60results about How to "Reduce and eliminate possibility" patented technology

A system and method for selective recording of information uses sequential pattern matching of statistical vectors which characterize incoming time-based information to identify previously marked information within an incoming information stream. The system and method generate a signal to control a recording device to either elide the previously marked information from the recording, or to begin recording once the previously marked information is identified, depending upon the current mode of operation. The system and method may be utilized to omit recording of unwanted information, such as commercials in a television broadcast, or to automatically locate desired information on any of a number of available information channels without a priori knowledge of the occurrence time or channel of the information.

An article of footwear including a sole and an upper, the upper including a seat adapted to nest the user's heel, the seat including a first stiffener, and an arrangement for varying the size or volume of the seat provided by the first stiffener, between an expanded position, for which the volume of the seat is relatively large, and a retracted position, for which the volume of the seat is reduced.

A portable entertainment machine (1) is used for storing, displaying and swapping digital objects such as virtual swap cards or tokens, video clips, or game features relating to a game that can be played on the machine. The machine has a selected article window display (8) in which the user can display digital objects, or icons (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) corresponding to digital objects, that have been selected by the machine user as being potentially available for swapping with another machine. The machine is provided with a short-range wireless transceiver (7) and when the machine comes within range of another such machine, the possibility arises of a digital object swap transaction. Articles offered for swap by the second machine (1'), FIG. 2, are displayed in a reciprocal display portion (10) of the display 3 of the first machine, and the content of the selected article display (8) of the first machine is displayed to the user of the second machine in the reciprocal display portion (10) of the second machine (1'). The user of the first machine can indicate a proposed swap in the linking indicator display portion (9). If both machine users agree on a proposed swap then the swap is executed. Additional digital objects may be acquired by purchase from a static digital object vending machine, FIG. 6, by means of short-range wireless communication.

A computer implemented method for automatically translating a first source code associated with a first programming language to a second source code associated with a second programming language wherein the first and second source codes are associated with the same functionality, the method comprising the steps of: parsing the first source code to form a program structure representation comprising a plurality of program structure elements associated with the first programming language, analysing the program structure elements, wherein the analysis includes the step of searching for at least one program structure element that has no direct associated representation that produces the same result in the second programming language, and transforming the program structure representation into the second source code based on said analysis.

A display device including a substrate having a display area and a peripheral area defined outside the display area, a circuit layer disposed on the substrate, a device layer disposed on the display area, an encapsulation layer covering the device layer, a touch sensing unit including at least one touch insulating layer disposed on the encapsulation layer, touch electrodes disposed on the encapsulation layer, and touch signal lines connected to the touch electrodes, a first section disposed in the peripheral area and including a first part having a first thickness, a second part having a second thickness less than the first thickness and overlapping the touch signal lines, and an intermediate part connecting the first part and the second part and being inclined, and a first thickening pattern overlapping at least the intermediate part.

Endoscopic instrument management systems are described herein which allow one or more operators to manage multiple different instruments utilized in endoscopic procedures. In one aspect, responsibility for instrumentation management between one or more operators may be configured such that a first set of instruments is controlled by a primary operator and a second set of instruments is controlled by a secondary operator. The division of instrumentation may be facilitated by the use of separated instrumentation platforms or a single platform which separates each instrument for use by the primary operator. Such platforms may be configured as trays, instrument support arms, multi-instrument channels, as well as rigidized portions of instruments to facilitate its handling, among others. In another aspect, one or more plastically deformable instrument manifolds are provided to guide flexible endoscopic instruments into and through an endoscopic access device.

An improved fluid dispenser specially adapted to provide sample-size amounts of a fluid mixture is shown and described. An automated closure and seal system is provided for the manifold that moves, on command from a controller, from a closed or sealed position thereby limiting exposure of the manifold and fluid outlet nozzles from the ambient atmosphere, to a dispense system where a sample-size container is held up against and engaging a lower end of the manifold for a sealing element disposed on a lower portion of the manifold. When the dispense is complete, the system automatically moves back toward a closed position where the filled container is held open and ready to be removed by a technician before it is capped and labeled. An improved shelving system is also provided for housing a large quantity of different ingredients conveniently within a relatively compact cabinet thereby making the system suitable for a retail environment. An improved method of preparing a sample quantity of a fluid mixture is also disclosed.

A male external catheter formed of injection-moldable plastic material is disclosed, which has a neck section with inner and outer surfaces having substantially different contours. The male external catheter has a generally cylindrical body section, a drain tube section and the funnel-shaped neck section. The drain tube section has a smaller cross-section than the body section, and the funnel shaped neck section is interposed between and merges with the body and the drain tube sections. A method of manufacture of such a catheter is also disclosed.

