Abstract: A method includes locating an open in a conductive line of an insulated conductor surrounded by an insulative sheath. In accordance with one embodiment, the insulated conductor is beneath an earthen surface and a locator signal and carrier signal including synchronization are introduced into the conductive line. A ground current is capacitively transmitted from capacitive points along the conductive line across the insulative sheath to a ground reference in response to the locator and carrier signals. A ground locator signal and a ground carrier signal are received in response to the ground current flowing past a pickup positioned in electrical communication with earth at a downstream point proximal to one of the capacitive points. The ground locator signal has a real component and a quadrature component and the ground carrier signal has real and quadrature synchronization.

Abstract: An orthosis is provided which is mountable on a knee having a femoral head and patella. The orthosis has upper and lower arms positionable about the knee and a hinge assembly positioned between the upper and lower arms at the knee to one side of the patella. A compression member is positioned at the femoral head adjacent to the patella on the opposite side of the patella from the hinge assembly. The compression member includes a tracking guide engaging the knee and a compression place in overlying engagement with the tracking guide. A tension strap is connected to the hinge assembly at an offset connection point by means of a tension strap mount. The tension strap applies a tension force to the compression member which increases when the upper and lower arms rotatably transition from the flexion position to the extension position and decreases when the upper and lower arms rotatably transition from the extension position to the flexion position.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating an RF transponder system to detect the presence of an RFID device in the proximal space of an RF reader unit having an excitation signal generator circuit and an RFID device detection circuit. The excitation signal generator circuit unit initially operates in a reduced power state, generating ring signals in response to a reduced electrical current and transmitting the ring signals into the proximal space. The RFID device detection circuit evaluates the ring signals to determine variations in an RFID device detection parameter. When the variations pass a variation threshold level due to the presence of the RFID device, the ring signals are terminated and the excitation signal generator circuit switches to an increased power state, wherein the excitation signal generator circuit generates an RF excitation signal which is transmitted to the RFID device.

Abstract: A torsion axle is provided, which includes an axle tube having an interior chamber and an insert assembly positioned within the interior chamber. The insert assembly includes a rigid shaft, a relatively flexible cartridge, and relatively inflexible front and rear bushings. The cartridge has an interior passageway receiving the shaft and the front and rear bushings likewise each have an aperture receiving the shaft. The front bushing is positioned on the shaft in front of the cartridge, while the rear bushing is positioned on the shaft to the rear of the cartridge. The front and rear bushings are dimensioned to fit closely within the interior chamber and are freely rotatable relative to the shaft, while the cartridge is non-rotatable relative to the shaft at the interior passageway.

Abstract: A portable, patient-controlled medication delivery system includes an infusion pump, a catheter assembly and an extension tubing set. The infusion pump retains a treatment fluid and provides a drive mechanism for delivering the treatment fluid to a patient. The catheter assembly has a medicine catheter which penetrates directly into the treatment site of the patient and the extension tubing set has an extension tube which connects the medicine catheter and infusion pump. The infusion pump includes a fluid reservoir, a dosage chamber, and a displacement piston displacable within the dosage chamber. An elastic member is also positioned in the infusion pump to exert a displacement force on the displacement piston. The elastic member is alternately transitionable between a more stressed position and a less stressed position.

Abstract: A tubing connector has a body, a tubular member, a compression member, a cap and a coupling. The body has a bore extending through it and a body portion of the tubular member is positioned in the bore of the body with an extension portion of the tubular member extending from the bore of the body. The compression member is fitted in the cap and also has a bore extending through it. The cap is provided with an opening and an orifice which are aligned with the bore of the compression member to define a continuous passageway through the cap. The coupling connectively engages the body with the cap. The tubing connector also optionally includes a coupling element which enables connective engagement of the body with an adjoining member. To use the tubing connector, the flexible tube is threaded through the continuous passageway of the cap and fitted over the extension portion of the tubular member. The cap and the body are then connectively engaged around the extension portion.

