834results about How to "cost reduction" patented technology

Floorboards with a format corresponding to a traditional parquet block for laying of mechanically joined floating flooring. Rectangular floorboards include a surface layer and a core with two long sides and two short sides, for making a floating flooring, which floorboards are mechanically lockable and which along their four sides have pairs of opposing connectors for locking similar, adjoining floorboards to each other both vertically and horizontally wherein the long sides have a length not exceeding 80 cm and the short sides have a width not exceeding 10 cm.

Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a domain management system, apparatus and method for hosting and assigning domain names. Embodiments of the domain management system comprise a name assignment system and a hosting system, wherein the hosting system comprises a domain retrieval system and a data storage apparatus. The name assignment system verifies availability and assigns domain names to requesting clients. The name assignment system comprises an input component, a confirmation mechanism and a name storage means. Preferred embodiments of the domain retrieval system comprise a scheduler, a parsing member having a plurality of redirectors and a plurality of servers. The domain retrieval system locates the domain referenced by the domain name by parsing header information and utilizing a wildcard DNS. Once the domain is located, the domain retrieval system forwards the domain to the user computer.

Disclosed is a vehicle capacity maximization system and method of accomplishing the same.

A light emitting sign comprising a light emitting display surface including at least one phosphor, and at least one radiation source configured to irradiate the display surface with excitation energy such that the phosphor emits light of a selected color. The sign further comprises a filter which is substantially transparent to light emitted by the display surface, filtering other colors of light. The display surface may be configured into a shape of a character, a symbol, or a device. Alternatively, a mask having at least one window substantially transparent to the emitted light and/or at least one light blocking region may be provided in which the window and/or light blocking region define a character, a symbol, or a device.

A gas-phase chemical reactor, a system including the reactor, and methods of using the reactor and system are disclosed. An exemplary reactor includes a reaction chamber and is configured to provide a precursor within the reaction chamber for a soak period—e.g., a period wherein a supply of the precursor to the reaction chamber is ceased and before purging of the reaction chamber begins. This allows relatively high residence times, relatively high partial pressures of the precursor(s) and/or a relatively high absolute pressure to be obtained within the reaction chamber during substrate processing.

A closed-loop drilling system and method of drilling oil, gas, or geothermal wells is described, whereby through the control of the flow rates in and out of the wellbore, and by adjusting the pressure inside the wellbore by a pressure/flow control device installed on the return line, surface pressure being increased or decreased as required, this in turn decreasing or increasing downhole pressure, occurrence of kicks and fluid losses may be greatly minimized and quickly controlled. Through the method of the invention the elimination of the kick tolerance and tripping margin on the design of the well is made possible, since the pore and fracture pressure will be determined in real-time while drilling the well, and, therefore, nearly no safety margin is necessary when designing the well, reducing significantly the number of casing strings necessary. The inventive method can be called intelligent safe drilling since the response to influx or fluid loss is nearly immediate and so smoothly done that the drilling can go on without any break in the normal course of action. The new method is applicable to the whole wellbore from the first casing string with a BOP connection, and it can be implemented and adopted to any rig or drilling installation that uses the conventional method with very few exceptions and limitations. The new method is applicable to all types of wells, onshore, offshore, deepwater and ultra-deepwater, with huge safety improvement in difficult drilling scenarios.

A light-scattering color-conversion material layer having two sides, comprising first light-scattering particles intermixed with second different color-conversion material particles, wherein the concentration of the light scattering particles is greater towards a first side of the layer relative to the concentration of light-scattering particles towards the opposite side of the layer, and/or wherein the concentration of the color-conversion material particles is less towards the first side of the layer relative to the concentration of color-conversion material particles towards the opposite side of the layer. A method of making such a light-scattering color-conversion material layer is also described, and light emitting devices comprising one or more EL elements formed on a substrate and such a light-scattering color-conversion material layer optically coupled with the EL element.

In an effort to reduce employer health insurance related costs, a state-governed fully-insured supplemental health insurance policy is provided for a group of employees. At least one benefit under the supplemental health insurance policy is conditional on the employee voluntarily participating in a wellness program. The wellness program could include wellness categories such as a tobacco free category, normal blood pressure category, regular exercise category and even a non-overweight category. In addition, the wellness program could condition coverage, or subsidize deductibles for, certain illnesses on employee submission to screening tests on a prescribed basis for the identified illness, such as cancer screening for early detection of cancer. Partial premium payments on behalf of the employee for a core health insurance policy could also be a reward for participation in a wellness program. The voluntary wellness program can also include a variety of other aspects including wellness education, disease inoculation, and injury prevention. The invention provides an incentive for employees to make healthier lifestyle choices.

