Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid through a tube by pinching the tube to prevent fluid flow. The valve assembly includes a valve that receives the tube in a passage between a plunger and a bar. A spring urges the plunger toward the bar to pinch the tube closed. The bar focuses the pinching force of the plunger to reduce the pinching force required to prevent fluid flow. The valve assembly also includes a caliper for opening, locking open and closing the valve and that is attached to the valve with a cable. To open and close the valve, a main lever and lock lever, respectively are rotated in the same direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internet network connecting and roaming system and method providing internet communication service to a data communication carried by a user moving indoors or outdoors. In the present invention, the user is provided with a communication service by connecting with an outdoor wireless internet network such as an outdoor wireless LAN or packet network when the user is located outdoors. Then, upon receiving indoor system ID information, it is determined whether the received indoor system ID information is identical to stored indoor system ID information. If the two indoor system ID informations are identical to each other, the communication route of the data communication terminal is switched from the outdoor wireless internet network to the indoor gateway, and makes wireless communications with the indoor gateway through an indoor wireless connection module.

Abstract: A computerized method for determining a tilt parameter of a cutting head of a fluid-jet apparatus. The method includes receiving a target-piece shape, describing an ordered path defining the target-piece shape, and segmenting the path into small straight lines of approximately equal length. The method further includes determining a cutting-head translation speed for each of the small straight lines, determining a tilt parameter of the cutting head with respect to the plane of the workpiece in response to the speed and a fluid jet-shape parameter for each of the small straight lines, storing the small straight lines and the determined tilt parameter associated with each small straight line in a memory, and sending the stored data to the fluid-jet apparatus. The method may include controlling the tilt of the cutting head in accordance with the tilt parameter for each small straight line as the cutting head cuts the workpiece.

Abstract: A video game system that includes a console and hand-held controllers with LCD screens. Each game operates in a simulated world populated with animated characters and static objects which are displayed on a TV screen, and are also displayed on the LCD screens of the hand-held controllers. While one part of the simulated world is displayed on the TV screen, different parts of the simulated world may appear on the LCD screens in a natural pictorial setting. Alternatively, some of the pictures displayed on LCD screens and TV screens may represent the same part of the simulated world at different times, or the same part at the same time. Pictures displayed on an LCD screen may appear concurrently or later on the TV screen. Objects and characters can be selected, moved, constructed, changed, or deleted by a player without revealing to other players these objects of interest or their disposition.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus for annealing and/or doping of a semiconductor, the apparatus having an air shield chamber in which are disposed a treated plate including a substrate and a semiconductor layer formed directly or indirectly thereon, and a target material having atoms with which a semiconductor layer is to be doped. At least one laser beam is directed to at least a part of the semiconductor layer and at least a part of the target material. Where multiple beams are used, whether from a single or multiple sources, one beam is directed at the semiconductor layer and another beam is directed to the target material. Where a single beam is used, the beam is directed at the semiconductor layer and at least a portion of the laser beam is reflected by the semiconductor layer to be incident on the target material.

Abstract: An image processing circuit includes a processor that receives a value of an original pixel of an original first video image and a value of an original pixel of an original second video image. The processor generates a first pixel-value component from the value of the original pixel of the first original video image, and generates a second pixel-value component from the value of the original pixel in the original second video image. From the first and second pixel-value components, the processor generates a value of a filler pixel, and combines the filler pixel and the original first video image to generate a resulting video image. One can use such an image processing circuit to generate a filler video field from an original video field and to merge the filler and original fields to generate a resulting video frame. Such an image processing circuit often uses less memory and detects inter-field motion more accurately than prior image processing circuits.

Abstract: A method and circuit for accessing a memory location comprising at least one respective ferroelectric storage unit of a matrix of ferroelectric storage units, the memory location is selected by connecting a first terminal of a ferroelectric storage element of the at least one respective storage unit to a respective access line to the memory location; at least another memory location to which is not intended to be accessed is also selected. A second terminal of the ferroelectric storage element is biased to a prescribed access electric potential, and an electric potential on the access line is sensed; the second terminal of the ferroelectric storage elements of the other memory location is also biased to the access potential.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (10) including at least two radial cylinders (17) disposed with their axes coplanar and equi-angular located relative to each other. The cylinders (17) meet to form a common combustion chamber (18). A piston (20) is located in each of the cylinders (17), each piston (20) cooperates with a cam profile (23) formed by the inner wall of a rotor (13). The cam profile (23) is rotationally symmetrical and includes the same number of lobes (26) as pistons (20) with each lobe (26) projecting radially inwards. The lobes are equi-angularly disposed about the inner wall of the rotor (13). In contrast to a conventional crankshaft driven engine, the cammed pistons (20) may move according to a non-sinusoidal time-velocity function. The lobes (26) may be modified in shape, for example, by filing or other reshaping, in order to customize the pattern of movement of the pistons (20) so as to alter the operating characteristics of the engine (10).

