Author: claimsbot

1. A dehumidifier comprising:
a main body in which a heat exchange module is provided;
a water tank under the heat exchange module to collect condensed water from the heat exchange module;
a tank drawer to accommodate the water tank, the tank drawer to be slidably provided at the main body;
a frame to support the heat exchange module, the frame to partition a first space to accommodate the tank drawer from a second space to provide a compressor;
a main guide on first and second surfaces of the frame to guide the tank drawer when the tank drawer is moved inward and when the tank drawer is moved outward; and
a sub guide on the first and second sides of the frame to accommodate a rotation protrusion that protrudes from each of first and second surfaces of the tank drawer, the sub guide to guide slidable movement and rotation of the rotation protrusion at the tank drawer.
2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the main guide includes a rack gear is provided in a direction in which the tank drawer is moved outward, and the dehumidifier further comprises:
a pinion gear, at the tank drawer, to be provided at the rack gear and to move along the main guide.
3. The dehumidifier according to claim 2, further comprising a driving motor to rotate the pinion gear.
4. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the main guide includes:
a horizontal part extending in a direction corresponding to inward movement of the tank drawer and outward movement of the tank drawer; and
a rotation part extending from the horizontal part, the rotation part to guide rotation of the tank drawer.
5. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein a guide member to protrude from each of the first and second surfaces of the tank drawer, and the main guide to include a guide hole to allow the guide member to be inserted therein, and to thereby guide movement of the guide member.
6. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the tank drawer includes a tilted part to allow the tank drawer to tilt such that the tank drawer is moved outward by a self-weight.
7. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, further comprising:
a main body support extending downward to prevent the dehumidifier from falling down when the tank drawer is moved outward; and
a base plate to define a bottom of the dehumidifier.
8. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the tank drawer includes a rotation shaft at a rear of the tank drawer.
9. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, further comprising a locker and a latch to selectively connect with each other to maintain a closed state of the tank drawer, the locker provided at one of the tank drawer and the frame, and the latch provided at the other one of the tank drawer and the frame.
10. A dehumidifier comprising:
a main body in which a heat exchange module is provided;
a water tank under the heat exchange module to collect condensed water from the heat exchange module;
a tank drawer to accommodate the water tank, the tank drawer to be slidably provided at the main body;
a frame to support the heat exchange module, the frame to partition a first space to accommodate the tank drawer from a second space to provide a compressor;
a drawer frame to rotatably couple to a rotation shaft at each of first and second surfaces of the tank drawer such that the tank drawer is rotatably supported; and
a guide rail to couple the frame to the drawer frame, the guide rail to extend in a plurality of stages such that the tank drawer is moved inward and the tank drawer is moved outward,
wherein when the tank drawer is moved outward, the tank drawer to rotate about the rotation shaft, and to expose a top surface of the water tank.
11. The dehumidifier according to claim 10, wherein the frame includes a rack gear on each of first and second surfaces of the frame, and
a pinion gear, at the guide rail, to be provided at the rack gear and to move along the rack gear.
12. The dehumidifier according to claim 11, wherein the guide rail includes:
a fixed rail to attach to the frame; and
a movable rail to move along the fixed rail, the movable rail to couple to the drawer frame,
wherein the pinion gear is to be rotatably provided at the movable rail.
13. The dehumidifier according to claim 10, wherein the tank drawer includes a guide protrusion to protrude from a surface of the tank drawer, and
the drawer frame includes a tilting guide hole to receive the guide protrusion when the tank drawer rotates.
14. The dehumidifier according to claim 10, wherein the tank drawer includes a tilted part to allow the tank drawer to tilt such that the tank drawer is moved outward by a self-weight.
15. The dehumidifier according to claim 10, further comprising:
a main body support extending downward to prevent the dehumidifier from falling down when the tank drawer is moved outward; and
a base plate to define a bottom of the dehumidifier.
16. The dehumidifier according to claim 10, wherein the tank drawer includes the rotation shaft at a rear of the tank drawer.
17. The dehumidifier according to claim 10, further comprising a locker and a latch to selectively connect with each other to maintain a closed state of the tank drawer, the locker provided at one of the tank drawer and the frame, and the latch provided at the other one of the tank drawer and the frame.
