Abstract: A movie film image projecting device wherein a movie film is intermittently stopped in a manner synchronized with rotation of a sprocket by means of travel-synchronizing holes which have been formed longitudinally with respect to the movie film and a light from a light source is projected on a stated region of the movie film at a stopped base position. Detectors for detecting at a plurality of locations the displacement of the film from the base position at the time the movie film has stopped, on the basis of the travel-synchronizing holes, output a different position detection signal corresponding to the deviation of the film from the base position at each of the plurality of locations. An abnormality judging circuit supplied with the position detection signals determines whether or not the position detection signals are abnormal and outputs an abnormality detection signal for each of the position detection signals which is determined to be abnormal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for automatically updating the status of customers' orders and shipments via electronic mail without using a human attendant to create and send the electronic mail messages. Preferably implemented in software, the updating method allows a large set of customers to be periodically updated over a computer or communications network via electronic mail. The method utilizes a database for maintaining order and shipping status and other relevant information.

Abstract: A dental handpiece having a detachable motor. The dental handpiece includes a handpiece body having a dental tool, a driving section detachably connected to the handpiece body, the driving section further including a motor for operatively driving the dental tool, and a motor casing having a substantially tubular wall for defining a motor cavity for accommodating the motor. The motor casing allows the motor to be inserted and removed in an axial direction including a fastener for holding the motor in position in the motor casing.

Abstract: To adapt to the relative small sizes of portable electronic devices, two battery output terminals of rechargeable batteries are frequently deployed in a close vicinity to each other. Consequently, rechargeable batteries are prone to cause output terminals short. To prevent such output terminals from shorting, a switching circuit and an activating signal generating circuit are deployed between a rechargeable battery and a pair of voltage output terminals. In response to an activating signal generated by the activating signal generating circuit, the switching circuit connects the rechargeable battery to the voltage output terminals. In absence of an activating signal, the switching circuit disconnects the rechargeable battery from the voltage output terminals, so that a short of the output terminals will not occur to the rechargeable battery even if the voltage output terminals are directly connected with each other.

Abstract: A modular, stackable battery pack and electronic accessory system which allows one or more batteries to simultaneously power one or more electronic accessories. The battery packs and accessories each have two opposing faces which are configured to releasable mate with each other and to provide electrical connection between the components. In some embodiments, the accessory is configured to be one of the terminal ends of the system, and thus has only one face with a releasable connector. The other face may be reserved for operation of the accessory. In other embodiments, the battery packs themselves may also comprise an electronic accessory. Accessories suitable in the practice of this invention include a cellular telephone, a PDA, a pager, a personal stereo (AM/FM radio or cassette, DAT or CD player), a calculator, an alarm clock, an electronic address book, a shaver, a solar powered battery pack recharger, a voice memo recorder, a tazer or a flashlight.

Abstract: A flash reconfigurable programmable logic device is applied as a dynamic execution unit for a sequence of instructions. The sequence of instructions includes control portion, and a portion which indicates which configuration of the flash configurable programmable logic device is to be used with that instruction. In each execution cycle, a configuration is selected in accordance with the instruction being executed, switching from one configuration of the programmable logic device to any other configuration stored on the device in a single cycle. The configuration store stores a set of configuration words defining respective logic functions of the configurable logic elements in the programmable logic device. The configuration select circuits operate to apply a selected configuration word from the set of configuration words to configure the configurable logic elements. An instruction store stores a sequence of instructions for execution by the programmable logic device.

Abstract: A drying apparatus and method is described wherein baskets, or totes, filled with produce to be dried, are stacked vertically within an inner support frame. The totes are arranged with the open tops facing upwardly. The inner support frame has top and bottom spindles or shafts which are rotationally supported by bearing structures at the top and bottom of the dryer body. Moisture is driven from the enclosed procuce by centrifugal force when the inner support frame/totes are rotated. Produce such as whole head vegetables are preferably arranged in rows in the totes with the cores or cut ends of a row of produce juxtapositioned with, or "butted" against, the cut ends of another row, with the leafy ends generally pointing away from the axis of rotation. In this position, water or moisture tends to flow outwardly from the leafy open ends when the inner frame is rotated during a drying operation.

Abstract: A method using replication of distributed arithmetic logic circuits and recursive interpolation of reduced angular increments of sine and cosine sum constants in logic look-up tables, permits the computation of vector rotation and large FFTs in a unitary field programmable gate array chip without required off-chip memory for storing constants.

