Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus for reading information from andor writing information to at least one sheet of flexible sheet material, said sheet having a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces and opposing lengthwise and widthwise edges, said apparatus comprising:
a support arrangement for supporting said sheet in a curved configuration across said width such that said first surface is inwardly oriented with respect to said curved configuration to substantially define a cylindrical shape having said lengthwise edges positioned in a confronting relationship;
a movement arrangement for moving said flexible sheet material so supported in a direction along a lengthwise path generally parallel to said length and transverse to the direction of curvature, but without rotation about the lengthwise path; and
a configuration for at least one of reading and writing information across the width of said first surface of said sheet as the sheet is moved along said path, passing a readwrite plane that is at least generally transverse to said lengthwise path.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support arrangement supports the lengthwise edges in a spaced apart arrangement from one another to define a gap therebetween in said confronting relationship.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further configured for reading andor writing information across the width of said second surface of said sheet in an outward orientation of said curved configuration.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 configured for reading andor writing information to or from said first surface while simultaneously reading andor writing information to or from said second surface in said curved configuration.
5. An apparatus for reading information from andor writing information to at least one sheet of flexible sheet material, said sheet having a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces, said apparatus comprising:
a support arrangement for supporting said sheet in a curved configuration across said width, having said first surface inwardly oriented with respect to said curved configuration;
a movement arrangement for moving said sheet so supported in a direction along a readwrite path generally parallel to said length and transverse to the direction of curvature;
a readwrite arrangement including at least a first readwrite configuration for reading to andor writing from said first surface; and
a rotation arrangement for rotating the first readwrite configuration of said readwrite arrangement in one predetermined way such that the first readwrite configuration is in a confronting relationship with said first, inwardly oriented surface and cooperates with said movement arrangement so as to cause said first readwrite configuration to sequentially read information from andor write information to said inwardly oriented surface of said flexible sheet material as said first readwrite configuration traverses the width of said sheet while the latter is on said path and in said curved configuration.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said support arrangement supports the lengthwise edges in a spaced apart arrangement from one another to define a gap therebetween in said confronting relationship.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first readwrite configuration is configured for reading andor writing information to or from said first surface while said second readwrite configuration simultaneously reads andor writes information to or from said second surface in said curved configuration.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said readwrite arrangement includes a second readwrite configuration for reading andor writing information across the width of said second surface of said sheet in an outward orientation of said curved configuration and said rotation arrangement includes a configuration for rotating the second readwrite configuration in another predetermined way such that the second readwrite configuration is in a confronting relationship with said second, outwardly oriented surface and cooperates with said movement arrangement so as to cause said second readwrite configuration to sequentially read information from andor write information to said outwardly oriented surface of said flexible sheet material as said second readwrite configuration traverses the width of said sheet while the latter is on said path and in said curved configuration.
9. An apparatus for reading information from andor writing information to at least one sheet of flexible sheet material, said sheet having a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces and opposing lengthwise and widthwise edges, said apparatus comprising:
a support arrangement for supporting said sheet in a curved configuration across said width such that said first surface is inwardly oriented with respect to said curved configuration to substantially define a tubular shape having said lengthwise edges positioned in a confronting relationship;
a movement arrangement for moving said flexible sheet material so supported in a direction along a lengthwise path generally parallel to said length and transverse to the direction of curvature, but without rotation about the lengthwise path; and
a readwrite arrangement for at least one of reading and writing information across the width of said first surface of said sheet as the sheet is moved along said path, passing a readwrite plane that is at least generally transverse to said lengthwise path.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An input device comprising:
a body configured to be positioned against a display screen; and
a hand interaction structure associated with the body and configured such that different optical electromagnetic radiation is given off and directed through the display screen based upon interaction with a hand, wherein the hand interaction structure comprises wells configured to receive digits and to be selectively blocked by the digits, wherein the different optical electromagnetic radiation is given off and directed through the display screen based upon different blocking of the wells by the digits.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the hand interaction structure comprises a pressure sensor configured to interact with at least one of a base of a palm or a digit.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand interaction structure includes a plurality of translucent portions corresponding to a single digit and configured to be selectively blocked by the single digit and wherein the device further comprises a light emitting diode configured to emit optical electromagnetic radiation differently based upon what translucent portions are blocked by the digit.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to reflect optical electromagnetic radiation based upon interaction of a person’s hand with the hand interaction structure.

