Author: claimsbot

1-14. (canceled)
15. A method for locally heat-treating at least one gas turbine blade having a blade section and a blade root section in the blade section, the blade root section not to be heat-treated, the gas turbine blade being positioned in a holding receptacle to prevent an unacceptable heating of the blade root section during heat treatment of the blade section, the method comprising;
positioning the blade root section of the gas turbine blade in an interior space of the holding receptacle in a way that allows a remaining interior space of the holding receptacle, that is not entirely taken up by the blade root section, to be filled with a filler material; and
subsequently positioning the holding receptacle, together with the gas turbine blade, in a heat treatment chamber to enable the turbine blade in the heat treatment chamber to undergo heat treatment.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the gas turbine blade in the heat treatment chamber is locally heat-treated under vacuum.
17. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the remaining interior space of the holding receptacle, that is not entirely taken up by the blade root section, is filled with solid bodies.
18. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the remaining interior space of the holding receptacle is filled with solid bodies whose material has a specific thermal capacity of between 390 and 520 J*kg\u22121*K\u22121.
19. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the remaining interior space of the holding receptacle is filled with solid bodies whose material has a thermal capacity of between 50 and 400 W*m\u22121*K\u22121.
20. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the remaining interior space of the holding receptacle is filled with solid bodies whose material has a specific weight of between 70000 and 90000 N*m\u22123.
21. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the remaining interior space of the holding receptacle is filled with solid bodies whose material does not react with the material of the gas turbine blade during the heat treatment.
22. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the remaining interior space of the holding receptacle is filled with metal spheres andor with metal powder.
23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the remaining interior space is filled with steel spheres andor steel powder.
24. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the holding receptacle, together with the gas turbine blade, is positioned in a vacuum furnace for heat treatment.
25. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein a double-walled region of a housing delimiting the interior space of the holding receptacle is either filled with an insulating material or is traversed by the flow of a cooling medium.
26. A holding receptacle for at least one gas turbine blade for use in a local heat treatment of the gas turbine blade in a blade section thereof; a blade root section not to be heat-treated of the gas turbine blade being positionable in the holding receptacle in order to prevent an unacceptable heating of the or each gas turbine blade in the blade root section, the holding receptacle comprising:
a housing delimiting an interior space in which the blade root section is positionable in a way that allows the remaining interior space not entirely taken up by the blade root section, to be filled with a filler material, the holding receptacle, together with the gas turbine blade, being positionable in a heat treatment chamber to enable the gas turbine blade in the heat treatment chamber to undergo heat treatment.
27. The holding receptacle as recited in claim 26 further comprising solid bodies filling the remaining interior space.
28. The holding receptacle as recited in claim 27 wherein the solid bodies have a specific thermal capacity of between 390 and 520 J*kg\u22121*K\u22121.
29. The holding receptacle as recited in claim 27 wherein the solid bodies have a thermal capacity of between 50 and 400 W*m\u22121*K\u22121.
30. The holding receptacle as recited in claim 27 wherein the solid bodies have a specific weight of between 70000 and 90000 N*m\u22123.
31. The holding receptacle as recited in claim 26 wherein the housing is an at least partially double-walled housing delimiting the interior space of the holding receptacle, and further comprising a cover, the blade section to be heat-treated of the gas turbine blade extending through the cover of the holding receptacle, the cover having at least one recess adapted to a contour of the blade to allow passage of the blade therethrough.
32. The holding receptacle as recited in claim 31 wherein the double-walled region of the housing is filled with an insulating material or is designed to allow the flow of cooling medium therethrough.

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 information providing and collecting system comprising:
information transmitting means for establishing a connection between an information providing side and an information collecting side;
transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information between said information providing side and said information collecting side through said information transmitting means;
information medium reading means for reading information of a non-unique information medium having encoded information recorded thereon;
key encoding means which uses a plurality of specific information possessed by said information collecting side and transmitted from said information collecting side so as to encode key information required to decode said encoded information of the information medium, wherein said plurality of specific information is non-specific to said information medium, and includes a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID;
encoded-key decoding means located at the collecting side for receiving encoded key information electronically transmitted from said information providing side and for decoding the encoded key information by using said specific information; and
encoded-information decoding means for decoding said encoded information read from said information medium by using said decoded key information.
