Abstract: The present invention relates to a switchmode power supply (SMPS) high voltage start-up integrated circuit (IC) with output voltage sensing and output current limiting. The high voltage start-up IC allows low voltage pulse width modulated (PWM) controller ICs to operate directly off rectified AC lines of up to 450 VDC. The high voltage start-up IC allows PWM controller ICs to start-up with a start threshold larger than its operating voltage. The output voltage is monitored internally so that the internal high voltage switch turns off when the output voltage decreases below an internally set trip point voltage (V.sub.off). The internal high voltage switch remains off and an external auxiliary voltage is generated and applied to the output voltage. If the output voltage falls below a lower set trip point voltage (V.sub.reset) the internal high voltage switch turns back on. This allows the start-up circuit to reset itself when the PWM controller IC's auxiliary voltage does not power up properly.

Abstract: A package containing sticks of chewing gum is opened at one end to expose the sticks. A cap is placed on the open end of the package and has a frame which surrounds the open end. The frame has two windows each of which is juxtaposed with a group of the chewing gum sticks. A pair of covers for the windows is pivotally mounted on the frame.

Abstract: A respiratory device and method of operating the same are shown comprising, in combination, a conduit portion passing above a user's left and right ears and which is coupled to the user's nostrils for supplying a fluid to the user, and a coupling portion contacting a back portion of the user's head and having a cavity through which the conduit portion passes for securely coupling the conduit portion around part of the user's head. The conduit portion comprises a plurality of flexible, tubular members which are coupled to a nasal cannula inserted into the user's nostrils. The tubular members criss-cross within the cavity, thereby securing the cannula to the user's nostrils without, as was previously done, having the members painfully wrapped around the user's ears.

Abstract: In one mode of operation, a signal representation of sound is provided to an audio filter that has transmission characteristics that are controlled by a microprocessor. The output of the audio filter is provided to similar left and right ear and a bone conduction processing circuits. Each of the processing circuits has an equalization filter that has transmission characteristics that are determined by the microprocessor. The outputs of the left and right ear and bone conduction processing circuits are connected to a left earphone, a right earphone and a bone transducer, respectively. The outputs of the processing circuits are in accordance with a program stored in a memory unit and are in accordance with plurality of procedures for assessment and training of a person's listening ability. In another mode of operation, a voltage to frequency converter generates a voltage having a frequency in accordance with signals provided by a microprocessor.

Abstract: A stepping structure for entering and leaving a vehicle such as a trailer or a camper includes a guide rod which is affixed to the outside of the vehicle. The guide rod is located at a level below a doorway of the vehicle, and the guide rod traverses, and extends to a standby location laterally of, the doorway. A step assembly is slidably and pivotally mounted on the guide rod. The step assembly can be slid along the guide rod from a use location in front of the doorway to the standby location laterally of the doorway. From the standby location, the step assembly can be swung on the guide rod into a storage location underneath the vehicle.

Abstract: A post mold curing apparatus for use in association with a molding line system for providing plastic encapsulated semiconductor chips mounted on leadframes is disclosed which includes a leadframe carrier having a rotary, substantially cylindrical shaped assembly for containing and moving a plurality of semiconductor chips and their associated leadframe strips into both an elevated temperature post mold curing region and into a lower temperature cool-down region. Each of the leadframe strips with their associated semiconductor chips are sequentially inserted into cavity regions located in the cylindrical assembly to assist in moving each of the plurality of leadframe strips through the elevated temperature post mold curing region, and subsequently, each of the leadframe strips with their associated semiconductor chips are removed from the cavity regions after passing through the lower temperature cool-down region.

Abstract: An article for cleaning windows and vehicle interior windows includes a rigid backing element, a deformable backing element and a rubber ring having an unstretched circumference smaller than that of the rigid backing element. The backing elements are juxtaposed with one another and a paper towel is placed against the deformable backing element. The paper towel projects laterally and longitudinally of the backing elements. The ring is positioned adjacent the side of the paper towel which faces away from the backing elements. The ring is then drawn towards the rigid backing element and, in the process, folds the projecting portions of the paper towel around the backing elements. The ring is stretched to fit around the rigid backing element and, when released, clamps the projecting portions of the paper towel between itself and the rigid backing element. As a result, the portion of the paper towel adjacent the deformable backing element is firmly held and can be used for cleaning.

