95results about How to "Carefully controlled" patented technology

A surface processing apparatus is provided for use in the surface processing of a substrate. The surface processing apparatus comprises a plasma source and processing chamber in which a substrate is mounted in use. The processing chamber is operatively connected to the plasma source and the surface processing apparatus is characterised by a transmission plate for the transmission of plasma in use between the plasma source and processing chamber. The transmission plate comprises one or more apertures wherein the physical form of the one or more apertures and / or the distribution of the one or more apertures is adapted to provide a predetermined processing pattern upon the surface of the substrate. Typically the design of the apertures is adapted to provide a substantially uniform deposition rate across a wafer substrate.

The system and methods described herein may exploit hardware transactional memory to improve the performance of a software or hybrid transactional memory implementation, even when an entire user transaction cannot be executed within a hardware transaction. The user code of an atomic transaction may be executed within a software transaction, which may collect read and write sets and / or other information about the atomic transaction. A single hardware transaction may be used to commit the atomic transaction by validating the transaction's read set and applying the effects of the user code to memory, reducing the overhead associated with commitment of software transactions. Because the hardware transaction code is carefully controlled, it may be less likely to fail to commit. Various remedial actions may be taken before retrying hardware transactions following some failures. If a transaction exceeds the constraints of the hardware, it may be committed by the software transactional memory alone.

Apparatus and methods for automatically staining or treating multiple tissue samples mounted on microscope slides are provided. Individualized slide temperature control is accomplished by the heating system according to the present invention that has thermal platforms radially mounted to the carousel for heating the slides and sensing the temperature of each. The heating system also permits automated de-waxing if necessary.

A gripper apparatus for removing and replacing objects such as containers or vials in an array of containers has a gripper head which extends downward from a support arm, a planetary gear assembly mounted in the gripper head including at least three planet gears, and at least one gripping pin extending downward from each planet gear and projecting beyond a lower end of the gripper head. A drive motor drives the planetary gear assembly to rotate the planet gears in opposite directions, moving the pins inward and outward along predetermined paths to grip and carry an object and release the object when in a desired location.

A system for conducting on-line discussion which facilitates said discussion by means of allowing contribution of asynchronous audio-visual segments from at least one class of users, standardizing these segments according to common parameters, linking these segments into smooth streams that are visible by at least one class of user as if they had been generated continuously in a discussion or debater format. The invention includes methods of collecting and standardizing said segments. Embodiments allow for threaded and linked viewer interaction, as well as moderator style control.

A method of processing a transaction between a first user in a first telecommunications network and a second user in a second telecommunications network is disclosed. The first and second telecommunications networks comprise respective first and second transaction processing systems which are not required to have a direct interface between them. A transaction request is received from a first user in the first telecommunications network to effect a transfer of credit to a second user in the second telecommunications network. The transaction request includes an identifier of the second user. A credit value for the transaction is determined. The system verifies that the first user has access to credit sufficient to effect the transfer, and credit associated with the first user is reserved in the first network for the transaction. A transaction instruction message (including the determined value for the transaction) is generated to instruct transfer of credit to the second user, and is forwarded to a trusted third party intermediary server, which interfaces to a plurality of telecommunications networks to arrange transactions between the telecommunications networks. After a confirmation message is received confirming delivery of the credit to the second user, the reserved credit is then debited from an account associated with the first user in the first telecommunications network. An accounting packet associated with at least one transaction and the accounting packet or an aggregated accounting packet for a plurality of transactions is forwarded to an accounting server associated with the intermediary server. This effects transfer of monetary value between an account associated with the first telecommunications network and an account associated with the trusted third party intermediary server.

An apparatus for processing data, the apparatus comprising: a processor operable in a plurality of modes and either a secure domain or a non-secure domain including at least one secure mode being a mode in the secure domain; and at least one non-secure mode being a mode in the non-secure domain. When the processor is executing a program in a secure mode, the program has access to secure data which is not accessible when the processor is operating in a non-secure mode. The processor further includes a non-secure translation table base address register and a secure translation table base address register operable in the non-secure and secure domain, respectively, to indicate a region of memory storing either non-secure or secure domain memory mapping data defining how virtual addresses are translated to physical addresses within either the non-secure or secure domain.

The system for controlling body fluids overcomes the limitations of the prior art by automatically infusing diuretic and / or other drugs into a human patient. In one approach, the rate of infusion of the diuretic is adjusted based on the measured weight of the patient. For example, this weight can be transmitted wirelessly to a portable diuretic infusion device attached to the patient.

A novel lighting assembly that incorporates a high brightness light emitting diode (LED) in a compact assembly for further integration into a lighting device is provided. The lighting head assembly of the present invention provides several novel aspects that are all closely integrated to provide a unique assembly for incorporating a high brightness LED into a lighting device. In particular, the head assembly utilizes a receiver sleeve that includes a tail portion which surrounds the output end of the LED thereby isolating the LED and capturing both the conductive and radiant waste heat emitted by the LED to further dissipate the captured heat out of the assembly.