2. An information providing and collecting system according to claim 1, wherein said information providing side uses medium identification information for specifying said information medium and information identification information for specifying information in said information medium transmitted from said information collecting side to perform an accounting process.
3. An information providing and collecting system according to claim 2 further comprising information encoding means for encoding information by using at least one specific information possessed by said information collecting side, wherein said medium identification information and said information identification information to be transmitted to said information providing side are encoded by said information encoding means.
4. An information providing and collecting system according to claim 1 further comprising:
information encoding means for encoding information by using said at least one specific information possessed by said information collecting side; and
information storage means for storing information read from said information medium, wherein when information read from said information medium and decoded by said encoded-information decoding means is stored in said information storage means, said decoded information is encoded by said information encoding means and then stored.
5. An information providing and collecting system according to claim 4, wherein said encoded-information decoding means uses key information generated in accordance with said specific information so as to decode said encoded information stored in said information storage means.
6. An information providing and collecting system according to claim 1, wherein said specific information further includes a telephone number of the collecting side.
7. An information collecting apparatus comprising:
transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information to and from an information providing side through information transmitting means, wherein said information collecting apparatus transmits a plurality of specific information to said information providing side;
information medium reading means for reading information from a non-unique information medium having encoded information recorded thereon;
encoded-key decoding means for receiving encoded key information electronically transmitted from said information providing side and for using said specific information so as to decode the key information encoded by said information providing side in accordance with said specific information, wherein said plurality of specific information is non-specific to said information medium, and includes a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID; and
encoded-information decoding means for decoding said encoded information read from said information medium by using said decoded key information.
8. An information collecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein medium identification information for specifying said information medium and information identification information for specifying information in said information medium are transmitted to said information providing side.
9. An information collecting apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:
information encoding means for encoding information by using said at least one specific information, wherein said medium identification information and said information identification information to be transmitted to said information providing side are encoded by said information encoding means.
10. An information collecting apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:
information encoding means for encoding information by using said at least one specific information; and
information storage means for storing information read from said information medium, wherein when information read from said information medium and decoded by said encoded-information decoding means is stored in said information storage means, said decoded information is encoded by said information encoding means and then stored.
11. An information collecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said encoded-information decoding means uses key information generated in accordance with said specific information to decode encoded information stored in said information storage means.
12. An information providing apparatus comprising:
transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information to and from an information collecting side through information transmitting means; and
key encoding means which uses a plurality of specific information transmitted from said information collecting side and possessed by said information collecting side to encode key information required to decode encoded information recorded on a non-unique information medium, said plurality of specific information being non-specific to said information medium, and includes a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID;
wherein the encoded key information is electronically transmitted to receiving means located at the collecting side which decodes the encoded key information by using said specific information.
13. An information providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein medium identification information for specifying said information medium and information identification information for specifying information in said information medium transmitted from said information collecting side are used to perform an accounting process.
14. An information providing apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising encoded information decoding means for decoding said medium identification information and said information identification information possessed by said information collecting side and encoded by using said specific information, wherein said decoding is performed by using said specific information transmitted from said information collecting side.
15. An information providing and collecting method comprising the steps of:
establishing a connection between an information providing side and an information collecting side via information transmitting means;
transmitting and receiving information between said information providing side and said information collecting side through said information transmitting means;
reading information from a non-unique information medium having encoded information recorded thereon;
at the information providing side, encoding key information required to decode encoded information of said information medium by using a plurality of specific information transmitted from said information collecting side and possessed by said information collecting side, said plurality of specific information being non-specific to said information medium, and including a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID;
decoding said encoded key information electronically transmitted from said information providing side by using said specific information; and
decoding said encoded information read from said information medium by using said decoded key information.
