Abstract: A flow switch for a high pressure washing system or other flow-related system is disclosed. The flow switch switches from an open to a closed position in the presence of adequate flow in a water or other fluid-carrying pipe. The flow switch includes a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port which allows fluid to flow through the housing. Within the housing is a plunger with an attached magnet. The plunger is responsive to fluid flow. A retainer ensures that the plunger remains within the housing. A sensor is situated proximate to the housing. A sensor magnet is placed in position near the sensor and opposes the plunger magnet. When there is no flow within the housing, the plunger is at its rest position as it is repelled by the sensor magnet. When a threshold rate of flow is present, the pressure from the flow overcomes the repellant force of the magnets and the plunger is moved to its secondary position. In this position, the plunger magnet trips the sensor.

Abstract: A flow switch for a high pressure washing system or other flow-related system is disclosed. The flow switch switches from an open to a closed position in the presence of adequate flow in a water or other fluid-carrying pipe. The flow switch includes a cartridge body, a sensor, a plunger, a magnet, and a spring. The cartridge body has an inlet port and an outlet port which allows fluid to flow into the cartridge body, through a flow chamber, and out of the cartridge body. The cartridge body also has a sensor chamber for accommodating the sensor. The sensor is positioned within the sensor chamber and is used to determine whether fluid is flowing through the flow chamber. A plunger is positioned within the flow chamber, and is responsive to fluid flow. Between the plunger and the sensor is a spring. The spring prevents the plunger from coming in close proximity to the sensor absent fluid flow.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treatment of, or protection from, neuropathy resulting from reperfusion injury upon reversal of an ischemic condition, comprising treatment or prophylactic treatment of the patient with an antagonist of the type 3 ryanodine receptor, such that a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration is prevented. Therapeutic compositions containing dantrolene or aminodantrolene are administered to the patient to prevent a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ that would otherwise result in Ca2+-mediated neuronal damage. Treatment of ischemic optic neuropathy by this method is shown, and the methods and compositions presented are also applicable to other ischemic reperfusion neuropathies, such as stroke, reperfusion injury after TPA treatment/carotid endarterectomy, seizures, and excitotoxic retinal damage in glaucoma.

Abstract: A transformable mechanic's creeper assembly for providing support to the user in either a recumbent or sitting position with selectable height. The transformable mechanic's creeper assembly includes a first deck assembly, a seat assembly, a second deck assembly couplable to either the first deck assembly or the seat assembly, a plurality of spacing members couplable to the deck and seat assemblies adapted for adjusting the overall height of the assemblies, and a plurality of wheels couplable to the spacing members.

Abstract: A simple, low cost energy absorbing shear strip bender that provides constant load, tailored load, or adjustable load/displacement profiles for use in any application where a single use energy absorber is required. Examples include, but are not limited to: a spinal load attenuator for use in crash-resistant aircraft seats; crash-resistant aircraft landing gear; aircraft or automotive restraint harness attachments; cargo or high-mass item tie-downs; automotive bumper attachments; and collapsible steering columns. The present invention comprises a shear plate or other base material, a shear strip integral to the shear plate, and a shear strip tab, all of which are formed from a single sheet of ductile material. The energy absorber attaches to two objects and begins to displace when opposing forces applied to the shear plate and shear strip tab reach the design limit value such that shear strip shears and plastically deforms, i.e., bends.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treatment of, or protection from, neuropathy resulting from reperfusion injury upon reversal of an ischemic condition, comprising treatment or prophylactic treatment of the patient with an antagonist of the type 3 ryanodine receptor, such that a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration is prevented. Therapeutic compositions containing dantrolene or aminodantrolene are administered to the patient to prevent a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ that would otherwise result in Ca2+-mediated neuronal damage. Treatment of ischemic optic neuropathy by this method is shown, and the methods and compositions presented are also applicable to other ischemic reperfusion neuropathies, such as stroke, reperfusion injury after TPA treatment/carotid endarterectomy, seizures, and excitotoxic retinal damage in glaucoma.

Abstract: In a line driver that utilizes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to generate a current that is used to form an output voltage VOD, variations in the output voltage VOD are minimized by a calibration circuit that senses the output voltage VOD, compares the output voltage VOD to a reference voltage, and then increments or decrements the bias current fed into the DAC to match the output voltage VOD to the reference voltage.

Abstract: A calibration circuit adjusts a differential output voltage from a line driver circuit when the differential output voltage falls outside a specified tolerance range. The calibration circuit includes a sample and hold circuit which samples the differential output voltage and holds a representative signal. A comparator compares the held signal with a reference voltage signal. When the held signal is greater than the reference voltage signal the comparator outputs a LOW signal and when the held signal is less than the reference voltage signal the comparator outputs a HIGH signal. The comparator output signal is stored in a memory circuit of a control logic. The control logic instructs an up/down counter to increment when the comparator output is LOW and to decrement when the comparator output is HIGH. A calibration current source sinks a unit of calibration current when the comparator output is LOW and sources a unit of calibration current when the comparator output is HIGH.