Abstract: A system for therapeutically treating a desired region of a patient's body by circulating a nonambient temperature treatment fluid through a pad positioned on the treatment region. The system is provided with a fluid drive mechanism including a flow control assembly and a pump for delivering a drive fluid to the flow control assembly. The flow control assembly houses a pressurizing chamber having a drive fluid inlet and outlet and a treatment fluid inlet and outlet. A drive fluid outlet valve and treatment fluid inlet valve are provided to selectively restrict flow through the drive fluid outlet and treatment fluid inlet, respectively. Operation of the flow control assembly initiates with both the drive fluid outlet valve and treatment fluid inlet valve in an open position, enabling the pressurizing chamber to receive fresh treatment fluid in a receiving mode.

Abstract: A heat-resistant hose for transport of high temperature fluid, wherein the inner surface of the hose in contact with said fluid comprises a material containing blended rubber of fluorinated rubber (FKM) and acrylic rubber (ACM). In particular, a heat-resistant hose for transport of fluid containing high temperature oil which comprises an inner tubular body composed of one or more layers at least the most inner layer of which consists of blended rubber of FKM and ACM, fiber reinforcements wound around the outer surface of said inner tubular body the thread extracting force of which the fiber reinforcements is not less than 1N/mm, and an outer tubular body composed of one or more layers bonded on the surface of said fiber reinforcements, said most inner layer preferably containing carbon black having the value (A.times.B) of not more than 3500 obtained by multiplying the value A of nitrogen adsorption specific surface area (m.sup.

Abstract: A bond head is provided for a wire bonding machine having a linear axis frame, a rotary axis frame, a bond tool and a wire clamp. The linear axis frame is vertically linearly displacable along a linear axis, while the rotary axis frame is rotationally displacable along a rotary axis. A pivotal connector is provided which pivotally connects the rotary axis frame to the linear axis frame, enabling the rotary axis frame to rotate independent of linear displacement of the linear axis frame. The bond tool is connected to the rotary axis frame and is vertically linearly displacable in response to vertical linear displacement of the linear axis frame and rotationally displacable in response to rotational displacement of the rotary axis frame. The wire clamp is connected to the linear axis frame and is vertically linearly displacable in response to vertical linear displacement of the linear axis frame, while the wire clamp is maintained rotationally stationary during rotational displacement of the rotary axis frame.

Abstract: A wire conveyance system is provided for a wire bonding machine having, in series, a first wire handler, a wire slacking device and a second wire handler. The wire slacking device includes a wire support chamber having a substantially enclosed bottom, opposing first and second vertical sidewalls, a substantially open top, a back opening and a front opening. The wire slacking device further includes a pressurized fluid source and first and second fluid orifices for receiving a pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source. The fluid orifices extend through the first or second sidewall of the wire support chamber with the second fluid orifice being positioned downstream of the first fluid orifice. First and second fluid paths are provided in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source via the first and second fluid orifices. The first and second fluid paths extend upward between the first and second sidewalls of the wire support chamber and out the open top.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for preparing a phosphor product includes the stages of selecting precursors of a dopant and a host lattice as the phosphor starting materials, grinding the starting materials in an initial grinding stage for an initial grinding time period to produce an initial ground material having a smaller particle size distribution than the starting materials, firing the initial ground material in an initial firing stage at an initial firing temperature for an initial firing time period to produce an initial fired material, grinding the initial fired material in an intermediate grinding stage for an intermediate grinding time period to produce an intermediate ground material having a smaller particle size than the initial fired material, wherein the intermediate grinding time period is substantially less than the initial grinding time period, firing the intermediate ground material in an intermediate firing stage at an intermediate firing temperature for an intermediate firing time to produce an in

