Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus capable of providing information requests includes a wireless communication device having a wireless transceiver configured to send and receive communications across a wireless communication network. A hands-free unit can be included and coupled to the wireless communication device. The hands-free unit includes a speaker and a microphone configured to provide audio information to a user and to accept audio information from the user. A position determination system determines a location of the apparatus and provides position data indicative of such location to a server along with the information request. The server can process the information request along with the position information and provide a response to the request to the wireless communication apparatus.

Abstract: A variable lift electromechanical valve actuator for use with an internal combustion engine. The electromechanical valve includes a first electromagnet, a second electromagnet, and a hydraulic lifting mechanism. The upper electromagnet is fixedly mounted to a housing while the lower electromagnet slides in conjunction with the hydraulic lifting mechanism. Multiple valve lifts are provided for by the movement of the lower electromagnetic electromagnet. Variable valve lift allows for more efficient operation of the engine and reduced power consumption, noise, vibration, and wear concerns.

Abstract: A system for carrying an apparatus, such as a monitor, includes a pedestal having a base with a circumferential edge, and a peripheral device to be coupled to the pedestal. The base further includes a coupler for coupling the peripheral device thereto. The coupler is arranged to couple the peripheral device to the circumferential edge at any position thereof. This provides for flexibility and freedom of practical use when the set-up and arrangement of the system are altered, such that no substantial force has to be applied for lifting and rotating the pedestal carrying an apparatus, such as a monitor.

Abstract: A computer system for a web site uses three tiers of servers, web (or HTTP) servers, application servers, and backup servers. The backup servers are responsible for backing up the session data for particular application servers. The system assigns to each web session a session ID, which encodes the IP addresses of the application server and its backup server, and provides an identifier that uniquely identifies the session within that application server. A session is automatically routed to a second application server to process a request if the application server handling the session should fail or not have the requested application. However, the request uses the original session ID. The second application server detects from the session ID that the session may have been handled by the first application server. The second application server decodes the IP address for the backup server for the first application server, and connects to that backup server.

Abstract: A toner of toner particles containing at least one binder, at least one color ant, and an external additive package comprised of zinc stearate and at. least one of silicon dioxide or titanium dioxide, wherein the amount of zinc stearate is limited to about 0.10 percent by weight or less of the toner. It has been surprisingly found that when the amount of zinc stearate is so limited, a developer formed from the toner exhibits excellent triboelectric charging and stability and excellent developer flow. When the developer is used in a magnetic brush development system, consistent, high quality copy images are formed substantially without any depletion defects over time.

Abstract: At least three differently colored toners, designed for use together in forming a color image in an image developing device, have substantially the same melt flow index value. By substantially matching the melt flow index values of at least three toners of a set of toners, it has been found that the resultant color image has an overall excellent image quality, i.e., an excellent overall gloss level without any gloss banding.

Abstract: A toner having a high colorant concentration and a binder resin that includes a polyester resin having linear portions and crosslinked portions of high density crosslinked microgel particles has a melt flow index value of about 11±MFI units. The binder resin may also include a mixture of two polyester resins having different MFI values.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus capable of providing information requests includes a wireless communication device having a wireless transceiver configured to send and receive communications across a wireless communication network. A hands-free unit can be included and coupled to the wireless communication device. The hands-free unit includes a speaker and a microphone configured to provide audio information to a user and to accept audio information from the user. A position determination system determines a location of the apparatus and provides position data indicative of such location to a server along with the information request. The server can process the information request along with the position information and provide a response to the request to the wireless communication apparatus.

Abstract: A wireless communication handset includes at least one processor and is configured to shutdown at least one of a display, display backlight and keypad backlight of the handset. A first timer is set when the display is turned on, and the first timer is started to time a display time-out period. If a keypad entry is made by a user during the timeout period, the first timer is reset. On the other hand, if a keypad entry is not made by the user before the time-out period expires, the display is shut off to conserve power. Likewise, a time-out period can be implemented to control automatic shut-off of other power-consuming features such as a display backlight and a keypad backlight. Features can be included to automatically re-enable shut-down features upon the occurrence of events such as the receipt of an incoming call, a keypad entry, or the opening of a flip panel on the handset.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus capable of providing information requests includes a wireless communication device having a wireless transceiver configured to send and receive communications across a wireless communication network. A hands-free unit can be included and coupled to the wireless communication device. The hands-free unit includes a speaker and a microphone configured to provide audio information to a user and to accept audio information from the user. A position determination system determines a location of the apparatus and provides position data indicative of such location to a server along with the information request. The server can process the information request along with the position information and provide a response to the request to the wireless communication apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a communication device to accepts voice commands from a user. The voice commands can include commands to execute or dial key sequences or commands to control device functionality. Voice commands are received from a user of the communication device, indicating a command to be carried out by said communication device. The commands are interpreted and executed by the communication device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing one or more tiers of alternative rates or rate plans to wireless telephone subscribers utilizes one or more home regions, in which the subscriber can make and receive wireless calls at reduced service rates. The home regions are preferably defined within the wireless subscriber's local calling area and can be defined as a region in proximity with the subscriber's home, office, or other location. Additionally, a second tier of reduced rate services can be provided in another region referred to as the home-perimeter region. The home-perimeter region, in one embodiment, is a subset of the home region, and preferably covers an area somewhat equivalent to the area covered by the subscriber's conventional land line services. As such, the subscriber can make wireless calls in or near his or her home, office, or other location at rates competitive to those offered by land line service providers.

