Abstract: Method and apparatus for disinfecting an item, for example, a handle for a door or a tap in a toilet facility. The apparatus includes a movable member, e.g., a door handle having a contact surface for being manually engaged to move the movable member; germicide applying means for applying germicide to the surface; and an operating mechanism coupled between the movable member and the germicide applying means and operable in response to movement of the movable member for applying germicide to the contact surface after movement of said movable member. The germicide applying means may be a pump. The operating mechanism may act to prime the pump when the door handle is turned to open the door. The germicide is sprayed over the handle after the handle is released and returns to its initial position. The return movement may be retarded.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a virtual address for a program requesting a DMA transfer. The program is designed to be run in user mode on a system on a chip that includes a central processing unit, a memory management unit, and a DMA controller. The virtual address is a source virtual address or a destination virtual address and has a size of N bits. According to the method, the virtual address is divided into at least two fields of bits. For each of the fields, there is created an N-bit address word comprising a prefix having a given value associated with the field and having more than 1 bit, and the field. The DMA controller is programmed using multiple store instructions that include one store instruction relating to each of the address words created.

Abstract: A method is provided for using SACVD deposition to deposit at least one layer of dielectric material inside a deposition reactor during the fabrication of at least one semiconductor integrated circuit. According to the method, a reaction chamber is provided for carrying out SACVD deposition, and a stream of a first reaction gas containing oxygen plasma is supplied into a gas feed conduit connected to the reaction chamber. Microwaves are applied inside the gas feed conduit in order to produce sufficient oxygen radicals from the oxygen plasma, the oxygen radicals being necessary to initiate SACVD deposition. A stream of a second reaction gas is supplied into the reaction chamber, with the second reaction gas being suitable to initiate SACVD deposition when reacting with oxygen radicals.

Abstract: Respective items of a software component, a development task and a required specification, which are enumerated as the requirement for performing the development of software products belonging to a certain category are first registered in recording means. In the registration of the development-task items, when a specific development-task item can be initiated only after the completion of one or more other development-task items at the time of the registration, the specific development-task item is registered together with ordinal information specifying the one or more other development-task items. Then, the operator is allowed to set up the correlations between any two of the software component, the development task and the required specification which have been registered by the item registration function, with respect to each of the items thereof, and information about the correlations is registered in the recording means.

Abstract: A method and a device for processing an image to be displayed with a reduced number n of color components are disclosed. The method comprises, for at least one of the color components, a reduction operation that is carried out by means of a dynamic round off dependent on the position (x, y) of the pixel to display. Thus, in a very simple way, image processing preventing the occurrence of artifacts, flickering or other flaws that the reduction of the number of colors would inevitably produce, can be realized.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier is provided that includes a first circuit block capable of amplifying a first voltage signal that is input to the amplifier. The first circuit block includes a first terminal coupled to a first supply voltage by a variable resistance, and a second terminal coupled to a second supply voltage. The second terminal is coupled to an output terminal of the amplifier, and the first voltage signal is applied to a further terminal of the first circuit block. The amplifier also includes a feedback network coupled to the output terminal and to the further terminal of the first circuit block, and a second circuit block coupled between the second supply voltage and the further terminal of the first circuit block. The second circuit block is adapted to compensate for variations in value of the variable resistance to ensure a substantially constant input resistance of the amplifier.

Abstract: A system and method for production of a printed product individualized for the customer, which offers the customer a selection of information content, depending on the variable payment (price) and the profile of interests thereof. Based on the price decision of the customer, a customer-specific relationship of optionally edited information content to customer-specific advertisement is generated. A dynamic matching of the profile of interests is carried out by feedback. The form of the printed product is determined by the selection of the information and the advertisements and the combination thereof according to the customer-specific relationship and profile of interests by means of an inventive layout.

Abstract: A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more portions between which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.

Abstract: The extended range of optical data communication is enabled through the use of intermediary relay stations spaced fairly far apart. IRDA communicatiOn, as is well known, uses very short duration optical pulses to send data up to 1 Mbit/sec; this has the concomitant effect of minimizing LED duty cycle and preventing excessive heating. The invention uses a number of integrated pulses to represent a single bit instead of utilizing a one-to-one correspondence between pulses and bits. Processing software causes the transmitter to “stutter” or repetitively emanate the identical pulse representing a bit of information. Sufficient photons are thereby gathered at a receiver to reach a predetermined threshold. A tradeoff of the data transmission frequency in this invention is that as signal intensity drops by a factor of 100 when distance increases by a factor of 10 yielding a distance/intensity ratio of 1/10.

Abstract: The present invention provides a patient support apparatus for use during a medical procedure. The patient support apparatus is configured to receive and support a body of a patient on a base member. The base member includes a top surface having a plurality of adjustable members, wherein each of the adjustable members is configured to support a different portion the body of the patient. A plurality of actuation mechanisms are operably connected to both the base member and one each of the plurality of adjustable members, such that each of the plurality of adjustable members is separately, selectively positionable with respect to the base member. A control device operably connected to the actuation mechanism to selectively control the position of each of the adjustable members and the corresponding body portions.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor module including an optical semiconductor component that has a front face including an optical sensor. Encapsulation, defining a cavity in which the optical component is disposed, includes external electrical connections for the optical semiconductor component, and includes a window allowing light to pass through it toward the optical sensor. An optical lens (17) is disposed in the cavity (6) between the optical sensor (10) and the window (5). A support structure (18) supports the optical lens. This optical semiconductor module may also include a shield (24).