18. A dehumidifier comprising:
a body;
a water tank to collect water from a heat exchange device provided at the body;
a tank drawer to accommodate the water tank, the tank drawer to be slidably provided;
a frame to support the heat exchange device;
a first guide on a first side of the frame to guide the tank drawer;
a second guide on a second side of the frame to guide the tank drawer;
a first sub guide on the first side of the frame to accommodate a first rotation protrusion that protrudes from a first side of the tank drawer; and
a second sub guide on the second side of the frame to accommodate a second rotation protrusion that protrudes from a second side of the tank drawer.
19. The dehumidifier according to claim 18, wherein the first guide includes a first rack gear, and the second main guide includes a second rack gear, and a first pinion gear to couple to the first rack gear and to move along the first main guide.
20. The dehumidifier according to claim 18, wherein the guide includes:
a horizontal part extending in a direction corresponding to inward movement of the tank drawer and outward movement of the tank drawer; and
a rotation part extending from the horizontal part, the rotation part to guide rotation of the tank drawer.

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 method of completing an authenticated commercial transaction over an internet protocol (IP) network for an account holder engaged in the transaction via a non-IP based telecommunications platform, said method comprising:
(a) receiving a first message from the account holder via the non-IP based telecommunications platform, said first message triggering authentication of the account holder and being in a first communication format;
(b) establishing account information for a payment instrument being used in the transaction based upon content in the first message;
(c) generating a second message using a second communication format different from the first format, said second message including the established account information;
(d) submitting the second message via the IP network to a network entity such that an authentication document is generated, said authentication document containing an input field;
(e) generating a third message using the first format, said third message being submitted to the account holder via the non-IP based telecommunications platform such that the account holder is prompted to enter a security code;
(f) receiving a fourth message containing the entered security code from the account holder via the non-IP based telecommunications platform, said fourth message being in the first format; and,
(g) accessing the authentication document via the IP network to fill-in the input field of the authentication document with the security code contained in the fourth message.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication document further includes a security message in the second format and the method further comprises:
accessing the authentication document via the IP network to obtain the security message;
translating the security message into the first format; and,
including the security message in the fourth message so as to be perceivable by the account holder prior to the account holder entering the security code.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the authentication document is a webpage.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network entity is an authentication server of a payment network.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second format is selected from a hypertext markup language, an extensible markup language and a standard generalized markup language or an IP address and Port accessible over public or private networks.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-IP telecommunications platform is selected from an interactive voice response system, a wireless telecommunications network, and a point of sale system.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first format is selected from a voice format, a dual-tone multi-frequency format, a wireless application protocol format, a short message service format, unstructured supplementary services data USSD or point of sale terminal format.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the account information includes at least one of an account holder name, a primary account number, an account identifier or a card number associated with the payment instrument being used in the transaction.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (b) comprises:
obtaining the account information from the first message.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein step (b) comprises:
obtaining an identifier associated with an end user device the account holder is using to participate in the transaction; and,
obtaining the account information from a database in response to the obtained identifier.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifier is selected from a telephone number and a mobile subscriber identity number.
12. A transaction conversion system that bridges commercial transactions between a first network and a plurality of diverse second networks that employ communication protocols that are different from a communication protocol employed by the first network, said system comprising:
an interface operatively connected to the plurality of diverse second networks, said interface provisioned to selectively exchange messages between the transaction conversion system and account holders participating in commercial transactions via the second networks;
a network robot operatively connected to the first network, said network robot provisioned to access at least one of documents or network entities via the first network to selectively obtain data therefrom and to selectively enter data therein; and,
an application container provisioned to direct operation of the robot and control data flow between the robot and the interface in connection with an associated task being performed by the system.
13. The transaction conversion system of claim 12, said system further comprising:
a hardware security module (HSM) being provisioned with a corresponding pair of private and public HSM keys, said public HSM key being distributed publicly for encrypting data received by the HSM and the private HSM key being used by the HSM to decrypt data received by the HSM that has been encrypted with the HSM public key.
14. The transaction conversion system of claim 13, wherein the HSM is further provisioned to selectively initiate a secure session over the first network with a targeted network entity such that a public session key is obtained by the HSM, said public session key being used by the HSM to re-encrypt data communicated from the HSM to the target network entity via the secure session.
15. The transaction conversion system of claim 14, wherein data received via the interface that is encrypted with the HSM public key is routed into the HSM where it is decrypted using the HSM private key and re-encrypted using the public session key obtained from the second targeted network entity before being routed out of the HSM.
