Abstract: An adaptive filter is provided which has fixed point or floating point data stored in a data RAM (74) and block scale floating point coefficients stored in a coefficient RAM (84). The data and coefficients are utilized in a filter algorithm which utilizes a multiplier and an accumulator to provide a convolution result. Coefficients are updated by adding the multiplied result of the data RAM value and the error value to the old value of the coefficient. This is done for all the coefficient values in the coefficient RAM. The error value indicates the difference between the filter output and the sampled near-end signal that is the echo. These new coefficients are examined and if any have a value above or all have a value below a predetermined threshold, then the mantissas of all the coefficients are shifted and the exponent adjusted in the next filter cycle.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided which includes a single programmable terminal for controlling a plurality of modes, functions or parameters in a programmable circuit with a minimum of program elements connected to the single programmable terminal. The program elements may illustratively be resistors, capacitors, inductors or other circuit components. In a first mode, for example, two program elements control a signal generating function in the programmable circuit. In a second mode in this example, a voltage provided internally forces a condition at the programmable terminal to control another signal generating function. In both first and second modes, the values of the program elements, selectable by the user, also determine the particular frequencies of the respective generated signals. In a third mode, the signals generated in the first and second modes are compared to provide yet another a control function.

Abstract: A rack mounted rectifier has a cooling fan module which is removable and replaceable in the field for servicing the rectifier when a cooling fan failure occurs. The rack mounted rectifier module includes a rectifier unit, a housing, DC output contacts, AC input contacts, and a data signal connector. The cooling fan module has a mounting bracket, a cooling fan unit which is secured to the mounting bracket, and a cooling fan connector which is mounted to the mounted bracket and electrically connected to the cooling fan motor. The housing of the rectifier unit has a socket for receiving the cooling fan module and a mating cooling fan connector for engaging the cooling fan connector to electrically connect the cooling fan unit to electric power when the cooling fan module is fully inserted within the socket.

Abstract: A hot glue gun is provided with a heating chamber having an annular-shaped liquid glue retention chamber which is defined to extend between a wall of the heating chamber and the periphery of a solid glue stick feed region of the heating chamber. The annular shaped liquid glue retention chamber is sized such that during operation of the glue gun, not substantially less than ten percent (10%) of the volume of the chamber will contain melted glue which is disposed between the periphery of the solid glue stick feed region and the interior surface of the heating chamber. The rearward end of the heating chamber is sealed by a bushing having an inner surface with an interior diameter which is slightly smaller to approximately the same size as the exterior diameter of the periphery of the glue sticks, and thereby provides a seal for sealing liquid glue within the heating chamber.

Abstract: A fitting is provided for joining to a smooth exterior periphery of a tubular conduit with a seal member sealing therebetween. The fitting has a tubular body with a central passage for receiving the tubular conduit. The central passage defines a central axis for the fitting and has a tapered opening, a threaded section, a seal section and a stop which circumferentially extend coaxially about the central axis. An annular shaped seal member extends from the seal section for sealingly engaging the exterior periphery of the tubular conduit. The tapered opening of the fitting provides an entrance to the central passage which is sized for receiving and end of the tubular conduit having an oval shaped periphery, and then rounding the exterior periphery such that annular shaped seal member will sealingly engage the exterior of the tubular conduit. The seal section is disposed between the tapered opening and the threaded section of the central passage.

Abstract: A shutter control mechanism for 3-D glasses includes a control circuit (28) associated with the glasses, the glasses having 3-D lenses (20) and (22). The control circuitry (28) receives commands from a control transmitter (16) in the form of synchronization pulses and command signals. The command signals are operable to vary the operating parameters of the lenses (20) and (22). Specifically, the duty cycle of the left lens (22) and the right lens (20) are varied such that they can either be at a fifty percent duty cycle, greater than a fifty percent duty cycle or less than a fifty percent duty cycle, wherein the amount of time that each of the lenses is on can be controlled for a given frame length. The command signals are also operable to provide demultiplexing of a plurality of multiplexed program channels. Specifically, the duty cycle of each shutter control frame is subdivided into transmissive left and right intervals corresponding to each program channel.

