645results about How to "Maintenance" patented technology

A system for automatically creating and maintaining a database of information utilizing user opinions about subjects, particularly exceptional experiences. Described is an Internet system assisting / motivating a population of users interested in information about certain categories of subjects to automatically maintain the database content and to improve the usefulness and quality of the database information without any substantial management by the website owner-manager. The user opinions are primarily in the form of both comments and ratings about which natural-language terms best describe a particular subject, enabling user searches of the subject database to be by way of preferred such descriptive natural-language terms, which terms are further preferred to be evaluative and approving.

A system for automatically creating and maintaining a database of information utilizing user opinions about subjects, particularly exceptional experiences. Described is an Internet system assisting / motivating a population of users interested in information about certain categories of subjects to automatically maintain the database content and to improve the usefulness and quality of the database information without any substantial management by the website owner-manager. The user opinions are primarily in the form of both comments and ratings about which natural-language terms best describe a particular subject, enabling user searches of the subject database to be by way of preferred such descriptive natural-language terms, which terms are further preferred to be evaluative and approving. Also, a system for automatically creating and maintaining a database of information utilizing user knowledge about sales related subjects. Described is an Internet-based system for assisting / motivating a population of users interested in information about certain categories of sales related subjects to automatically maintain the database content and to improve the usefulness and quality of the database information without any substantial management by the website owner-manager. The user opinions are primarily in the form of both comments and ratings of which sales related subjects best provide assistance in completing a sale.

A resource management client apparatus (client, 102) comprises an interface to a wide area network (WAN, 106) facilitating connection to a resource management server (server, 104), and at least one communications interface (116, 118) to communicate with a plurality of associated resource monitoring and control devices (devices, 120, 122). A secure key interface (128) to receive an electronic access device (130) that securely stores information including at least a unique identifier, server connection data, and one or more encryption keys for encrypting information transmitted between the client (102) and the server (104). The client (102) establishes a connection to the server (104) via the WAN (106), using the server connection data stored in the electronic access device (130), receives status messages from the devices (120, 122), processes received status messages, and encrypts and transmits corresponding status information of the devices (120, 122) to the server (104) via the WAN (106). It receives and decrypts encrypted resource control information from the server (104) via the WAN (106). Furthermore, it processes received resource control information and transmits corresponding control messages to the devices (120, 122).

The solar energy and solar farms are used to generate energy and reduce dependence on oil (or for environmental purposes). The maintenance and repairs in big farms become very difficult, expensive, and inefficient, using human technicians. Thus, here, we teach using the robots with various functions and components, in various settings, for various purposes, to improve operations in big (or hard-to-access) farms, to automate, save money, reduce human mistakes, increase efficiency, or scale the solutions to very large scales or areas.

A system, method and computer program product may combine metrics, and may use metrics to select or weight an index, select or weight a portfolio of financial objects, or be used to perform asset allocation. Financial and non-financial metrics may be used. Metrics based on accounting data, or other non-price metrics such as, e.g., demography, monetary policy metrics, and / or fiscal policy metrics, may be used. A combination of metrics may be used. Indexes may be built with combinations of metrics other than market capitalization weighting, price weighting or equal weighting. Once built, an index may be used as a basis to purchase securities for a portfolio. Specifically excluded are widely-used capitalization-weighted and price-weighted indexes, in which price of a security contributes in a substantial way to calculation of weight of that security in the index or the portfolio, and equal weighting weighted indexes. Indexes may be constructed to minimize volatility.

Methods and systems of stereolithography for building cost-efficient and time-saving multi-material, multi-functional and multi-colored prototypes, models and devices configured for intermediate washing and curing / drying is disclosed including: laser(s), liquid and / or platform level sensing system(s), controllable optical system(s), moveable platform(s), elevator platform(s), recoating system(s) and at least one polymer retaining receptacle. Multiple polymer retaining receptacles may be arranged in a moveable apparatus, wherein each receptacle is adapted to actively / passively maintain a uniform, desired level of polymer by including a recoating device and a material fill / remove system. The platform is movably accessible to the polymer retaining receptacle(s), elevator mechanism(s) and washing and curing / drying area(s) which may be housed in a shielded enclosure(s). The elevator mechanism is configured to vertically traverse and rotate the platform, thus providing angled building, washing and curing / drying capabilities. A horizontal traversing mechanism may be included to facilitate manufacturing between components of SL cabinet(s) and / or alternative manufacturing technologies.

