Abstract: This invention is directed towards a porous composite having an inlet face and an exit face and further comprises intermingled meltblown fibers and staple fibers which define a density gradient from coarse pores at the inlet face to fine pores at the exit face.

Abstract: A DC voltage resulting from rectifying and smoothing a commercial AC voltage is converted into a high-frequency voltage in an inverter which is operated in response to the closure of a start switch. A transformer transforms the high-frequency voltage, and the voltage-transformed high-frequency voltage is converted to a DC voltage by a rectifier and reactor for application between a torch and a workpiece with a gap disposed therebetween. In response to the closure of the start switch, an igniter operated from the voltage-transformed high-frequency voltage is enabled by an igniter driver to thereby apply a high-frequency voltage between the torch and the workpiece to generate an arc therebetween. A current detector detects current attributable to the arcing. A timer starts operating upon closure of the start switch and causes a disabling commander to disable the inverter when no current is detected by the current detector during a time period longer than a period required for an arc to be generated in the gap.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting the input manifold to the output manifold. The oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with the input manifold, and a needle valve is positioned in flow control relation to each of the conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from the input manifold to the output manifold. A plurality of solenoid valves, each having a first fully closed state corresponding to a preselected level of physical activity of the person and a second, fully open state corresponding to another preselected level of physical activity of the person, are positioned in flow control relation to all but one of the conduits.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing fluxless soldering includes an enclosure having a gas inlet through which an inert gas is introduced to create an inert gas-rich environment. Components are placed in the enclosure via an access port which also functions as a vent for allowing purge gases to vent from the enclosure. In one embodiment, a heating stage is provided in the enclosure which provides sufficient heat to reflow solder provided between two or more components. The inert gas is constantly flowing, or purging the enclosure in order to displace oxygen that would initially be present in the system. The presence of inert gas exclusive of other materials provides an oxygen-free environment, i.e., the inert gases provide a “shield” or environment around the parts to be soldered to inhibit the formation of additional oxides during soldering.

Abstract: A clock switch controller has a clock status register which stores current clock data which identifies which of two or more clock signal sources is a current clock signal source currently in use as a system clock signal source. State machine logic of the controller automatically switches, in response to a clock switch signal, the system clock signal source from the current clock signal source to a new clock signal source of the two or more clock signal sources.

Abstract: This invention provides reinforced, water-resistant structures, and methods of manufacturing and installing such structures. These structures include bituminous mastic material having first and second major surfaces and semi-rigid, open mesh material disposed within the mastic material. The structure may be prefabricated or assembled in situ and can be bonded to an underlying substrate by the application of heat or pressure to form an adherent bond. The reinforced structure has a tensile strength of at least about 300 psi or more.

Abstract: Optical devices using non-centric crystals, such as lithium niobate, and methods for making and using the devices, are provided. The devices provide improved temperature stability as compared to conventional devices using non-centric crystals. The improved temperature stability is provided by etching the surface of a non-centric crystal to a depth of less than about 300 angstroms. The devices and methods of the invention reduce the magnitude of change in bias voltage required to maintain an optical crystal at a pre-selected operating point.

Abstract: A push button system used to actuate pedestrian timing intervals at traffic signalized locations operating using a normally closed circuit rather than a normally open circuit, such that an open circuit resulting from the common faults of such devices and systems will result in the recognition of the failure.

Abstract: A portable electrical appliance or hand-held blender for processing food. According to the invention, the appliance comprises a case having a handle, the case including an electric motor rotating a first end of a shaft included in a fixed tube, a tool being secured to the shaft, and wherein a removable endpiece secured to the tool is mounted on the second end of the tube. The blender is applicable particularly to catering.

Abstract: A wafer configured for in-process testing of electrical components has a plurality of dies disposed on the wafer, wherein adjacent dies are separated from one another by streets. An in-line device monitor having a first port, a second port, and a device-under-test substantially in line with one another is placed within a street, where the device-under-test is between the first and second ports and is electrically coupled to the first and second ports. With such an arrangement, streets having a width of 100 microns and less are suitable for accomodating a RF-device monitor having ground-signal or ground-signal-ground configurations. As a result, accurate GS or GSG RF-device monitors can be provided in narrow streets of wafers, thereby increasing the amount of wafer area available for circuitry.

