Abstract: A vehicle brake booster apparatus includes a housing, a movable wall positioned within the interior of the housing to divide the interior into a constant pressure chamber and a variable pressure chamber, a power piston connected to the movable wall for moving in response to movement of the movable wall, an axially movable input rod extending outwardly from the power piston for connection to a brake pedal, and an axially movable valve plunger mounted within the power piston and operatively connected to the input rod. A control valve is positioned within the power piston for controlling communication of the variable pressure chamber with atmospheric air. The control valve includes an air control valve and a vacuum control valve, with the air control valve including an air control seal arranged between the valve plunger and a valve body portion of the control valve.

Abstract: Annular mask lens for vision correction having diffraction-reducing edges. The lens body having an annular mask that forms a "soft edge" by gradually decreasing the transmissivity radially from the center aperture to the annular mask area.

Abstract: Novel cultured inner cell mass (CICM) cells, and cell lines, derived from ungulates, in particular, pigs and cows, and methods for their preparation are provided. The subject CICMs possess similar morphology and express cell markers identically or substantially similarly to ICMs of undifferentiated developing embryos for prolonged culturing periods. Heterologous DNAs may be introduced into the subject CICM cells and cell lines to produce transgenic cells useful for the production of transgenic embryos, fetuses and/or offspring, e.g., by nuclear transfer procedures.

Abstract: This power breaker has at least one quenching chamber, which is filled with an insulating medium, is of cylindrical design, extends along a central axis (2) and has a power current path, having two stationary consumable contact arrangements (5, 6) which are arranged on the central axis (2), are at a distance from one another in the axial direction and are arranged in the power current path. In the connected state, the consumable contact arrangements (5, 6) are electrically conductively connected by means of a moving bridging contact. An arc zone (24) is provided between the consumable contact arrangements (5, 6). A rated current path is arranged in parallel with the power current path. The power breaker is provided with at least one source for a highly pressurized insulating medium. The medium passes from this source directly into the arc zone (24), through at least one injection channel (62, 63). This high-pressure injection considerably improves the breaking capacity of the power breaker.

Abstract: A dual-mode telephone with a satellite communication adapter is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a cellular-type handportable phone is equipped with a connector for the attachment of accessories. This S connector provide a satellite communications adapter accessory access to the handset's signal processing resources which may operate in an alternative mode to process signals received from the satellite and converted by the adapter into a suitable form for processing. The processing translates the satellite signals into voice or data, and vice-versa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a distribution network comprising electric wires (5) for distribution of electric current, a plurality of tap-off facilities (6) with at least one socket (9) for tapping off electric current to optional power-consuming units (1), and a central computer unit (10) communicating with the individual tap-off facilities. At least some tap-off facilities (6) in the network comprise a switch (13) and a regulating device (11) with a microprocessor (21), a user connecting a power-consuming unit (1) to one of said tap-off facilities being identifiable to the central computer unit (10) or to the regulating device (11) via a microprocessor in the power-consuming unit, and the regulating device, in case of accepted identification, keeping the switch (13) closed and permitting tap-off of electric current from the socket (9), whereas, in case of non-accepted identification, the regulating device keeps the switch open and prevents tap-off of electric current form the socket (9).

Abstract: A method and device are provided for encoding superframe phase (SFP) and packet channel feedback (PCF) information into a coded superframe phase/packet channel feedback (CSFP/PCF) field. More particularly, the channel coding method is directed to distinguishing among a DCCH, a DTC and a packet data channel (PDCH). An exclusive-OR function may be performed on the logical value of the SFP before transmittal. In this way, the transmitted SFP value is a down counter on a PDCH.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for guiding a thin web material while folding the web material over a triangular former. The apparatus includes two guide rolls over which the web material is driven. The second guide roll is secured to a baseline of the triangular former. The triangular former and the guide roll may be tilted back and forth about a longitudinal axis of a bearing axle extending through a tip of the triangular former. The longitudinal axis is parallel with the web material extending between the two guide rolls. The position of the triangular former is controlled by a non-contacting edge scanning member that scans the position of the web material on the guide roll and causes the adjustment device to tilt the guide roll and the triangular former to ensure that the edges of the folded web material are precisely aligned.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient image compression begins by segmenting an input image into a current and previous window using a loading module. An encoding module compares the current and the previous window. If the current window does not match the previous window, the encoding module alters the dimensions of the current and previous windows and repeats the comparison. If a match is found, the encoding module instructs the loading module to continue to segment the image using the altered window dimensions. In this manner, the system's segmenting is in step with the natural cycle of repetition in the input image.