Abstract: A multi-state input drive structure is provided to forward externally generated high and low input signals, as well as to receive at least a third, internally generated, comparatively weak signal, preferably an oscillating signal, which triggers a third internally forwarded signal when neither of the high and low input signals is received. The inventive circuit drives three internally forwarded output signals from a single external signal source. Since this circuit may be duplicated for every pin on a device for which two cycle delays do not affect performance, availability of a third input state on N inputs allows 3.sup.N input codes as opposed to 2.sup.N for the conventional "high" and "low" levels normally available.

Abstract: A measuring spout for installation on a container that dispenses particulate material. One embodiment of the spout measures and dispenses variable amounts of particulate material. Another embodiment of the spout measures and dispenses a fixed amount of particulate material. The spout comprises a wedge-shaped spout member that pivots through an opening formed in a wall of the container. The opening in the container has a gate which, in the preferred embodiment, acts as the back wall to the spout, separating the particulate material in the spout from the particulate material remaining in the container. Thus, as the spout opens, the front wall moves further away from the back wall, thereby, providing a variably sized chamber depending on how far the spout is opened from the container wall. The particulate material is measured by tilting the container so as to let the contents fill the spout.

Abstract: A self-assembling polynucleotide delivery system comprises a dendrimer polycation aiding in the delivery of the polynucleotide to a desired address, and optionally other agents such as DNA masking agents, cell recognition agents, charge-neutralization agents, membrane-permeabilization agents, and subcellular-localization agents.

Abstract: This invention provides a self-assembling polynucleotide delivery system comprising components aiding in the delivery of the polynucleotide to the desired address which are associated via noncovalent interactions with the polynucleotide. The components of this system include DNA-masking components, cell recognition components, charge-neutralization and membrane-permeabilization components, and subcellular localization components. Specific compounds useful in this system are also provided.

Abstract: A universal linear power supply capable of automatically supplying a regulated DC current output from a range of AC input. In one preferred embodiment, interchangeable modular electrical plugs configured to mate with standard AC supplies releasably connect with the power supply. The power supply circuitry comprises a two-winding step-down transformer, a rectifier and a DC/DC step-down buck converter. A projection on selected electrical plugs mechanically engages a switch on the power supply, connecting the primary coils of the transformer either in series or in parallel to accommodate 110 VAC or 220 VAC input. In another preferred embodiment, the invention comprises an electrical plug for accessing VAC input connected, releasably or permanently, to a power supply comprising a linear transformer, a full-wave rectifier and a DC/DC step-down forward converter which is capable of accommodating the full range of standard AC voltage.

Abstract: The invention separates defined, active complexes by a characteristic from Defined, active complexes that share a particular physicochemical characteristic such as density, surface charge or particle size are separated from complexes formed by the association of a polynucleotide with a transfecting component that increases transfection activity, such as a lipid, cationic lipid, liposome, peptide, cationic peptide, dendrimer or polycation. In a preferred embodiment, polynucleotide-transfecting component complexes are ultracentrifuged to resolve one or more bands corresponding to complexes having a specific polynucleotide-transfecting component interaction. Polynucleotide complexes having a cationic liposome transfecting component resolve into two primary bands corresponding to complexes formed either under excess lipid conditions or under excess polynucleotide conditions.

Abstract: An EPLD having improved routing and arithmetic function implementation characteristics. Cascade and carry logic in macrocells allows for simultaneous product term exporting to both previous and subsequent macrocells.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus for stimulating muscle coordination and joint stability through multiaxial movement patters involving rotation force is provided. A plurality of methods of use of the apparatus are presented as well to maximize the therapeutic and preventative benefit of the apparatus. A variety of embodiments, including a portable version, are described.

Abstract: A battery charger having multiple charging stations that automatically supplies charging current to one of the stations depending on which battery is inserted. The charger has electrical contacts that mate with the charging contacts of the primary battery and are movable between a first position and a second position. When in the second position, the charging circuitry delivers current to the primary battery and when in the first position, delivers current to an auxiliary battery.

Abstract: This invention provides a self-assembling polynucleotide delivery system comprising components aiding in the delivery of the polynucleotide to the desired address which are associated via noncovalent interactions with the polynucleotide. The components of this system include DNA-masking components, cell recognition components, charge-neutralization and membrane-permeabilization components, and subcellular localization components. Specific compounds useful in this system are also provided.