Abstract: A method for operating a switched mode power supply (SMPS) during a start-up sequence includes receiving an input current at a bias supply circuit while a first relay and a second relay coupled to a first side circuit within the SMPS are open, generating a first bias supply voltage based on the received input current, closing the first relay after generating the first bias supply voltage, conducting the input current through the first relay and through an in-rush resistor coupled in series with the first relay, and closing the second relay after a first time period.

Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a storage area which is delimited by a body and a door and which is subdivided by a shelf into an upper and a lower compartment. A drawer is accommodated in the lower compartment. In a stop position of the drawer in which it is pushed into the lower compartment, a front wall of the drawer bears against a front edge of the shelf. A closure element can be moved across a passage or opening in the shelf between a position which blocks the passage and a position which opens the passage over at least part of its cross section.

Abstract: Process of generating a three-dimensional graphical representation of a geographical environment from positioning data provided by a user, said process comprising the following steps: receiving positioning data corresponding to a geographical environment, said data defining the limits of said geographical environment; normalizing said positioning data with respect to an altimetry database; defining the area of three-dimensional graphical representation to be generated from said positioning data; obtaining information of the three-dimensional graphical representation to be generated from an altimetry database; a landcover database; a vegetation database; a road database; and an image database; and graphically representing the information obtained to generate the three-dimensional graphical representation.

Abstract: A refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigeration device, comprises an ice maker and a storage container which can be moved between a collecting position for receiving ice produced by the ice maker and a discharging position. The storage container is supported in the collecting position by a compartment base of the refrigeration device and is guided between the collecting position and the discharging position by means of at least one rail fitted on the compartment base.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, includes an ice maker that ejects finished ice cubes in a downward direction and a drawer disposed below the ice maker, which can be moved between a pushed in and a pulled out position. An ice storage container can be positioned in two non-overlapping positions in the drawer, only one of which is below an ejection region of the ice maker in the pushed in position.

Abstract: A method for operating a switched mode power supply (SMPS) during a start-up sequence includes receiving an input current at a bias supply circuit while a first relay and a second relay coupled to a first side circuit within the SMPS are open, generating a first bias supply voltage based on the received input current, closing the first relay after generating the first bias supply voltage, conducting the input current through the first relay and through an in-rush resistor coupled in series with the first relay, and closing the second relay after a first time period.

Abstract: A vacuum sealing machine includes a base assembly having an upper base portion removably secured to a lower base portion and displacing relative to the lower base portion from a closed position to an open position. Two or more heating strips are disposed on the lower base portion, and each of the heating strips is adapted to seal a portion of an open end of a sealable bag disposed between the lower and upper base portions. At least one securement feature is disposed on the upper base portion and is adapted to apply pressure to a portion of the open end of the inserted sealable bag when the sealable bag is sealed by at least one of the heating strips. In addition, A control unit including at least one microprocessor and a memory unit is in communication with each of the two or more heating strips.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic charging system for charging a vehicle (i) for using an infrastructure delimited by a boundary (100) during a charging period Tc based on GNSS location with guaranteed performance, comprising: an onboard receiver wfth integrity guarantee or OBU (30) which, in addition to providing position information, provides additional information relating to the error that can be expected in said position consisting of a health flag (Healthy/Unhealthy), and an RPL or Radial Protection Level, i.e.

Abstract: A portable toilet is provided comprising a bowl provided with an outlet and at least one spout. A flush tank is adapted to store a fluid, wherein the flush tank is adapted to be pressurized. A manually-actuated pump is in sealed communication with the flush tank, wherein the pump is adapted to cause the flush tank to become pressurized. A pressure relief valve adapted to release pressure from the flush tank. A manually-actuated flush valve is in sealed communication with the flush tank and is normally biased to a closed position. The flush valve includes a fluid outlet connected to the at least one spout and a fluid inlet. A flush valve actuator is disposed outside of the flush tank and is adapted to actuate the flush valve, wherein actuation of the flush valve actuator causes the flush valve to open to permit pressurized fluid contained within the flush tank to be delivered through the at least one spout.

Abstract: DC-to-DC switching power converter (11) coupled between a higher-voltage bus (13) and lower-voltage bus (18) that can be operated as an up or/and down converter comprises a first switching element (14), a second switching element (15), a sensing means (17) connected in series between an end of an inductor (16) and an end of a capacitor (17-2), a third element (14-1) connected in series between the first element (14) and the higher-voltage bus (13), a fourth element (17-1) connected in series between other the end of the sensing means (17) and the lower-voltage bus (18) such that both the third and fourth (14-1, 17-1) switches are controlled, open or closed, as a function of a predetermined current level signal provided from the sensing means (17) when the DC/DC switching power converter (11) operates under anomalous condition.

Abstract: A fault isolation system for use in an integrated circuit. The fault isolation system includes multiple input shift registers which are connected end-to-end, serial output to serial input, for convenient interface with a test data input and test data output that are controlled by the test access port controller (tap controller) of conventional JTAG circuitry that is frequently provided in such integrated circuits. The multiple input shift registers include parallel inputs which receive test data from test nodes within functional blocks such as general circuit blocks and linear bus alleys. The multiple input shift registers are efficiently controlled by a global controller which talks to many local controllers. The global controller distributes control signals that are received by the local controllers.