16. An information providing and collecting method according to claim 15, wherein said information providing side uses medium identification information for specifying said information medium and information identification information for specifying information in said information medium transmitted from said information collecting side to perform an accounting process.
17. An information providing and collecting method according to claim 16, further comprising:
an information encoding step for encoding information by using said specific information possessed by said information collecting side, wherein said medium identification information and said information identification information to be transmitted to said information providing side are encoded in said information encoding step.
18. An information providing and collecting method according to claim 15, further comprising:
an information encoding step for encoding information by using said at least one specific information possessed by said information collecting side; and
an information storage step for storing information read from said information medium, wherein when information read from said information medium and decoded in said encoded-information decoding step is stored in said information storage step, said decoded information is encoded in said information encoding step and then stored.
19. An information providing and collecting method according to claim 18, wherein, in said encoded information decoding step, said key information generated in accordance with said specific information is used to decode encoded information stored in said information storage step.
20. An information providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of specific information further includes a telephone number of the collecting side.
21. An information collecting method comprising the steps of:
transmitting, from an information collecting side to an information providing side, a plurality of specific information that is non-specific to an information medium to be read at the information collecting side, said specific information including a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID, said information medium being non-unique and having encoded information recorded thereon, wherein said information providing side receives said specific information and then encodes key information in accordance with said specific information to provide encoded key information;
receiving, at the information collecting side, said encoded key information which is electronically transmitted by said information providing side;
decoding, at said collecting side, said encoded key information by using said specific information to provide decoded key information; and,
decoding said encoded information read from said information medium by using said decoded key information.
22. An information collecting method according to claim 21, wherein medium identification information for specifying said information medium and information identification information for specifying information in said information medium are transmitted to said information providing side.
23. An information collecting method according to claim 22, further comprising:
an information encoding step for encoding information by using said specific information, wherein said medium identification information and said information identification information to be transmitted to said information providing side are encoded in said information encoding step.
24. An information collecting method according to claim 21, further comprising:
an information encoding step for encoding information by using said specific information; and
an information storage step for storing information read from said information medium, wherein when information read from said information medium and decoded in said encoded-information decoding step is stored in said information storage step, said decoded information is encoded in said information encoding step and then stored.
25. An information collecting method according to claim 24, wherein, in said encoded information decoding step, said key information generated in accordance with said specific information is used to decode encoded information stored in said information storage step.
26. An information providing method comprising:
transmitting and receiving information to and from an information collecting side through information transmitting means; and
encoding key information at an information providing side using a plurality of specific information transmitted from said information collecting side and possessed by said information collecting side, wherein said key information is required to decode encoded information of a non-unique information medium having encoded information recorded thereon, said specific information being non-specific to said information medium, and including a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID;
wherein the encoded key information is electronically transmitted from said information providing side to receiving means located at the collecting side which decodes the encoded key information by using said specific information.
27. An information providing method according to claim 26, wherein medium identification information for specifying said information medium and information identification information for specifying information in said information medium transmitted from said information collecting side are used to perform an accounting process.
28. An information providing method according to claim 27, further comprising an encoded information decoding step for decoding said medium identification information and said information identification information possessed by said information collecting side and encoded by using said specific information, said medium identification information and said information identification information being decoded by using said specific information transmitted from said information collecting side.
29. An information collecting apparatus comprising:
transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information to and from an information providing side through a transmission medium, wherein said information collecting apparatus transmits a plurality of specific information to said information providing side;
information medium reading means for reading information from an information medium having encoded information recorded thereon, wherein said information medium does not have a unique key recorded thereon used for decoding said encoded information;
encoded-key decoding means for receiving encoded key information electronically transmitted from said information providing side and for using said specific information so as to decode the key information encoded by said information providing side in accordance with said at least one specific information, wherein said specific information is non-specific to said information medium, and includes a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID; and
encoded-information decoding means for decoding said encoded information read from said information medium by using said decoded key information.
30. An information collecting apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said plurality of specific information further includes a telephone number of the collecting side.