Spinal implants are disclosed that can be used for annular repair, facet unloading, disc height preservation, disc decompression, or for sealing a portal through which an intervertebral implant was placed. In some embodiments, an implant is placed within the intervertebral disc space, primarily within the region of the annulus fibrosus. In some embodiments, the implant is expandable. In some embodiments, the implant has a sealing tail structure comprising a tail flange and a linkage. In some embodiments, the sealing tail structure limits the extrusion or expulsion of disc material, either annulus fibrosus or nucleus, into the posterior region of the spine where it could impinge on nerves. In some embodiments, the tail structure is retained in place within the annulus fibrosus by means of an anchor. In some embodiments, the anchor is constructed from multiple components.

A method and apparatus for determining a fluid level and / or output flow during operation of a centrifugal pump, are provided, which may be used for production of gas and / or oil from a well, and include a vector feedback model to derive values of torque and speed from signals indicative of instantaneous current and voltage drawn by the pump motor, a pump model which derives values of the fluid flow rate and the head pressure for the pump from torque and speed inputs, a pumping system model that derives, from the estimated values of the pump operating parameters, an estimated value of fluid level and other pumping system parameters. Controllers responsive to the estimated values of the pumping system parameters control the pump to maintain fluid level at the pump input, near an optimum level, or within a safe operating range and / or output flow from the pump.

A magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate and a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic metal powder and a binder, wherein the ferromagnetic metal powder contains iron, cobalt and form 2 to 20 atom % of yttrium based on a total of iron and cobalt contained in the ferromagnetic metal powder and has an average length of 50 nm or smaller, and the magnetic recording medium has a test value of at least 100 passes in a magnetoresistive head resistance reduction test performed as defined herein.

A location query service for use with a wireless network that tracks the location of network devices, such as a network complying with enhanced 911 standards. The service provides requestors with the locations of network users, based on the locations of the users' wireless network devices. The service receives a location query from a requester, retrieves location information associated with the network user, and returns the location information to the requester. Alternately, before returning the location information to the requestor, the service authenticates that the requestor is authorized by the network user to receive the network user's location information. A requestor can submit a location query, for example, by voice calls through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to an interactive voice response unit (IVRU), personal computer access through a global computer network, and cellular telephone access through a global computer network.

The invention relates to an optical device for imparting an elongate shape to a light beam emitted by a LED, and to street luminaries which comprise such optical devices. The optical device comprises a lens (2) having an entry diopter (3) and an exit diopter (4) which comprises a first convergent section, a second convergent section and a divergent section bridging said first and second convergent sections.

A method for ordering one or more consumables for a device includes selecting one or more of the consumables used in the device to order using the device and submitting the order for the selected consumables using the device to one or more suppliers. A device for ordering one or more consumables for the device includes an ordering system in the device and a communication system in the device. The ordering system providing a menu of one or more of the consumables to select to place an order. The communication system submits the order for the selected consumables when completed.

The present invention is directed to novel compositions and methods effective for maintaining eyelid hygiene, e.g., therapeutic treatment and prophylaxis. The present invention provides methods and compositions that are compliance-enhancing and useful for daily prophylaxis, which involve the easy and safe application of a foam directly to the eyelid in controlled doses effective for maintenance of eyelid hygiene.

A crossbow having an increased powerstroke and reduced noise. The powerstroke is increased by inverting the limb orientation from the standard crossbow arrangement and locating string guides at least partially forward and rearward of the ends of the limbs. The bowstring is drawn from the tops of the string guides to maximize the powerstroke, reducing noise and increasing the retained and delivered energy over existing crossbows.

A system for automatically creating and maintaining a database of information utilizing user knowledge about sales related subjects. Described is an Internet-based system for assisting / motivating a population of users interested in information about certain categories of sales related subjects to automatically maintain the database content and to improve the usefulness and quality of the database information without any substantial management by the website owner-manager. The user opinions are primarily in the form of both comments and ratings of which sales-related subjects best provide assistance in completing a sale. Also a system for permitting users to access selected functions of the system for creating and viewing subjects from within other software applications.

It is intended to provide a carbonated beverage excelling in function as thirst-quenching beverage and taste through strengthening or sustaining of carbonated feel peculiar to carbonated beverage (brisk intense stimulation and sensation at pass through the throat, brought about by carbon dioxide gas, and sensation of coolness (refreshing sensation) produced by a combination of carbon dioxide gas and flavor) which after opening, rapidly drops depending upon a combination of employed raw materials, such as fruit juice, sweetener, color additives and flavoring, and upon evaporation of carbon dioxide gas. The drop of carbonated feel brought about depending upon a combination of raw materials, such as fruit juice and sweetener, can be relieved by adding to a carbonated beverage an additive for carbonated beverage comprising spilanthol or a spilanthol-containing plant extract or plant essential oil as an active ingredient. Further, the addition would help inhibit drop of carbonated feel brought about depending upon evaporation of carbon dioxide gas after opening and would help retain the taste and function as function as thirst-quenching beverage inherently to be had by carbonated beverage even after opening.