A barrier, such as a PV module, is secured to a base by a support to create a shingle assembly with a venting region defined between the barrier and base for temperature regulation. The bottom edges of the barriers of one row may overlap the top edges of the barriers of another row. The shingle assemblies may be mounted by first mounting the bases to an inclined surface; the barriers may be then secured to the bases using the supports to create rows of shingle assemblies defining venting regions between the barriers and the bases for temperature regulation.

An asynchronous peer-to-peer data replication method implemented within a replication cluster comprising at least one master node and at least a first client node includes entering an update in a data volume of the master node and storing the update in a master node storage. Next, updating a first active session in a master log and then sending a first message from the master node to the first client node. The first message comprises a first message content and first “piggybacked” data indicating that the first active session in the master log was updated. Next, receiving the first message by the first client node, registering that the first active session in the master log was updated and signaling internally that the first active session in the master log was updated. Next, sending an update request from the first client node to the master node, processing the update request by the master node and sending the update to the first client node. Finally, receiving the update by the first client node and updating the first active session in a first client log.

In a print system which has a digital still camera, computer, and printer, it is difficult for a user who is not accustomed to the computer to operate the computer. A direct printer is expensive since the printer itself requires a controller, a digital signal processor for image processes, a module for communicating with the image inputting apparatus, and the like. To combat this problem, an image inputting apparatus transmits a print execution instruction and an image to be printed to an information processing apparatus upon inputting a print request of a sensed image or an image stored in a memory. Upon receiving the print execution instruction and the image to be printed, the information processing apparatus issues a print request of the received image to a connected printer apparatus, and transmits the received image.

A predictive model generator that enhances customer experience, reduces the cost of servicing a customer, and prevents customer attrition by predicting the appropriate interaction channel through analysis of different types of data and filtering of irrelevant data. The model includes a customer interaction data engine for transforming data into a proper format for storage, data warehouse for receiving data from a variety of sources, and a predictive engine for analyzing the data and building models.

An accelerometer is mounted on a robot to monitor movement of a tool assembly attached to the robot end effector for safety monitoring purposes. The accelerometer provides an output signal to the robot controller which the controller uses to monitor the robot movement and stop that movement when a predetermined values of acceleration, speed and distance are detected during lead-through teaching of the robot. A handle can be attached to the robot end effector and the accelerometer can be mounted on the handle.

A video game system including a portable main unit and a personal electronic unit for wirelessly controlling a video game played on the portable main unit and displayed on a display. The portable main unit connects to the display and can receive infrared video game control signals from the personal electronic unit. Further, the personal electronic unit includes a directional game controller, a set of assignable function keys, and an infrared transmitter for sending game control signals to the portable main unit. The personal electronic unit operates as a watch or other personal device until it is switched to a game mode, in which the assignable function keys and the directional game controller are used to operate the video game playing on the portable main unit and displayed on the display.

The present invention relates to methods and systems useful for screening and/or diagnosing genetic conditions in a fetus.

An apparatus and method for interrogating and automatically identifying a radio-frequency tagged surgical instrument tray and its contents of RFID-tagged surgical instruments are disclosed. The surgical instrument tray and its contents come into contact with an RF signal transmitted by the RFID reader, and as a result, the RFID tags affixed on the instrument tray and the surgical instruments respond by transmitting back to the RFID reader data pertaining to the history of the surgical instruments. A data terminal, which is connected to the RFID reader, may contain data pertaining to the radio frequency tagged surgical instruments during packaging, and during the return of the surgical instrument trays to the packager, identifies the surgical instruments.

A hand-held data collector having a sensor, for example, a temperature sensor, a reader, for example, a bar code scanner, a user I/O device, a data processor in electrical communication with the sensor, the reader and the user I/O device and a transceiver unit in electrical communication with the data processor. The data processor receiving information from the sensor and the reader. The data collector transmits the read and sensed information over a communication link to a computer where the data is analyzed and stored. In a food processing facility, the above monitoring and tracking system may be used to monitor, track, analyze and provide a real time reporting of temperatures and locations of specific food items in inventory. Each time the food location is changed, a new expiration date for the food item is automatically calculated and applied to a new food rotation label. Further, the history of food items from a manufacturer's food lot number can be quickly reported.

