Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A method of calculating capacitance between conductive patterns of an integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
defining a mesh of nodes in space between at least two electrodes;
calculating the electric potential at each said node; and
calculating the parasitic capacitance between said electrodes from said electric potentials.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising one or more floating conductive patterns between said electrodes and wherein a set of surface nodes is defined upon the outer surface of each said floating conductive pattern.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said surface nodes are mathematically treated as a single merged node of each said floating conductive pattern.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said electric potentials are calculated by a linear equation of the form:
{overscore (A)}{right arrow over ()}{right arrow over (b)}
where {right arrow over ()} is a potential vector of N potentials corresponding to each of N said nodes in said mesh; {overscore (A)} is the matrix of coupling coefficients between said nodes, and {right arrow over (b)} is a vector of known constant or function.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein said electric potentials are calculated by a linear equation of the form:
{overscore (A)}{right arrow over ()}{right arrow over (b)}
where {right arrow over ()} is a potential vector of M potentials corresponding to each of said nodes in said mesh that are not surface nodes and to each said merged node corresponding to said surface nodes of each said floating conductive pattern; {overscore (A)} is the matrix of coupling coefficients between said nodes, and {right arrow over (b)} is a vector of known constant or function.
6. A recording medium, for storing program executable by a computer for calculating parasitic capacitance between conductive patterns of a integrated circuit (IC) having at least two electrodes, comprising:
a module for defining a mesh of nodes in a space between said electrodes;
a module for calculating the electric potential at each said node; and
a module for calculating the parasitic capacitance between said electrodes from said electric potentials.
7. The recording medium of claim 6, where the recording medium further includes a module for merging surface nodes of floating conductive patterns into a single merged node for each said floating conductive pattern by using an equivalent potential condition at the surface of the floating conductive patterns.
8. The recording medium of claim 6, wherein said module for calculating electric potential utilized a linear matrix equation of the form:
{overscore (A)}{right arrow over ()}{right arrow over (b)}
where {right arrow over ()} is a potential vector of N potentials corresponding to each of N said nodes in said mesh; {overscore (A)} is the matrix of coupling coefficients between said nodes, and {right arrow over (b)} is a vector of known constant or function.
9. The recording medium of claim 7, wherein said module for calculating electric potential utilized a linear matrix equation of the form:
{overscore (A)}{right arrow over ()}{right arrow over (b)}
where {right arrow over ()} is a potential vector of M potentials corresponding to each of said nodes in said mesh that are not surface nodes and to each said merged node corresponding to said surface nodes of each said floating conductive pattern; {overscore (A)} is the matrix of coupling coefficients between said nodes, and {right arrow over (b)} is a vector of known constant or function.
10. A method of calculating parasitic capacitance between electrodes of an integrated circuit (IC) having more than two electrodes to which a predetermined voltage is applied and floating conductive patterns are electrically isolated by an insulating layer between the electrodes, comprising the steps of:
dividing an electrode structure having the electrodes, the insulating layer, and the floating conductive patterns into a finite mesh, and defining nodes deposed on said mesh;
obtaining a potential vector using Poisson’s equation for each node; and
obtaining a parasitic capacitance between the electrodes from the potential vector.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein surface nodes of the floating conductive patterns are contained in each of the nodes.
12. The method of calculating parasitic capacitance according to claim 10, further comprising the step of merging the nodes of the floating conductive patterns into one node by using an equivalent potential condition at the surfaces of the floating conductive patterns.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein said electric potentials are calculated by a linear equation of the form:
{overscore (A)}{right arrow over ()}{right arrow over (b)}
where {right arrow over ()} is a potential vector of N potentials corresponding to each of N said nodes in said mesh; {overscore (A)} is the matrix of coupling coefficients between said nodes, and {right arrow over (b)} is a vector of known constant or function.

