A software application window shows current content in a content region and navigation information in a plurality of navigation regions, with the navigation regions showing contextual information for the current content, as well as for related content. A request to hide navigation information is received, and navigation information for related content is hidden from the window. Any space made available by the hidden content is used to expand the content region, while maintaining the same size an...

A cylinder lock mechanism of conventional type, comprising a fixed outer cylinder and an inner rotatable plug, to be mounted on a door frame, is protected by a hollow cylindrical steel casing which is fitted onto the outer cylinder of said lock mechanism. The cylindrical casing is partially closed in correspondence of the end of the cylinder lock mechanism presenting the keyhole for the insertion of the key, while it is open at the other end, which is the end directed towards the inside of the d...

A computerized method and apparatus are established to identify a subject of common interest among multiple parties without releasing the true identity of any subject. Furthermore, a computerized network provides different parties at different locations with a mechanism to conduct cooperative activities concerning such a subject of common interest without exposing that subject to possible identity theft.

An interactive terminal includes a central processor unit (CPU) having a microprocessor and a random access memory (RAM). Signals from the microprocessor place the RAM in a write protect mode. If the RAM receives a write instruction from the microprocessor when the RAM is in the write protect mode, then an illegal condition is indicated and a nonmaskable interrupt is generated to allow the terminal to recover. When the RAM is in the write protect mode, signals from the microprocessor restore the...

A ventilator according to the invention comprises at least two blades fixed to a hub adapted to be made integral with a motor shaft, a protection grille integral with said hub, protecting the front of the ventilator and being extended on the periphery of the ventilator by an annular casing assuring the protection of the radial ends of the blades.

An apparatus for detecting the presence of granular material at a predetermined location in conduit adapted to contain the flow of granular material and in containers adapted to store granular material, wherein the upper portion of a sensing terminal is embedded in a protective housing. The protective housing has a material deflecting surface formed thereon and the lower portion of the sensing terminal protrudes from the protective housing opposite the material deflecting surface. The sensing te...

A smoke alarm for responding to alarm conditions using electrical circuitry having a horn coil placed in series with rectifier circuitry. The series connection of the horn coil with the rectifier circuitry enables suppression of line transients and also eliminates the need for additional transient suppression circuits. An alarm condition causes generation of a short circuit which activates the horn and causes current to pass through the horn; but the high impedance of the horn coil in the rectif...

A protected optical disc intended for the recording of information is protected against the harmful consequences of humidity by the presence of a hydrophylous material situated at a particular distance from the recording surface, which thus retains a high sensitivity during the write or read operations. The invention may be applied especially to discs intended for digital recording.

Apparatus that discourages the use of computer equipment with software that is not approved for such use by the manufacturer of the computer equipment. This apparatus requires software to generate display producing signals but to produce them for a short enough period of time to be imperceptible. The display may be the identification of a patent or patent application.

A practical photovoltaic module is disclosed which is protected from reverse bias damage and which displays minimal power loss resulting from temporary inoperativeness of one or more individual photovoltaic cells included in the module. The module includes a plurality of series connected photovoltaic cells. Protection from inoperativeness of one or more of these cells is provided with only minimal power loss by providing a reversely poled diode across each of the series connected cells.