Abstract: A continuous automated process is provided for manufacturing a phosphor product having controlled particle size characteristics and enhanced luminescent performance characteristics for use in a luminescent display. A precursor host lattice solution, a precursor dopant solution and reagent solution are initially selected as the starting materials for the phosphor product and are mixed together to produce a liquid starting material mixture. The mixture is conveyed to a microwave reactor and heated therein in a first heating stage by subjecting the mixture to microwaves at a predetermined frequency for a time sufficient to convert the starting material mixture to a precursor complex. The precursor complex is conveyed to a fluidized bed reactor and heated therein in a second heating stage by a hot fluidizing gas for a time and at a temperature sufficient to convert the precursor complex to the phosphor product in particulate form.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for locating faults in a paired line. The fault locating device has a transmitting unit connectable to the conductors of a paired line containing the fault. The device also has a portable receiving unit to track the path of the paired line. The transmitting unit contains circuits for creating and transmitting a locator signal and a carrier signal including synchronization through the conductors toward the receiving unit. The receiving unit contains a pickup coil positioned proximal to the paired line, inducing induced locator and carrier signals in the pickup coil. The receiving unit also contains circuits for processing the induced locator and carrier signals and for producing a synchronization signal used to detect and segregate a component of the induced locator signal which is indicative of a fault. The presence or absence of the indicative component is communicated to an operator by means of an audible or visual fault indicator.

Abstract: An electronic cooling apparatus which circulates a cooled refrigerant and supplies the refrigerant to a pad, includes a heat transfer path, 1st to nth electronic cooling devices, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The heat transfer path is arranged in a refrigerant supply path to the pad. The 1st to nth electronic cooling devices have cooling surfaces bonded to the heat transfer path such that heat can be transferred. The temperature sensor is attached to at least one of the cooling surfaces of the 1st to nth electronic cooling devices. The controller controls power supply to the 1st to nth electronic cooling devices on the basis of a temperature of the cooling surface of the electronic cooling device, which is detected by the temperature sensor, thereby maintaining a temperature of the refrigerant to the pad within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A method is provided for installing a tubular member in a porous solid medium beneath the surface of a liquid body. The method is initiated by placing the member in a substantially upright position within the liquid body with an open end of the member positioned upon the solid medium and the opposite end of the member extending above the surface of the liquid body. A downward driving force is applied to the member in the direction of the solid medium, advancing the member into the solid medium. As the member is driven downward into the solid medium, a plug of the solid medium forms in the open interior of the member. The length of the plug corresponds to the depth that the member penetrates the solid medium. At the same time, liquids freely migrate into the open interior of the member from the liquid body or the solid medium respectively, via the open end of the member.

Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing high-purity phosphors having utility in field emission displays. The high-purity phosphor is a host lattice infiltrated by a dopant that activates luminescent properties therein. The lattice and dopant are initially milled together to reduce their average particle size while simultaneously achieving complete mixing between the lattice and the dopant. The resulting mixture is maintained free of a flux or substantially any other treatment agent capable of contaminating the phosphor and placed in a heating vessel formed from a substantially impervious contaminant-free material. The mixture is heated to a high temperature effectuating thorough infiltration of the dopant into the lattice structure. The use of an impervious contaminant-free heating vessel and the exclusion of flux or other treatment agents from the mixture avoids undesirable contamination and undue particle size growth of the phosphor product during the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for networking computer games in a centrally located game storage accessed by remote game key pads comprising a keypad interface for receiving game control data from the key pad, the game control data being frequency modulated with a center frequency above the audible frequency range to obtain a modulated data format and means for connecting the keypad interface in parallel across a telephone pair for communicating the modulated data format to a switched telephone network and a method for using such apparatus.

Abstract: A projection display system is provided having a first off-axis projector, a second off-axis projector and a screen assembly including a display screen. The screen assembly has a center axis segmenting the assembly into two segments. The first off-axis projector produces a first image that is directed via a first image path onto the first segment of the screen assembly and the second off-axis projector produces a second image that is directed via a second image path onto the second segment of the screen assembly. The second image interfaces the first image at the center axis of the screen assembly, both images intersecting the center axis at a substantially normal angle. The screen assembly may further include a Fresnel lens positioned in the first and second image paths adjacent to the display screen for receiving and straightening the first and second images. The first and second images are tiled across the entirety of the rear face of the screen assembly.