Abstract: Bit lines (BL0, BL0R, BL1, BL1R, . . . ) of a ROM memory array with differential detection reading are arranged within two overlaid metallization levels so as to increase the read reliability of binary values stored in the array. The ROM array is divided into matrix segments (100, 101, . . . ) aligned parallel to the bit lines. The bit lines are shifted horizontally and/or vertically within transition regions (T) located between the segments of matrix, by effecting circular permutations between the positions of the bit lines that are divided up into groups of four.

Abstract: A recovery enabling system for storage arrays is a high distance generalization of RAID-5 with optimal update complexity and near optimal storage efficiency. The recovery enabling system utilizes presets, data cells with known values that initialize the reconstruction process. The presets allow resolution of parity equations to reconstruct data when failures occur. In one embodiment, additional copies of the layout of the recovery enabling system are packed onto the same disks to minimize the effect of presets on storage efficiency without destroying the clean geometric construction of the recovery enabling system. The recovery enabling system has efficient XOR-based encoding, recovery, and updating algorithms for arbitrarily large distances, making the recovery enabling system an ideal candidate when storage-efficient reliable codes are required.

Abstract: A seasoning implement composed of an elongated hollow member loaded with a seasoning and having a plurality of axially spaced openings for inserting into a food mass. The hollow member provides a driving force to expel the seasoning. The hollow member may be a two-component assembly. A first component includes a hollow shaft defining a plurality of holes and has a point on one end and is open on its other end. The second component includes a cap. The two components are mutually engageable in a secure coupling. The seasoning is in the form of a powder or solid mass composed of a binder matrix holding a seasoning or mixture of seasonings. The binder disintegrates during heating of the food to release the seasoning and enable the implement to expel the seasoning into the food.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solidified hybrid gel for use in an electrophoresis process, having a solidified first gel portion juxtaposed with a solidified second gel portion. The first gel portion is capable of accommodating therein one or more samples for electrophoresis after said first gel portion is in solidified form, and the second gel portion is adapted for enabling an electrophoresis process to be applied to such a sample that may be accommodated in said first gel portion. Thus, the hybrid gel may be provided in a precast form to users, ready for use. The invention is also directed to methods for providing such a gel, apparatuses for accommodating such a gel, and methods for carrying out electrophoresis on a sample comprised in such a gel.

Abstract: A tracheal tube positioning apparatus is located relative to a patient's trachea by engaging the patient's Adam's apple. Indicia on relatively movable sections of the positioning apparatus provides an indication of the distance between the patient's mouth and the patient's larynx. A flexible guide rod is moved through a distance corresponding to the distance between the patient's mouth and larynx, as determined by the positioning apparatus. A magnet is utilized to attract a leading end portion of the guide rod. A plurality of emitters may be disposed in an array around the patient's Adam's apple. Outputs from the emitters are detected by a detector connected with the guide rod and by a detector connected with the tracheal tube. Alternatively, a plurality of detectors may be disposed in an array around the patient's Adam's apple to detect the output from an emitter connected with the guide rod and by an emitter connected with the tracheal tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping device for clamping a tool (8), or tool holder in a working spindle (4), in particular, of a machine tool, comprising a drawbar (10), arranged to be displaced within the working spindle (4), a clamping set (12), arranged in the working spindle (4) and displaceable between a clamping position and a released position by means of the drawbar (10), a spring arrangement (14) provided for the drawbar (10) to generate the drawing force for the clamping set (12) and a releasing unit (17; 49), by means of which the clamping set (12) may be moved into the released position by the drawbar (10) against the force of the spring arrangement (14). According to the invention, a simplified operation of the clamping device may be achieved, whereby the releasing unit (17; 49) may be operated by an electrical actuator (62, 63, 53, 54).

Abstract: A bootstrap circuit for switching power supplies (SMPS), a switching power supply including a bootstrap circuit, and an integrated circuit of a switching power supply, are provided. The bootstrap circuit (13) for switching power supplies includes a first supply voltage (Vin) coming from a first terminal and a second supply voltage (Vcc) coming from a second terminal and a third terminal (30). The bootstrap circuit includes: a first current path between the first terminal and the third terminal (30); a second current path between the first terminal and the second terminal; a third current path between the second terminal and the third terminal (30); and a two-way voltage regulator (M3, Dz2, R5, R6) placed along the second current path.

Abstract: A two-phase charge pump is provided that is capable of being controlled by first and second clock signals that are out-of-phase and take alternatively a first value and a second value during consecutive phases. The charge pump includes a sequence of cascade-connected stages that each have a first section and a second section. Each section includes an input terminal and an output terminal, a capacitive element, and a controlled switch coupling the input terminal of the section with the output terminal of the section. The input terminals in each stage other than the first stage are cross-coupled with the output terminals in a preceding stage. The capacitive element has first and second terminals. The first terminals in the first and second sections receive the first and second clock signals, respectively, and the second terminal is coupled with the output terminal of the section. The controlled switch has a control terminal. In each stage, the control terminals are coupled to each other.

Abstract: A personal emergency communication system includes a user-carried portable communication unit having a single button, which when depressed by the user, wirelessly sends a call request signal to a base unit. The base unit initiates a telephone call through a dial-up network to an emergency response center and places an operator at the emergency center in wireless voice communication with the portable unit when the call is connected. The telephone number to be called can be stored in at least one of the portable unit and the base unit. A speech synthesizer operating in combination with automated voice messages stored in at least one of the base unit and portable unit are used to advise the user of the status of the call, and to provide the user with verbal confirmation that functional systems of the base unit are operating properly.