Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations may include a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material may be dispensed. The device may also include a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, disposed in the interior of the housing. The perforation sensor may include at least one light receptor, and at least a portion of the perforation sensor may be positioned in the housing to contact sheet material traveling from the source to the outlet, thereby spreading perforations in the sheet material.

Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: A piezoelectrically actuated liquid atomizer device which applies alternating voltages from an ordinary wall outlet to a piezoelectric actuator intermittently and at a high rate sufficient to cause an atomization plate which is vibrated by the actuator to form small droplets from liquid which is supplied to the plate. The intermittent application of voltages to the piezoelectric actuator is carried out according to a duty cycle in which the off times are adjustable. An override of the duty cycle is provided so that the piezoelectric actuator operates continuously for intervals which are manually or automatically controlled.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations may include a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material may be dispensed. The device may also include a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, disposed in the interior of the housing. The perforation sensor may include at least one light receptor, and at least a portion of the perforation sensor may be positioned in the housing to contact sheet material traveling from the source to the outlet, thereby spreading perforations in the sheet material.

Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations may include a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material may be dispensed. The device may also include a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, disposed in the interior of the housing. The perforation sensor may include at least one light receptor, and at least a portion of the perforation sensor may be positioned in the housing to contact sheet material traveling from the source to the outlet, thereby spreading perforations in the sheet material.

Abstract: A control and motor arrangement for use in a model train includes a control arrangement integrally constructed with a motor. The control arrangement receives rotational speed and positional information from the motor and uses this information to determine how much power to supply to the motor, thus controlling the rotational speed of the motor. In this way, the control arrangement maintains a constant motor speed, if desired. In addition, the speed and positional information is optionally provided to a sound control arrangement for use in selecting appropriate sound effects.

Abstract: A piezoelectrically actuated liquid atomizer device which applies alternating voltages from an ordinary wall outlet to a piezoelectric actuator intermittently and at a high rate sufficient to cause an atomization plate which is vibrated by the actuator to form small droplets from liquid which is supplied to the plate. The intermittent application of voltages to the piezoelectric actuator is carried out according to a duty cycle in which the off times are adjustable. An override of the duty cycle is provided so that the piezoelectric actuator operates continuously for intervals which are manually or automatically controlled.

Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations may include a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material may be dispensed. The device may also include a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, disposed in the interior of the housing. The perforation sensor may include at least one light receptor, and at least a portion of the perforation sensor may be positioned in the housing to contact sheet material traveling from the source to the outlet, thereby spreading perforations in the sheet material.

Abstract: There is described a battery driven atomizer in which an alternating voltage is applied to a piezoelectric actuation element to cause it to expand and contract and vibrate an atomizing membrane. The alternating voltage is controlled to produce a high amplitude vibration during a first portion of a drive period, to initiate atomization, and thereafter to produce a lower amplitude vibration to sustain atomization during the remainder of the drive period. The frequency of the alternating voltage is swept repeatedly during each drive period.

Abstract: A fluid treatment system is disclosed that includes a control unit that controls the overall operation of the fluid treatment system. A ballast circuit is coupled with an electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly. In the preferred fluid treatment system, the ballast circuit is inductively coupled with the electromagnetic radiation assembly. The inductively coupled ballast circuit inductively energizes an electromagnetic radiation emitting device that is located in the electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly in response to a predetermined electric signal from the control unit. In addition, the fluid treatment system includes a radio frequency identification system that is used to monitor various functional and operational aspects of the electromagnetic radiation emitting assembly and a filter assembly used in the fluid treatment system.

Abstract: There is described a battery driven atomizer in which an alternating voltage is applied to a piezoelectric actuation element to cause it to expand and contract and vibrate an atomizing membrane. The alternating voltage is controlled to produce a high amplitude vibration during a first portion of a drive period, to initiate atomization, and thereafter to produce a lower amplitude vibration to sustain atomization during the remainder of the drive period. The frequency of the alternating voltage is swept repeatedly during each drive period.

Abstract: There is described a battery driven atomizer in which an alternating voltage is applied to a piezoelectric actuation element to cause it to expand and contract and vibrate an atomizing orifice plate. The alternating voltage is controlled to produce a high amplitude vibration during a first portion of a drive period, to initiate atomization, and thereafter to produce a lower amplitude vibration to sustain atomization during the remainder of the drive period. The frequency of the alternating voltage is swept repeatedly during each drive period.

Abstract: Adaptors are provided for use with electrosurgical bipolar instruments and standard commercially available electrosurgical generators that reduce coagulum buildup and sticking on electrosurgical instruments. A first type of adaptor converts a high voltage, high crest factor output voltage waveform typical of conventional electrosurgical generators to a more desirable lower voltage, lower crest factor regime. A second type of adaptor limits the peak open-circuit voltage supplied by a conventional electrosurgical generator to an electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for use in performing electrosurgery, wherein a power supply supplies an electrosurgical instrument with a low voltage power signal having a substantially constant peak-to-peak voltage that is independent of the load impedance and which has a crest factor near unity. A power supply is provided to supply a voltage waveform in accordance with the methods of the invention. A clipping circuit is also provided to permit practice of the methods using conventional electrosurgcial generators and previously known electrosurgical instruments, wherein the voltage amplitude and waveform is modified to the desired regime.

Abstract: A power supply for use with resistively-heated surgical instruments is provided, wherein the desired operating conditions of the surgical instrument are determined by a set-point determination circuit in combination with a set-point indicator element. The power supply includes an impedance matching circuit and current step-up transformer for reducing power loss in the cable connecting the surgical instrument to the power supply. A method of regulating the output of a power supply used with resistively-heated surgical instruments is also provided.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory disposed within electrically powered medical equipment is described. The non-volatile memory may be preprogrammed to store utilization limits and parametric data for the equipment. An external control module may be programmed to store the utilization history for the equipment in the non-volatile memory on an on-going basis. The control module compares the utilization limits and utilization history during each use, and disables the equipment if a utilization limit is exceeded. The control module may also use the parametric data stored in the non-volatile memory to regulate the power supplied to the equipment.

Abstract: A power supply for use with resistively-heated surgical instruments is provided, wherein accurate temperature regulation is achieved employing a resistance feedback circuit. The power supply powers the surgical instrument with an AC voltage waveform, and applies a fixed, low level DC signal to the heating element to produce a DC signal proportional to the instantaneous resistance of the heating element. The DC signal is compared to a setpoint value to obtain a control signal for adjusting the power delivered to the instrument to maintain a substantially constant heating element temperature, even under varying thermal loads.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a hand manipular probe suited for use in immuno-guided surgery calling for the detection of very faint gamma emissions for the purpose of localizing cancerous tumor. The probe contains a crystal such as cadmium telluride which is secured in a light-tight environment. A noise immune structuring of the probe and crystal combination includes the utilization of electrically conductive, compliant cushion layer located at one face of the crystal in conjunction with freely abutting biasing and ground contacts. A nylon, resilient retainer is positioned in tension over the assemblage of crystal, ground and biasing contacts and compliant layers to achieve a compressively retained assemblage. With the method, dead air space is developed between the forward facing window of the probe and the crystal retaining assemblage.