Abstract: A calling party identifying apparatus electrically connected to an exchange system which can provide the calling number and the registered name of the phone set or the like includes a receiver, a microprocessor, a memory, an LCD, a key pad, a plurality of lights, and a speaker. The memory has a database installed therein including a plurality of potential callers' information each of which includes a specific caller's name, the calling number of the caller, the preference degree thereof, and the preferred hours for the caller to call. The apparatus is allowed to display the caller's name on the LCD instead of displaying the registered name of the calling device. When any call comes in, the apparatus will check the database and display the caller's name, the calling number thereof, and the preference degree thereof.

Abstract: An integrated circuit computing device is comprised of a dynamically configurable Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This gate array is configured to implement a RISC processor and a Reconfigurable Instruction Execution Unit. Since the FPGA can be dynamically reconfigured, the Reconfigurable Instruction Execution Unit can be dynamically changed to implement complex operations in hardware rather than in time-consuming software routines. This feature allows the computing device to operate at speeds that are orders of magnitude greater than traditional RISC or CISC counterparts. In addition, the programmability of the computing device makes it very flexible and hence, ideally suited to handle a large number of very complex and different applications.

Abstract: A look ahead read buffer automatically senses the direction of the read sequence, sets the direction based on the current and previous read addresses, and prefetches data from memory to allow a Host device such as a CPU to read data out of the look ahead read buffer with no wait states, rather than accessing this data directly in slower memory that requires wait states. This read buffer is especially useful in applications such as display controllers that store and retrieve data in sequential format. The display memory may be partitioned into pages, and the read buffer will then determine and set the appropriate direction at page boundaries, and will not change direction within that page of display data. In addition, the read buffer inhibits reads that occur outside of the current page of display data, ignoring the effects of other reads that do not directly affect the display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double ended spring probe ring interface for multiple pin test heads, such as a 120 pin sentry style test head. The double ended spring probe ring is comprised of a non-conductive ring having a plurality of apertures equally spaced along an outer radius of the ring. A plurality of double-ended spring probes are held in the ring by a holding device which is coupled to each spring probe. The holding device holds the spring probe within the ring so as to maintain coplanarity among the spring probes.

Abstract: A kit for reaming the governor bores of used motor vehicle transmissions includes several cutting tools having cutting heads of different diameter. The diameters of the cutting heads are matched to the differing diameters of the governor bores of different transmissions. Each of the cutting heads is generally flat and has two pairs of flat parallel edge faces. The edge faces of the two pairs are normal to but do not intersect one another. Cutting tips project outward from the zones between neighboring edge faces. The kit further includes a guide for the cutting tools, and the guide has a centering element as well as several pairs of holes. The holes of different pairs have differing relative positions which correspond to the differing relative positions of threaded holes in the different transmissions. This allows the guide to be connected to any of the transmissions. The kit also includes several adapters each of which is provided with first and second centering elements.

Abstract: A leadframe strip is provided with a die pad and a protrusion is formed on the die pad so as to project from the rear side thereof. An integrated circuit chip is bonded to the front side of the die pad and is connected by leads to portions of the leadframe strip adjacent the die pad. The die pad, chip and leads are placed in a mold and an epoxy is injected into the mold to encapsulate the die pad, chip and leads. The protrusion spaces the die pad from the internal mold surface confronting the rear side of the die pad.

Abstract: An orthopedic pillow device for supporting and immobilizing a patient's arm relative to a patient's shoulder is disclosed comprising a portable, L-shaped, reversible, pillow and a plurality of straps for attaching and securing the pillow to both the patient's upper torso and arm. The pillow is selectively attached to one of the patient's right arm and left arm and the patient's upper torso, for providing support and cushioning for both a lower and upper portion of the arm selected for support and for providing abduction of the arm selected for support with respect to the upper torso for reducing shoulder joint stress. The securing means is comprised of a removable shoulder strap, waist strap, forearm band, and upper arm strap.

Abstract: A small, transportable, and rollable device for lifting and supporting patients undergoing partial weight bearing gait training (over treadmill or over ground) is provided. The carriage underlying this device is "U"-shaped with a pair of low horizontal rails making up the arms of the "U" and the lifting equipment being mounted at the closed end of the "U". Low profile for movement through doors and in low-ceiling rooms is achieved by a vertically telescoping height adjustment to the top of which is connected a horizontal "Y"-shaped connection to provide two connection points at the ends of the "Y" (and above and between the rails) for a patient harness. The harness construction provides sufficient adjustability for a therapist to achieve equal division of support among groin, abdominal, and chest areas, while permitting full leg extension of the patient. The low rails enable unobstructed access to the patient's legs during gait training.