31. An information providing apparatus comprising:
transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information to and from an information collecting side through a transmission medium; and
key encoding means which uses a plurality of specific information transmitted from said information collecting side and possessed by said information collecting side to encode key information required to decode encoded information recorded on an information medium, said specific information being non-specific to said information medium, and including a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID, wherein said information medium does not have a unique key recorded thereon used for decoding said encoded information;
wherein the encoded key information is electronically transmitted to receiving means located at the collecting side which decodes the encoded key information by using said specific information.
32. An information providing method comprising:
transmitting and receiving information to and from an information collecting side through a transmission medium; and
encoding key information at an information providing side using a plurality of specific information transmitted from said information collecting side and possessed by said information collecting side, wherein said key information is required to decode encoded information recorded on an information medium, said information medium does not have a unique key recorded thereon used for decoding said encoded information, and said specific information being non-specific to said information medium, and including a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID;
wherein the encoded key information is electronically transmitted from said information providing side to a receiving part located at the collecting side that decodes the encoded key information by using said specific information.
33. An information collecting method comprising the steps of:
transmitting, from an information collecting side to an information providing side, a plurality of specific information that is non-specific to an information medium to be read at the information collecting side, said plurality of specific information including a user ID, a user password and a medium reading apparatus ID, said information providing side receives said specific information and then encodes key information in accordance with said specific information to provide encoded key information, wherein said information medium has encoded information recorded thereon and does not have a unique key recorded thereon used for decoding said encoded information recorded thereon;
receiving, at the information collecting side, said encoded key information which is electronically transmitted by said information providing side;
decoding, at said collecting side, said encoded key information by using said specific information to provide decoded key information; and,
decoding said encoded information read from said information medium by using said decoded key information.

1. A video display method comprising:
intercepting a video signal from a video source;
in response to a command from a user, obtaining a desired video signal by at least one of:
substituting a different video signal for the video signal from the video source; and
augmenting the video signal from the video source to add interactivity information for display to the user; and

applying the desired video signal to a display device and displaying the desired video signal to the user.
2. A video display apparatus comprising:
a first interface for intercepting a video signal from a video source;
a processor coupled to the first interface for, in response to a command from a user, obtaining a desired video signal by at least one of:
substituting a different video signal for the video signal from the video source; and
augmenting the video signal from the video source to add interactivity information for display to the user; and

a second interface coupled to the processor for applying the desired video signal to a display device and displaying the desired video signal to the user.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising:
a first video cable attached permanently or semi-permanently to the first interface; and
a second video cable attached permanently or semi-permanently to the second interface.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first video cable and the second video cable are selected from the following group: an HDMI cable; an HDbaseT cable.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising a third interface coupled to a connector and to the processor for receiving a different video signal.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the connector is an HDbaseT connector.
7. A method of controlling a video display apparatus using a remote control, comprising:
in a first mode, transmitting a user selection from the remote control to a set-top box or other video source; and
in a second mode, transmitting a user selection from the remote control to a computing device separate from the set-top box or other video source, receiving from the computing device control information, and relaying the control information to the set-top box or other video source.

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 GNSS antenna, which includes:
a base including a conductor ground plane;
a radiating element;
an adjustable support connected to said base and to said element and supporting said element in adjustable relation over said ground plane;
said element support adjustably reconfiguring said antenna by repositioning at least a portion of said active element relative to said ground plane; and
a variable gain pattern corresponding to said variable active element configuration relative to said ground plane.
2. The antenna according to claim 1, which includes:
said element support being vertically adjustable and adapted for raising and lowering said element relative to said ground plane.
3. The antenna according to claim 2, which includes:
said element support comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) with a lower end mounted on said ground plane and an upper end mounting said element;
a phasing and matching network mounted on said support PCB and connected to said radiating element;
said base including a base PCB mounting said ground plane; and
a low noise amplifier (LNA) mounted on said base PCB and connected to said phasing and matching network.
4. The antenna according to claim 3, which includes:
a balun connected to said phasing and matching network;
a first bandpass filter connected to said balun;
said LNA connected to said first bandpass filter;
a second bandpass filter connected to said LNA and to a line out; and
a bias network providing feedback from said line out to said LNA.
