Abstract:
Some aspects relate to providing a graphical interface for an application, underlying a graphical interface provided by an operating system shell. In an example, an input device (e.g., a mouse) generates an event associated with a location of a graphical display. The event is intercepted by a code segment provided in conjunction with the application, which determines whether the location is associated with a defined portion of the display associated with an actionable area of the graphical interface for the application, and that the location is not also associated with an element of the OS shell graphical interface (and if applicable, an active window of another application). If those conditions hold, then the event is redirected to the application, which can become active or take one or more actions. In a particular example, the defined portion of the display is visually distinguishable on a wallpaper image stored in video memory.
Abstract:
There is provided a drill guide assembly (10) adapted for removable connection to a bone plate (200, 310, 1150, 1250) and for guiding a drill bit (300) through at least one hole (202, 312) that has a central axis. The drill guide assembly (10) includes a guide sleeve (80, 600, 910, 952, 1000, 1052, 1110, 1210) and a guide collar (30) connected to the guide sleeve. The guide collar has an outrigger (40, 500, 800), and the outrigger has at least one opening (42, 504, 804) adapted to receive the drill bit. The at least one opening allows an operator to select an angle for placement of the drill bit and limits the maximum angle selectable by the operator.
Abstract:
Storing audio data encoded in any of a plurality of different audio encoding formats is enabled by parametrically defining the underlying format in which the audio data is encoded, in audio format and packet tam e chunks. A flag can be used to manage storage of the size of the audio data portion of the file, such that premature termination of an audio recording session does not result in an unreadable corrupted file. This capability can lie enabled by initially setting the flag to a value that does not correspond to a valid audio data size and that indicates that the last chunk in the file contains the audio data. State information for the audio data, to effectively denote a version of the file, and a dependency indicator for dependent metadata, may be maintained, where the dependency indicator indicates the state of the audio data on which the metadata is dependent
Abstract:
A remote tire monitor system (102) includes a control unit (112) and a plurality of tire monitors (124, 126, 128, 130) mountable on respective wheels (104, 106, 108, 110) of a vehicle (100) to transmit radio signals to the control unit. The tire monitors each include a pair of motion sensors such as shock sensors (210, 212) and a control circuit (202) configured to determine position information for the respective tire monitor based on first and second shock sensor signals from the pair of shock sensors. The shock sensors produce an output voltage proportional to a change in applied force. Therefore, the offset created by centrifugal force in previously used accelerometers is absent, simplifying design of the tire monitors.
Abstract:
A textile substrate (252) is patterned by the selective application of various dyes to the substrate surface in a way that provides desirable, visually apparent enhancements in the area of pattern detail, definition, and color range (70), through the use of a novel patterning system (254), including the application of various chemical agents, that makes such enhancements possible. In one embodiment, the patterning system (254) described herein is capable of producing pile-faced textile substrates (252), useful as floor coverings, that exhibit a unique combination of desirable pattern attributes that have been identified and measured using novel techniques specifically developed for these substrates and pattern attributes.
Abstract:
A technique for read error failover processing in a mirrored disk system such as a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) system, where individual disk units perform Logical Block Address (LBA) remapping. A read error causes a disk controller to report an "unrecoverable" read error to a RAID controller. After receiving this report of an unrecoverable read error, rather than simply switching over to a mirror, the RAID controller first checks to see whether the disk that caused the error can successfully reassign an LBA. In particular, the RAID controller can retrieve the data that was associated with the failed LBA from the mirror, and then write that data to the offending disk. The disk controller for that disk will then perform its standard LBA remapping, and write the data to a new, good sector. Only if this process does not succeed is the offending disk then treated by the RAID controller as having failed sufficiently to require failover to the mirror.
Abstract:
Methods to ameliorate cardiac conditions using PGF analogs which lack affinity for prostaglandin receptors is disclosed. Systemic administration of at least one PGF analog, preferably unoprostone isopropyl ester provides both therapeutic and prophylactic treatment for such conditions as congestive heart failure.
Abstract:
An artificially structured dielectric material having optical pro perties which depend upon the intensity of light incident on the material is described. The material (2) comprises: an array of resiliently moveable mechanical elements (6) of a dielectric material which are attached to a substrate (4). The elements (6) are configured such that when the material is illuminated with light (8) of a selected intensity and wavelength the elements (6) move towards the region of higher intensity of the light thereby altering the optical properties of the material (2).
Abstract:
A system for optically coupling components of one or more integrated circuits comprising a light source (5), means for focussing (2) the light onto a modulatable electro-optic material (6) located on or in a substrate (10), the electro-optic material (6) being disposed above and partially covering a reflective coating (8). The focussing means (2) is arranged relative to the covered and uncovered portions of the reflective coating (8) and relative to a detector element (14) on or in the substrate (10) whereby reflected modulated light from the electro-optic material and reflected unmodulated light from the uncovered portion of the reflective coating (8) are superimposed to create an amplitude modulated beam for focussing on the detector element (14).
Abstract:
A method of controlling the direction of a drill bit (3) at the downhole end of a drill string (2) drilling from a surface comprises providing two steerable stabilisers (4, 5) at the downhole end of the drill string (2) at locations spaced apart in the drilling direction, and adjusting the orientation of the stabilisers to create reactive forces from the bore hole (6) to deflect the course of the bit (3) in a desired direction. The stabilisers (4, 5) are suitably arranged eccentrically and circumferentially offset by 180 +/- 60 . In normal drilling the drill string (2) is rotated such that the stabilisers (4, 5) engage the bore hole (6) to support a downhole motor (1) against tilting. When off course drilling is sensed the stabilisers are rotated to a position and stopped from rotation such that drilling forces generate reaction forces to cause a desired change of direction.