Abstract: If we assume that images to be printed will consist of a combination of natural images and computer generated images, we would like the natural images to map to the closest printable colors, and the computer generated images to map to the saturated printer colors. Usually, we cannot tell the source of a color specification, so one algorithm must suffice for both conditions. A method to combine the two is presented. First, the printable colors are measured is some device independent color sapce, such as L*a*b*. Next, the range of colors from some reference color CRT, consisting of the colors from black to monitor saturates, and the colors between, then from saturates to white, and the colors between, are calculated. The saturates are assigned colors based on what printable color a user would like to get when the user asks for a saturated CRT color. A good coice would be the color space defined by CCIR 709, but any color space could be used.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling current in a switched reluctance motor (SRM), in which after measuring the rotating speed of the SRM and determining whether the motor is decelerated or accelerated, current signals each having a waveform suitable to the acceleration/deceleration and the rotating speed of the motor are read from a current waveform table of a memory and then transmitted, and the current signals are controlled and then transmitted to motor coils of each phase, thereby driving the motor.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a housing in which a wash tub is disposed. The housing includes a top cover in which an opening is disposed to enable clothes to be inserted into, or removed from the wash tub. The opening is closed by an openable door. The door is openable in response to the depressing of a foot pedal by a user. The foot pedal can be operably connected to the door by a wire arrangement such that the force for opening the door is provided by the user's foot. Alternatively, the foot pedal or a button could be connected to a motor which is connected to the door for opening the door when the foot pedal (or button) is depressed.

Abstract: To prevent overfitting a neural network to a finite set of training samples, random distortions are dynamically applied to the samples each time they are applied to the network during a training session. A plurality of different types of distortions can be applied, which are randomly selected each time a sample is applied to the network. Alternatively, a combination of two or more types of distortion can be applied each time, with the amount of distortion being randomly varied for each type.

Abstract: A method and device for treating a mammalian organism to obtain a desired local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is provided. The method includes administering a sustained release drug delivery system to a mammalian organism in need of such treatment at an area wherein release of an effective agent is desired and allowing the effective agent to pass through the device in a controlled manner. The device includes an inner core or reservoir comprising the effective agent; a first coating layer, which is permeable to the passage of the effective agent; a second coating layer, which is essentially impermeable to the passage of the effective agent; and a third coating layer, which is permeable to the passage of the effective agent. The first coating layer covers at least a portion of the inner core.

Abstract: A fuse includes a solid silicone rod that has a fuse element stitched repeatedly through the rod so that the stitches extend longitudinally along the length of the rod. The stitched silicone rod is secured within a fiberglass tube, and a silica sand pulverant is provided around the stitched silicone rod so as to provide further arc quenching capability.

Abstract: A belt slippage correcting device and method for correcting slippage of a belt which is transported in a predetermined direction. The belt slippage correcting device has a slippage detecting device for detecting slippage of the belt in a direction perpendicular to the belt transporting direction and a moving device for moving the belt in the direction perpendicular to the belt transporting direction and control device for controlling the moving device based on the detected slippage of the belt by the belt slippage detecting device The slippage of the belt is corrected while the moving velocity of the belt in the direction perpendicular to the belt transporting direction is maintained within a predetermined scope of velocity. The device and method may be used in an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.