Abstract: A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: Dropout produces amplitude and high frequency loss in the read signal produced by reading a magnetic tape. A system for dropout compensation includes an adaptive filter that filters the read signal using multiplicative weighting factors based on an error signal. A detector receives the adaptive filter output and produces a binary signal indicating data written onto the magnetic tape. A shaping filter receives the binary signal and produces an ideal read signal representing the read signal resulting from writing and subsequently reading the binary signal without dropout. A differencer determines the error signal by subtracting the adaptive filter output from the ideal read signal.

Abstract: A ladder safety attachment designed to secure a ladder at its top to a tree or pole to prevent rocking or sliding of the ladder out of the position to which the ladder was initially set. The safety attachment includes a platform with two sets of spikes. The spikes in the first set are fixed in position with respect to the platform and are designed to engage a tree or pole as soon as the combined safety attachment and ladder are placed against the pole or tree, holding the ladder in its initial position while an operator ascends the ladder to engage the second set of spikes. The spikes in the second set are adjustable and are designed to accommodate various diameter trees or poles. The safety attachment further includes a adjustable set of ladder attachment brackets which can be adjusted to accommodate ladders of various sizes.

Abstract: In a recordable media drive, error processing is implemented in an adjustable read channel equalizer in which gain and bandwidth values can be selectively adjusted. In a write/verify procedure, the gain value is reduced, while the bandwidth is increased, thereby stressing the read channel during verification of written sectors in order to force the failure of marginal sectors. In an error recovery procedure, when a sector error is encountered, the gain value of the adjustable equalizer is initially increased and a sequence of read retries of the failed sector is initiated.

Abstract: A data clock is synchronized to a modulation coded signal read from a moving storage medium by a phase error estimator circuit that samples the modulation coded signal two times on each side of a detected peak. A first detected data bit taken at a time N- 2 (two time periods prior to the detected peak) is used to predict the expected value of a first modulation coded signal sample taken at a time N- 1 (one time period prior to the detected peak). Similarly, a second detected data bit taken at a time N+ 2 is used to predict the expected value of a second modulation coded signal sample taken at a time N+ 1. Because the first and second detected data bits are able to predict the first and second samples, respectively, the phase error estimator circuit is able to accurately detect phase errors when sampling arbitrary data as would be presented by a (1,k) modulation coded signal. The expected values at times N- 1 and N+ 1 are compared to the actual values and error voltages are determined therefrom.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier includes a pair of pivotal housing sections on which are provided a pair of clip actuating jaws. An elongated clip sleeve which receives a plurality of surgical clips arranged front to back in a row is mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement between the housing sections. The clip sleeve includes a pair of clip retaining jaws adjacent to its open front to receive and hold a surgical clip advanced from the clip sleeve between the clip actuating jaws on the housing sections. A pusher is mounted on the clip sleeve for engaging the rearmost clip in the row. The surgical clip applier includes a ratchet mechanism which is operable each time the clip sleeve is reciprocated to advance the pusher and the row of clips by one step corresponding to the length of one surgical clip in the row. The ratchet mechanism includes a first ratchet on the clip sleeve and a second ratchet on one of the housing sections which are engaged by pawls on opposite sides of the pusher.

Abstract: A record medium, such as a magnetic tape, optical disk, magnetic disk, and the like stores data signals and error redundancy signals. Resynchronization signals are interleaved between the recorded signals such that the error redundancy signals are usable to correct signals recorded between such interposed resynchronization signals wherein no error redundancy signals are recorded. Error pointing redundancy signals are recorded between all of the resynchronization signals for pointing to signals in error for enhancing the error correction. Such error pointing signals can be cyclic redundancy check (CRC) signals. Controls for taking advantage of the above-described arrangement are also described. Reframing and clock synchronization controls are also disclosed.

Abstract: A record medium, such as a magnetic tape, optical disk, magnetic disk, and the like stores data signals and error redundancy signals. Resynchronization signals are interleaved between the recorded signals such that the error redundancy signals are usable to correct signals recorded between such interposed resynchronization signals wherein no error redundancy signals are recorded. Error pointing redundancy signals are recorded between all of the resynchronization signals for pointing to signals in error for enhancing the error correction. Such error pointing signals can be cyclic redundancy check (CRC) signals. Controls for taking advantage of the above-described arrangement are also described. Reframing and clock synchronization controls are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is described for encoding and decoding a stream of randomly distributed binary bits representing digital data, including an encoder for encoding the bit stream to achieve a run length limited, partial response coding of the stream; a recording medium for recording the encoded stream; and a decoding system for recovering timing signals and a stream of data signals separately from the recorded stream using a first channel for decoding the recorded stream to recover a timing signal stream; therefrom; and a second channel for decoding the recorded stream to recover a stream of data signals therefrom.

Abstract: An adaptive equalization circuit for magnetic recording channels which derives an error signal to change the equalizer compensation value from the timing of random signal data and provides continuous feedback compensation.

Abstract: An automatic amplitude equalizer for magnetic recording channels which utilizes a readback training sequence, monitors the total power lost during the training sequence due to channel variations, and automatically adjusts the channel signal in response to the power loss factor.

Abstract: Data signals are linearly recorded on a record medium as a sequence of discrete amplitude levels, each level occurring in a bit period. For each received data bit signal, a separate sequence of such levels is generated in accordance with a predetermined rule such that each separate sequence of levels extends over a predetermined number of data bit periods. All of the amplitude levels from a plurality of data bit signals occurring in each data bit period are summed together to provide a resultant amplitude to be recorded. Such resultant amplitude in each data bit period is linearly recorded on the record medium. Readback and detection of such recorded signals is accomplished by first recovering data bit signals by supplying the readback signals through a filter matched to the sequence (preferably a tapped delay line) for reconstituting the data bit signals. The reconstituted data bit signals are then detected using known data bit detection techniques.