1-32. (canceled)
33. A wireless local area network (WLAN) device, comprising:
means for generating in parallel the correlation of a data word vector (X0, . . . , XM-1) with each valid combination of a coefficient set (C0, . . . , CM-1); and
means for identifying the correlation corresponding to a code encoded on the data word.
34. The WLAN device of claim 33, wherein the means for generating in parallel the correlation of a data word vector (X0, . . . , XM-1) with each valid combination of a coefficient set (C0, . . . , CM-1) includes:
means for multiplying each element of the data word vector with each state of a corresponding coefficient in the coefficient set (C0, . . . , CM-1) to generate a plurality of outputs, wherein each coefficient in the coefficient set has one or more possible states;
means for summing a plurality of groups of multiplying means outputs to produce a set of first correlation results in parallel, wherein each group of multiplying means outputs includes a different combination of multiplying means outputs;
means for summing a plurality of groups of first correlation results to produce a set of second correlation results in parallel, wherein each group of first correlation results includes a different combination of first correlation results; and
means for summing a plurality of groups of second correction results to produce in parallel the correlation of a data word vector (X0, . . . , XM-1) with each valid combination of the coefficient set (C0, . . . , CM-1).
35. The WLAN device of claim 33, wherein the means for identifying the correlation corresponding to a code encoded on the data word includes:
means for comparing magnitudes of the correlations to select the maximum result.
36. The WLAN device of claim 33, wherein the means for summing a plurality of groups of multiplying means outputs, includes:
means for identifying valid combinations of multiplying means outputs; and
means for forming groups having valid combinations of multiplying means outputs.
37. The WLAN device of claim 33, wherein the means for summing a plurality of groups of first correlation results, includes:
means for identifying valid combinations of first correlation results; and
means for forming groups having valid combinations of first correlation results.
38. The WLAN device of claim 33, wherein the means for summing a plurality of groups of second correction results, includes:
means for identifying valid combinations of second correlation results; and
means for forming groups having valid combinations of second correlation results.
39. A wireless local area network (WLAN) device, comprising:
a plurality of inputs, one for each element of an encoded data word vector (X0, . . . XM-1);
a multiplier module having a coefficient set (C0, . . . , CM-1), wherein each coefficient in the coefficient set has one or more possible states, wherein the multiplier module receives the plurality of inputs and multiplies each input with each state of a corresponding coefficient;
a first summation module including a plurality of summers, each summer coupled to a different group of multiplier module outputs, wherein each group of multiplier module outputs represents a valid combination of multiplier module outputs, and wherein a first set of correlation results are output in parallel from the first summation tier;
one or more additional summation modules coupled in series, each additional summation module receiving the outputs from a previous summation module, wherein the one or more additional summation modules includes a final summation module and wherein the final summation module outputs in parallel the correlation of the data word vector with each valid combination of the coefficient set; and
a comparator coupled to the final summation module.
40. The WLAN device of claim 39, wherein the one or more additional summation modules, include:
a plurality of summers, each summer coupled to a different group of outputs from the previous summer, wherein each group of outputs from the previous summer represents a valid combination of outputs from the previous summation module.
41. The WLAN device of claim 39, wherein the comparator includes:
a plurality of magnitude comparators,
wherein the plurality of magnitude comparators are arranged in a parallel tree configuration.
42. The WLAN device of claim 39, wherein the comparator is a space splicing comparator.
43. The WLAN device of claim 39, wherein the multiplier module includes a plurality of multipliers, one for each element of the data word vector.
