Abstract: A printed wiring board assembly is formed by mounting an insert having a pocket containing one or more standoffs in the cavity of a pallet. The pallet and the insert are both coupled to the bottom of a printed wiring board. A device having tinned leads and a tinned casing is positioned in the pocket of the insert above the standoffs. A solder preform is positioned in the pocket of insert, beneath the casing of the device. The assembly is placed in a soldering oven and heated to a at least a reflow temperature of the solder preform, whereby the device casing is joined to the insert and the device leads are coupled to solder pads on the printed wiring board.

Abstract: Mold cycle time is accelerated by employing thermally insulating surface temperature boosters, which are of a minimum thickness to promote cooling by heat transfer through the boosters. According to the thermal transfer properties of the insulating boosters and the respective temperatures of the molten material and the dies, the temperature of the cavity surface is raised by contact with the molten material to equal or exceed the temperature required to produce a molded article, preferably just until the time that the mold is fully filled. Heat transfer through the boosters to the dies then cools and solidifies the molded article until it can be removed from the mold. The temperature boosters result in increased cavity surface temperatures, such that the mold dies can be kept at substantially lower temperatures. The overall result is a reduction in mold cooling time and therefore acceleration of mold cycling.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit disposed within a casing. The power supply unit includes power semiconductor devices. A fan is provided in the casing for cooling the power semiconductor devices. The power supply unit is operated in a plurality of contiguous cycles each including a running and pausing modes of operation. Each cycle lasting a relatively short time period. The power supply unit operates in the running mode and the pausing mode, respectively in response to the closing and opening of a start switch. In association with the closing and opening of the start switch, a switch for the cooling fan causes the fan to rotate and stop, respectively, which results in minimizing the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures of the power semiconductor devices so that the lifetime of the power semiconductor devices can be prolonged.

Abstract: An optical fiber organizer includes a plurality of optical fiber trays. Each tray has a top side for holding a fiber. Each tray has a hinge portion. The tray carrier has a plurality of sockets. Each socket is capable of receiving the hinge portion of a respective tray. Each tray has a first position on the tray carrier. The trays are stacked parallel to each other when the trays are in the first position. Each socket has an associated first detent, including a first boss below the socket, for maintaining its respective tray in the first position. Each socket has a second-position detent, including a second boss above the socket, for maintaining its respective tray in a second position about 90 degrees from the first position. The top side of one of the trays is exposed when at least one of the trays is in the second position. The hinge portion of the tray has a hole capable of receiving either the first boss or the second boss.

Abstract: A pressure transducer including: a silicon substrate including: a first surface adapted for receiving a pressure applied thereto, an oppositely disposed second surface, and a flexing portion adapted to deflect when pressure is applied to the first surface; at least a first sensor formed on the second surface and adjacent to a center of the flexing portion, and adapted to measure the pressure applied to the first surface; at least a second gauge sensor formed on the second surface and adjacent to a periphery of the flexing portion, and adapted to measure the pressure applied to the first surface; a glass substrate secured to the second surface of the silicon wafer.

Abstract: A single chip dielectrically isolated leadless pressure sensor adapted to substantially simultaneously measure a first pressure and a differential between the first pressure and a second pressure including: a wafer including first and second recessed portions respectively defining first and second deflectable diaphragms and at least one rim portion formed between the first and second recessed portions for isolating the first deflectable diaphragm from the second deflectable diaphragm; a first circuit mounted on the first deflectable diaphragm and being responsive to the first pressure; and a second circuit mounted on the second deflectable diaphragm and being responsive to the second pressure; wherein, the first and second circuits are adapted to be electrically coupled to one another so as to cooperatively provide a common output indicative of a differential pressure associated with the first and second pressures, while simultaneously partially providing an output indicative of the first or second pressures.

Abstract: A cable retainer assembly for retaining cables in a cable trough includes an elongated member that can be detached and secured to a trough. The member has a receptacle disposed at least partially along a length of the member. In one embodiment, the receptacle is a U-shaped channel which extends along the length of the elongated member. A retainer includes a flange that can be inserted in the receptacle and is sidable along the length of the receptacle. A second channel is provided for detachably securing the elongated member to a cable trough. A third channel may be provided on a front face of the elongated member for retaining a designation chart. The chart may be marked to indicate cable designations.

Abstract: An integrated circuit preamplifier amplifies an input signal comprising first and second differential input signals to provide an amplified output signal comprising first and second differential output signals. A biasing circuit of the preamplifier provides a bias current. An open-loop differential amplifier of the preamplifier is coupled to the biasing circuit. The differential amplifier includes a differential amplifier pair having first and second differential amplifying transistors, which are coupled at respective gate terminals to the first and second differential input signals. Each of the amplifying transistors are coupled in open-loop configuration at a drain terminal to a respective load resistor coupled to ground, and the source terminals of the amplifying transistors are coupled together to receive the bias current. The first and second differential output signals are formed across the respective first and second load resistors.

