Abstract: Modem constellations are designed by independently optimizing for each slot of a frame, the distances between constellation points used for that slot. A maximum number of points N(0) are chosen having at least the minimum distance d0 without exceeding a power limitation Plim. Using N(0), an attempt is made to increase the d0 in the constellation without exceeding Plim. Constellations may be further optimized by, where possible, decreasing N(0) in a particular constellation without affecting the total data rate of the frame. Thus, a maximum potentially achievable data rate Rmax is calculated given the number of points which are in each of the six constellations, and comparing Rmax to a standards-permitted data rate DR; and then, if Rmax exceeds DR, by decreasing N(0) in one or more constellations, provided the decrease in the number of points does not cause a recalculated Rmax to drop below DR.

Abstract: A spa enclosure for a spa tub is provided with a cabinet having at least one towel bar or towel hook and which at least partially recesses into the wall of the enclosure. The cabinet is provided with vent openings which permit heat cogenerated by a water pump used to pump water in the spa, an air blower, and/or a water heater to enter the cabinet by convection, heat towels provided on the bars or hooks, and exit through an upper portion of the cabinet. No additional dedicated heating element is provided to heat the towels. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the cabinet is hinged at a lower portion to the enclosure and pivots about the hinge to open. The front and sides of the cabinet are preferably insulated to retain heat within the cabinet, and likewise, the enclosure may be insulated. A supply of towels may be kept in the cabinet or towels may be placed in the cabinet just prior to entering the spa tub.

Abstract: The collagen forceps includes two elongate members coupled at a proximal live hinge. The elongate members are each provided with a knurled finger pad ergonomically contoured to stably receive a finger or thumb of a physician, and a manipulation tip having an interior collagen rod gripping surfaces. The manipulation tip of the collagen forceps includes two gripping channels preferably oriented substantially orthoganally relative to each other. In addition, the manipulation tip is preferably angled relative to an axis of the collagen forceps. The proximal end of the forceps includes a shaft which is also preferably angled relative to the axis, and thereby facilitates grip and balance of the collagen forceps in the hand of the physician.

Abstract: A clamp-type garment hanger defined by a pair of opposed jaw members between which a garment is hung. The opposed jaw members have gripping members and opposed gripping surfaces. The gripping members, opposed gripping surfaces and jaw members of one jaw member are formed from the same material, which may include either polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, styrene-butadiene copolymers and blends, or polycarbonates. The other jaw member has bonded thereto an elastomer material for gripping the garment. To increase the coefficient of friction of the opposed gripping surfaces, the surfaces may be treated by engraving, acid etching, electrical discharge machining, vapor honing, or sandblasting.

Abstract: Electrical cables of the present invention include cables made from plated filaments which are first twisted together and then drawn through reducing dies (or swaged). The cables exhibit a conductivity comparable to cables having greater diameter and weight. The smaller diameter of the cables of the invention allows them to be used as leads for electronic components in order to achieve reduced parasitic capacitance without increased resistivity or reactance or component package size. The cold working of the cables of the invention provides them with enhanced flexibility and fatigue strength. The combination of materials used in the cables of the invention provides them with resistance to corrosion and the adverse affects of aging as well as enhanced conductivity. Cables formed according to the invention with a hollow tube core can be self-cooling, or easily cooled by flowing coolant through the hollow core.

Abstract: Medical intravenous administration connectors according to a first embodiment include a first coupling member having a female luer, a valve member having a substantially rigid stem and a substantially resilient body with a sealing surface, and a second coupling member having a fluid coupling extending from one end and an internal valve member support. The coupling members are structured to couple to each other with the valve member being biased to a closed position. When assembled, the valve stem extends into the female luer, and the valve body biases the sealing surface against an annular ring in the first coupling member thereby blocking fluid communication. Vanes are provided in the second coupling member on which the resilient body of the valve sits, with the vanes acting as a centering mechanism for the valve. The valve is opened for fluid flow through the assembly by coupling a male luer to the female luer of the assembly.

Abstract: A carton blank has a generally half-circular line of perforation extending in the outer top panel and an end panel joined to the outer top panel at a hinge line. The line of perforation has a reduced radius portion which forms a lip in the assembled carton which acts as a closure for the spout. The end panel has an outside free edge not aligned with the main panel top edge so as to expose a portion of the inner top panel thereby allowing for joinder of the inner and outer top panels with fewer glue lines.

Abstract: A base unit has a microprocessor onboard and is programmable via a keypad. A drive is operable in accordance with a program input into the microprocessor in order to provide motive power to move the movable element. The base unit may be derived from a telephone unit of conventional type, and have wheels/axles drivable in accordance with the microprossesor program. The base unit may serve as a base for a consructional toy (which may have elements driven by the axles) and functions as an educational aid to introduce basic computer programming.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a substrate preferably made of beryllium oxide which is both an electrical insulator and thermal conductor, the substrate having thereon at least one heating element for the substrate, at lease one gas-sensitive active material deposited on the substrate and a set of at least two space electrodes in contact with the active material. The thermal conductivity of the substrate as arranged together with the heating element cooperate and assists to ensure that the substrate achieves a desired thermal gradient while the sensor establishes a near-uniform temperature throughout substantially the entire sensor, thus enabling the operating temperature of the active material to be maintained substantially constant throughout its entire volume.

