Abstract: A apparatus and method of interconnecting printed circuit boards in an electronic system inside a card cage. The apparatus includes a companion printed circuit board that connects to the main printed circuit board through a first electrical connector, the companion card providing at least one electrical path to a second connector. This second connector connects to the back plane of the card cage, with the back plane providing at least one electrical connection from the second connector to another electrical connector which connects to another companion card connected to the back plane. This method of interconnection avoids requiring flexible cable interconnections, thereby providing a cleaner layout of the electronic system, allowing easy insertion and removal of the main printed circuit boards as well as the companion cards, and providing excellent noise shielding.

Abstract: An improved, modular guitar system is disclosed and includes a guitar body frame, which has a central member disposed along a longitudinal axis of the body frame and a peripheral rim member defining a peripheral shape of the body frame. The system also includes a separate acoustic grill, which is made up of first and second grill sections that are removably attached to the peripheral rim member of the body frame only. The system also includes a removable guitar neck and headstock assembly, which includes a headstock/string retention mechanism, which allows the guitar to be disassembled without allowing the strings to unravel from the guitar string tuning machines. The system also includes an inflatable acoustic chamber, which is attached to the guitar body frame along the guitar body frame peripheral rim member. The inflatable acoustic chamber includes a membrane communicating with the guitar body acoustic grill sections when the acoustic chamber is inflated.

Abstract: An inspection system and method uses a ring illumination apparatus to illuminate one or more reflective elements, such as solder balls on an electronic component or other protruding surfaces or objects. The ring illumination apparatus includes a substantially ring-shaped light source that provides a substantially even illumination across the one or more reflective elements. An illumination detection device detects light beams reflecting off of the illuminated reflective elements for forming a reflected image. A method of processing the reflected image includes locating one or more edges of each reflected image element representing an illuminated reflective element. The edges of the reflected image elements are located by determining the maximum intensity gradient in the pixels forming the reflected image element. The inspection system and method thereby determines various characteristics such as the absence/presence, location, pitch, size and shape of each reflective element.

Abstract: A telecommunications system (10) is provided that provides for telephone functions to be accessed through client computer system (14). A server computer system (16) provides telephony services, database services and access to E-mail, voice mail, video conferencing and facsimile systems. A graphical user interface 116 is presented to a user to allow the user to perform a large number of functions and to access databases of information associated with calling and called parties.

Abstract: An inspection system and method uses a ring illumination apparatus to illuminate one or more reflective elements, such as solder balls on an electronic component or other protruding surfaces or objects. The ring illumination apparatus includes a substantially ring-shaped light source that provides a substantially even illumination across the one or more reflective elements. An illumination detection device detects light beams reflecting off of the illuminated reflective elements for forming a reflected image. A method of processing the reflected image includes locating one or more points on each reflected image element representing an illuminated reflective element. The points on the reflected image elements are used to located the pattern of the reflected image elements and/or to fit an outline around each image element corresponding to a known percentage of the true dimensions of each solder ball or other reflective element.

Abstract: A disc filter sector having an improved attachment system includes a sector base and a sector neck. The sector base includes stiffening members that extend through the sector base and include an attachment end, such as a threaded fastener or region, at the neck mating end of the sector base. The sector neck includes a hold down member proximate the base mating end of the sector neck. To attach the sector base to the sector neck, a mating attachment member, such as a bolt extends through the hold down member of the sector neck and engages with the attachment end of the stiffening members. In one embodiment, the stiffening members, attachment end, and mating attachment members are disposed outside of the flow regions in the sector base and sector neck.

Abstract: A wire belt splice edge connector is used to connect a wire link to a splice link in a wire belt splice connection proximate an edge of a wire belt. The splice edge connector includes first and second edge connector leg portions, a wire link receiving portion disposed between first ends of the first and second edge connector leg portions, and first and second splice link receiving portions disposed proximate a second end of the first and second edge connector leg portions. The splice link receiving portions, such as loops, receive and interlock with a splice link, and the wire link receiving portion receives and interlocks with a wire link in the wire belt. The edge connector leg portions are substantially parallel to one another forming a U shape with the wire link receiving portion. The wire link receiving portion forms an obtuse angle with respect to the edge connector leg portions.