Abstract: The invention uses a transducer and ultrasound system to form and direct ultrasound beams through the blood stream that will detect the Doppler shift in frequency between the beams and the return echo off the blood. The transducer can be secured onto the surface of the patient's skin with a transducer housing holder. A 1-D transducer, subject to an optimized angle with respect to the blood vessel, will generate and direct ultrasound beams electronically through a blood vessel below the skin and analyze the received echo, searching for the maximum signal amplitude of the Doppler frequency shift from the blood. Furthermore, the device continuously controls the direction of the ultrasound beams to achieve maximum return signal amplitude. Then, the condition and trend of the blood flow is recorded and displayed continuously over the desired diagnostic interval the device is in use.

Abstract: A Multi-Homing System is equipped with an Adaptive ISP Access Cloud State Detection apparatus (ACSD) that improves the reliability of the availability of digital connections (links) between computer sites, such as a Computer Premises Network and the Internet, in which such connections are made by connecting through a multiplicity of ISP Access Clouds (links). Reliability is improved over prior art methods by using data elements of Internet Protocol datagrams, e.g. record fields or bits of fields, that are regularly and normally exchanged between the ISP Access Clouds and the CPN without creating additional data traffic. Data Elements from each ISP Access Cloud are used by processing functions of the by the ACSD to test for conditions that indicate that it may be in a DOWN status.

Abstract: A combination plumb and level tool has an elongate body with separated longitudinal arm members that have spaced apart, proximal ends fixed to the body and extend therefrom to respective separate distal free ends. The distal ends form longitudinally extending interior surfaces disposed in facing opposition located between their respective fixed and free ends. The arms and the body between them have a generally U-shaped cross section that forms an open trough from the free ends to a base contact surface between the proximal fixed ends. At least one of the arms has longitudinal extending first contact surface portion disposed on its interior surface. The first contact surface portion faces an opposing second contact surface portion of the facing arm interior surface. An elastic member cooperating with the first arm and the body biases the first arm inward, toward the second contact surface portion on the other of the arms.

Abstract: A foldable and self-opening hanger has two arms that fold down to a closed position away from the hanger's hook member with adjacent bottom arm edges proximal to each other. The arms are closed manually in opposition to a restoring force provided by an internal resilient member that tends to move the arms away from each other toward an open position suitable for hanging light garments such as shirts and blouses that exert opposing forces on the arms less than restoring force provided by the internal resilient member. For heavier garments, a lock-release mechanism is provided that holds the arms in a fully open-locked position that supports coats, heavy sweaters and the like. A pair of release buttons on opposite sides of the hanger release the lock-release mechanism allowing arms to be folded manually to the fully closed position so the hanger may be inserted into the neck of a garment without opening buttons or zippers.

Abstract: A rotary refractive laser scanner head uses two sets of lenses and prisms aligned along a common optical axis. Each prism is paired with one of the lenses. The lens-prism pairs are separately mounted rotatable on a common axis coaxial with the optical axis. A motor drives two gear sets. Each gear set is separately coupled to one of the two lens-prism pairs and rotates them at selected, typically different speeds. An input laser beam is directed along the optical axis at one of the lens-prism pairs. The first pair collimates and refracts the input beam into an intermediate deflected beam according to Snell's law and the characteristics of the laser beam and optics. The second pair receives the intermediate beam and further deflects it to form an output beam. By selecting the motor speed, gear ratios, optics spacing, characteristics and prism wedge (deflection) angle, the scanner head effectively can scan an output laser beam over a desired pattern area.

Abstract: An inductive plasma torch operating at atmospheric pressure is used for wafer or glass substrate processing. Said torch employs a linear type of plasma confinement. This linear torch is particularly suitable for photoresist etching and processes in which it has the advantages of high chemical isotropic etch rate and low plasma damage.

Abstract: A method and system for treating internal surface material overlying the interior of a tubular a substrate, and more particularly, to a system for ablating contaminates and other unwanted material from an internal surface 52 using a pulsed laser beam (38). The system includes three main sub-systems: a back end (30), a work head (100), and an umbilical tube (31) to protect conduits communicating between the back end (30) and the work head (100). The back end (30) includes heavy and bulky equipment such as a laser (32), chiller (4), pressurized air source (70), suction system (84), waste containment system (82), and electric power source (78). A conveyance such as a trailer (17) may enclose the back end (30) to make it transportable. The work head (100) includes a propeller driven rotating mirror assembly (380), and a lens assembly (520). During operation, the work head (100) is inserted in the tube or pipe and the laser (32) activated.

