Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a voltage source for providing an input voltage. The regulator includes circuitry responsive to the input voltage for generating a regulated output voltage. The circuitry enables selection of one of internal linear voltage regulation or external linear voltage regulation for generating the regulated output voltage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a processing core for operating on a set of instructions to carry out predefined processes. A plurality of comparators perform compare operations within the integrated circuit package. At least one control register is associated with each of the plurality of comparators, and each of the plurality of comparators are software programmable to control a hysteresis of the comparators responsive to control bits established in the at least one control register of the comparator by the processing core. An amount of positive hysteresis is programmed via a first group of the control bits and an amount of negative hysteresis is programmed via a second group of the control bits.

Abstract: A portable self contained parameter sensing unit for sensing environmental parameters and communicating such to a user. The unit includes a housing having a transducer for conveying information to the user and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes an integrated environmental sensor for sensing current predetermined environmental parameters in the analog domain. It also includes a data converter for converting the sensed current predetermined environmental parameters in the analog domain to the digital domain as digital sensed environmental parameters. An integrated memory is provided for storing information in the digital domain with an integrated processing unit for processing the sensed current predetermined environmental parameters in the digital domain in accordance with translation parameters stored in the integrated memory for conversion such that the digital value of the sensed environmental parameters are translated into a translated value that can be provided to a user.

Abstract: An ultrafiltration device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient includes a blood inlet tube leading from a first blood vessel, a blood pump, an anticoagulant reservoir for infusing anticoagulants into the blood, a blood filter including a substrate through which the blood is circulated and filtered, a fluid bag for storing the excess fluid and a blood outlet tube leading to a second blood vessel.

Abstract: A system and method for automated software testing includes defining a data model of an automated software test for an application being tested and then identifying an address for a function library at a remote location for executing the data model of the automated software test based upon the platform of the application. This identified function library is accessed at the address at the remote location so that an execution of a function within the function library may be invoked to obtain results therefrom.

Abstract: A method for providing an interconnection relationship between a product and a desired location on a global communications network. A machine readable product code is disposed on the product machine readable product code, the machine readable product code having encoded product information contained therein. The product code has no routing information embedded therein which would allow the product code, in and of itself, to cause routing to the desired location over any path on the network. The machine readable product code is read and decoded. The extracted product code is then converted for routing information over the network to the desired location, which routing information defines the manner by which a user or a computer at a user location wherein the machine readable product code was read can communicate with the desired location via an interconnection therewith.

Abstract: A hermaphroditic connector for mounting to a cable having a plurality of optical fibers and connecting the fibers to mating optical fibers wherein the optical fibers and mating optical fibers have termini mounted to the respective ends thereof, and wherein the termini of at least one of the optical fibers is slidably mounted and biased to provide a predetermined amount of longitudinal travel during connection includes a plug insert for mounting the termini, a generally cylindrical plug body for receiving the plug insert through an open end thereof, the plug body including a mating end with a plurality of mating features configured to cooperate with corresponding mating features of a second connector to align the termini of the first and second connectors in opposed relationship, a plurality of ears extending radially from the mating end of the plug body, a coupling nut slidably mounted on the plug including a groove formed between a plurality of ribs extending around an inside nut so that rotation of the coup

Abstract: An integrated circuit isolator for providing data transfer of digital data signals across a voltage isolation barrier includes an integrated circuit package having a first plurality of input data pins on one side of the isolation barrier and a corresponding plurality of output data pins on the other side of the isolation boundary. First circuitry is associated with the first plurality of input data pins and second circuitry is associated with the plurality of output data pins. A communications interface provides across the voltage isolation barrier a first communications channel for communicating data from the first circuitry to the second circuitry and a second communications channel for communicating synchronization clock data from the first circuitry to the second circuitry.

Abstract: An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to traverse a NAT device using a stateless reflector.

Abstract: An architecture for automatically configuring equipment interfaced to a computer. A computer which is in communication with a network, is provided having the piece of equipment interfaced to the computer and having associated therewith one or more machine-resolvable codes (MRCs). The computer connects to a remote location disposed on the network in response to a select one of the one or more MRCs being read with a reader. Configuration information associated with the select one of the one or more MRCs is then transmitted from the remote location to the computer. The piece of equipment is then configured via the computer according to the configuration information.

Abstract: A software distribution architecture having a television broadcast system as its infrastructure. Software from a software repository (1600) is mixed into a television broadcast system and transmitted into one or more selected channels at prescribed dates and times. An at-home subscriber, capable of receiving with a receiver (1608) the one or more select channels, switches to the one or more channels carrying the software distribution with a channel selector (1611). The subscriber, having programmed a controller (1616) with a programmer (1620) for the date, time, software ID, and channel of the software broadcast, then downloads the software package to a storage device (1622) for ultimate transfer to a PC (1624). A validation and accounting system (1628) then records the software download transaction and transmits this information over a PSTN (1632) to a provider accounting system (1630) such that the subscriber is billed for the software package which was downloaded.