Multiple independent images are presented on multiple display devices by driving the display devices with a common set of control signals and a multiplexed set of data signals that convey information representing interleaved components of each independent image. In a preferred embodiment, a unique clock signal is provided to each respective display device that is aligned with the interleaved components of the image to be presented by that respective display. The control, data and clock signals may be obtained by multiplexing control and data signals received from display pipeline circuits, or by generating the, signals using a composite circuit that implements the features of two or more multiplexed display pipeline circuits.

A re-wearable wireless device includes a reusable component to be secured to a disposable component. The reusable component includes a sensor interface to receive signals from an electrode secured to a living subject and monitors physiological and physical parameters associated with the living subject and a cellular wireless communication circuit. An adhesive base the device includes a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer partially covering the first adhesive layer around a perimeter thereof, where the first and second adhesive layers include different adhesives. A method of establishing a link between two wireless devices is also disclosed, where a first wireless device with an insignia representing a communication channel address identification is provided. An image of the insignia is captured with a mobile telephone computing device comprising an image sensor. The captured image is processed to extract the communication channel address identification represented by the insignia.

An apparatus for temperature control of manufacture of thick film materials includes a stage comprising a planar surface for supporting a bulk material to be implanted and subsequently cleaved. The bulk material has a surface region, a side region, and a bottom region which provides a volume of material and defines a length between the bottom region and the surface region. The apparatus further includes a mechanical clamp device adapted to engage the bottom region to the planar surface of the stage such that the bulk material is in physical contact with the planar surface for thermal energy to transfer through an interface region between the bulk material and the stage while the surface region is substantially exposed. Additionally, the apparatus includes a sensor device configured to measure a temperature value of the surface region and generate an input data. The apparatus further includes an implant device configured to perform implantation of a plurality of particles through one or more portions of the surface region of the bulk material and a controller configured to receive and process the input data to increase and/or decrease the temperature value of the surface region through at least the interface region between the planar surface of the stage and the bottom region of the bulk material.

A portable wireless communication terminal device has a data communications function and a telephone function and includes a casing, a display having a display section exposed through an opening of the casing, a circuit board installed in the casing and having the display on one surface of the circuit board, a first antenna electrically connected to the circuit board and disposed on an opposite side to the display inside the casing, and a second antenna electrically connected to the circuit board and mounted on a periphery of the display inside the casing. The device maintains a stable antenna characteristic and communication quality even if it is placed on a table or if the fingers of a user cover the backside of the device.

The present invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems for analyzing a structure using thermal imaging. A plurality of images of a structure are automatically captured using one or more image capture devices. The images may be captured in one or more ranges of wavelengths of light. The images are then processed to generate image data for the images. The image data can then be analyzed to determine one or more properties of the structure. The images may be captured at an angle with respect to the structure of between approximately 45 to 135 degrees. The images may be captured during a time where one of indirect or no sunlight is present.

In the presence of a catalytic system, an alcohol having “n” carbon atom(s) or a derivative thereof is allowed to react with carbon monoxide in a reactor 3 continuously, a higher bp catalyst component is separated from the resultant reaction mixture by a catalyst-separating column 5 to give a crude mixture, the crude mixture is fed to a higher bp component-separation column 8 to separate an overhead fraction from a bottom fraction containing at least a carboxylic acid having “n+2” carbon atoms, the overhead fraction is fed to a carboxylic acid-separating column 11, and are distilled in the presence of at least water and an ester of the carboxylic acid with the alcohol to separate a overhead fraction containing at least the ester and water from a bottom fraction containing the carboxylic acid having “n+1” carbon atoms. The overhead fraction from the carboxylic acid-separating column is fed to an aldehyde-separating column 14 to remove an overhead fraction containing an aldehyde. Such a process insures that impurities are efficiently separated from a reaction mixture by carbonylation of an alcohol, and that a carboxylic acid is purified easily at a lower cost.