Abstract: An apparatus for the preparation of a mixture of toner resin and initiator, to form a toner resin or toner mixture including cross-linked microgel particles is provided. The apparatus includes a toner extruder having the resin being conveyed therethrough and an adder for adding the initiator to the toner resin in the toner extruder to form the toner resin or mixture. The apparatus also includes a measurer for measuring the cross-linked microgel particles in the toner mixture substantially immediately after mixing in the toner extruder and transmitting a signal indicative of the quantity of cross-linked microgel particles in the toner resin or mixture. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the addition rate of initiator in response to the signals from the measurer.

Abstract: An apparatus for the preparation of a mixture of toner resin and initiator, to form a toner resin or toner mixture including cross-linked microgel particles is provided. The apparatus includes a toner extruder having the resin being conveyed therethrough and an adder for adding the initiator to the toner resin in the toner extruder to form the toner resin or mixture. The apparatus also includes a measurer for measuring the cross-linked microgel particles in the toner mixture substantially immediately after mixing in the toner extruder and transmitting a signal indicative of the quantity of cross-linked microgel particles in the toner resin or mixture. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the addition rate of initiator in response to the signals from the measurer.

Abstract: An electronic appliance such as a digital audio disk player in which either an external power source, or a secondary cell is employed as a power source, includes a signal reproducing unit, a recharging unit, a judging unit, a measuring unit, and a controller. To the signal reproducing unit, an operation power source voltage is applied from the external power source, or the secondary cell. The voltage from the external power source is applied to the recharging unit so as to recharge the secondary cell. The judging unit judges whether or not the voltage from the secondary cell is applied to the signal reproducing unit. The measuring unit measures a time period during which the voltage from the secondary cell is applied to the signal reproducing unit when the judgement result obtained from the judging unit indicates that the voltage from the secondary cell is applied.

Abstract: A device for sensing the displacement of working members in industrial equipment is disclosed. The above sensing device includes cheap analog inductive sensors capable of maintaining the sensing characteristics irrespective of moisture and leaking water, thereby precisely sensing the displacements of the working members. The sensor housing of the device easily fixes the analog inductive sensor by simply fitting the sensor into a mount hole formed in the housing, thereby easily changing the troubled sensor with a new one and easily focusing the sensor when initially mounting the sensor to the housing. As a pair of analog inductive sensors are mounted to both side surfaces of the working member, the sensing device of this invention also prevents the operational errors to the sensors caused by the operational vibrations of the working members while sensing the displacements of the working members.

Abstract: A process comprising:(a) reactive melt mixing of a base resin with a chemical initiator and crosslinking of said base resin to enable a highly crosslinked precursor resin, said highly crosslinked precursor resin being substantially free of sol, and comprising uncrosslinked portions and crosslinked portions, said crosslinked portions comprised of high density crosslinked microgel particles; and(b) accomplishing dilution by melt mixing said highly crosslinked precursor resin of (a) with a base resin to form a partially crosslinked toner resin, said toner resin being substantially free of sol, and comprising linear uncrosslinked portions and crosslinked portions, said crosslinked portions comprised essentially of high density crosslinked microgel particles, wherein said microgel particles are present in an amount of from about 1 to about 45 percent by weight of said toner resin.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of pigmented toner compositions comprising: a) forming at a first temperature, a first melt mixture comprised of a partially crosslinked thermoplastic resin, pigment, optionally a wax, and optional additives, wherein the partially crosslinked thermoplastic resin is comprised of a mixture of crosslinked resin macrogel particles, crosslinked resin microgel particles, and uncrosslinked resin; and b) melt mixing at a second temperature, the first melt mixture to form a second mixture, wherein the macrogel particles are partially converted into microgel particles, and wherein the second temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature.

Abstract: A process comprising:(a) reactive melt mixing of a base resin with a chemical initiator and crosslinking of said base resin to enable a highly crosslinked precursor resin, said highly crosslinked precursor resin being substantially free of sol, and comprising uncrosslinked portions and crosslinked portions, said crosslinked portions comprised of high density crosslinked microgel particles; and(b) accomplishing dilution by melt mixing said highly crosslinked precursor resin of (a) with a base resin to form a partially crosslinked toner resin, said toner resin being substantially free of sol, and comprising linear uncrosslinked portions and crosslinked portions, said crosslinked portions comprised essentially of high density crosslinked microgel particles, wherein said microgel particles are present in an amount of from about 1 to about 45 percent by weight of said toner resin.