Abstract: A beverage brewing press is provided that includes a brewing vessel defining a chamber having an axis and that is supported by a housing. Positioned within the brewing vessel is a fixed partition and a partition that is movable about the axis relative to the fixed partition. The movable partition includes at least one porous receptacle that encloses a brewable material.

Abstract: An electronic containment system using positional satellites is provided for controlling the movement of animals relative to a selected confinement area. A portable programming transceiver is used to program the boundary of a selected confinement area as the device is moved along such boundary. A programmable collar transceiver worn by the animal provides GPS signals from the satellite to a remotely located control station. The control station tracks the movement of the animal relative to the boundary. If the animal crosses the boundary, the station transmits a stimulus activation signal to the collar so that a corrective stimulus may be produced for the animal. Tracking and containment of objects are accomplished by providing GPS-defined, user-programmable containment areas.

Abstract: A vacuum collet includes at least one weight disposed in the collet for assisting in removal of components from the collet. The weights are movable within the collet to gently dislodge components lodged on a bottom face of the collet. The weights may be actuated by the same vacuum which draws components to the collet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a new method that combines interpolation between neighboring A-lines with cross-correlation for high precision estimation of the transverse displacement. Due to this high precision lateral estimation, the method of the present invention can produce quality lateral-elastograms that display the lateral component of the strain tensor. These higher precision lateral displacement estimates also allow a finer correction for the lateral decorrelation that corrupts the axial estimation. The method of the present invention may be employed to divide the lateral-elastogram by the axial-elastogram on a pixel-by-pixel basis, in order to produce a new image that displays the distribution of Poisson's ratios in the tissue.

Abstract: A wavelength stabilized laser system includes a laser that produces a laser light having an amplitude and a wavelength that varies as a function of a temperature of the laser. A temperature control device controls the temperature of the laser. A beam splitter deflects a portion of the laser light. A first detector receives the portion of the laser light from the beam splitter and provides a first signal representing the amplitude of the laser light. A filter has a gain that is a function of the wavelength of the laser light. The filter receives the laser light and outputs a filtered light having an amplitude that varies with the wavelength of the laser light. A second detector provides a second signal representing the amplitude of the filtered light. A sealed housing contains the laser, the first and second detectors and the filter. The housing has a window.

Abstract: A self-routing calling center system provides the caller with a graphical display showing a plurality of resources. The resources may include voice telephone by which the caller talks to an agent, a video device, a voice mail system, an electronic mail system or a wireless electronic communication system. The information may include, for example, the background, capabilities or credentials of the human agents, and the specifications and location of hardware resources. The system allows a customer to select multiple preferred agents and/or resources, and initiate multiple calls. Subsequently, the caller can connect to the first one of the preferred agents to become available, while simultaneously dropping the other calls. The system also provides a customer with information about routing alternatives, if any of the agents can be reached at an alternate telephone.

Abstract: An input-side rectifier rectifies a commercial AC voltage from a commercial AC power supply connected to an input terminal and develops a rectified voltage between two output terminals. The rectified voltage is smoothed by a pair of capacitors. A switching arrangement connects the capacitors selectively in series and in parallel between the two output terminals. An inverter is associated with each of the capacitors. A high-frequency voltage from each of the inverters is voltage-transformed by a transformer. The high-frequency voltage from the transformer is converted into a DC voltage by a high-frequency-to DC converter for application to a load. When an AC voltage in a lower voltage group is applied to the input terminal, a switching control unit causes the switching arrangement to connect the capacitors in parallel, and when an AC voltage in a higher voltage group is applied to the input terminal, the switching arrangement is caused to connect the capacitors in series.

Abstract: An underwater apparatus for servicing subsea pipelines provides a telescoping frame which can be lowered to the vicinity of the pipeline. The frame has an open section so that it can straddle the pipeline and outer jacket and fixate itself releasably so that it can be selectively repositioned. A cutting apparatus is secured to a telescoping sub frame. The cutting structure can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the sub frame, as well as advanced along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the frame due to the telescoping feature of the sub frame. The cutting structure can also be moved pivotally about an axis of rotation which is outside and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Thus, combining the telescoping feature with the pivoting feature and the feature of being able to rotate about the longitudinal axis, a variety of different cuts can be made.

Abstract: A face plate assembly includes a ground clip that is mounted to a face plate which is coupled to a circuit pack. The ground clip includes a base member, a contact surface and a free end. The ground clip is mounted to a flange provided on the faceplate. The flange includes a cutout, wherein the free end of the ground clip is received in the cutout for preventing rotation of the ground clip. The ground clip may include a first elbow connecting the base to the contact surface and a second elbow connecting the contact surface to the free end. A Z-bend may also be provided in the contact surface of ground clip.

Abstract: The present invention allows a well to be produced through a screen without the need for a gravel pack. This is accomplished by the placement of an expandable screen that can move radially outwardly when placed at the desired location against the wellbore and be porous enough with sufficient open area to allow production from the formation. The screen is placed in the desired location by using coiled tubing which can be preperforated for a support for the screen. The screen is protected during delivery to the desired location in the wellbore by providing a disposable or removable outer cover which can be disposed of after proper location on the screen in the wellbore.