Abstract: Sensing circuitry for reading and verifying the contents of electrically programmable and erasable non-volatile memory cells, comprises a sense amplifier having a first sensing circuit portion connected to a cell to be read and provided with an output terminal for connection to a first input terminal of a comparator, and having a second reference circuit portion connected to a reference current generator and provided with an output terminal for connection to a second input terminal of said comparator, characterized in that said first and said second circuit portions comprise a series of first and second transistors, respectively, being connected between a first voltage reference and a second voltage reference and having respective points of interconnection connected to said output terminals of said first and second circuit portions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus to assist a model railroad hobbyist in cleaning driven or non-driven wheels of a locomotive or car. To achieve this objective, removable and invertable embodiments of the invention are disclosed. The invention provides a convenient means for replacing a conventional track segment with a dedicated cleaning segment. In one series of embodiments, a conventional track segment is replaced with a cleaning segment; in another series, a conventional segment is mounted to a support on an obverse side while a cleaning segment is mounted on a reverse side thereof. Nonlinear rail contacts are used to establish electrical continuity between the track and the mounted segments. Removal, inversion, and replacement of the support permits the user to change the segment in use. In yet another series of embodiments, the support is rotatable, thereby permitting the user to merely rotate the support from one segment to the other.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling two switches assembled in anti-parallel, comprising in series between two terminals of the anti-parallel assembly, two identical control stages respectively dedicated to each switch and between which is interposed a common impedance setting a phase angle for the turning-on of the switches, each stage comprising: a controllable current source for providing a current to a control electrode of the concerned switch; a capacitor for storing a supply voltage of at least the current source; an element of activation/deactivation of a the current source according to the voltage across the stage capacitor; and an assembly for discharging the capacitor.

Abstract: Methods and compositions that can reduce the symptoms of autism in a human patient comprising administering a physiologically effective amount of one or both of a purified casomorphin inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a casomorphinase and a casomorphin ligand, and a physiologically effective amount of a purified gluteomorphin inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a gluteomorphinase and a gluteomorphin ligand, to a human patient in sufficient quantities to reduce the effects of the autism. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods further comprise a physiologically effective amount of an enkephalin inhibitor, preferably an enkephalinase, and a physiologically effective amount of an endorphin inhibitor, preferably an endorphinase.

Abstract: An optical recording art is characterized by converting a light from a light source into a modulated light including an amplitude-modulated light and a phase-modulated light and forming an image of the modulated light on a surface of an object.

Abstract: Optical systems that provide for simultaneous images and spectra from an object, such as a tissue sample, an industrial object such as a computer chip, or any other object that can be viewed with an optical system such as a microscope, endoscope, telescope or camera. In some embodiments, the systems provide multiple images corresponding to various desired wavelength ranges within an original image of the object, as well as, if desired, directional pointer(s) that can provide both an identification of the precise location from which a spectrum is being obtained, as well as enhancing the ability to point the device.

Abstract: A multiphase buck type voltage regulator having at least two phases and including a first switching means that selectively connect a supply voltage to a load through a first current path; a second switching means that selectively connect said supply voltage to said load through a second current path; a first activation circuit that activates said first switching means; a first delay circuit that deactivates said first switching means after a first period of time; a second activation circuit that activates said second switching means; a second delay circuit that after a second period of time deactivates said second switching means; said first period of time depends on said supply voltage and on the output voltage; said second period of time depends on said supply voltage and on a voltage proportional to the difference of current that flows in said first and second current path.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for prophylaxis and treatment of breast cancer involving administration of a therapeutically effective amount of carbetocin and/or other long-acting oxytocin analogues. 1-Butanoic acid-2-(O-methyl-L-tyrosine)-1-carbaoxytocin (carbetocin) and/or other long-acting oxytocin analogues are formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and administered in an amount sufficient to inhibit initiation or growth of breast cancer in the patient. The carbetocin and/or other long-acting oxytocin analogues may also be formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and administered in an amount sufficient to treat, prevent or alleviate the symptoms of a psychiatric disorder in the patient. Carbetocin may be administered prophylactically or to treat existing conditions in patients by a variety of administration modes, including intramuscular, intravenous, intranasal, intrapulmonary, subcutaneous, parenteral, oral, or transdermal delivery methods and formulations.

Abstract: An architecture of a nonvolatile memory device, though not requiring dedicated pins and by introducing circuit modifications that require a negligible additional silicon area in the serial interface, allows a selection between at least two different serial communication protocols, thus multiplying the occasions of employment of the same device. The selection of one or of the another serial communication protocol is carried out by setting, during the testing on wafer (EWS) of the devices being fabricated, a certain UPROM cell of the array of UPROM cells that is normally present in a standard nonvolatile memory device for setting during the fabrication the characteristics of ATD, redundancy and other functions of the memory device. Alternatively, the customer can make the selection by placing an appropriate signal level on a specified pin of the memory device.

Abstract: A method for determining switching sequences of two-dimensional unary arrays of conducting branches of thermometrically decoded D/A converters, in a way that will ensure that the relative INL error function be contained between pre-established symmetrical upper and lower bound functions, has been found. When these upper and lower bound functions are constant, the obtained switching sequence compensates both the linear and the quadratic component of the error distribution and therefore is affected by a very small absolute INL error, which depends essentially on the random component of the error distribution. This method may be easily implemented by a computer program and allows the realization of thermometrically decoded D/A converters affected by a known limited INL error function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemical vapor deposition apparatus. In the chemical vapor deposition apparatus, an RF power source connection portionconnected to an external RF power source is installed on an upper side of a chamber; an RF electrode plate is installed within the chamber to be spaced with a predetermined gap from an inner upper surface of the chamber and to be spaced with a predetermined gap from a showerhead disposed below the RF electrode plate; plasma is generated in a first buffer portion, which is defined by a gap between the RF electrode plate and an upper surface of the showerhead, by means of the electric power applied from the external RF power source to the RF electrode plate; the showerhead is divided into two sections in a vertical direction and a second buffer portion is defined by a space between the two sections; reactant gases are supplied to the first buffer portion in which the plasma is generated; and source gases are supplied to the second buffer portion.

Abstract: An improved Phase Locked Loop (PLL) for digital integrated circuits. A characteristic of this PLL is that the Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) output is fed to the phase and frequency detector (PFD) input through a clock-tree replica providing a delay equal to the routed clock tree. “This enables the PLL to maintain the proper phase even during a sleep mode of operation.