Abstract: A set point of a pressure output of a pressure regulator (12) is adjustable without having to overcome a biasing force to selectively adjust the set point of the pressure output. The regulator includes a housing (14) having a chamber (18) and a pressure output port (24) in fluid communication with the chamber (18). A piston (38) having an interior cavity (42) is slidably disposed within the chamber (18) of the housing (14). A biasing member (88) extends between the piston (38) and the housing (14), such that a biasing force is applied to the piston (38) which increases as the piston (38) is moved in a direction away from the pressure output port (24) of the housing (14). The piston (38) has a first flow port (54) which extends through a wall of the piston (38). An operating member (56) has a second flow port (60) which is positionable within the interior cavity (42) of the piston (38) at selected distances from the ends (20, 22) of the housing (14).

Abstract: A method for modeling a steady-state network in the absence of steady-state historical data. A steady-state neural network can be tied by impressing the dynamics of the system onto the input data during the training operation by first determining the dynamics in a local region of the input space, this providing a set of dynamic training data. This dynamic training data is then utilized to train a dynamic model, gain thereof then set equal to unity such that the dynamic model is now valid over the entire input space. This is a linear model, and the historical data over the entire input space is then processed through this model prior to input to the neural network during training thereof to remove the dynamic component from the data, leaving the steady-state component for the purpose of training. This provides a valid model in the presence of historical data that has a large content of dynamic behavior.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically testing electronic memory modules. The electronic memory modules are automatically positioned, one at a time, in a test station position for registration with test contacts of a test connector assembly. The test connector assembly includes a mounting fixture which secures the test contacts, such that first ends of the test contacts are appropriately aligned for registering with surface contacts of the electronic memory modules. Second, opposite ends of the test contacts are mounted to a transition board. The transition board has first and second opposite edges, with the first edge having surface contacts which are closely spaced for registering with the test contacts, and the second edge having surface contacts which are more widely spaced than those on the first edge for registering with connector contacts of a tester module. Conductive traces extend between the surface contacts of the first and second edges of the transition board.

Abstract: A warming tray is provided for holding and preheating removable heating cartridges of hot glue guns. The heating cartridges include electrically powered heating elements and releasable interfaces for releasably connecting the heating elements to a power supply. The warming tray includes a platform having a drip pan, and plurality of heating cartridge stations which are spaced apart and extend adjacent to the drip pan. Each of the heating cartridge stations has a power interface member for releasably connecting to a releasable interface of one of the heating cartridges to provide electric power to the heating element. The heating cartridge stations have lineally extending, upwardly protruding portions which define alignment members for engaging within an alignment channel formed into the heating cartridges. A mounting rail extends across the platform, parallel to and spaced apart from the drip pan.

Abstract: A refrigerated beverage mug is provided which includes a self-contained mechanical refrigeration unit which is powered by a power unit mounted onboard the beverage mug. The mechanical refrigeration unit is a closed loop system which is mounted to the beverage mug and includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion flow passage and an evaporator. The condenser and the evaporator are integrally formed with the main body of the beverage mug. The compressor is mounted to the beverage mug for circulating a refrigerant through the condenser, the expansion flow passage and the evaporator. The power unit includes a chamber which contains a pressurized, expansible fluid such as liquid nitrogen, which is selectively released for passing through a pressure chamber of the compressor to power the compressor and the mechanical refrigeration unit. A manifold is integrally formed into the compressor housing for passing the expansible fluid from the compressor and across a portion of the condenser.