An exposure apparatus which prevents damages due to leaked out liquid from expanding and can maintain exposure accuracy and measuring accuracy. The exposure apparatus includes first and second stages (ST1, ST2) which can independently move within an XY-plane on an image plane side of a projection optical system (PL); a drive mechanism (SD) which moves the first stage and the second stage together with the stage being close to or in contact with each other; a liquid immersion mechanism (1) which forms a liquid immersion area on an upper plane of at least one of the stages of the first stage and the second stage; and a detecting device (60) which detects liquid leaked out from between the first stage and the second stage.

A tear open package for a catheter having an insertion end and a funnel end includes a pair of thin elongated sheets of gas impermeable material joined about their edges by a perimeter heat seal. The elongated sheets of material form a catheter-receiving cavity in which the catheter insertion end is near one end of the cavity and the funnel end is near the other end of the cavity. The perimeter heat seal includes at least an insertion end heat seal, a funnel end heat seal, and a pair of side heat seals which extend along each side of the package from the insertion end heat seal to the funnel end heat seal. The elongated sheets of material each include a tear line extending at least from one side of the package toward the other side of the package through at least one of the side heat seals. The tear lines extend between the catheter insertion end and the insertion end heat seal for opening at least the insertion end of the package by controlled tearing for removal and use of the catheter.

A pet water dispenser having a system of water pumps to circulate water, a water bowl containing a temperature sensor to determine the temperature of the water in the bowl, an ultra violet light and a filter to purify and clean the circulating water, an in-line water heater and a thermoelectric cooling plate to keep the water at a desired temperature, water jets inside the bowl to spray water against the inside of the bowl to clean hair and debris from the bowl, a rotating drain disc in the bowl which periodically opens to permit emptying of old water from the water bowl and closes to permit filling of the bowl with fresh water, a digital controller to permit a pet owner to control the operation of the dispenser and the temperature of the water presented in the bowl to the pet.

The invention is to provide a nonaqueous-electrolyte battery which comprises a current collector, a positive electrode containing a lithium-containing phosphoric acid compound represented by LixMPO4 as a positive-electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative-electrode active material capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing a chain ether and a cyclic carbonate having an unsaturated bond.

The solar energy and solar farms are used to generate energy and reduce dependence on oil (or for environmental purposes). The maintenance and repairs in big farms become very difficult, expensive, and inefficient, using human technicians. Thus, here, we teach using the robots with various functions and components, in various settings, for various purposes, to improve operations in big (or hard-to-access) farms, to automate, save money, reduce human mistakes, increase efficiency, or scale the solutions to very large scales or areas.

A laminate film including at least one bio-based polyester layer. The polyester layer has a radiocarbon (14C) content of at least 21.5 pMC. The laminate film may further have additional layers such as a second bio-based polyester resin-containing layer of at least about 21.5 pMC radiocarbon content, a metal layer, or combinations thereof.

A laminate film including at least one bio-based polyolefin layer including at least 53 pMC of radiocarbon (14C) content is disclosed. The laminate film may include additional layers such as a second bio-based polyolefin resin-containing layer of at least 53 pMC radiocarbon content, and a metal layer.

PCT No. PCT / AU96 / 00824 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 22, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 22, 1998 PCT Filed Dec. 20, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 23138 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 3, 1997A package of exposed fresh fruit including cut pieces of fruit, a packaging material and an edible gel. The packaging material encloses the fruit and allows transmission of oxygen and carbon dioxide to maintain an atmosphere about the fruit of at least 2% oxygen. The edible gel coats exposed surfaces of the fruit. The gel coating includes an anti-oxidant to retard browning and sufficient acidic constituents to establish and maintain on the exposed surfaces of the fruit a pH below 3.

A mixture comprising an expandable graphite and a polymer resin is described wherein the polymer resin-expandable graphite mixture has a volume increase and structural integrity after exposure to heat. Methods are described for increasing the thermal protective performance (TPP) of textiles and laminates while optionally maintaining comfort, flexibility, and liquid protective properties.