Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a plurality of circuit card guides on a circuit card cage. The cage has two pairs of end fingers at each end of a mounting surface, and an arch proximate the center thereof. Each card guide has end tabs and a central medial tab having a lateral edge. One set of end fingers is engaged with one of the set of end tabs and the card guide is flexed in the plane thereof to shorten the distance between the ends of the end tabs and fit the other pair of end tabs under the other pair of end fingers. Unflexing the guide fit the tabs under the end fingers. The card is flexed transverse to the plane thereof so the edge of the tab is beyond the arch allowing the guide to unflex so that the tab is moved under the arch.

Abstract: A system and method of standardizing modular probe housings so that the standardized probe housings may be incorporated into probes adapted to work with at least one of a multiplicity of manufacturers' oximeters. The probe housings are adapted to matingly engage at least a disposable bandage apparatus and a reusable finger attachment device.

Abstract: A method of making a thermally enhanced BGA substrate in which a metal (copper) core, has dielectric layers applied to each side thereof and conductive through-core build-up vias are provided. Rigidifying non-conductive dielectric sheets are laminated to the oppositely facing surfaces and then conductive layers are applied to at least one of the rigidifying non-conductive sheets and via connections are made through the dielectric layer(s) to the core conductive layer.

Abstract: A no-crimp electrical connector for connecting a stranded or solid wire or conductor in the lower gauges electrical wire to an end terminal. It includes a conductive end terminal having an integral bullet-shaped wire-splaying end, and an end terminal end, a hollow, internally threaded, female connector member secured to the conductive end terminal and houses the bullet-shaped wire splaying end, and a male connector member having an externally threaded surface for threaded engagement with the internally threaded female connector member, the male connector member having a throughbore, the throughbore having a first portion which is conically shaped to define a wire clamping space for wire ends splayed by the bullet-shaped end upon relative rotation between the female and male connection members. The female connection member can be conductive and made integral with the conductive end terminal.

Abstract: A no-crimp electrical connector which does not require any metal pieces and is essentially comprised of two molded plastic body members. A molded plastic first body member has a connection chamber and a threaded wall bounds the connection chamber. A second molded plastic second body member has an externally threaded surface threadably engageable with the threaded wall in the first body member. One of the body members has an integral central conically shaped element which has an axis coaxial with the body member in which it is formed. The second body member has a throughbore with the throughbore having first and seconds ends. The first throughbore end is shaped to accommodate two or more wires in parallel, side-by-side relation. Preferably, the shape is oval or ablong.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the intra-departmental or inter-institutional transport of a patient or patients requiring the pulse oximeter monitoring, and wherein the pulse oximeters used for monitoring the patient may be of different manufacturers, comprising affixing to the patient a bandage apparatus having a modular emitter and detector receptacles incorporated thereon. Each different manufacturers' pulse oximeter probe is provided with modular housings adapted to matedly engage and/or disengage the receptacles of the disposable bandage apparatus, thus enabling the patient to be monitored by pulse oximeters of different manufacturers without changing the bandage apparatus.

Abstract: A combination of a security cabinet and electronic equipment housed with the security cabinet in which cooling air is passed directly from outside the cabinet into the equipment so as to bypass air within a chamber of the cabinet. Preferably, a conduit is provided which extends between a wall of the cabinet to the equipment to introduce the cooling air from ambient atmosphere into the equipment. A method is also provided for introducing cooling air directly from outside the cabinet into the equipment. The method and combination enable lower operating temperatures of electronic equipment to be maintained than is possible with existing equipment housed in security cabinets.

Abstract: A process for forming a burrless castellation for a plastic chip carrier comprising forming one or more through holes in a substrate, plating the through holes with a metal to a thickness ranging from about 2 microns to about 6 microns, routing slots along the line extending through the through holes to produce half cylinder-shaped side-contact surfaces, and plating the half cylinder-shaped side-contact surfaces to a thickness in the range of 15 to 25 microns.

Abstract: A ceiling fan and pendent chandelier wherein the ceiling fan is provided with a chandelier adaptor which adapts the ceiling fan to hang a pendent chandelier therefrom.