16. The transaction conversion system of claim 12, wherein the system includes a plurality of different application containers associated with a plurality of different tasks.
17. The transaction conversion system of claim 16, wherein one of the plurality of tasks selectively performed by the system includes:
receiving via the interface a payment message in connection with a transaction;
establishing account information for a payment instrument being used in the transaction based upon the payment message;
submitting the account information to a network entity such that an authentication document is generated, said authentication document containing an input field;
receiving via the interface a security credential from an account holder participating in the transaction; and,
accessing the authentication document with the robot to enter the received security credential in the input field.
18. The transaction conversion system of claim 16, wherein one of the plurality of tasks selectively performed by the system includes:
receiving instructions from an account holder via the interface to make a payment;
submitting account information over the first network with the robot to a designated location in response to the instructions;
receiving confirmation of the payment over the first network; and,
relaying the confirmation to the account holder via the interface.
19. The transaction conversion system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of diverse second networks includes a wireless telecommunications network, an interactive voice response system and a point-of-sale system.
20. The transaction conversion system of claim 19, wherein the first network is the Internet.

What is claimed is:

1. A reconfigurable, steerable reflective array, comprising:
a) a planar dielectric substrate having a front surface, a rear surface, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined dielectric constant;
b) a metallized layer disposed upon said rear surface of said dielectric substrate;
c) reflective elements disposed on said front surface of said dielectric substrate, at least one of said reflective elements comprising at least two reflective sub-elements selectively electrically interconnectable to one another; and
d) an RF signal source for providing and applying an RF signal having a predetermined range of frequencies to said reflective elements;
whereby at least some of said reflective elements re-radiate said applied RF signal in a predetermined direction and with a predetermined phase shift relative to said applied RF signal, thereby establishing an electromagnetic radiation pattern approximating a radiation pattern from a geometrically non-planar reflector.
2. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 1, wherein said geometrically non-planar reflector comprises a reflector having a substantially parabolic shape.
3. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 1, wherein said dielectric substrate has an opening therein to allow passage of said RF signal therethrough and wherein said RF signal source comprises a sub-reflector in front of said front surface of said dielectric substrate adapted to receive said applied RF signal and reflect it onto said reflective elements.
4. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflective elements comprise at least one from the group of dipoles, crossed dipoles and other reflective elements.
5. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflective sub-elements are selectively electrically connected to one another by electrically conductive switches.
6. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 5, wherein said electrically conductive switches comprise MEMS switches.
7. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 6, wherein said MEMS switches are activated by radiant energy.
8. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 7, wherein said radiant energy comprises light from at lease one device from the group: light-emitting diode (LED) and laser.
9. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 6, wherein said MEMS switches are activated by one of the group of energy sources: radio frequency energy and direct electrical connection.
10. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 6, wherein said radiant energy is conducted from said at least one device to said MEMS by an optical fiber.
11. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 6, wherein said MEMS switches comprise bistable MEMS switches.
12. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 5, wherein said reflective sub-elements are selectively electrically connected to one another, one of multiple, predetermined frequency bands of operation is selected.
13. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 5, wherein said reflective sub-elements are selectively electrically connected to one another, said steerable reflective array is steered in a predetermined direction.
14. A reconfigurable, steerable reflective array comprising a planar dielectric substrate having a metallized film disposed on a rear surface thereof and a plurality of reflective sub-elements disposed in a predetermined pattern on a front surface thereof, said reflective sub-elements being selectively electrically connectable one to another by MEMS switches disposed therebetween, said reflector array being adapted to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal in a predetermined frequency band from an RF signal source disposed proximate said reflective array, whereby said reflective array re-radiates at least a portion of said RF signal in a direction controlled by a selective activation of said MEMS switches in a radiation pattern substantially equal to a radiation pattern from a geometrically non-planar reflector.
15. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 14, wherein said geometric non-planar reflector is a focusing reflector such as a parabolic reflector.
16. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 14, wherein said MEMS switches are selectively actuated by radiant energy supplied thereto via an optical fiber.
17. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 14, wherein said reflector array is steered by selectively actuating said MEMS switches.
18. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 14 adapted for operation in at least two predetermined frequency bands, said reflector array being configured for operation in a selected one of said at least predetermined frequency bands by selective activation of said MEMS switches.