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 apparatus, comprising:
an optical disk drive;
a drive housing containing the optical disk drive; and
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader co-located within the drive housing with the optical disk drive, or integrated with the optical disk drive.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an RFID tag located opposite the RFID reader, the RFID tag positioned to be obscured from detection by the RFID reader when an optical disk media is within the optical disk drive.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drive housing includes a stationary housing base and an openable housing dock.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the RFID reader is located on the housing base portion of the drive housing.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the RFID tag is located on the housing dock portion of the drive housing.
6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an optical disk media having a second RFID tag located thereon, the second RFID tag positioned to be opposite the RFID reader when the optical disk media is within the optical disk drive.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an optical disk media having a RFID tag located thereon, the RFID tag positioned to be opposite the RFID reader when the optical disk media is within the optical disk drive.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the drive housing includes a stationary housing base and an openable housing dock.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader is located on the housing base portion of the drive housing.
10. A method, comprising:
activating a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader to detect presence of an optical disk media within an optical disk drive; and
applying power to the optical disk drive when the presence of an optical disk media within the optical disk drive is detected by the RFID reader.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising activating the RFID reader to read an RFID tag, wherein the reading of the RFID tag indicates the lack of an optical disk media within an optical disk drive.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein inability of the RFID reader to read the RFID tag indicates the presence an optical disk media within an optical disk drive.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising periodically repeating the operation of activating the RFID reader to detect the presence of an optical disk media within the optical disk drive until presence of an optical disk media within the optical disk drive is detected by the RFID reader.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising activating the RFID reader to read a second RFID tag on the optical disk media within the optical disk drive; and permitting access to the contents of the optical disk media based on the reading of the second RFID tag by the RFID reader.
15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which, when executed, enable an apparatus to
activate a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader to read an RFID tag on an optical disk media within an optical disk drive; and
permit access to the contents of the optical disk media based at least in part on the reading of the RFID tag by the RFID reader.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, which, when executed further enable the apparatus to
prevent access to the contents of the optical disk media when the RFID reader is unable to read an RFID tag on an optical disk media.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions, which, when executed further enable the apparatus to
prevent access to the contents of the optical disk media when the RFID reader reads an RFID tag on an optical disk media where the read RFID tag does not match an approved RFID key.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, which, when executed further enable the apparatus to
check the authenticity of the content of the optical disk media once access to the contents of the optical disk media is permitted.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, which, when executed further enable the apparatus to
activate the RFID reader to detect presence of the optical disk media within the optical disk drive; and
applypower to the optical disk drive when the presence of an optical disk media within the optical disk drive is detected by the RFID reader.
20. A system comprising:
an apparatus, comprising:
an optical disk drive,
a drive housing containing the optical disk drive, and
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader co-located with the optical disk drive within the drive housing or integrated with the optical disk drive;

a bus coupled to the apparatus; and
a mass storage coupled to the bus.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is selected from the group consisting of a set-top box, a digital camera, a CD player, a DVD player, a wireless mobile phone, a tablet computing device, and a laptop computing device.
22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a RFID tag located opposite the RFID reader, the RFID tag positioned to be obscured from the RFID reader when an optical disk media is within the optical disk drive.
23. The system of claim 20, further comprising an optical disk media having a RFID tag located thereon, the RFID tag positioned to be opposite the RFID reader when the optical disk media is within the optical disk drive.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the RFID tag is a Fabric RFID tag.
25. An optical disk media comprising:
a substrate;
content stored on the substrate and configured for optical reading; and
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed on the substrate.
26. The optical disk media of claim 25, wherein the RFID tag is a Chipless RFID tag.
27. The optical disk media of claim 26, wherein the RFID tag is a Fabric RFID tag.

1. A container comprising a full opening threaded top, a full opening threaded bottoms a top lid, a bottom lid, a cylindrical side wall, a piston adapted to move up and down along the cylindrical side wall, and a sealing means for sealing between the piston and the side wall, wherein said container does not include mechanical assistance to push or pull the piston.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the top lid further comprises a lip around the perimeter thereof and the bottom lid is rounded and adapted to fit within the lip, whereby containers may be stacked one on top of the other.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the container is made of glass.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the container is made of a plastic.
5. The container of claim 4 wherein the plastic is transparent plastic.
6. The container if claim 4 wherein the plastic is translucent plastic.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein the piston moves up and down the container side wall without flipping inside the container.
8. The container of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises at least two blades which are an integral part of said piston.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises at least two o-rings.
10. The container of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises a series of \u201cw\u201d shaped structures.
11. The container of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises a series of square cross section structures.
12. The container of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises a single band.
13. The container of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises a series of \u201cu\u201d shaped structures.
14. The container of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises at least two square cross sectioned bands.
15. The container of claim 1 wherein the shape of the cylindrical jar is of noncircular cross-section.
16. The container of claim 15 wherein the noncircular cross section is chosen from the group consisting of ovals, rectangles, squares, triangles, hexagons, octagons, decagons, and dodecagons.
17. The container of claim 1 wherein the top lid further comprises a pour flap.
18. The container of claim 17 wherein the top lid further comprises an air flap.
19. The container of claim 1 further comprising a reduced diameter section above the cylindrical side wall.