A singlet telescope is provided for reshaping the laser beam to a larger or smaller diameter while maintaining the inherent quality of the beam. Applications for the singlet telescope include intercavity expansion to accommodate the damage thresh-old of various components, expansion of beams to match the size of different wavelengths for final collimation, and shrinking of beams to provide high irradiance for nonlinear processes such as optical parametric oscillation and frequency doubling, with the above applications usually requiring low power magnification or demagnification. Problems involving the utilization of these telescopes over wide temperature ranges and ghost reflections in which a light is reflected back to a pumping laser are minimized with the singlet construction, with the ghost reflections potentially creating damage of components including self-damage or breakdown of air, as well as damage to a Q-switched resonator which causes pre-lasing.

An external cavity laser apparatus and method wherein wavelength or channel selection is carried independently from adjustment of external cavity optical path length. The apparatus comprises a wavelength or channel selector tuner and an external cavity tuner, wherein the wavelength tuner is uncoupled from the external cavity tuner. The tuning mechanisms for wavelength selection and cavity optical path length are configured to operate independently or orthogonally with respect to each other. The wavelength tuner may operate according to a first, channel selection signal, while the external cavity tuner operates according to a second, external cavity adjustment signal. The wavelength tuner and external cavity tuner may operate under the control of the same, or of separate controllers. The channel selection signal may be derived from a look-up table of adjustment parameter data accessed by a controller, and the external cavity adjustment signal may be derived from an error signal from a detector configured to measure external cavity loss.

A blasting nozzle for a blasting apparatus includes an inlet for attachment to the outlet hose of the blasting apparatus, an accelerating portion, and an outlet portion through which an accelerated abrasive-laden jet can be ejected. The outlet portion has an interior surface that flares outwards to define a single outlet orifice but that also defines a transverse cross-section profile having at least two lobes between which is at least one splitter element. In use, the abrasive within the jet is directed by the splitter element into one or other of the two lobes within the single egressing jet. The overall effect is such that the abrasive distribution transversely across the jet is much more even than in a conventional blasting nozzle.

Embodiments of a key system for filters and their connecting heads, brackets, or other holders are shown. The filter cartridge and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock”. Cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter cartridge to be installed in the holder, so that mis-matched cartridges cannot be installed into the holder, for example, to prevent a particular type of cartridge from being placed in a filtration or other process where it would be inappropriate, or undesired. The keyed surfaces are selectively locate-able preferably at different circumferential locations on a perimeter of the filter and a corresponding location on a perimeter of the head / holder. The perimeter may be, for example, on an outer shoulder surface of a filter and an inner surface of a valve head, or on outer and inner surfaces of connectors that provide a liquid seal between the filter and the head / holder.

The invention provides methods and compositions useful for identifying polypeptides with desired characteristics in vitro.

A method of applying a grooved lineal to the edge portion of a glass unit in the formation of a window component is provided. The method includes the steps of applying a triggerable sealant to the groove of the lineal, urging the edge portion of the glass unit into the groove, and triggering the sealant to form a seal between the groove and the edge portion of the glass unit. In one embodiment, the triggerable sealant is a dual state adhesive that can be placed in a first non-adhesive state by application of a temporary adhesion blocker. The lineal is urged onto the edge of the glass unit while the adhesive is in this first state and held in place until the adhesive transitions to its second adhesive state to bond and seal the glass within the groove.

Tissue engineering holds enormous potential to replace or restore function to a wide range of tissues. However, the most successful applications have been limited to thin avascular tissues in which delivery of essential nutrients occurs primarily by diffusion. Pursuant to the present invention, a prevascularized, thick tissue construct is created having a network of capillaries with lumens capable of nutrient and origin delivery and forming anastamoses to host vasculature. A tissue transplantation strategy is comprised of (1) in vitro vascularization of a tisue construct, (2) transplantation of prevascularized tissue to wound bed of host where vessels of implantable tissue and host rapidly anastomose, and (3) host-directed remodeling and reorganization of the tissue and vascular network.

This invention provides methods, compositions and systems to detect a nucleic acid of interest in a two-stage amplification. The two-stage amplification begins with a first non-enzymatic accumulation of an amplification oligomer that is the target substrate for a second nucleic acid amplification or assay. Two or more amplification oligomers can be used to allow multiplexed amplifications of two or more nucleic acids of interest with deconvolution based on unique detection signals or unique signal locations.

A polar loop transmitter circuit arrangement includes a circuit input, a circuit output, a controllable signal source, a modulator connected between the signal source and the output, a first amplifier having its input connected to the circuit input, a second amplifier having its input connected to the circuit output, and a comparator. Each amplifier preferably includes respective amplitude detector and signal modifier portions connected in series between their respective inputs and outputs. An output of each of the amplifiers is connected to a respective input of the comparator, and an output of the comparator is connected to a control input of the modulator. The amplifiers may each be characterized by transfer functions that are generally logarithmic. Each amplifier's signal modifier portion may further include an analog-to-digital converter, a digital signal modifier, and a digital-to-analog converter. Additional signal mixer and / or phase comparison elements may also be incorporated into select embodiments of the subject polar loop transmitter technology.

