Abstract: A dried meat-containing shaped food product, the food product comprising: dry ingredients at an amount in the range of about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % of the food product and a binder at an amount in the range of about 10 wt % to about 40 wt % of the food product. The dry ingredients comprise: a dried meat component comprising pieces of dried meat or plant protein, wherein the dried meat component is at amount in the range of about 1 wt % to about 55 wt % of the dry ingredients; and a solid nut component comprising seeds, nuts and/or legumes, and/or pieces thereof, wherein the solid nut component is at an amount in the range of about 25 wt % to about 90 wt % of the dry ingredients. The binder comprises a saccharide syrup component having a Brix of at least 80. The binder adheres the dry ingredients together resists the migration of moisture between the dry ingredients thereby providing the food product a shelf-stable structure and providing the solid nut component a shelf-stable, dry-crunchy texture.

Abstract: Determining a payroll tax withholding can comprise receiving, at a tax calculation system, a residential address and an employment address of an employee, determining latitude and longitude coordinates of the residential and employment addresses, retrieving a plurality of residential geocodes associated with the latitude and longitude coordinates of the residential address, wherein the plurality of residential geocodes include tax boundaries in which the location of the residential address resides, retrieving a plurality of employment geocodes associated with the latitude and longitude coordinates of the employment address, wherein the plurality of employment geocodes include tax boundaries in which the location of the employment address resides, and retrieving applicable tax rates corresponding to the plurality of residential geocodes and the plurality of employment geocodes from a tax rate database.

Abstract: Connectors that may be incorporated and used in electronic devices in a reliable manner. One example may provide a connector that may receive a memory card, such as a Secure Digital, SmartMedia, Compact Flash, or other type of memory card. One example may provide a connector that may connect to other electronic circuits and components in an electronic device in a reliable manner. Another may provide a connector that may reliably form a connection for electromagnetic interference protection during device assembly. Another may provide a connector that may be resistant to damage from debris or other particulate matter that may enter the connector. Another example may provide a connector that has a back that is reinforced to prevent damage caused by the insertion of a card with excessive force. Another may provide a connector having a raised portion arranged to fit in an opening in a printed circuit board.

Abstract: Connectors that may be incorporated and used in electronic devices in a reliable manner. One example may provide a connector that may receive a memory card, such as a Secure Digital, SmartMedia, Compact Flash, or other type of memory card. One example may provide a connector that may connect to other electronic circuits and components in an electronic device in a reliable manner. Another may provide a connector that may reliably form a connection for electromagnetic interference protection during device assembly. Another may provide a connector that may be resistant to damage from debris or other particulate matter that may enter the connector. Another example may provide a connector that has a back that is reinforced to prevent damage caused by the insertion of a card with excessive force. Another may provide a connector having a raised portion arranged to fit in an opening in a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method elucidates reaction dynamics of photoreactive compounds from time-resolved optical signals affected by an external magnetic field. A coil or magnet applies a magnetic field at a region of interest (ROI). A light or laser illuminates the ROI with a probe beam. An optical fiber collects light emitted by the probe beam; and a computer analyses the collected light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a clamp with spring contact elements to receive and secure a flat flex cable with exposed electrical traces to an electrical circuit such as on a printed circuit board. The clamp of the present invention has features for enhanced registration and alignment of exposed electrical traces on the flat flex cable to the spring contact elements in the clamp. Another aspect of the invention is the ability to connect high density contact arrays within the clamp to a circuit board via an array of contact pads on the opposite side of the substrate on which the spring contact elements are disposed. One exemplary application of the present invention is to connect a camera module in a cell phone to a printed circuit board or like electrical device in the phone.

Abstract: A system for batch forming a sheet of spring elements in three dimensions is described. A spring element sheet containing spring elements defined in two dimensions is arranged between two mating die press plates. A force is applied to the mating die press plates to form the two-dimensional spring contact elements into three dimensions. Alternatively, configurable die press plates are used to selectively form a two-dimensional spring element sheet into three-dimensional spring contacts.