5. The antenna according to claim 1, which includes:
said support PCB being manufactured to provide either a low-profile antenna by mounting said support on said base at a first location or a high-profile antenna by mounting said support on said base at a second location;
said low-profile antenna providing relatively narrow beamwidth;
said high-profile antenna providing relatively wide beamwidth;
said high-profile antenna providing superior below-horizon signal acquisition; and
said antenna low profile configuration corresponding to less multipath susceptibility.
6. The antenna according to claim 5, which includes:
said antenna operating across the super bands of GNSS frequencies comprising 1525-1613 MHz (L1) and 1165-1253 MHz (L2).
7. The antenna according to claim 1, which includes:
said element support having a lower end mounted on said ground plane and an upper end mounting said element; and
said active element comprising a crossed-dipole radiating arm element assembly including a central hub mounted on the central support upper end and multiple arms extending radially outwardly from said central hub.
8. The antenna according to claim 6 wherein:
said arms are flexible and droop downwardly towards said ground plane; and
said downward droop of said radiating arms is adjustable for adjusting a bandpass width of said antenna.
9. The antenna according to claim 1, which includes:
said element support having a lower end mounted on said ground plane and an upper end mounting said element;
said element including a first opposed pair of said arms each connected to said support upper end by an inductive conductor trace extending from the respective arm to said phasing and matching network;
said phasing and matching network having a pair of capacitors; and
said element including a second opposed pair of said arms each connected to said support upper end and to a respective said capacitor.
10. The antenna according to claim 6, which includes:
each said arm having an inner end connected to said hub and an outer end;
each said arm diverging outwardly; and
each said arm outer end having either a notched or a squared configuration.
11. The antenna according to claim 1, which includes:
a support height adjuster comprising a servo drive motor mount on said base and a threaded rod driven by said drive motor and connected to said support; and
said height adjuster adjusting the height of said support among said antenna configurations.
12. The antenna according to claim 1, which includes:
said element support having a lower end mounted on said ground plane and an upper end mounting said element;
said active element comprising a crossed-dipole radiating arm element assembly including a central hub mounted on the central support upper end and multiple arms extending outwardly from said central hub;
said arms having helical configurations with inner end is connected to said hub and outer ends located over said ground plane; and
said central hub and said arm inner ends being movable between raised and lowered positions relative to said ground plane whereby said antenna gain pattern is variable for optimizing said antenna for multiple applications.
13. The antenna according to claim 1, which includes:
said ground plane including a central element and multiple conductive extension elements;
a plurality of PiN diodes each connecting said central element in a respective extension elements; and
each said PiN being switchable by a predetermined RF frequency between open and closed states respectively separating and connecting said central element and a respective extension element.
14. A GNSS antenna, which includes:
a base including a conductor ground plane;
an active element comprising a crossed-dipole radiating arm element assembly including a central hub mounted on the central support upper end and multiple arms extending radially outwardly from said central hub;
said arms being flexible and drooping downwardly towards said ground plane;
said downward droop of said radiating arms being adjustable for adjusting a bandpass width of said antenna;
an adjustable element support comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) with a lower end mounted on said ground plane and an upper end connected to said central hub and supporting said element assembly in adjustable relation over said ground plane, said element support being vertically adjustable and adapted for raising and lowering said element relative to said ground plane; a variable gain pattern corresponding to said variable active element configuration relative to said ground plane;
a phasing and matching network mounted on said support PCB and connected to said active element;
a balun connected to said phasing and matching network;
said base including a base PCB mounting said ground plane;
a low noise amplifier (LNA) mounted on said base PCB;
a first bandpass filter connected to said balun;
said LNA connected to said first bandpass filter;
a second bandpass filter connected to said LNA and to a line out;
a bias network providing feedback from said line out to said LNA;
said support PCB being manufactured to provide either a low-profile antenna by mounting said support on said base at a first location or a high-profile antenna by mounting said support on said base at a second location;
said low-profile antenna providing relatively narrow beamwidth;
said high-profile antenna providing relatively wide beamwidth;
said high-profile antenna providing superior below-horizon signal acquisition;
said antenna low profile configuration corresponding to less multipath susceptibility;
said antenna operating across the super bands of GNSS frequencies comprising 1525-1613 MHz (L1) and 1165-1253 MHz (L2);
said element support having a lower end mounted on said ground plane and an upper end mounting said element;
said element including a first opposed pair of said arms each connected to said support upper end by an inductive conductor trace extending from the respective arm to said phasing and matching network;
said phasing and matching network having a pair of capacitors;
said element including a second opposed pair of said arms each connected to said support upper end and to a respective capacitor;
each said arm having an inner end connected to said hub and an outer end;
each said arm diverging outwardly; and
each said arm outer end having either a notched or a squared configuration.