Abstract: An orbital implant for use after evisceration or enucleation of an eye includes a core and at least one porous hydroxylapatite granule mounted on the core to promote incorporation of the implant into the fibro-vascular tissue of the eye. In one embodiment, a plurality of hydroxylapatite granules form a substantially spherical layer around a polymeric core. A synthetic covering surrounds the hydroxylapatite granules for attaching the muscles of the eye to the implant. Alternatively, a polymeric spherical core is provided with at least one cavity formed on an exterior surface, and at least one porous hydroxylapatite granule is mounted in the cavity. The implants may include an integral protrusion adapted to couple with an artificial eye. Further, a tubular, synthetic fabric can be used to cover the implants by gathering the tubular fabric at open ends and welding them closed in the vicinity of recesses formed in the outer surface of the core.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of organic materials trapped in the emulsions generated in solvent extraction plants. The emulsions are first washed in aqueous solution. The washed emulsions are then subjected to a mechanical breaking process in aqueous/organic dispersion, inducing the inversion of the continuity of phases in the emulsions and the release of the phases involved. Subsequent separation of the phases by decanting enables the removal of significant quantities of solids and increases the overall recovery of the organic trapped in the emulsions.

Abstract: It is a problem in the field of light transmission systems to use unbreakable heat sensitive light guides such as plastic optical fibers, with a high thermal output light source. The heat sensitive light guide is damaged by the thermal output of the light source when placed in close proximity thereto. The improved light transmission apparatus uses heat sensitive plastic optical fibers as the primary light guide and uses a heat resistant interface to couple the plastic optical fibers to the light source. In the preferred embodiment, this interface is an optically conductive media that has high thermal attenuation and is interposed between the high thermal output light source and the heat sensitive plastic optical fibers. This interface can be a short length of glass optical fiber light guide as is used in the prior art.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument, particularly useful for ophthalmic surgery, includes a cylindrical body, a piston disposed for reciprocating movement in a chamber in the body and a probe having an elongate tubular outer probe member with a closed distal end and a port adjacent thereto and an elongate inner probe member slidably disposed in the outer probe member with a distal end movable across the port to provide a cutting action and a portion mounted to the piston such that the probe is positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and axially offset therefrom such that the inner and outer probe members are in positive alignment and not subject to relative rotation and inadvertent misalignment. An evacuation tube receives cut material from the probe passing through the surgical cutting instrument and a supply tube supplies pressure to the chamber to reciprocate the piston.

Abstract: An irrigating and aspirating handpiece for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a tubular body having a flexible irrigating sleeve mounted on a distal end thereof, a rigid tubular aspirating tip member mounted in a tip support insert disposed in the distal end of the body and extending through the irrigating sleeve, a length of flexible irrigating tubing connected with a coupling mounted on the proximal end of the body for supplying irrigating fluid through the body, a passage in the tip insert member and the irrigating sleeve to exit at a port in the distal end of the irrigating sleeve, and a length of flexible aspirating tubing extending within the irrigating tubing and connected with the proximal end of the aspirating tip member within the body for aspirating material entering through a port in the distal end of the aspirating tip member.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a cylindrical body having front and rear plugs in opposite ends thereof with a piston disposed in a centrally disposed chamber in the body, and a probe having an elongate tubular outer member with a proximal end received in an axial bore in the front plug and a closed distal end with a port therein and an elongate tubular inner member slidably disposed in the outer member with a distal end movable across the port to provide a cutting action and a portion fixed in an axial bore in the piston such that the probe inner member is moved with the piston, the rear plug having an axial bore therethrough aligned with the probe inner member to permit evacuation of cut material through the surgical cutting instrument and a second bore therethrough for supplying pressure to the chamber to move the piston against a spring bias.

Abstract: An intubation set includes a flexible sheath, a probe inserted in the flexible sheath having a proximal end extending out of the sheath and a length of tubing secured to the sheath to permit the tubing to be positioned in a body by inserting the probe within the sheath into the body, withdrawing the probe from the sheath and pulling the sheath through the body to position the tubing by grasping an end of the sheath. A method of positioning the length of tubing in the lacrimal ducts utilizes the intubation set with a pair of flexible sheaths connected with the tubing and a pair of probes received in the sheaths.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument, particularly useful for ophthalmic surgery, includes an elongate probe formed of an outer tubular member having an aperture in the distal end thereof and an inner cutting member having a peripheral cutting edge at the distal end thereof and an elongate body with an opening running therealong and carrying a piston disposed in a chamber of a hub through which the inner cutting member extends and which communicates with a source of suction, a drive unit for reciprocating the inner cutting member relative to the outer member, the opening along the inner cutting member forming an increased cross sectional flow area for cut substances being withdrawn by suction and the relative reciprocation of the inner and outer members coupled with increasing and decreasing pressure from the piston agitating the cut substances to prevent clogging of the probe.

Abstract: An in vivo illumination system includes an elongate cannula and a fiber optic cable passing through the cannula having a lens disposed in an opening in the distal end of the cannula and a condenser lens disposed in a housing adapted to be mounted on the end of a light source such that the lenses provide concentrated light from the light source at the distal end of the cannula. The cannula has an aperture formed in a side wall thereof at the distal end to permit the flow of fluids through the cannula, and an adapter assembly is utilized to mount the condenser lens on the light source, the adapter assembly including a spherical lens for concentrating light from a lamp in the light source on the condenser lens.