Abstract: A method for providing color correction to a color marking engine for halftone and contone images includes the step of first generating a test pattern. This test pattern has a plurality of discrete images disposed thereon with the discrete images having characteristics that are correlated with parameters of the print job. In one mode, they relate to halftone images that have differing densities of dots, each less than 100% density. The images are correlated to different bit values for the same densities such that the maximum density value for the pixel is offset for different images. A user then views the different images and determine which one is closest to a true gray and then selects the offset bit value for that image as the marking engine offset. This can then be applied to that particular marking engine. This can be utilized for a plurality of marking engines (651) with a single RIP (650).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for aligning first and second rotary members with a single alignment plane, such that respective axes about which the first and second rotary members rotate are substantially perpendicular to the alignment plane. A first fixture has a first lineal indicator mark and a line generator, which emits a planar light signal. The first fixture is engaged with the first rotary member to align the lineal indicator mark and the planar light signal in a fixed relation with respect to the axis of the first rotary member, perpendicular to the axis of the first rotary member. A second fixture is engaged with the second rotary member to align a reflective surface and a second lineal indicator mark mounted to the second fixture in fixed relation to the axis of the second rotary member.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for use in microwave ovens to heat the exterior peripheries of food items to temperatures such that moisture is evaporated from the outer regions of the food items which are adjacent to the exterior peripheries. The apparatus includes an enclosure which is permeable to microwave energy and which defines a sealed interior cavity in which an inert gas is disposed. The inert gas is of the type that will be energized to generate radiant heat when exposed to the microwave energy of a conventional microwave oven. The enclosure defines an exterior heating surface which is placed adjacent to and transfers the heat from the inert gas directly to the peripheries of the food items. The apparatus preferably further includes a second enclosure having a second heating surface for disposing adjacent to a second side of the periphery of the food item, opposite that of the first enclosure and first heating surface. A drip pan is provided for catching drippings from the food item being grilled.

Abstract: An object oriented architecture is provided wherein a plurality of objects are defined in the system. Each of the objects can comprise either a data oriented object, a program oriented object or a graphics oriented object. The parameters of the object are defined in an object table which includes as an integral part thereof a link table. Each object is linkable through the link table to other objects on the system, with each object on the system having a unique object number. The provision of the object's number in the link table defines relationships with other objects in the system, which relationships can either be automatically created as a result of a predetermined functional aspect of the system or defined by the user. These relationships are bidirectional. The links are only a single link deep and are all on the same plane. These links allow system access to various features such as word processing files, FAX information, information about individuals or information about E-Mail.

Abstract: A communication terminal (10) is coupled to and operable in a power line network with at least one of plurality of intelligent circuit breakers (40) wherein each such circuit breaker (40) has a communication port. The terminal (10) includes a housing and connection means (12, 14) for connecting the terminal (10) to the power line network. The terminal (10) includes a processing circuit (76) and communication ports (24, 22, 20) for communicating over communication links with the circuit breakers (40) or other external devices according to a message protocol defined for the system.

Abstract: A re-breather that includes an inhalant counterlung (18) and an exhalant counterlung (20), with a mouthpiece (30) disposed therebetween. Gas flows from the counterlung (18) to the mouthpiece (30) for use by the diver, with exhalant from the diver directed to the counterlung (20). Gas forced out of the counterlung (20) is input to a canister/scrubber (10) for processing through a scrubbing material in an interior canister (14). The CO.sub.2 -depleted gas is passed back to the counterlung (18). The counterlung (18) has disposed therein a PPO.sub.2 sensor (68) which is directed toward a control system (66) for controlling a valve (46) to adjust the rate of flow of oxygen from a bottle (40) into the CO.sub.2 -depleted gas exiting the canister/scrubber 10 prior to input to the counterlung (18). The rate is varied to maintain the PPO.sub.2 level at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: A predictive network is disclosed for operating in a runtime mode and in a training mode. The network includes a preprocessor (34') for preprocessing input data in accordance with parameters stored in a storage device (14') for output as preprocessed data to a delay device (36'). The delay device (36') provides a predetermined amount of delay as defined by predetermined delay settings in a storage device (18). The delayed data is input to a system model (26') which is operable in a training mode or a runtime mode. In the training mode, training data is stored in a data file (10) and retrieved therefrom for preprocessing and delay and then input to the system model (26'). Model parameters are learned and then stored in the storage device (22). During the training mode, the preprocess parameters are defined and stored in a storage device (14) in a particular sequence and delay settings are determined in the storage device (18).