44. A wireless local area network (WLAN) device, comprising:
a multiplier module having a coefficient set (C0, . . . , CM-1), wherein each coefficient in the coefficient set has one or more possible states, wherein the multiplier module receives a plurality of inputs, one for each element of an encoded data word vector (X0, . . . , XM-1), and multiplies each input with each state of a corresponding coefficient;
a first summation module including a plurality of adders, wherein each adder receives a valid combination of multiplier module outputs and wherein an output of each adder in the first summation module includes two correlation components;
a second summation module including a plurality of adders, wherein each adder receives a valid combination of first summation module outputs and wherein an output of each adder in the second summation module includes four correlation components; and
a final summation module including a plurality adders, wherein each adder receives a valid combination of second summation module outputs and wherein the output of the final summation module is 64 valid correlations, each correlation having eight correlation components.
45. The WLAN device of claim 44, wherein the first summation module has 16 adders, the second summation module has 32 adders, and the final summation module has 64 adders.
46. The WLAN device of claim 44, wherein the device further comprises:
a comparator coupled to the final summation module
47. The WLAN device of claim 46, wherein the comparator includes:
a plurality of magnitude comparators,
wherein the plurality of magnitude comparators are arranged in a parallel tree configuration.
48. The WLAN device of claim 46, wherein the comparator is a space splicing comparator.
49. The WLAN device of claim 46, wherein the multiplier module includes a plurality of multipliers, one for each element of the data word vector.
50. The WLAN device of claim 44, wherein the coefficient states have values of +1 and \u22121.
51. The WLAN device of claim 44, wherein the coefficient states have values of +1, \u22121, +j, and \u2212j.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A water soluble bag packaging system for transporting agrichemicals which chemically or physically react with water soluble films, said packaging system comprising a bag containing an agrichemical composition, said bag containing an outer cold water-soluble film layer and an inner barrier layer and the inner barrier layer prevents the agrichemical composition from contacting the water soluble film layer, and wherein when the packaging system is placed in water and said water-soluble film layer dissolves and said inner barrier layer dissolves or disperses into particles small enough to allow the agrichemical to disperse into the water.
2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble film layer is a film selected from polyvinyl alcohol, 15 polyoxyethylene or a combination of the above.
3. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble film layer is a film selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene, cellulose derivatives such as methyl cellulose (MC), methylhydroxyethyl (MHEC), methylhydroxypropyl (MHPC), hydroxypropyl (HPC), cellulose, cellulose monoacetate, hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives, sodium polyacrylate, polylactic acid, lactic acid ethers and esters of polyvinyl alcohol or cellulosics, carrageenan, pectin, combinations of the above, and combinations of the above with starches.
4. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the agrichemical is selected from the group consisting of fertilizers and pesticides in the form of liquids, gels, dispersions, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, colloids, powders, granules or prills.
5. The packaging system of claim 4, wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.
6. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the agrichemical contains one or more components that dissolve, react deleteriously with, or otherwise adversely affect the outer cold water soluble film layer.
7. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner barrier layer has a thickness between 0.25 microns and 25 microns.
8. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble film layer has a thickness between about 12 microns and 200 microns.
9. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner barrier layer is a polymer layer which does not dissolve in water at temperatures above 50 C.
10. The packaging system of claim 9, wherein the polymer layer which does not dissolve in water at temperatures above 50 C. is selected from the group consisting of cellulose derivatives in which the degree of substitution is sufficient to prevent solubility above 5 C. selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate lactate, cellulose lactate, methylhydroxybutyl cellulose, hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives and combinations thereof.
11. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner barrier layer is a polymer layer which does not dissolve in water at temperatures below 50 C.
12. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein the polymer layer which does not dissolve in water at temperatures below 50 C. is between 97 and 99.99% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol.
13. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein the inner barrier layer is a polymer layer which dissolves in water but is less reactive than polyvinyl alcohol or polyoxyethylene to most of the agrichemical compositions being packaged.