15. A method of receiving and amplifying GNSS signals, which comprises the steps of:
providing a base including a conductor ground plane;
providing an active element;
adjustably supporting said active element on said base;
reconfiguring said antenna by repositioning at least a portion of said active element relative to said ground plane; and
varying a gain pattern of said antenna corresponding to said variable active element configuration relative to said ground plane.
16. The method according to claim 15, which includes the additional steps of:
providing a support with a lower end connected to said base and an upper end connected to said active element;
extending and retracting said support; and
vertically raising and lowering said active element with said support.
17. The method according to claim 15, which includes the additional steps of:
providing a support with a lower end connected to said base and an upper end connected to said active element;
providing said active element with a crossed-dipole radiating arm element assembly configuration including a central hub mounted on the support upper end and multiple arms extending radially outwardly from said central hub;
constructing said arms from a flexible material and drooping said arms downwardly towards said ground plane; and
adjusting a bandpass width of said antenna by adjusting the downward droop of said radiating arms.
18. The method according to claim 16, which includes the additional steps of:
forming said element support from a support printed circuit board (PCB) with a lower end mounted on said ground plane and an upper end mounting said element;
providing a phasing and matching network mounted on said support PCB and connected to said active element;
providing said base with a base PCB mounting said ground plane;
providing a low noise amplifier (LNA) mounted on said base PCB and connected to said phasing and matching network;
providing a balun connected to said phasing and matching network;
providing a first bandpass filter connected to said balun;
providing said LNA connected to said first bandpass filter;
providing a second bandpass filter connected to said LNA and to a line out;
providing a bias network providing feedback from said line out to said LNA; and
mounting said support on said base at a first location for a low-profile antenna with a relatively narrow beamwidth and less multipath susceptibility or mounting said support on said base at a second location for a high-profile antenna with a relatively wide beamwidth and superior below-horizon signal acquisition; and
operating said antenna across the super bands of GNSS frequencies comprising 1525-1613 MHz (L1) and 1165-1253 MHz (L2).
19. A method of manufacturing a GNSS antenna with a selectable gain pattern, which method comprises the steps of:
providing a base including a conductor ground plane;
providing an active element;
adjustably supporting said active element on said base;
reconfiguring said antenna by repositioning at least a portion of said active element relative to said ground plane; and
varying a gain pattern of said antenna corresponding to said variable active element configuration relative to said ground plane;
providing a support with a lower end connected to said base and an upper end connected to said active element;
extending and retracting said support; and
vertically raising and lowering said active element with said support.
20. The method according to claim 19, which includes the additional steps of:
providing the support with a support printed circuit board (PCB) with multiple attachment points; and
forming said antenna with multiple heights of said element by attaching said support PCB to said ground plane and said element at respective attachment points.
21. The method according to claim 19, which includes the additional steps of:
providing a phasing and matching network, a balun connected to the phasing and matching network and a low noise amplifier (LNA) connected to the balun, which are common to the multiple configurations of the antenna.
22. The method according to claim 19, which includes the additional steps of:
producing antennas with variable gain patterns, beamwidths, multipath susceptibility and below-horizon signal acquisition characteristics using common ground planes, active elements, element supports and signal processing components.