Abstract: A parent-infant identification system includes a matched set of three bracelets each bearing matching visual indicia and an electronically readable data button and a data button reading apparatus. Two of the three bracelets are sized to fit adult wrists and the third bracelet is sized to fit an infant wrist or ankle. The matching visual indicia preferably includes a color code. The data buttons each contain electronically readable data which allows the data buttons to be identified with the data button reader. The data button reading apparatus includes an audible signal apparatus for signalling whether or not the data buttons match, and recording apparatus for recording the results of button readings. According to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronically readable data in each data button includes data which identifies whether the button is attached to a parent bracelet or an infant bracelet.

Abstract: A hydrotherapy jet system is provided which generally includes a fixture body, a nozzle, and a fluid line connector. The fixture body is insertable into a hole in a spa tub wall. The nozzle is inserted into a front end of the fixture body. An optional cover may be provided over the front end of the fixture body securing the nozzle in position. The fluid line connector has a first end adapted to be snap fit to a rear portion of the fixture body such that a fluid-tight coupling is provided, and a second end adapted for secure coupling to a flexible plumbing conduit. The fluid line connector is couplable to the fixture body without tools by simply snap-fitting the fluid line connector with the fixture body. An O-ring is preferably provided to one of the rear portion of the fixture body and fluid line connector to ensure the fluid-tight seal. It will be appreciated that after securely coupling the fluid line connector to the fixture body, the fluid line connector is rotatable relative to the fixture body.

Abstract: A fishing lure includes a thicker head portion which receives a hook and a thinner tail portion which has a width to thickness (height) ratio of at least two to one. The head and tail portions are integrally molded from a soft, flexible material such as plastic with shape-retaining properties, with a portion of the tail nearest the head extending through at least a one hundred and eighty degree curve such that the tail will curve or coil over the head (in a plane that is perpendicular to the width) when the lure is not being pulled through the water. In a preferred embodiment, the fishing lure is formed as a coil which traverses at least one complete turn. The shape-retaining plastic preferably has a lower specific gravity than water to give the lure excellent floatation characteristics.

Abstract: An insect trap includes a decorative cover, a container, and a funnel. The cover is preferably shaped in the form of a fanciful character and has a insect entry, a container opening, and a central window. The container has a mouth and is preferably an empty conventional two-liter plastic beverage bottle. The funnel has a flared opening and a short tubular extension at its other end. The extension of the funnel extends into the container and the flared opening seats against the mouth of the container. Bait, preferably tailored to lure particular species of flying insects, is provided in the container. The container is receivable through the container opening of the cover such that the mouth of the container is preferably aligned with the insect entry of the cover. Insects are lured by the bait and enter through the relatively wide flared opening of the funnel and into the container.

Abstract: A informational element (IE) is provided which permits the user to assign a precedence level to a call. A precedence/preemption connection admission control (P/P CAC) for use with any bandwidth allocation algorithm is also provided for processing a virtual circuit connection (VCC) request having an assigned precedence level, and for preempting one or more VCCs when a VCC request having a relatively higher precedence level is received at an ATM switch. Preferably, a resource allocator containing two databases, one listing all active virtual circuit connections and a second listing all preempted virtual circuits, is provided for storing the call parameters of preempted VCCs. According to a preferred embodiment, preempted VCCs may be reestablished. Reestablishment occurs according to various criteria. In addition, a second embodiment of a P/P CAC is provided in which active VCCs identified for preemption are buffered until the requested VCC is accepted by a downstream ATM switch.

Abstract: A highly flexible radiopaque cable includes two, and preferably three or more strands of nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy wire which are twined about a higher density core wire preferably made of at least one of silver, gold or platinum-iridium to form a wire rope. The wire rope is drawn through successive dies to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the cable is substantially smooth, the cross section of the cable is substantially circular, and the overall diameter of the wire rope is reduced by 20-50%. The cable is then annealed to remove the effects of cold working. The resulting cable has been found to have a substantially equal or improved flexibility (i.e., a lower modulus of elasticity) relative to single strand nickel-titanium wires of the same diameter and a higher radiopacity. In an alternative embodiment, no core wire is utilized, and the higher density wire is drawn with two or more strands of NiTi wire. In another embodiment, the higher density wire is radioactive.

Abstract: A sound lens speaker system includes a concave sound lens, two upper frequency drivers, and a lower mid/low frequency driver. The mid/low frequency driver is oriented to fire sound waves towards the apex of the sound lens. The two high frequency drivers are positioned off axis between the mid/low frequency driver and the apex of the sound lens, and are preferably angled toward the apex of the sound lens. Sound waves from the high frequency drivers and mid/low driver are reflected by the sound lens into a downward substantially focused beam of full frequency spectrum sound. In a preferred embodiment, the sound lens has an upper parabolic portion and a coaxial lower parabolic portion defined by different parabolic equations and each having a respective focus. The high frequency drivers are preferably located along an arc through the upper focus and the mid/low frequency driver is substantially vertically aligned with the lower focus.

Abstract: A RISC processor includes a sequencer, a register ALU (RALU), data RAM, and a coprocessor interface. The sequencer includes an N.times.32 bit instruction RAM which is booted from external memory through the coprocessor interface. The RALU includes a four port register file for storage of three contexts, and an ALU. The ISA (instruction set architecture) according to the invention supports up to eight coprocessors. An important feature of the invention is that multiple sets of general purpose registers are provided for the storing of several contexts. According to a presently preferred embodiment, three sets of general purpose registers are provided as part of the RALU and a new opcode is provided for switching among the sets of general purpose registers. With multiple sets of general purpose registers, context switching can be completed in three processing cycles.