A fuel cell has a unit cell whose output is increased. A unit cell of a fuel cell includes a cathode electrode having a gas diffusion layer and an electrode catalyst layer. The electrode catalyst layer is made of carbon black carrying a Pt—Mn-based alloy such as a Pt—Mn alloy on its particle surface. For operating the fuel cell which includes the cathode electrode, it is preferable to make the pressure of an oxygen-containing gas supplied to the cathode electrode higher than the pressure of an hydrogen-containing gas supplied to an anode electrode to make the pressure at the cathode electrode higher than the pressure at the anode electrode.

The display device includes: a flexible display panel including a display portion in which scanning lines and signal lines cross each other; a supporting portion for supporting an end portion of the flexible display panel; a signal line driver circuit for outputting a signal to the signal line, which is provided for the supporting portion; and a scanning line driver circuit for outputting a signal to the scanning line, which is provided for a flexible surface of the display panel in a direction which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the supporting portion.

Polysilicon diodes fabricated in standard CMOS logic processes can be used as program selectors for One-Time Programmable (OTP) devices, using electrical fuse, contact/via fuse, contact/via anti-fuse, or gate-oxide breakdown anti-fuse etc. as OTP element The diode can be constructed by P+/N+ implants on a polysilicon as a program selector. The OTP device has an OTP element coupled to a polysilicon diode. The OTP devices can be used to construct a two-dimensional OTP memory with the N-terminals of the diodes in a row connected as a wordline and the OTP elements in a column connected as a bitline. By applying a high voltage between a selected bitline and a selected wordline to turn on a diode in a selected cell for suitable duration of time, a current flows through an OTP element may change the resistance state. The cell data in the OTP memory can also be read by turning on a selected wordline and to couple a selected bitline to a sense amplifier. The wordlines may have high-resistivity local wordlines coupled to low-resistivity global wordlines through conductive contact(s) or via(s).

A method and apparatus are provided so that a mobile terminal will obtain an application for an accessory of the mobile terminal from a telecommunications network. The mobile terminal includes an accessory interface, responsive to connection with the accessory, for providing an accessory identification to a processing unit within the mobile terminal. The processing unit makes an accessory application inquiry to an accessory application memory within the mobile terminal. The memory provide information regarding a stored application, and then the processing unit makes an application request to a network, if the information indicates status of the stored application is inadequate.

A method for item substitution in a manufacturing process includes receiving an order for manufacture of a product and generating a first electronic bill of material for the product. The first electronic bill of material identifies multiple primary components to be assembled into the product. The method also includes identifying a trigger initiating substitution of one of the primary components, identifying multiple potential substitute components in response to the trigger, and identifying a substitution rule governing selection of one of the potential substitute components. The method also includes selecting one of the potential substitute components according to the substitution rule, substituting the selected one of the potential substitute components for the one primary component, and generating a second electronic bill of material for the product. The second electronic bill of material identifies the selected one of the potential substitute components.

The present invention provides a light exposure mask which can form a photoresist layer in a semi-transmissive portion with uniform thickness, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which the number of photolithography steps (the number of masks) necessary for manufacturing a TFT substrate is reduced by using the light exposure mask. A light exposure mask is used, which includes a transmissive portion, a light shielding portion, and a semi-transmissive portion having a light intensity reduction function where lines and spaces are repeatedly formed, wherein the sum of a line width L of a light shielding material and a space width S between light shielding materials in the semi-transmissive portion satisfies a conditional expression (2n/3)×m≦L+S≦(6n/5)×m when a resolution of a light exposure apparatus is represented by n and a projection magnification is represented by 1/m (m≧1).

Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to a border access point protocol that facilitates network selection and mobility operations for wireless clients, such as dual-mode wireless telephones and other devices. In one implementation, the present invention provides a wireless network infrastructure comprising a plurality of access points, at least some of which are so-called border access points that provide border information to wireless clients. The border information, in one embodiment, indicates to the wireless client that the transmitting access point is proximal to the perimeter of the intended coverage area of the wireless network infrastructure. In another implementation, the border information indicates that the transmitting access point is proximal to a point of egress from, or ingress to, a coverage area. Wireless clients within range of the border access points can use the border information to facilitate or enhance selection of a network for initiation of a given section, as well as in handoff or other mobility operations between two network types or domains (e.g., a WLAN and a cellular network).