Abstract: The surgical instrument includes a distal tool, a rigid or flexible elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via distal and proximal bendable motion members. Actuation means extends between said distal and proximal members whereby any deflection of said control handle with respect to said elongated instrument shaft causes a corresponding bending of said distal motion member for control of said working member. A manually rotatable member is arranged adjacent to the control handle for manually rotating the instrument shaft and working member relative to the control handle.

Abstract: A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot and preferably for telemark skiing. The binding includes a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski and a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of the base, and disposed laterally on either side of the base. The lateral side members may be tapered inwardly toward the front so as to receive and guide the ski boot as it is to be engaged. The pair of boot support members are biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position.

Abstract: An endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument includes a distal tool, a rigid or flexible elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via bendable motion members. The tool and the tool motion member are coupled to the handle and the handle motion member via cables and a push rod in such a way that the movement of the handle with respect to the elongated shaft in any direction is replicated by the tool at the distal end of the shaft. The magnitude of the tool motion with respect to the handle motion may be scaled depending on the size of the handle motion member with respect to that of the tool motion member.

Abstract: A stabilizer for a heavy equipment machine includes a pair of resilient pad assemblies each having opposed surfaces either of which can be positioned as a ground engaging surface, and a support pin that extends in opposed directions from a stabilizer arm of the machine. Each of the resilient pad assemblies has a respective passage for receiving the support pin for enabling rotational support of the resilient pad assemblies from the support pin. The support of the resilient pad assemblies enables the positioning of either of the opposed surfaces as the ground engaging surface.

Abstract: Pad assemblies configured to be used in conjunction with stabilizer pads mounted onto stabilizer arms used to stabilize earth moving and other construction equipment. The pad assemblies are formed from either a resilient laminate or solid piece mounted onto a bracket which in turn is mounted onto the stabilizer pad. The pad assemble includes a support bracket, and a pad having a base captured in the support bracket and formed of a resilient material that defines a base surface. The pad is being retained by said support bracket and has a ground engaging surface opposite to the base surface and defined as an uneven ground engaging surface formed of separate ground engaging pad surface areas that terminate at different distances from the base surface.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical transducer is disclosed, which provides a wideband response by activating successive multiple resonant frequencies in a way which provides additive output between the resonant frequencies. A three mode wideband high output transducer is also disclosed along with an electro-mechanical feedback system which provides a smoothed response as well as array control under multiple element usage.

Abstract: A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot and preferably for telemark skiing. The binding includes a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski and a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of the base, and disposed laterally on either side of the base. The lateral side members may be tapered inwardly toward the front so as to receive and guide the ski boot as it is to be engaged. The pair of boot support members are biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical transducer, which provides beam patterns synthesized from the vibration modes of the transducer. A preferred form of the transducer is a short piezoelectric tube or ring with separate electrodes spaced around the ring for specific excitation of the monopole, dipole and quadrupole modes of vibration. Operation of the transducer in the region between the dipole and quadrupole modes yields a system with a nearly constant beam pattern and transmitting response. The arrangement allows a simple directional steered beam pattern from a single transducer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rotational stabilizer pads (140) for stabilizer arms (14) of vehicles. The stabilizer pads (140) include first and second ground contact faces for contacting respectively a smooth ground surface and a rough or gravel ground surface. In embodiments of the present invention, the stabilizer pads (140) include a reversible resilient pad (140) coupled to a first flange (124) and a second flange (126). The first (124) and second (126) flanges may include grouser points (130) and (131) for engaging the rough ground surface. In embodiments of the present invention, the stabilizer pads (140) are rotated about 135 degrees to change the ground contact face of the stabilizer pad (140) from one of the first and second ground contact faces to the other.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus that includes a handle, a first arm and a second arm. A hinge pin pivotally supporting the first and second arms about a pivot point adjacent facing ends of the arms. A cutter blade is supported from at least one of the first and second arms. A pivot mechanism incouples a handle at the outer ends of the arms and includes a spring for biasing the arms to a position wherein the cutter blade is closed. The pivot mechanism interacts with the arms to bias the arms to a position wherein the cutter blade is closed while enabling the pivoting of the arms to open the cutter blade to receive a wire or the like for cutting.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rotational stabilizer pads for stabilizer arms of vehicles. The stabilizer pads include first and second ground contact faces for contacting respectively a smooth ground surface and a rough or gravel ground surface. In embodiments of the present invention, the stabilizer pads include a reversible resilient pad coupled to a first flange and a second flange. The first and second flanges may include grouser points for engaging the rough ground surface. In embodiments of the present invention. The stabilizer pads are rotated about 135 degrees to change the ground contact face of the stabilizer pad from one of the first and second ground contact faces to the other.

Abstract: The voltage reference circuit is provided particularly but not exclusively for use in flash EPROM chips. The reference circuit is intended to be inhibited until proper start-up conditions have been established to allow the reference circuit to operate properly. This is achieved by incorporating an enable signal generating circuit which is responsive to start-up circuitry for generating an enable signal at an appropriate signal level.

Abstract: A heat sink for mounting a semiconductor chip in a plastic casing. The upper surface of the heat sink is in thermal contact with the semiconductor chip, the lower surface is coplanar with a main surface of the casing. The heat sink is formed from a substantially square sheet of metal having each of its corners folded as a tongue to provide a substantially square base, each of the folded tongues forming the lower surface of the base.

Abstract: A method whereby the N elements of a memory are read sequentially, and the data items contained therein are compared with reference data items. Simultaneously with the reading of each element of the memory, its address is written in a number of redundancy check registers, each connected to a respective redundancy element. In the event the element of the memory differs from the reference data item, the first of the redundancy check registers is blocked to prevent it from being overwritten and the address of a faulty element of the memory is permanently stored. Upon the entire memory being read, the addresses of any faulty elements in the memory are thus already stored in the redundancy check registers.

Abstract: A Zener diode is used to simplify a circuit for detecting the level of an operating voltage with respect to a specified range of use. The semiconductor junction of this Zener diode is biased alternately by one voltage or another. Under these conditions, the avalanche voltage of this Zener diode changes. The operating voltage to be monitored is connected to the cathode of this Zener diode. If the monitored operating voltage is higher than the avalanche voltage of this Zener diode, the diode alternately conducts. If the operating voltage is outside this range, this diode is either permanently on or permanently off. The variations that result therefrom are detected to report whether the operating voltage is correct.

Abstract: A method of lowering the power absorbed by an interface circuit, in the "power-down" state thereof, as incorporated to a telephone exchange and connected to a telephone subscriber line, being of a type which comprises a monitoring circuit portion connected between the line and the exchange. The method involves the steps of,detecting the polarization level of a conductor in the line,comparing that level with a reference value by means of a comparator having an input connected to the line and an output connected to the input of the monitoring circuit portion,switching the interface circuit to a standby state on a higher level than the reference value being sensed,once again detecting the polarization level of the line, this time through the interface circuit, andactivating the telephone exchange when, on completion of the second detection step, the polarization level stays above the reference value.