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. A power distribution apparatus comprising:
a plurality of single-pole circuit breakers;
a power cable including:
a first end coupled to the plurality of circuit breakers; and
a second end coupled to the first end;

electrical contacts coupled to the plurality of circuit breakers and configured to removably couple the power distribution apparatus to a multi-phase power distribution assembly including a plurality of electrical phase conductors; and
a plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets coupled to the second end;
wherein the power distribution apparatus is configured to be installed in the multi-phase power distribution assembly to couple each of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers to a different one of the plurality of electrical phase conductors, respectively; and
wherein each of the plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets is coupled to one of the plurality of circuit breakers, respectively.
2. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors includes at least a first phase conductor, a second phase conductor, and a third phase conductor.
3. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers include a first single-pole circuit breaker and a second single-pole circuit breaker,
wherein the plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets include a first receptacle outlet coupled to the first single-pole circuit breaker, a second receptacle outlet coupled to the second single-pole circuit breaker,
wherein the first single-pole circuit breaker provides overcurrent protection for a first circuit including the first receptacle outlet, and
wherein the second single-pole circuit breaker provides overcurrent protection for a second circuit including the second receptacle outlet.
4. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a housing comprising:
a bottom wall, a top wall, a plurality of side walls and a rear wall that provide an enclosure within which the plurality of single pole circuit breakers are located.
5. The power distribution apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electrical contacts are located external to the enclosure adjacent the rear wall.
6. The power distribution apparatus of claim 5, wherein the power distribution apparatus is constructed and arranged to be coupled to the plurality of electrical conductors by sliding the power distribution apparatus into the multi-phase power distribution assembly to connect the electrical contacts to the plurality of phase conductors.
7. The power distribution apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an engagement device configured to mechanically assist a user in connecting the electrical contacts to the plurality of electrical phase conductors.
8. The power distribution apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of current sensing devices located in the housing.
9. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an interlock adapted to open the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers when the power distribution apparatus is installed in the multi-phase power distribution assembly with one or more of the single pole circuit breakers in a closed position.
10. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rack mountable distribution unit coupled to the second end of the power cable, wherein the plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets are included in the rack mountable distribution unit.
11. The power distribution apparatus of claim 10, wherein the rack mountable power distribution unit includes a housing defining a plurality of receptacle outlet cavities in which the plurality of receptacle outlets are located.
12. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end further comprises a plurality of branch cables each coupled to the first end and each including an attached receptacle outlet.
13. The power distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the multi-phase power distribution assembly includes a neutral conductor and a ground conductor, and wherein each of the attached receptacle outlets is a single-phase receptacle outlet coupled to the neutral conductor, the ground conductor and one of the plurality of electrical phase conductors, respectively.
14. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of single pole circuit breakers are coupled to at least one of the attached receptacle outlets.
15. A method for providing power to a plurality of single phase receptacle outlets, comprising acts of:
coupling a first end of a power cable to a plurality of single-pole circuit breakers to couple each of a plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets included at a second end of the power cable to one of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers, respectively, wherein each of the single-pole circuit breakers is included in a power distribution apparatus; and
sliding the power distribution apparatus into a multi-phase power distribution assembly to couple each of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers included in the power distribution apparatus to a single phase of the power distribution assembly, respectively.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the act of sliding includes an act of manually sliding the power distribution apparatus into engagement with electrical phase conductors included in the multi-phase power distribution assembly.
17. The power distribution apparatus of claim 16, wherein the power distribution apparatus includes an engagement device, and
wherein the act of sliding includes an act of employing the engagement device to mechanically assist a user in connecting the electrical contacts to the plurality of electrical phase conductors.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of providing an interlock adapted to open each of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers during the act of installing the power distribution apparatus in the multi-phase power distribution assembly.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising an act of providing independent overcurrent protection for each of a plurality of electrical circuits with each of the plurality of single pole circuit breakers, respectively,
wherein each of the plurality of electrical circuits includes at least one of the plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets.
20. A method for providing power to a plurality of single phase receptacle outlets, comprising acts of:
coupling a first end of a power cable to a plurality of single-pole circuit breakers to couple each of a plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets included at a second end of the power cable to one of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers, respectively, wherein each of the single-pole circuit breakers is included in a power distribution apparatus;
installing the power distribution apparatus in a multi-phase power distribution assembly to couple each of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers included in the power distribution apparatus to a single phase of the power distribution assembly, respectively; and
providing an interlock adapted to open each of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers during the act of installing the power distribution apparatus in the multi-phase power distribution assembly.
21. A method for providing power to a plurality of single phase receptacle outlets, comprising acts of:
coupling a first end of a power cable to a plurality of single-pole circuit breakers to couple each of a plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets included at a second end of the power cable to one of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers, respectively, wherein each of the single-pole circuit breakers is included in a power distribution apparatus;
installing the power distribution apparatus in a multi-phase power distribution assembly to couple each of the plurality of single-pole circuit breakers included in the power distribution apparatus to a single phase of the power distribution assembly, respectively; and
providing independent overcurrent protection for each of a plurality of electrical circuits with each of the plurality of single pole circuit breakers, respectively,
wherein each of the plurality of electrical circuits includes at least one of the plurality of single-phase receptacle outlets.