Abstract: An elastic contact array circuitized substrate includes a circuitized substrate provided with circuit traces, and an array of three dimensional contact elements joined to the circuitized substrate and electrically coupled to the circuit traces. In one configuration, the array of three dimensional contacts are formed in a spring sheet material having anisotropic grains whose long direction is selected with respect to the longitudinal direction of elastic contact arms, in accordance with desired properties. In another configuration of the invention, the circuit traces are formed integrally within the spring sheet material.

Abstract: A parking violation recording system capable of recording violations based on the location of a violating vehicle, is provided. The system includes at least one camera located on a mass transit vehicle, oriented so that it is capable of viewing a violating vehicle and recording an image containing violating vehicle information of the violating vehicle; at least one locator provided on said mass transit vehicle and capable of providing data for determining the geographic position of the mass transit vehicle; and a data processing sub-system, coupled to the at least on camera and the at least one locator for recording both the violating vehicle information and the geographic data in a violation data record. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method of enforcing bus zone regulations.

Abstract: A safety device comprising a housing, an extendable coil located in the housing, and a light source for illuminating the extendable coil. The extendable coil is translucent and may be extended from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A Flat Flex Connector (FFC) has connector flanges embedded in its insulated electrical traces. The flanges engage electrical circuits in a camera module such as a CMOS or CCD and are clamped into electrical engagement. The opposite end of the FFC makes electrical contact with another electrical device such as a semiconductor circuit. The assembly allows electrical connection of two or more devices in a confined space in which the electrical device are not easily aligned for electrical contact.

Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic diagnostic instrument that is integrally molded unit having respective first and second oppositely disposed laterally spaced apart sections with one such section being a mirror image of the other. Each section has an upper elongate portion, a lower portion that is offset from the upper portion and a further portion interconnecting the upper and lower portions. The upper portion, the lower portion and portion interconnecting the same having a contiguous inner face with flanges along respective opposite marginal edges thereof. The flanges overlap marginal edge portions of a diagnostic instrument inserted between the spaced apart pair of sections. A pair of straps, located approximately mid length of the lower elongate portions, interconnect the pair of sections providing handles. Lips project inwardly toward one another at the upper and lower ends of the unit serving to retain the instrument in the protective cover.

Abstract: This invention pertains to flat flex cable (FFC) with embedded spring contacts at one or both ends, and in between the ends as needed, to engage electrical devices by inserting the spring contacts on an end of the FFC into a clamp or receptacle that secures the spring contacts into engagement with electrical contacts on the electrical device and with electrical contacts on a camera module as used in cell phones.

Abstract: System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for fixing ribs with bone plates.

Abstract: A solid state zig-zag slab laser amplifier in which depolarization occurring at total internal reflection from opposed lateral faces of the amplifier slab is controlled by selecting a complex evanescent coating that provides a selected phase retardance that results in minimization of depolarization. Without use of the complex coating, small changes in incidence angles can result in phase retardance changes large enough to increase depolarization significantly, especially when the amplifier is operated at higher powers. Appropriate selection of the complex evanescent coating allows a desired phase retardance angle to be maintained relatively constant over a small range of angles of incidence, at a given wavelength, and therefore permits minimization of depolarization and birefringence effects.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for elucidating reaction dynamics of photoreactive compounds from time-resolved optical signals affected by an external magnetic field. The apparatus includes a coil or magnet for applying a magnetic field at a region of interest (ROI). The apparatus further includes a light or laser for illuminating the ROI with a probe beam. An optical fiber collects light emitted by the probe beam; and a computer analyses the collected light.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for releasably holding a toolholder shank having a lockable surface and a releasable surface utilizing an actuating bolt with an associated threaded actuating nut. When the actuating bolt is rotated in a locking direction, the actuating nut is drawn onto the bolt thereby clamping against the lockable surfaces of the toolholder shank. When the actuating bolt is rotated in the releasing direction, a releasing segment acts upon the toolholder thereby ejecting it from the tool support member.