Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a gasket seal or transition fitting affixed to one of two parts to be joined in a gasketed joint by use of the gasket. The method includes the step of providing a mold having a walled mold cavity of the shape desired for the gasket, at least one wall of the mold cavity being a junction surface of the one part and the remaining walls of the mold cavity being formed in a mold piece. The mold is closed by placing the mold piece over the junction surface of the one part to establish the mold cavity as a closed generally toroidal volume. Then a molten gasket-forming thermoplastic material is injected into the mold cavity to form the gasket, the thermoplastic material including a bonding agent for establishing an adhesive bond between the junction surface and the gasket. The thermoplastic material is cooled to solidify the gasket and affix it to the junction surface and the mold piece is removed away from the junction surface.

Abstract: A mattress-integral stone bed is disclosed. The constitution of the mattress-integral stone bed is simplified by eliminating the conventional supporting frame unit so as to curtail the manufacturing cost and so as to improve the economy. Further, its handling is rendered convenient owing to the simplified constitution, as well as making the moving of the stone bed easy when moving the residence. Further, the internal stacked elements of the mattress such as stone plate, supporting plate, electro-heating plate and fixed plate are secured in a form of a sealed firm structure, so that the stacked elements can be prevented from being detached, thereby protecting the stacked elements from damages when moving. The mattress-integral stone bed according to the present invention includes the following elements. That is, rectangularly bent engaging pieces are fastened with fastening means on an inside of an installation opening of the mattress body.

Abstract: The operation of a bipolar transistor is controlled comprising by producing a first voltage that is a product of a static collector current of the bipolar transistor times an emitter resistance. The first voltage is then compared to a predetermined reference voltage to produce a control signal. Current is then injected a base of the bipolar transistor in response to the control signal. In a specific implementation, the first voltage, which is a product of the static collector current (Ic) of the bipolar transistor times its emitter resistance (RE) , is slaved to a predetermined reference voltage (Vref) whose value is substantially equal, to within a tolerance, to 13 mV at a temperature at or about 27° C.

Abstract: A system and method for forming an article from thermoplastic material and fiber. The method includes heating thermoplastic material to form a molten thermoplastic material for blending with the fiber. The molten thermoplastic material is blended with the fibers to form a molten composite material having a concentration of fiber by weight. The molten composite material may then be extruded through dynamic dies to deliver discrete controlled material that is gravitated onto a lower portion of a mold. The lower portion of the mold may be moved in space and time while receiving the flow of composite material to deposit a predetermined quantity of molten composite material thereon conforming to mold cavities of the lower and an upper portion of the mold. The upper portion of the mold may be pressed against the predetermined quantity of molten composite material and closing on the lower portion of the mold to form the article.

Abstract: The invention relates to: A method for estimating residual noise in the frequency range (271) of a desired part (240) of a signal to a corresponding apparatus and to a mobile telephone utilizing the method. The object of the present invention is to generate a measure for the residual noise in a signal. The problem is solved in that the amplitude of the signal (114) comprising the noise is modified, and the signal (114) is combined with the modified signal (115) to create a noise estimation measure (116). The invention may e.g. be used in digital radio communications systems to contribute to the monitoring of link quality and therefore to improve payload throughput. One of the advantages of the invention is that an indication of link quality at an early stage in the receiver is provided.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for hardening logic devices. The logic device has a plurality of memory cells forming an array connected by data lines and clock lines, and the device having a further connecting line. The method comprising: receiving data on said data lines for configuring each of the memory cells. Storing data in each of the memory cells by enabling at least one of the clock lines and when the desired data has been stored, hardening the array to fix the data by selectively connecting the data and clock lines to the further line.

Abstract: A method of estimating the pitch of a speech signal comprises the steps of dividing the speech signal into segments, calculating for each segment a conformity function, and detecting peaks in the conformity function. The method further comprises the steps of estimating an average distance between said peaks, and using the estimated average distance as an estimate of the pitch. In this way a method less complex than prior art methods, and thus suitable for small digital signal processors, is provided. The method also avoids the pitch halving situation. When the method is based on the fact that the identified peaks in the conformity function show a periodic behavior and that the true pitch period actually corresponds to the distance between the peaks, a simpler algorithm is achieved which provides the true pitch period independent on the occurrence of pitch halving, pitch doubling, etc. A similar device is also provided.

Abstract: A method of correcting a signal transmitted via a communications channel having signal channels carrying base band components which are phase-shifted relative to each other, the method comprising the steps of receiving known samples (TS) of the base band components (500); estimating first parameters (?, ?), for correction of second samples, based on the first samples compared with expected first samples; and receiving and correcting second samples of a base band component (I;Q). The method is characterized in further comprising the steps of: estimating second parameters (H) that describe the communications channel (103); and correcting the second samples of the base band component based on the first and second parameters. This finds its application especially in conjunction with direct conversion or homodyne receivers (102; 201) for mobile telecommunications.

Abstract: The invention provides tissue engineering compositions and methods wherein three-dimensional matrices for growing cells are prepared for in vitro and in vivo use. The matrices comprise biodegradable polymer fibers capable of the controlled delivery of therapeutic agents. The spatial and temporal distribution of released therapeutic agents is controlled by use of defined nonhomogeneous patterns of therapeutic agents in the matrices.