Abstract: An enclosure for storing cables includes a base section having a bottom wall, opposed first and second sidewalls and opposed third and fourth sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls of the base section having first slots formed generally midway along the length thereof, the third sidewall of the base section having a second slot extending through the upper edge toward the bottom wall, a cover section having a top wall, opposed first and second sidewalls and opposed third and fourth sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls of the cover section each having third slots, the third sidewall of the cover section having a fourth slot formed generally midway along the length of the sidewall, the fourth slot extending through the lower edge of the third sidewall toward the top wall, wherein the base section is received in the cover section with the first slots aligned with the third slots and the second slot aligned with the fourth slot, the slots having a length sufficient to define variable height first, second a

Abstract: XA wine aeration tool comprises a bottle stopper for stoppering a bottle. The bottle stopper has a first end for insertion into the bottle and a second end. An agitator connects to the second end of the bottle stopper for aerating wine in a container.

Abstract: A rapid exchange balloon dilation catheter includes a catheter shaft with a proximal tubular member defining a proximal inflation/deflation lumen for conveying fluids therethrough with a distal portion of the bore of proximal tubular member filled with a fluid-impervious barrier, a distal body extending from the fluid-impervious barrier to the distal end of the shaft, a plurality of distal tubular members defining distal inflation/deflation lumens in fluid communication with the proximal inflation/deflation lumen and extending through the fluid-impervious barrier and the distal body to the distal end of the shaft distal portion, a guidewire tubular member having a bore extending from a side aperture formed in the distal body through the distal body alongside the distal tubular members in a multi-lumen arrangement, and a plurality of stiffening members extending from within the fluid-impervious barrier into the distal body to a point within the shaft distal portion.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating a sequential pattern of motor control instructions under control of a microcontroller for the purpose of controlling a motor. A pattern of motor control instructions is stored in a memory. A timing circuit is operable to generate a periodic output sync signal. The microcontroller is operable to initiate a sequential Read operation of the memory so as to cause sequential reading and output of motor control instructions from the memory in a predetermined order. Each of the read motor control instructions is then stored in a pre-load buffer after output from the memory. The contents of the pre-load buffer is then transferred to an output buffer in synchronization with the output sync signal, wherein the output of motor control instructions from the memory is not required to be periodic.

Abstract: An animal litter composition comprised of a liquid absorbent aggregate impregnated with an agent to indicate the presence of sugar in the urine of felines and other related species includes 88.1 percent +/?5.0 percent by weight of an expanded aggregate, 00.9 percent +/?0.7 percent by weight of an odor control/antistatic agent, 07.0 percent +/?4.0 percent by weight of a clumping agent, 03.0 percent +/?2.5 percent by weight of a surfactant; and 01.0 percent +/?0.90 percent by weight of a glucosuria indicator. A method of detecting glucosuria in a feline includes providing the animal litter in a litter box or in an enclosure in which the feline is restrained until the feline urinates on the litter and then visually observing the litter for a color change.

Abstract: A method for providing an indication from a network interface controller to a microcontroller is disclosed wherein upon occurrence of a particular condition within the network interface controller, an indication is provided from a reset pin of the network interface controller to the microcontroller unit. Upon receipt of the indication by the microcontroller unit, communications between the network interface controller and the microcontroller unit are inhibited.

Abstract: A microcontroller unit having a suspend mode of operation includes a processing circuit for receiving digital information and processing said received digital information. Timing circuitry generates timing signals to the processing circuit responsive to signals received from a clock circuit which generates both an internal clock signal and an external clock signal. Circuitry for controlling the selective application of a synchronized enable signal and the external clock signal to the timing circuitry. The circuitry applies the internal clock signal to the timing circuitry in at least an active mode of operation of the microcontroller unit responsive to at least one first control signal and applies the external clock signal to the timing circuitry in at least a suspend mode of operation of the microcontroller unit responsive to at least one suspend control signal.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed and claimed herein comprises a system and method for launching a web browser on a network comprising a computer having an all new input interface and a communication interface coupled to a computer network; said audio input coupled to the audio output of a source for receiving an audio signal having encoded therein a unique code that is associated with a predetermined destination on the network; and a program operable on said computer responsive to receipt and decoding of the audio signal received from the source for interacting with connections of the computer to a web site available on the computer network wherein the location of the predetermined destination is not stored in a computer.