973results about How to "Extended maintenance period" patented technology

A novel filled container is provided, which can stably supply an apparatus for vapor phase epitaxial growth such as an MOCVD apparatus with a solid organometallic compound over a long term. The solid organometallic compound-filled container has a carrier gas inlet and a carrier gas outlet. The interior of the filled container is separated into a plurality of vertical compartments. A carrier gas introduced via the carrier gas inlet flows through each of the vertical compartments and is then discharged via the carrier gas outlet.

In a communication network having at least one communication link connecting at least one provider and a client, where the at least one provider is in communication with at least one database storing at least one identifier having variable ownership status, a method includes establishing that at least one identifier of significance to the client is unavailable for ownership by the client, communicating to the at least one provider at least one desired action the at least one provider is to take on behalf of the client to obtain an ownership interest in the at least one identifier of significance to the client, where the at least one identifier of significance to the client is unavailable for ownership by the client at the time of the communication, and determining whether to perform the at least one desired action without monitoring the ownership status of the at least one identifier of significance to the client.

A method and apparatus for capturing image data from multiple image sensors and generating an output image sequence are disclosed. The multiple image sensors capture data with one or more different characteristics, such as: staggered exposure periods, different length exposure periods, different frame rates, different spatial resolution, different lens systems, and different focal lengths. The data from multiple image sensors is processed and interleaved to generate an improved output motion sequence relative to an output motion sequence generated from an a single equivalent image sensor.

A liquid crystal display of the invention includes a plurality of pixels each of which has a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of electrodes for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer and which are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein: each of the plurality of pixels has a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel which can apply mutually different voltages to the liquid crystal layer, where the first sub-pixel has a higher brightness than the second sub-pixel in certain gradations; the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel each has: a liquid crystal capacitor formed by a counter electrode and a sub-pixel electrode opposing the counter electrode via the liquid crystal layer, and a storage capacitor formed by a storage capacitor electrode connected electrically to the sub-pixel electrode, an insulating layer, and a storage capacitor counter electrode opposing the storage capacitor electrode via the insulating layer; the counter electrode is a single electrode shared by the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel, and the storage capacitor counter electrodes of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are electrically independent of each other; and the storage capacitor counter electrode of the first sub-pixel in any of the plurality of pixels and the storage capacitor counter electrode of the second sub-pixel of a pixel adjacent to any of the pixels in the column direction are electrically independent of each other.

A long term ambulatory blood pressure monitor is disclosed in which all elements of the monitor are compactly and inconspicuously contained in/on a cincture housing mounted on an inflatable arm band fixedly and comfortably positioned on the patient arm. System control and display modules are efficiently placed in a flip top mode on the cincture housing itself and alternatively in a wrist watch mode on the patient wrist. Non volatile EEPROM blood pressure data memory is disposed adjacent EPROM system memory and microprocessor controller circuitry on a compact PCB within the cincture housing along with pneumatic motor/pump and solenoid for inflation/deflation of the arm band to obtain systolic/diastolic blood pressure readings via the oscillatory detection method.

Methods, apparatus, media and signals for controlling power drawn from an energy converter to supply a load, where the energy converter is operable to convert energy from a physical source into electrical energy. Power drawn from the energy converter is changed when a supply voltage of the energy converter meets a criterion. The criterion and the change in the amount of power drawn from the energy converter are dependent upon a present amount of power supplied to the load. The methods, apparatus, media and signals described herein may provide improvements to DC to AC maximum power point tracking in an energy conversion system such as a photovoltaic power generation system.

An offshore floating production, storage, and off-loading vessel has a monolithic non ship-shaped hull of polygonal configuration surrounding a central double tapered conical moon pool and contains water ballast and oil storage compartments. The exterior side walls of the hull have flat surfaces and sharp corners to cut ice sheets, resist and break ice, and move ice pressure ridges away from the structure. An adjustable water ballast system induces heave, roll, pitch and surge motions of the vessel to dynamically position and maneuver the vessel to accomplish ice cutting, breaking and moving operations. The moon pool shape and other devices on the vessel provide added virtual mass capable of increasing the natural period of the roll and heave modes, reducing dynamic amplification and resonance due to waves and vessel motion, and facilitate maneuvering the vessel. The vessel may be moored by a disconnectable turret buoy received in a support frame at the bottom of the moon pool and to which flexible well risers and mooring lines are connected.

A method and computer system for providing a virtual presentation is provided. A plurality of different groups of virtual objects within a virtual world on a display device, wherein at least one of the different groups is selectable by a user. The desired group of virtual objects are to be displayed within a virtual optical viewfinder. A selection tool is provided within the virtual optical viewfinder and is controllable by the user to select a target virtual object from the desired group of virtual objects displayed within the virtual optical viewfinder. The user is presented with a magnified image of the target virtual object and revealing an identity of the target virtual object that has been selected in response to selection of the target virtual object by the user.

Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. In one aspect, a particle may be characterized by determining its optophoretic constant or signature. For example, a diseased cell has a different optophoretic constant from a healthy cell, thereby providing information, or the basis for sorting. In the event of physical sorting, various forces may be used for separation, including fluidic forces, such as through the use of laminar flow, or optical forces, or mechanical forces, such as through adhesion. Various techniques for measuring the dielectric constant of particles are provided.