Abstract: A sand-capturing tool is disclosed, as well as a method. The tool relies on an eductor. The eductor is supplied by pumped fluid from the surface through a coiled tubing support for the tool. The eductor induces flow into a central tube in the tool which brings in with it the sand to be captured. Ultimately, the cross-sectional area of the induced fluid flow is increased to reduce its velocity and to further induce the sand which has been brought through the narrow inner tube to drop out into an annular area around the inner tube. The clean fluid exits through a screen and goes around the eductor and uphole to the surface. In an alternative embodiment, the assembly can be supported on an electric line employing a downhole pump which provides the motive fluid force for the eductor jet. In this embodiment, the remaining operation is the same.

Abstract: An integrated circuit-based charge pump generates an output voltage having a greater magnitude than a power supply voltage. The charge pump has a charge pump section having a plurality of alternating stages driven by first and second alternating, non-overlapping clock signals, said plurality of alternating stages including an input stage for receiving the power supply voltage and an output stage for generating at a last stage node a last stage voltage having a greater magnitude than the power supply voltage. A gating transistor is coupled at a drain terminal to the last stage node, wherein the gating transistor is clocked by one of said clock signals and is biased so that the gating transistor, during a boost phase, gates the last stage voltage to a load coupled to the source terminal of the gating transistor without a voltage drop and, at other times, turns off to prevent charge from flowing from the load into the last stage node of the charge pump section.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sheathed electrical heater assembly comprising the steps of: molding a core element into a desired shape, the core element having an outer surface; heating the core element at an elevated temperature sufficient to release organic material from the core element; placing a heating element in communication with the core element; and, encapsulating the core, and the heating element in an insulation protection layer, whereby the heater assembly is formed. Additionally shown is a sheathed electrical heater assembly comprising: a core made of an organo-ceramic material; a heating element in communication with the core; an insulation protection layer encapsulating the core and heating element to produce the heater assembly, the protection layer comprising and organo-ceramic material; and, a sheath encapsulating the heater assembly, the sheath also comprising an organo-ceramic material.

Abstract: Methods for time-regulated prophylaxis or treatment of animals or humans for limited circulatory oxygen delivery induced by the inhibitory effects of a plasma-borne hemoglobin-based material on L-arginine→nitric oxide→cGMP pathways in the arteriovenous vasculature. The properties of the invention restore and increase circulatory oxygen delivery by increasing circulatory flow of the blood-hemoglobin-based material through selective activation of L-arginine→nitric oxide→cGMP pathways in the arterial rather than venous vasculature. A method of the invention utilizes oxygen-carrying biocolloid compositions that consist of a hemoglobin-based material and a guanosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) generating entity, for treatment of animals and humans in need thereof for diseases or medical conditions which utilize the biocolloids as hemodiluents, blood substitutes, plasma expanders, or resuscitative fluids.

Abstract: A small-sized DC power supply apparatus adapted for receiving input commercial AC voltages of different value includes an AC-to-DC converter 4 which converts an input commercial AC voltage to a first DC voltage. The first DC voltage is converted to a high-frequency voltage in an inverter 10 including IGBTs 10a-10d which are rendered conductive when a conduction control signal is applied thereto. A transformer 12 transforms the high-frequency voltage, which is, then, converted to a second DC voltage in a high-frequency-to-DC converter 16 for application to a load 22. The conduction control signal with a pause period disposed therein is generated in a controller 14. The conduction control signal occurs at a fixed period. The pause period disposed between the successive occurrences of the conduction control signal becomes longer as the input commercial AC voltage is higher.

Abstract: A bond pad support structure is located beneath a bond pad on an integrated circuit. The bond pad support structure includes a first bond pad support layer at least partly located below the bond pad. The first bond pad support layer has a plurality of radial patterns with at least one space between the radial patterns. The radial patterns may be, for example, straight lines having approximately uniform thickness. Alternatively, the radial patterns may be triangles, each of which has an apex pointing to the center of a region below the bond pad. The radial patterns may have a plurality of different lengths. A second bond pad support layer is located on the first bond pad support layer. The second bond pad support layer fills at least a portion of the space between the radial patterns.