Abstract: A durable erosion control blanket featuring a novel synthetic fiber filler is disclosed. The erosion control blanket of the present invention addresses the need for a particularly resilient erosion control blanket through the use of a post-consumer, crimped, polyester fiber filler material. In one embodiment, the post-consumer fiber material is of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) readily available in post-consumer form from the recycling of soda bottles. In short, a preferred filler material for the blanket of the present invention would utilize recycled soda bottle material which has been converted into a crimped, highly-resilient fibrous filler. It is, thus, possible to achieve the desired physical and mechanical properties in the erosion control blanket of the present invention while conserving natural resources to some extent by using a readily available post-consumer polymer material.

Abstract: An apparatus has been developed to enable a surgeon to perform multiple orthopedic surgical operations, such as orthopedic surgical resectioning, total joint replacement and fixation of fractures, based on a single reference point. The apparatus is adjustable to conform to the needs and dimensions of individual patients and the surgical procedure(s) to be performed. The apparatus includes a support adapted for insertion into and alignment within the medullary cavity of a patient's bone. The support is capable of expanding into the bone so that the support is fixed within the bone and alignable to the bone. The support may be implanted to align a fractured bone, or extend a distance beyond its fixed position within the medullary cavity to provide a known surgical reference point. The apparatus includes one or more cutting guides mountable on the support and used in performing the desired surgical procedure(s).

Abstract: This invention provides polynucleotides comprising sequences encoding amino-terminal-modified chemokines, the encoded amino-terminal-modified chemokines, and uses thereof.

Abstract: An electronic tongue for the detection of ozone is based on voltammetry, and comprises at least one working electrode and a counter electrode, wherein the working electrode(s) is(are) made of one or more transition metals or Au, or alloys thereof, or alloys thereof with other metals. The data processing is made by multivariate analysis. The sensor can be implemented on-line or in-line in a processing plant where it is desirable to monitor and control ozone levels, e.g. sterilization and purification plants.

Abstract: A leadframe for semiconductor devices, including a region which is adapted to support a semiconductor device and a plurality of leads which are arranged so as to be directed toward the region, for mutual connection, by connecting wires connecting the leads and the semiconductor device. The leads include leads having at least two different lengths for the connection of connecting wires having different diameters.

Abstract: A ramp capacitor CAP1 has a first terminal connected to a power supply voltage VBAT. A generator circuit is connected to a second terminal of the ramp capacitor and adapted to generate a voltage ramp at the terminals of the ramp capacitor. The generator circuit includes a constant current source SCC connected to the second terminal B12 of the ramp capacitor CAP1 and auxiliary circuit MAX adapted in the presence of a transient variation of the power supply voltage to determine the transient current flowing in the ramp capacitor and generated by the transient variation. Responsive thereto, delivery is made to the second terminal B12 of the ramp capacitor CAP1 of a charging current equal to the algebraic sum of the constant current delivered by the constant current source and an auxiliary current equal and opposite to the transient current.

Abstract: A method and system for retrieving position-related information uses a map of a selected geographical area printed on a surface that includes an address pattern. Each position on the address pattern corresponds to a particular location within the selected geographical area. By detecting a portion of the address pattern with an electronic reading device, a precise position of the electronic reading device with respect to the address pattern can be determined. A server identifies the specific geographical location that corresponds to the precise position. The specific geographical location can then be stored or information relating to the specific geographical location can be retrieved and forwarded to the user of the electronic reading device. Preferably, the map is printed on a region of address pattern that is predefined as corresponding to the selected geographical area.

Abstract: A number P of single analog inputs receive an analog signal having a frequency F from a sensor electrode. A single digital output sequentially generates a number P of first digital signals coding the amplitude values of the analog signal. A first multiplexer with a number M of multiple analog inputs with a number N of single analog inputs receives the analog signal and outputs the analog signal on a multiple analog output with a number N of second single analog outputs. A phase sensitive amplifier with a number N of single analog inputs and a number N of single analog outputs is connected to the second single analog outputs of the fist multiplexer. A second multiplexer with a number N of single analog inputs and a single analog output is connected to the single analog outputs of the phase sensitive amplifier.

Abstract: A stacked array of low profile heat pipes each with a plurality of micro tubes extended therethrough. The stacked low profile heat pipes are placed into thermal connection with heat producing components. A heat transfer fluid is contained in the micro tubes of the low profile heat pipes and removes the heat from the heat producing components.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system, which has the ability to create a homogeneous sound over large distances, comprising at least one line-source of acoustical radiation, each comprising three or more essentially identical speaker-units arranged adjacent to each other at a center-to-center spacing D1, and at least one elongated high frequency transducer arranged in parallel with said line source(s), said elongated high frequency transducer(s) having an essentially continuous radiating surface along the axis of elongation. Where the crossover frequency FCR and the distance D1, for said line-source(s), is set according to new design criteria, taking into account the frequency response from said speaker units in said line-sources and the optimal performance for a line-source. A method is also included, by which a homogeneous sound over large distances can be accomplished.