19. A reconfigurable, steerable reflective array, comprising:
a) a planar dielectric substrate having a front surface, a rear surface;
b) a metallized layer disposed upon said rear surface of said dielectric substrate;
c) a multiplicity of reflective elements disposed in an array on said front surface of said dielectric substrate, said reflective elements each including at least two reflective sub-elements selectively electrically interconnectable to one another; and
wherein said reflective elements are adapted to re-radiate RF energy reflected by the metalized layer at a predetermined wavelength with a predetermined phase shift in response to selective electrical interconnection of the sub-elements, thereby establishing a controllable electromagnetic radiation pattern from the array.
20. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 19, wherein said reflective sub-elements are selectively electrically connected to one another by either light-activated semiconductor switches or MEMS.

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 bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus, comprising:
V-shaped upper section comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and the trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening; and
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein a first direction is from an area between the side sections through the duckbill valve opening, and a second direction is a direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the duckbill valve opening is configured to allow fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through it and prevent fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through it;
wherein the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are both configured to allow fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through them and prevent fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through them; and
wherein the duckbill valve opening, the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are all configured to not allow fluid that is not pressurized to flow through them in either the first direction or the second direction.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flat washer section connected to both the first shoulder and the second shoulder.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an inverted V-shaped lower section connected to the trough.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the inverted V-shaped lower section comprises a funnel configured to direct a guidewire through the duckbill valve opening.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus is comprised of silicone.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein a first direction is from an area between the side sections through the duckbill valve opening, and a second direction is a direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the duckbill valve opening is configured to allow fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through it and prevent fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through it;
wherein the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are both configured to allow fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through them and prevent fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through them; and
wherein the duckbill valve opening, the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are all configured to not allow fluid that is not pressurized to flow through them in either the first direction or the second direction.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising a flat washer section connected to both the first shoulder and the second shoulder.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus is comprised of silicone.
10. A bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve and hubcap apparatus, comprising:
a V-shaped upper section, comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening;
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve;
a flat washer section connected to both the first shoulder and the second shoulder;
an inverted V-shaped lower section, comprising a funnel configured to direct a guidewire through the duckbill valve opening; and
a hubcap configured to securely hold the flat washer section placed within a flat washer section groove, the hubcap having a top opening and a bottom opening.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the hubcap comprises one or more channels near the bottom opening.
12. A bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve and hubcap apparatus, comprising:
a V-shaped upper section, comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening;
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve;
a flat washer section connected to both the first shoulder and the second shoulder; and
a hubcap configured to securely hold the flat washer section placed within a flat washer section groove, the hubcap having a top opening and a bottom opening.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the hubcap is comprised of plastic.
14. A method for using a bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus; the method comprising:
providing a V-shaped upper section, comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening; and
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve; and
an inverted V-shaped lower section, comprising a funnel configured to direct a guidewire through the duckbill valve opening;
wherein a first direction is from an area between the side sections through the duckbill valve opening, and a second direction is a direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the duckbill valve opening is configured to allow fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through it and prevent fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through it;
wherein the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are both configured to allow fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through them and prevent fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through them; and
wherein the duckbill valve opening, the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are all configured to not allow fluid that is not pressurized to flow through them in either the first direction or the second direction;
providing a fluid pressurized in the first direction; and
providing a fluid pressurized in the second direction;
injecting the fluid pressurized in the first direction through the duckbill valve opening; and
aspirating the fluid pressurized in the second direction through at least one side-slit valve.
15. A method for using a bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve and hubcap apparatus; the method comprising:
providing a V-shaped upper section, comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening; and
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve; and
an inverted V-shaped lower section, comprising a funnel configured to direct a guidewire through the duckbill valve opening;
a hubcap configured to securely hold the flat washer section placed within a flat washer section groove, the hubcap having a top opening and a bottom opening;
wherein a first direction is from an area between the side sections through the duckbill valve opening, and a second direction is a direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the duckbill valve opening is configured to allow fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through it and prevent fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through it;
wherein the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are both configured to allow fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through them and prevent fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through them; and
wherein the duckbill valve opening, the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are all configured to not allow fluid that is not pressurized to flow through them in either the first direction or the second direction;
providing a fluid pressurized in the first direction; and
providing a fluid pressurized in the second direction;
injecting the fluid pressurized in the first direction through the first opening of the hubcap and through the duckbill valve opening; and
aspirating the fluid pressurized in the second direction through the second opening of the hubcap and through at least one side-slit valve.