abstract: An artificial patch of snow has a curved outer perimeter. A white hydrophobic pile is affixed to the base layer to form a white turf surface with structures projecting from a plane of the back side of the base layer. The white turf, from a distance, gives the appearance of snow. To secure the pad to a roof, the base layer has areas that are free of pile about the perimeter of the base layer. The pad may include lights, a microcontroller, a music generator, a music jack, and an electrical port. A method for simulating patches of snow on a sloped roof includes placing a first pad on a sloped portion of a roof, such that the white turf surface of the first pad is visible from ground level. The pad is secured to the roof. Other pads may also be placed and secured on the roof at a spaced distance from the first pad, such that the white turf surface of the other pads is visible from ground level.

Abstract: An ionomer blend composition comprises a blend of a first ionomer and a second ionomer that is different from the first ionomer. The first ionomer is derived from a first precursor acid copolymer that has a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min and that comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin and about 20 to about 30 wt % of copolymerized units of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. Moreover, the first precursor acid can be neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90% to form a sodium ionomer that has a MFR of about 0.7 to about 25 g/10 min and a freeze enthalpy that is less than about 3.0 j/g or that is not detectable, when determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A variety of articles may comprise or be produced from the ionomer blend composition, for example by injection molding.

Abstract: A wheel suspension system for a vehicle includes a first member pivotably coupled to a portion of the vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first rotational axis which forms an angle with a vertical plane extending through a fore-aft axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating or preventing hyperacidic disorders such as GERD or NERD using calcium receptor active compounds.

Abstract: A telecommunications assembly including a housing and a plurality of modules mounted within the housing. The modules includes a rear face in which is mounted at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the housing are positioned at least one fiber optic adapters. Inserting the module through a front opening of the housing at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the housing. The adapters within the interior of the housing are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a telecommunications module within a chassis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a device, method of use and system for an analog multi-wavelength transamplifier. The transamplifier embodiments described herein allow the use of multiple wavelengths to segment logical service groups, such as for use in a CATV distribution system and a FTTH system having a broadband overlay. Improved optical signal power performance can be achieved by using direct modulating transmitters and maintaining polarization of the optical signals that are modulated by a phase modulator, such as an external waveguide.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide vending dispenser assemblies for beverage dispensers. In particular, embodiments of the invention can provide a beverage dispenser with a manually operated vending dispenser assembly that consumes little or no additional electrical power to dispense a beverage container using the assembly. Embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can be used with a heated or chilled compartment associated with a beverage dispenser. Furthermore, embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can operate in conjunction with a relatively small dispenser opening to limit heat transfer loss via the dispenser opening. One embodiment can provide a dispenser for dispensing a number of products. The dispenser can include at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products, and a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser.

Abstract: A software system development apparatus is provided. The software system development apparatus may include a processor and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor. The apparatus may also include a system design tool program stored on the computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, is operable to regulate user access to at least one aspect of the system design tool according to one or more authorization categories of users of the system design tool. The system design tool may also be operable to generate a real-time embedded control software system by selecting from a collection of reusable software components stored and described in a catalog in accordance with the Reusable Asset Specification (RAS).

Abstract: A back support is pivotally oriented to locate a pivot point relative to posterior superior iliac spines of a seated user, such that when an upper portion of the back support contacts the upper torso of the user and moves to a desired angular orientation to balance the upper torso over the pelvic area, the back support transfers support to the posterior superior iliac spines to maintain the pelvic skeletal structure in alignment. A lower portion of the back support angularly contacts, supports and confines gluteal and buttocks tissue of the user independently of the degree of pivotal orientation of the upper portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tester apparatus of the kind including a portable supporting structure for removably holding and testing a substrate carrying a microelectronic circuit. An interface on the stationary structure is connected to the first interface when the portable structure is held by the stationary structure and is disconnected from the first interface when the portable supporting structure is removed from the stationary structure. An electrical tester is connected through the interfaces so that signals may be transmitted between the electrical tester and the microelectronic circuit to test the microelectronic circuit.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for mapping objects and object-relationships in an object-oriented programming language to a nested relational database. Entity metadata constructs for an object relational mapping framework are obtained, the entity metadata constructs mapping fields in entities of an object model to fields in a data table of the nested relational database and identifying relationships between entities in the object model. A nested relational data model of the nested relational database is obtained, the nested relational data model specifying tables and sub-tables of the nested relational database. Tables and sub-tables of the nested relational database are mapped to a plurality of separate entities of the object model. Data in the nested relational database is accessed using the plurality of separate entities. The mapping is performed without normalizing the data of the tables and sub-tables of the nested relational database to a non-nested representation.