Abstract: MOS Cascode amplifier circuits are subject to long-term or instantaneous changes (degradation) of performance characteristics by excess substrate currents. These currents can be generated in the grounded source transistor of the cascode connected output transistors during peak excursions of drain-source voltage across the grounded source transistor when the output voltage of the MOS Cascode amplifier circuit is at a maximum. An improved MOS Cascode amplifier circuit arrangement includes a voltage limiting bias circuit arrangement of additional transistors. The bias circuit arrangement acts as a series voltage-limiting device between the MOS Cascode amplifier circuit output node and the drain node of the upper-most cascode connected transistors when the MOS Cascode amplifier circuit output voltage is at its maximum value.

Abstract: A digital compression apparatus and method uses a first compression encoding step associated with a first encode circuit to produce a first statistical data set from a first compression encoding of an initial digital video bit stream representing a group of pictures (GOP). The initial bit stream of the GOP is also stored in a first memory, while the first compression encoding is performed. Concurrently with, or following the first compression of the GOP data by the first encoder, a companion processor uses the first statistical data set and optional additional information to compute a set of filter and encoder control settings. The initial digital video bit stream of the GOP data previously stored in the first memory is retrieved from the memory after the first encoding step and is input as a time delayed version of the initial digital video bit stream through a set of filters and subsequently through a second compression encode circuit to produce a second compressed video bit stream of the GOP data.

Abstract: A hydride bed structure includes a first and second set of separated hydride modules within a single hydrogen containing, sealed tank. Each set contains a hydride having a different equilibrium disassociation characteristic. Each set is thermally isolated from the other and the enclosing tank by a hydrogen permeable, thermally insulating material. The hydride in each set is divided into a plurality of spaced apart clusters with each cluster disposed in a respective concave cavity defined in one side of a sheet of thermally conductive material. A hydrogen porous, hydride impermeable member seals each cluster within the respective cavity. The convex side of the cavity protrudes into a thermal media transfer cavity on the opposite side of the sheet. The spacing and arrangement of the cavities/protrusions define a channel array between the protrusions. A pan member is bonded to the opposite side of the sheet and defines the thermal media cavity shaped to receive the protrusions therein.

Abstract: A Beryllium disk drive substrate is prepared using a Beryllium metal having a starting modulus of elasticity (stiffness) of about 4.2 times that of Aluminum, in which the beryllium is separated into circular disks and processed by a sequence of lapping, heat-treating under pressure, cooling under pressure and polishing steps which retains the desirable metallurgical characteristics of the starting metal and provides sufficiently high quality surface finish, thermal conductivity and low mass density, to enable improved rotational speeds, acceleration/deceleration rates and information packing density for demanding disk drive applications.

Abstract: A route exception reporting apparatus is mounted in a mobile shipping vehicle having a predetermined geographic route. The shipping vehicle may be a self-propelled vehicle containing cargo or may also be a separable self-contained shipping container carried on a transportation vehicle. At least a portion of the predetermined route is stored in the apparatus on board the shipping vehicle. The apparatus is provided with a geographic locating means for determining the shipping vehicle location, a comparator means for comparing the shipping vehicle location with at least one point of the predetermined route and a communication means for communicating with a central station. The apparatus is configured to communicate the shipping vehicle location to the central station when the comparator means computes a difference between the shipping vehicle location at a particular point in time and the predetermined route point corresponding with that particular time point which exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A system of prefabricated plaster relief forms are manufactured to be applied to prepared walls of a building, such as a home or other structure. The prefabricated forms are made of an open work lattice material formed into a channel shape having a top, two depending sides and outward directed flange portions. The lattice material is configured to receive and hold a cementitious material such as plaster. The top and the sides of the prefabricated forms are configured to present a protuberant contour projecting away from the flange sections and thereby outwardly from the prepared wall. The cross section and the ends of the prefabricated forms are shaped to align end-to-end with identically shaped forms. Alignment of a plurality of such forms in a longitudinal direction provides a continuous relief band along the wall of a structure. The prefabricated relief form flange sections are configured for attaching to the prepared walls by means of nails, screws or adhesive.

Abstract: A resilient body electrical connector is shaped and dimensioned to define at least one mating interface parallel to a longitudinal axis. A first plurality of electrical conductors is disposed with each having a portion embedded in the connector body, and each having a respective contact point protruding from the connector body, the contact points being disposed in a contact plane parallel to the mating interface. A receptacle is configured to slidably receive the mating interface along a complementary receiving interface. A second corresponding plurality of electrical conductors are embedded in the receptacle and define respective contact faces disposed along the complementary receiving interface. The connector and receptacle are shaped and dimensioned such that they define a guide means, the guide means being configured to guide the connector as it is inserted longitudinally into the receptacle such that the contact surfaces slidably receive the contact points.