Abstract: A quick-starting low-voltage DC power supply circuit has a switch mode DC to DC converter connected to a DC supply source. A low-dropout-regulator (LDO) connected in parallel with the switch-mode DC to DC converter, and a diode is connected in series with the output of the low-dropout-regulator connecting the output of the low-dropout-regulator to the output of the switch-mode DC to DC converter. The arrangement is such that the start-up output voltage of the circuit is the output voltage of the low-dropout-regulator and the long-term output voltage of the circuit is supplied by the switch-mode DC to DC converter output.

Abstract: A switch-mode power converter that powers the fan or blower unit in a communication system is used to suppress the audio band noise, thereby eliminating any need for additional passive or active filters used in the prior art. The frequency response of a switch-mode DC/DC converter is set by a control loop. By modifying the feedback amplifier compensation network in the control loop such that the frequency control loop bandwidth of the converter is substantially less than the AC load of the fans or blowers, the invention eliminates the need for additional filtering beyond that inherent in the power converter.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly has a U-shaped bracket with outwardly extending mounting appendages. A solenoid coil has one end supported by the U-shaped bracket, a centerplate for centering and supporting the opposite end of the solenoid coil and a trapping plate for trapping the centerplate and solenoid coil in the U-shaped bracket. The U-shaped bracket has at least one tear-off tab attachment appendage and a break-off necked-down portion connecting the at least one attachment appendage to the U-shaped bracket whereby the tear-off tab can be torn off by twisting either up or down, side to side, or by rotating the tab around the neck axis.

Abstract: A vehicle flood flotation raft is comprised of a bottom panel member, a top panel member hermetically joined to the bottom panel member to form a hermetically sealed air chamber and an air valve is used for filling the air chamber with air. The top panel member has an exterior surface which is adapted to protect the upper surface from penetration by the undercarriage portions of the vehicle. The raft has a geometry such that it can be positioned around the driven wheels of the vehicle so that the driven wheels can be used to propel the flood rescue raft and vehicle thereon to safety. The flood flotation raft can also include inflatable side panel members at the sides of the top and bottom panel members, front and rear inflatable flap members secured to the bottom panel member, and a discrete flotation ballast can be attached to the vehicle flotation raft at the engine end thereof.

Abstract: Conveying systems and methods in which a series of inflatable bladders are inflated and deflated in such a way as to convey objects in given directions.

Abstract: A lighting system for cold environments which comprises a source of DC voltage, a high-frequency, square-wave alternating current generator connected to the source of DC voltage, and one or more fluorescent lamps non-thermionically connected to the square-wave alternating current voltage generator.

Abstract: Ultraviolet water treatment apparatus in which floating pods or rafts carry high-frequency driver circuits in waterproof plastic blocks. The high-frequency driver circuits drive arrays of ultraviolet lamps in a ballast-free, non-thermionic manner.

Abstract: A fluid mixer and distribution device which comprises an oscillation/mixing chamber having an upstream end, a downstream end, top and bottom walls, sidewalls which diverge from the upstream end and then converge towards the downstream end. A power nozzle, adapted to be coupled to a source of liquid under pressure, issues a main jet of carrier fluid (a liquid, for example) into the upstream end of the oscillation/mixing chamber. The oscillation/mixing chamber has a pair of control ports symmetrically contiguous to the side of the main jet of liquid, and an exit aperture at the downstream end of the oscillation/mixing chamber for the egress of the mixed fluids from the oscillation/mixing chamber to ambient or a point of utilization.

Abstract: A ramp apparatus and method for insertion of a four-wheel vehicle into a plastic flood protection car bag which comprises a ramp device having a pair of up-ramp surfaces, a pair of top surfaces and a pair of down-ramp surfaces, and car bag securements on the top surfaces for holding an open edge of the car bag while the four-wheel vehicle is rolled on the up- and down-ramp surfaces and into the car bag.

Abstract: An air entrainment spa nozzle having a jet of water which passes over an air entrainment port with the air entrainment port having a downstream structure which enhances the air entrainment. In one embodiment, the air enhancement structure is a ramp which extends in a downstream direction from the air entrainment port. In another embodiment, the air entrainment port projects or protrudes into the jet of water by a predetermined amount.