14. The packaging system of claim 13, wherein the polymer layer which dissolves in water but is less reactive than polyvinyl alcohol or polyoxyethylene to most of the agrichemical compositions is selected from the group consisting of cellulose derivatives which have a DS (degree of substitution) or MS (moles of substitution) that provides solubility in the range of 50 C. and 60 C. or broader such as methyl cellulose, methylhydroxyethyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, methylethyl cellulose, methylhydroxybutyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives, cellulose monoacetate, cellulose acetate lactate, cellulose lactate, karaya gum, guar gum, carrageenan, pectin, gum tragacanth, sodium alginate, gum arabic, and xanthan gum.
15. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner barrier layer disintegrates in water.
16. The packaging system of claim 15, wherein the inner barrier layer which disintegrates in water is selected from the group consisting of soluble acrylic acid polymers, soluble acrylic ester polymers, soluble acrylic acid copolymers, soluble acrylic ester copolymers, soluble copolymers of acrylic acids and esters, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohols, crosslinked cellulose derivatives, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinylidene chloride, alkali soluble waxes and polyurethanes.
17. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner barrier layer is laminated to the outer water-soluble film layer.
18. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner barrier is co-extruded with the outer water-soluble film layer.
19. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner barrier is coated onto the outer water-soluble film layer.
20. A method of packaging an agrichemical which chemically or physically reacts with a cold water soluble film comprising:
forming a bag from a film comprising an outer layer of the cold water soluble film and an inner barrier layer that does not react with or become dissolved by the agrichemical, the inner barrier layer forming the bag interior and being dispersible or dissolvable in cold water upon dissolving of the cold water soluble layer;
adding a desired amount of the agrichemical into the bag; and
thereafter sealing the bag with the agrichemical contained therein, the barrier layer preventing the agrichemical composition from contacting the outer water soluble film layer.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein said barrier layer is cold water soluble.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein said barrier layer is cold water insoluble.
23. A multi-layer water soluble film, suitable for construction of a bag to contain liquid that adversely affects water soluble film comprising:
an outer continuous layer of cold water soluble film of sufficient thickness and strength to provide sufficient structural integrity to contain the liquid in a bag once the outer soluble film layer is dissolved.
24. The film of claim 23 wherein said continuous layer of cold water insoluble film does not dissolve in water above a temperature of 50 C. and is selected from the group consisting of cellulose derivatives in which the degree of substitution is sufficient to prevent solubility above 50 C.
25. The film of claim 24 wherein said cellulose derivatives are selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate lactate, cellulose lactate, methylhydroxybutyl cellulose and hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives.
26. The film of claim 23 wherein said inner continuous layer does not dissolve in water at temperatures below 50 C.
27. The multi-layer water soluble film of claim 26 wherein the inner continuous layer is a polymer film that has been about 97% and 99.9% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol.
28. The multi-layer water soluble film of claim 23 wherein the outer water soluble film layer has a thickness of between about 12 microns and 200 microns.
29. The multi-layer water soluble film of claim 23 wherein the inner layer of water insoluble film has a thickness of between about 0.25 microns and 15 microns.
30. The multi-layer water soluble film of claim 23 wherein the water soluble film layer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene and combinations thereof.
31. The multi-layer water soluble film of claim 23 wherein the water soluble film layer is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, methylhydroxyethyl cellulose, methylhydroxpropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, cellulose, cellulose monoacetate, hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives, sodium polyacrylate, polylactic acid, lactic acid ethers, polyvinyl alcohol esters, cellulose esters, carrageenan, pectin, combinations thereof and combinations thereof with starch.
32. A multi-layer water soluble film, suitable for construction of a bag to contain liquid therein comprising an outer continuous layer of cold water soluble film comprising polyvinyl alcohol; and
an inner continuous layer of a cold water soluble film, different than the outer continuous layer and selected from the group consisting of cellulose derivatives which have a degree of substitution that provides cold water solubility, the outer and inner layers providing sufficient structural strength to contain liquids when formed into a bag.