A smoke generating apparatus includes a housing having an interior cavity. A heated substrate is disposed within the interior cavity of the housing. A reservoir is provided to hold smoke generating liquid. An atomizing nozzle is disposed within the interior cavity of the housing. The nozzle has an inlet end and an outlet end. The outlet end points toward the heated substrate, such that fluid medium discharged through the outlet of the nozzle strikes the heated substrate. The inlet end of the nozzle is coupled to a source of gas under pressure. A liquid flow passage is provided which connects the nozzle with the reservoir. A flow of gaseous medium through the nozzle atomizes smoke generating liquid drawn from the reservoir.

An article of footwear including a sole and an upper, the upper including a seat adapted to nest the user's heel, the seat including a first stiffener, and an arrangement for varying the seize or volume of the seat provided by the first stiffener, between an expanded position, for which the volume of the seat is relatively large, and a retracted position, for which the volume of the seat us reduced.

In a method for designing a formed sheet-metal part performed by a processor of a computing system, by means of:a numerical model of a geometry of the part,a numerical simulation of a forming process, andlocal property variables associated with points of the part and computed from results of the numerical simulation,a method for managing problem zones of the formed sheet-metal part comprises the steps of:determining problem zones of the sheet-metal part based on the results of the numerical simulation;determining a visual representation of the sheet-metal part, and displaying this visual representation on a display operatively coupled to the processor; indicating the location of the problem zones on the sheet-metal part; anddisplaying on the display device information associated with the at least one problem zone whose location is indicated.

Disclosed are two embodiments of a coaxial electrical connector designed for use in hazardous locations. Mating connectors are connected coaxially, and coupled together by means of a threaded connection. When the mating connectors are connected, they cannot be disconnected manually. Rather, a tool is necessary to disconnect the connectors. In one embodiment, each connector includes a generally cylindrical coupler member having integral, axial fingers or tines spaced circumferentially. The couplers are rotatably mounted to inserts in which the connecting elements are embedded. A ratchet assembly permits the couplers to be threaded together to make a connection but is overridden in the unconnecting direction, requiring a tool to be placed in the space between adjacent tines to connect the coupler to an associated outer housing which may then be turned to disconnect the connectors. In a second embodiment, coupling members are provided with a ratchet interface surface having interlocking, yieldable teeth so that when the coupling members are secured by hand, a retaining force secures the coupling members together and prevents disconnection by manual force alone, requiring tools to deform the teeth and disconnect the connectors.

The invention relates to a dispensing assembly for a coffee maker, such as a high capacity coffee urn, where the dispensing assembly includes an upper and lower body, a valve seat, a valve lever, and a valve seal. Pivoting the valve lever selectively engages the valve seal to lift it up and off the valve seat. In one preferred embodiment, the coffee maker / urn includes an actuatable button that is connected, via a linking mechanism, to the dispensing assembly. The linking mechanism transmits force applied to the actuating button so that the valve lever is engaged. An optional filter may be located adjacent to, and upstream from, the valve seal. The dispensing assembly is assembled as an integrated unit to provide a more robust dispensing apparatus that reduces or eliminates the likelihood of leaking from the valve. The dispensing assembly, therefore, provides pause and serve-type functionality for large capacity urns or standard coffee makers.

When the driver makes a request for switching the shift range to the P range despite that the vehicle has not yet stopped completely, the wheel cylinder pressure is maintained at a brake hold pressure Ph for a while, rather than switching the shift range to the P range immediately. At this time, more specifically, the wheel cylinder pressure is maintained at the brake hold pressure Ph for a brake hold duration Δt within which the vehicle is estimated to stop, and when the brake hold duration Δt has passed, the shift range is switched to the P range. After the lock mechanism is actuated to establish the P range, the wheel cylinder pressure is gradually reduced from the brake hold pressure Ph at a given pressure reducing gradient.

An abnormality detecting system sequentially compares the output voltages of n-piece battery cells that are connected in series, with a criteria voltage, at respective points in time Tv1-Tvn, and produces a determination signal indicative of the presence or absence of any battery cell whose voltage becomes lower than the criteria voltage at time Tvc. The battery current Ib is sampled a predetermined number of times at intervals of a predetermined sampling cycle period ΔTi. The current sampling times Ti1-Ti3 are provided within a period that lies inside a voltage sampling period Ta-Tb including the above-indicated times Tv1-Tvn, with a given period of time (ΔTi−2) or less provided at each side of the period. When detecting an increase in the internal resistance based on a comparison between the maximum value of the current sampling values and a criteria current, the abnormality detecting system corrects the criteria current in view of a current variation in a half of the sampling cycle period due to current ripple.