A corrosion resistant coating for engine components such as turbine disks, turbine seal elements and turbine shafts. This coating may also find application to other turbine components that are subjected to high temperatures and corrosive environments, such as turbine components located within or on the boundary of the gas fluid flow path, including for example turbine blades, turbine vanes, liners and exhaust flaps. The corrosion resistant coating of the present invention in service on a gas turbine component includes a glassy ceramic matrix wherein the glassy matrix is silica-based and particles selected from the group consisting of refractory oxide particles, MCrAlX particles and combinations of these particles, substantially uniformly distributed within the matrix. The refractory oxide and / or the MCrAlX provides the coating with corrosion resistance. Importantly the coating of the present invention has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) greater than alumina. The CTE of the coating is sufficiently close to the substrate material, that is, the component to which it is applied, such that the coating does not spall after frequent engine cycling at elevated temperature

A bracket system holds a filter(s) in quick-attach and quick-release fashion. Brackets are combined in modular fashion, with conduit between the brackets, to create a "bank" of filters easily changed in number, arrangement, and flow scheme. Top brackets and bottom brackets capture / support the top end and bottom end of a filter, respectively, and filter inlet and outlet ports preferably slide onto and off of cooperating tubes / ports in the bracket modules without tools or threaded connections. A retainer may pivot on and off of its respective filter, holding the filter in place and releasing the filter, respectively. After pivoting the retainer up from the filter, the filter may be lifted up off of its respective bottom module, so that the filter is substantially vertically and pivotally removable from the bracket system. A keyed system may ensure that only the appropriate filter fits into the appropriate filter holder, wherein the keyed system includes key protrusions and cooperating key recesses on the mating surfaces that form a fluid connection between the filter and the filter holder. Sets of holders and filters may be provided wherein each set has key structure at different radial locations on the members, so that filters from a particular set cannot be used with any other set's holder. A universally-keyed filter may also be supplied that has key structure that fits with and cooperates with more than one of the differently-keyed filter holders so that the universally-keyed filter may be used with the various sets' holders.

Embodiments of a key system for filters and their connecting heads, brackets, or other holders are shown. The filter cartridge and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock”. Cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter cartridge to be installed in the holder, so that mis-matched cartridges cannot be installed into the holder, for example, to prevent a particular type of cartridge from being placed in a filtration or other process where it would be inappropriate, or undesired. The keyed surfaces are selectively locate-able preferably at different circumferential locations on a perimeter of the filter and a corresponding location on a perimeter of the head / holder. The perimeter may be, for example, on an outer shoulder surface of a filter and an inner surface of a valve head, or on outer and inner surfaces of connectors that provide a liquid seal between the filter and the head / holder.

An integrated photonic polarization-separating apparatus includes a first waveguide polarization beam splitter (PBS) having a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port and a first polarization rotator optically coupled to the first port of the first waveguide PBS. The apparatus also includes a first Faraday rotator optically coupled to the first polarization rotator and a second polarization rotator optically coupled to the second port of the first waveguide PBS. The apparatus further includes a second Faraday rotator optically coupled to the second polarization rotator and a second waveguide PBS having a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port. The third port is optically coupled to the first Faraday rotator and the fourth port is optically coupled to the second Faraday rotator.

A method of fabricating a metamaterial is provided, comprising providing a sample of engineered microstructured material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation and comprises one or more voids, passing through the voids a high pressure fluid comprising a functional material carried in a carrier fluid, and causing the functional material to deposit or otherwise integrate into the engineered microstructured material to form the metamaterial. Many microstructured materials and functional materials can be used, together with various techniques for controlling the location of the integration of the functional material within the microstructured material, so that a wide range of different metamaterials can be produced.

The system for controlling body fluids overcomes the limitations of the prior art by automatically infusing diuretic and / or other drugs into a human patient. In one approach, the rate of infusion of the diuretic is adjusted based on the measured weight of the patient. For example, this weight can be transmitted wirelessly to a portable diuretic infusion device attached to the patient.

A blade for a turbomachine extends in use, in a radial direction relative to the axis of the turbomachine. The turbomachine has at least one operating condition which generates supersonic fluid flow at the blade. The blade is adapted to provide, at the supersonic operating condition, a leading edge sweep angle which varies such that successive radial positions (i) to (iii) along the leading edge are at respective sweep angle turning points. Position (i) is the radially inner and position (iii) the radially outer of the positions. Position (i) is at or radially outward of the 30% span position, where 0% span is the radially innermost point of the leading edge and 100% span is the radially outermost point of the leading edge.

A portable belt splicing apparatus is provided for joining the ends of one or more conveyor belts together. In one form, the belt splicing apparatus has upper and lower platens, with one formed of a metallic material that allows for operational deflection of the platens under elevated operation pressures while resisting permanent deformation upon being subjected to elevated operation temperatures. An elongate central region of the platens is heated by a heating element and the metallic material restricts the flow of heat from the elongate central region to elongate side edge portions so that the side edge portions remain cooler. In another form, a self-contained portable conveyor belt splicing apparatus is provided having an on-board fan device for rapid cooling of the clamped belt end and platens. An on-board control system is configured to receive power from different types of standard power supplies and supplies power to on-board components.