Abstract: A conveying system (10) for foodstuffs comprising a first conveyor (11) and a second conveyor (12) placed side by side with the end of the first conveyor overlapping the start of the second conveyor. The overlapping portions of the conveyors are in close proximity so as to define a transfer zone (25). Each conveyor has a plurality of foodstuff supports each adapted to support a single piece of foodstuff, and a tilting device to tilt the foodstuff support of the first conveyor to cause the foodstuff to roll from the support of the first conveyor to the support of the second conveyor. The first conveyor (11) includes a photographic zone and the second conveyor includes a weighing zone and multiple ejection zones.

Abstract: A stacked current mirror circuit includes four N-channel MOS transistors. One transistor serves as an input device for conducting via its drain, a majority of the reference current. Another transistor is connected as a mirroring device, with its drain coupled to a voltage source, its gate coupled to the gate of the input device, and its source coupled to the source of the input device at a first common node. These two transistors couple to form a first current mirror circuit which couples to the input of a second current mirror comprising the third and fourth transistors. The drain and gate of the third transistor couple to the first common node and the gate of the fourth transistor. The sources of both the third and fourth transistors couple to a second common node (e.g., ground), and the drain of the fourth transistor provides the output. As a result, current is mirrored from the input device transistor to the mirroring device transistor, and then forced through the third transistor.

Abstract: A current mode driver capable of driving both 10 Base-T signalling and 100 Base-T signalling in a Local Area Network (LAN) includes two or four current sources. In a first embodiment, a differential signal generator drives four current sources. The generator outputs four signals, one of which is received by each current source. Using these signals, two of the current sources push or pull current across the load in one direction, while the other two current sources push or pull current across the load in the other direction, such that a full differential signal is generated across the load. In another embodiment, a signal generator drives two current sources which drive into the load one at a time. Two switches provide either high resistance or low resistance during half of a signal cycle such that current is pulled through the load in one direction, and prevented from flowing through the load in the other direction.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) voltage offset (VOS) reduction circuit architecture is for use with an ADC that includes a resistive ladder network and a differential-to-single ended converter. The DC level of the single-ended output of the differential-to-single ended converter is nominally set at the mid-point of the resistive ladder network. The VOS reduction circuit includes a VOS comparator bank that receives the single-ended output, compares it with a plurality of input signals from the resistive ladder network, and provides the result of the comparison as a plurality of VOS comparator bank signals. A current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC) is coupled to receive the VOS comparator bank signals, via a latch bank, and to provide a current responsive thereto.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to automatically generate high quality test programs for the functional testing stage of microprocessor design. Programs for the functional testing are generated by a computer program using a random instruction generator. The generator produces instructions using four levels of abstraction: instructions, instruction categories, sequences, and functions. By choosing the level from which to pick instructions, test programs containing complicated sequences can be created, while at the same time random numbers may be used to produce instructions.

Abstract: A sorting system is disclosed for reclaiming lean meat from highfat meat trimmings. The sorting system includes a meat dicing machine which receives laterally extending whole meat trimmings and which dices such meat trimmings without grinding or extruding, and without disturbing the lateral distribution of the meat. This results in a lateral distribution of meat trimmings, without requiring vibratory distribution which is disfavored in meat processing plants. A wide-belt inspection conveyor is positioned at the downstream end of the meat dicing machine to receive the laterally distributed meat dices. The wide-belt inspection conveyor operates at a greater linear speed than does the meat dicing machine to longitudinally space the meat dices from each other. An optical inspection and sorting station is positioned at the downstream end of the wide-belt inspection conveyor to differentiate relatively lean meat dices from relatively fatty meat dices and to separate such meat dices from each other.

Abstract: The system is a plurality of wall board conveying sections which when interconnected form the wall board conveying system for the distance desired. In the preferred embodiment, each section provides a horizontally extending track frame housing a plurality of spaced apart freely rotating roller members throughout its length. Adjacent each roller there is further provided a first pair of lower free rotating guide wheels making contact with the front and back side of the wall board as it is conveyed along the rollers. There is further provided a second upper pair of free rotating roller guide wheels extending a distance above the lower guide wheels to a point approximately above the mid-point of the wall board being conveyed on edge, the guide wheels also positioned in making contact with both the front and back side of the sheet of wall board, and supporting it on edge as it is being conveyed along the rollers.

Abstract: A flexible membrane touch panel switch having contacts comprised of a first set of thin conductive metal film strips formed on a first layer, and of a second set of thin conductive metal film strips orthogonal to the first set and formed on a second layer, the second layer being spaced apart from and selectively movable into contact with the first layer, the panel further having silver conductive leads formed on each of the layers, each lead being integrally affixed at one end to, in electrical contact with, and extending from one of the strips for connection to external circuitry.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing the arrival of a motor vehicle at the pick-up window of a drive-thru business and providing a visual display of the length of time that the motor vehicle is present at the window. Visual and audible alarms apprise operating personnel that the vehicle has been present for a predetermined length of time. The apparatus also totals and displays the number of vehicles as well as the total duration of stay of all vehicles arriving at the pick-up window.The motor vehicles are sensed by means of a vertically oriented rectangular loop detector positioned beneath the pick-up window adjacent the vehicle approach lane. The detector senses the metallic sides of the approaching vehicle, and is shielded to prevent spurious signals.The apparatus finds particular application for improving the working efficiency of operating personnel of the drive-in business.