This invention employs a programmable logic controller (computer) with a specific wireless communication protocol (BLE) to allow for remote connectivity of the germicidal UV device to display the status of the disinfection cycle and to operate the device and send and transfer data wirelessly to the Cloud via the BLE interface.

A system and method for selective recording of information uses sequential pattern matching of statistical vectors which characterize incoming time-based information to identify previously marked information within an incoming information stream. The system and method generate a signal to control a recording device to either elide the previously marked information from the recording, or to begin recording once the previously marked information is identified, depending upon the current mode of operation. The system and method may be utilized to omit recording of unwanted information, such as commercials in a television broadcast, or to automatically locate desired information on any of a number of available information channels without a priori knowledge of the occurrence time or channel of the information.

A liquid container lid includes a seal arm assembly that stages opening and closing of a vent hole relative to a drink hole so that vapor within the liquid container may be vented to the atmosphere before the drink hole is opened. The liquid container lid and seal arm assembly reduce or eliminate the possibility of a consumer being injured by the hot vapor exiting through the drink hole due to excess gas pressure within the liquid container. The seal arm assembly is operatively connected to a cap of the liquid container lid so that the seal arm assembly is actuated by rotation of the cap. As the cap is turned in one direction, the seal arm assembly opens the vent hole before opening the drink hole. As the cap is turned in a second direction, the seal arm assembly closes the drink hole before closing the vent hole.

Upon detection of a high carbon monoxide condition, an intelligent thermostat regulates operation of appliances that have sources of combustion which could be the source of or may exacerbate the high carbon monoxide condition. This hazardous condition is detected by a detector and communicated to the intelligent thermostat by wired or wireless communications. The intelligent thermostat then communicates with these appliances either via wired or wireless communications. The intelligent thermostat may also operate a ventilation system to flush the environment with fresh air to minimize or eliminate the hazardous condition. External and internal temperature sensors allow coordinated operation of the ventilating and heating systems to flush the environment with fresh air without causing a freezing condition to exist within the environment.

An essentially fully balanced plug valve is presented in which the flow control contour is interior to the moving member. The sealing edge of the moving member is at the exterior surface relative to the interior contour. This sealing edge is formed by use of matching angles on the interior of the moving member and the exterior of the stationary member. As a result, operation of the plug is fully balanced with the internal fluid pressure of the liquid therein. The sealing surface of the stationary member is positively retained therein to prevent blowout of the sealing surface. Should failure of the sealing surface occur, a secondary metal-to-metal seal will provide fluid containment albeit possibly at a reduced containment level.

Low profile navigation lights for a boat are provided, wherein the navigation lights are inset or recessed within a mount, which may be positioned along or within a rubrail of a boat. Each mount is preferably made from a tough, rigid material, such as metal or hard plastic, and includes a hole for receiving the light bulb and protective cover. The navigation lights are recessed within the mount, so that the mount serves to protect the lights against bumps or collisions against docks, piers, other vessels, and the like.

An essentially fully balanced plug valve is presented in which the flow control contour is interior to the moving member. The sealing edge of the moving member is at the exterior surface relative to the interior contour. This sealing edge is formed by use of matching angles on the interior of the moving member and the exterior of the stationary member. As a result, operation of the plug is fully balanced with the internal fluid pressure of the liquid therein. The sealing surface of the stationary member is positively retained therein to prevent blowout of the sealing surface. Should failure of the sealing surface occur, a secondary metal-to-metal seal will provide fluid containment albeit possibly at a reduced containment level.

A heat collector includes a heat sink. A recess in the heat sink either forms or receives internal gas and liquid phase lines. A manifold may be integrally formed in the heat sink or may be added on. The manifold combines separate input and output connections into a composite input and output connection. An internal composite line may include the internal gas and liquid phase lines and may be connected to the composite connection of the manifold. The internal liquid phase line is fluidly connected to the internal gas phase line in a transition region of the composite line. Advantageously, the internal liquid phase line may be disposed inside the internal gas phase line for protection and positive heat transfer effects. A cover may hold the composite line in the recess and provide good thermal contact between the lines and the heat sink.

A card reader housing has an exterior surface configuration that includes a plurality of distinct surface portions (24-38) aligned at oblique angles relative to each other. The exterior surface configuration (22) prevents the placement of a skimming reader over the top of the card reader housing (20). In a disclosed example, a finger-receiving notch (50) is directly aligned with a reader (60) and has a depth and a dimension sized for receiving at least a portion of a finger holding a card inserted into a slot (46) in the housing (20). Any alteration of the notch (50) dimensions prevents proper operation of the card reader.