33. A water soluble bag for containing an agrichemical composition that substantially deleteriously affects cold water soluble film, said bag comprising an outer layer of the cold water soluble film and an inner barrier layer wherein said agrichemical composition does not react with or substantially deleteriously affect the inner barrier layer and the inner barrier layer is capable of preventing the agrichemical composition when stored therein from contacting the water soluble film layer, and wherein when the bag is placed in water with the agrichemical stored therein said water-soluble film layer dissolves and said inner barrier layer dissolves or disperses into particles small enough to allow the agrichemical to disperse into the water.
34. The bag of claim 33, wherein the cold water-soluble film layer is a film selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene and combinations thereof.
35. The bag of claim 33, wherein the cold water-soluble film layer is a film selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene, cellulose derivatives selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, methylhydroxyethyl cellulose, methylhydroxpropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, cellulose, cellulose monoacetate, hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives, sodium polyacrylate, polylactic acid, lactic acid ethers polyvinyl alcohol esters, cellulose esters, carrageenan, pectin, combinations of the above, and combinations of the above with starch.
36. The bag of claim 33, wherein the inner barrier layer has a thickness between 0.25 microns and 15 microns.
37. The bag of claim 33, wherein the water-soluble film layer has a thickness between about 12 microns and 200 microns.
38. The bag of claim 33, wherein the inner barrier layer is a polymer film which does not dissolve in water at temperatures above 5 C.
39. The bag of claim 38, wherein the polymer film which does not dissolve in water at temperatures above 5 C. is selected from the group consisting of cellulose derivatives in which the degree of substitution is sufficient to prevent solubility above 5 C. such as cellulose acetate lactate, cellulose lactate, methylhydroxybutyl cellulose and hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives.
40. The bag of claim 33, wherein the inner barrier layer is a polymer film which does not dissolve in water at temperatures below 50 C.
41. The bag of claim 40, wherein the polymer film which does not dissolve in water at temperatures below 50 C. is between 97 and 99.99% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol.
42. The bag of claim 34, wherein the inner barrier layer is a polymer layer which dissolves in water but is substantially less reactive than polyvinyl alcohol or polyoxyethylene relative to the agrichemical composition to be contained therein.
43. The bag of claim 42, wherein the inner barrier polymer layer which dissolves in water is less reactive than polyvinyl alcohol or polyoxyethylene to most of the agrichemical compositions is selected from the group consisting of cellulose derivatives which have a DS (degree of substitution) or MS (moles of substitution) that provides solubility in the range of about 5 C. and about 60 C.
44. The bag of claim 43 wherein said inner barrier polymer layer cellulose derivative is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, methylhydroxyethyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, methylethyl cellulose, methylhydroxybutyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives, cellulose monoacetate, cellulose acetate lactate, cellulose lactate, karaya gum, guar gum, carrageenan, pectin, gum tragacanth, sodium alginate, gum arabic, xanthan gum and combinations thereof.
45. The packaging system of claim 33, wherein the inner barrier layer disintegrates in water.
46. The packaging system of claim 45, wherein the inner barrier layer which disintegrates in water is selected from the group consisting of soluble acrylic acid polymers, soluble acrylic ester polymers, soluble acrylic acid copolymers, soluble acrylic ester copolymers, soluble copolymers of acrylic acids and esters, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohols, crosslinked cellulose derivatives, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinylidene chloride, alkali soluble waxes, and polyurethanes.
47. The packaging system of claim 33, wherein the inner barrier layer is laminated to the outer water-soluble film layer.
48. The packaging system of claim 33, wherein the inner barrier is co-extruded with the outer water-soluble film layer.
49. The packaging system of claim 33, wherein the inner barrier is coated onto the outer water-soluble film layer.