An electronic implantable device with a power saving circuit incorporates a radio frequency receiver with low power consumption. A high power radio receiver is normally turned off during a period of inactivity. When an analyzer detects a predetermined identification code in a received radio frequency signal, it outputs a signal to turn on the high power receiver.

A method for communicating the content of a live data stream to a receiver using a plurality of channels comprising two encoder channels used to encode the live data content prior to transmission. Initially a plurality of segments of a live data stream are received, wherein each segment contains segment data. A forward error correction algorithm is applied to each segment's data, thereby producing FEC-encoded segment data. The FEC-encoded segment data is contained within an FEC-encoded block, resulting in a corresponding plurality of FEC-encoded blocks being generated. Each FEC-encoded block is copied to a sub-channel on both a first encoder channel and a second encoder channel, resulting in a plurality of FEC-encoder blocks residing on the first and second encoder channels. The first and second encoder channels differ in the number of sub-channels they contain (interleaving depth), and accordingly the arrangement of the FEC-encoded blocks in the first and second encoder channels are different. A first cross-section of the FEC-encoded segment data contained within the FEC-encoded blocks resident in the first encoder channel is added to a first transmit block T₀. Similarly, A first cross-section of the FEC-encoded segment data contained within the FEC-encoded blocks resident in the second encoder channel is added to a second transmit block T₁. The first and second transmit blocks are then communicated to the receiver.

Disclosed is a digital broadcast reception device that includes a plurality of tuner/demodulator units; a tuning control unit; a current position detection unit for detecting a current position; a channel scan control unit that has one of the plurality of tuner/demodulator units perform tuning for program viewing or listening, and has another one of the plurality of tuner/demodulator units perform a channel scan by tuning to the physical channels sequentially and detecting receivable physical channels; a broadcast area map generation unit for generating broadcast area maps including the receivable physical channels when the channel scan is executed, broadcast service information regarding broadcast content of the physical channels, and receivable position information; and a broadcast area map storage unit for storing the generated broadcast area maps.

Controlled release oral dosage forms are provided for the continuous, sustained administration of a pharmacologically active agent to the upper gastrointestinal tract of a patient in whom the fed mode as been induced. The majority of the agent is delivered, on an extended release basis, to the stomach, duodenum and upper regions of the small intestine, with drug delivery in the lower gastrointestinal tract and colon substantially restricted. The dosage form comprises a matrix of a biocompatible, hydrophilic, erodible polymer with an active agent incorporated therein, wherein the polymer is one that both swells in the presence of water and gradually erodes over a time period of hours, with swelling and erosion commencing upon contact with gastric fluid, and drug release rate primarily controlled by erosion rate.

A valve overlap period is increased as a desired torque of an engine increases by advancing an opening timing of an intake valve at a rate greater than that of retarding a closing timing of an exhaust valve in a low engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively low (step S16). The valve overlap period is increased as the desired torque of the engine increases by retarding the closing timing of the exhaust valve at a rate greater than that of advancing the opening timing of the intake valve in a high engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively high (step S17). Accordingly, the drivability can be improved by obtaining the proper torque and the smooth torque curve in the wide driving area.

A power supply device for a vehicle includes a battery serving as a first electric storage device, a battery serving as a second electric storage device, a motor generator driving a wheel, a selection switch selecting one of the first and second electric storage devices and connecting the selected electric storage device to the motor generator, and a control device controlling switching of the selection switch in accordance with a state of charge of each of the first and second electric storage devices. In the case where the selection switch selects the first electric storage device, when charging is performed and the state of charge of the first electric storage device becomes higher than a first prescribed level, the control device instructs the selection switch to select the second electric storage device.

A floating power generation assembly comprises at least three floating units (900) floating on a body of water, and at least three anchors (916) secured to a solid surface beneath the body of water, each of the floating units (900) being provided with power generation means, the floating units (900) being arranged substantially at the vertices of at least one equilateral triangle. The invention also provides ship-borne apparatus for deploying the floating units of such a power generation assembly and a novel multiple wind turbine assembly.

The invention relates to a process for preparing crosslinkable polymers containing silane groups having at least one hydrolyzable radical by free-radical-initiated grafting of the base polymers with an olefinically unsaturated silane having at least one hydrolyzable radical, wherein the grafting is carried out in the presence of(a) an alkylsilane of the formula I, whereR1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 33 carbon atoms or a divalent hydrocarbon radical having from 4 to 24 carbon atoms,R2 is a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,X are identical or different hydrolyzable radicals,n is 0, 1 or 2 andm is 1 or 2 and/or(b) a fluoroalkylsilane of the formula whereR3 is a fluoroalkyl radical,R4 is an alkyl radical andX is a hydrolyzable radical,x is an integer from 1 to 3,y is 0, 1 or 2 andz is an integer from 1 to 3, with the proviso that the sum x+y+z=4.

A drug eluting medical device is disclosed. The device includes a barrier layer for reducing the rate of release of a drug.

The present invention is differentiated adipose tissue-derived stromal cells that exhibit the improved properties of increased extracellular matrix proteins and/or a lower amount of lipid than a mature isolated adipocyte. Methods for the expansion and differentiation of these cells are also provided. The cells of the invention are used for the treatment, repair, correction and/or regeneration of soft tissue cosmetic defects.