Abstract: A shell structure of a signal sensing and transmitting device adapted to be used with a wireless speedometer for a bicycle is provided. A main body of a signal sensing and transmitting circuit and a battery is received within the shell structure. The shell structure includes a shell body including an opening for being inserted therethrough the main body of the signal sensing and transmitting circuit and the battery, and a receiving space for receiving therein the main body of the signal sensing and transmitting circuit and the battery; and a fastening lip for covering the opening of the shell body and fastening the main body of the signal sensing and transmitting circuit and the battery within the shell body.

Abstract: A burglarproof device is arranged to take advantage of voice as the medium for detecting a burglar. The burglarproof device includes a voice sensing device, such as a microphone, for sensing the burglar's voice and generating a group of analog signals responsive to the burglar's voice, a burglarproof signal generating module for processing the analog signals and, in response thereto, generating alarm signals, and a sound playing device, such as a speaker, for broadcasting the alarm signals to warn the burglar against intruding, and further to prevent the burglar from intrusion.

Abstract: A device for attaching a laminar object such as a poster to a wall includes a plate having a rear face which is attachable to a wall and a boss which protrudes from a front face of the plate. The plate may include a layer of ferromagnetic material such as steel and may be attached to the wall by a plastic holding composite, a nail or pin or by adhesive. A hole may then be punched in a corner of a poster or other laminar object and that hole is placed over the boss which then supports the poster from the wall. A keeper which is may be made from a rubberized magnetic material and includes a through hole which is approximately the same size as the boss, is placed over the plate to retain the poster in place. Further weak magnetic attraction between the retainer and the ferromagnetic plate or an interference fit helps keep the retainer attached over the boss and retain the poster on the wall except in drafty conditions where the keeper releases the poster.

Abstract: A cable stripping tool, for stripping insulation from a cable that includes a stripper cord, includes a cylindrical mandrel having first and second ends, with a cord end receptacle formed in at least one end. The receptacle is dimensioned to receive the exposed end of a stripper cord. In use, the exposed end of the stripper cord is inserted into the receptacle, and the mandrel is rotated about its longitudinal axis, thereby pulling the stripper cord through the insulation layer. When the desired point is reached along the length of the cable, the cord is cut. The coil of cord that becomes wrapped around the mandrel may be cut axially to remove the cord from the tool. In a preferred embodiment, the mandrel is formed as a hollow tubular extrusion, with a longitudinal slot along its entire length. Alternatively, the mandrel can be formed as a solid rod of material, with a longitudinal slot formed along its length.

Abstract: In a theft deterrent security device for trailers and like equipment having a dual chamber brake system that operates with compressed air an electro mechanical device, such as servomotor or a solenoid, is mounted within the interior of the dual chamber brake system housing in which an expanded high spring-rate spring biases and keeps a brake actuator in a locked “brakes on” position when there is no compressed air supplied to the system. The servo motor or solenoid is connected to members which in one position mechanically block movement of the brake actuator to prevent its normal operation even when there is compressed air available to the system and the high spring-rate spring is compressed. In a second position of the servo motor or solenoid the members do not block movement of the brake actuator and thereby allow normal operation of the brakes. The servo motor or solenoid is responsive to coded signals which control its position and which are normally available only to an authorized user.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter and a method thereof is provided. The DC-to-DC converter includes a power supply for providing a first direct current, a first capacitor, a first switch assembly for converting the first direct current into a first alternating current, a transformer for converting the first alternating current to a second alternating current, a rectifying circuit for converting and rectifying the second alternating current to a second direct current, a filtering circuit, and a range winding assembly for adjusting the output voltage of the second direct current in response to the voltage drop of the first direct current.

Abstract: A surface mount conductive polymer device includes a layer of conductive polymer material laminated between first and second metal foil electrodes. A thermal stress relief area is formed as an etched-out area in each of the electrodes. The etched-out areas are equal in surface area, and they are symmetrically disposed on the two electrodes, so that the two electrodes are themselves symmetrical, and are subject to equal degrees of thermal stress relief. First and second opposed end terminals are formed on the opposed ends of the laminated structure to providing electrical connection to the first and second electrodes, respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus for vascular embolization, deployable through a microcatheter, includes a flexible, elongate deployment tube dimensioned for insertion through the microcatheter, and a filamentous embolic device releasably attached to the distal end of the tube. The embolic device is controllably transformable from a soft, compliant state to a rigid or semi-rigid state. The embolic device may include a polymeric material that is transformable by contact with vascular blood or with a liquid that is cooler than vascular blood, or it may include a metallic material that is transformable by electrolytic corrosion. The embolic device may be a continuous filamentous polymeric extrusion; an elongate microcoil filled with polymeric material; an elongate, multi-segmented chain including polymeric interconnecting portions; or an elongate chain of metal segments that are fused together by electrolytic corrosion.

Abstract: A method of improving the resistance (Rs) uniformity and repeatability of a wafer having a silicon layer thereon is provided. The silicon layer is treated with a low energy ion implantation process. The method includes the steps of cleaning a surface portion of the silicon layer to remove a native oxide layer from the surface portion of the silicon layer by using a dilute hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution; cleaning the surface portion of the silicon layer to remove a contaminant from the surface portion of the silicon layer by using a dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl); immersing the wafer into an ozone solution to form a chemical oxide layer on the silicon layer; annealing the silicon layer by a spike annealing rapid thermal process (RTP) for recovering the damaged silicon crystal structure of the silicon layer resulted from the low energy ion implantation process.

Abstract: A mass flow controller (MFC) for controlling the fluid flow in a conduit is configured to include a flow command input for issuing a flow control command, a control unit accepting the flow control command for generating a control signal, a flow-sensing device including a plurality of temperature sensors, a sensor circuit and an amplifier, an actuator being driven by the control unit, and a valve member including a valve being adjusted by the actuator for controlling the fluid flow in the conduit, a distortion controller being distorted in response to the control signal, and an elastic body being distorted in response to an external force resulting from the distortion of the distortion controller for changing the orifice size in the conduit. In addition, the valve can be designed to be fixed instead of being mobile so as to reduce the occurrence of particles resulting from the mutual frictions emerging among the moving parts employed in the valve member.

Abstract: A futon frame that has a seat piece and back piece pivotably joined to one another so that they can occupy substantially flat and also angled configurations relative one another. In the flat configuration the pieces serve as a couch or futon, and in the angled configuration they serve as a couch or sofa. The joined seat and back pieces move in rollers in appropriately positioned slots in side arms and legs which are joined at each distal end to the seat and back pieces. Each of the flat (sleeping or bed) or angled (seating or couch) position or configuration of the pieces is held stable for use by the rollers that become lodged in the ends of the respective guide slots. A solid block is attached below the back piece that engages the seat piece when the frame is converted from bed to couch. The block allows the seat piece to be used as an efficient lever to raise the back piece without major physical effort while the edge of the seat piece is pushed and used as a lever handle.

Abstract: An anatomically designed atrioventricular valve is made of biologically compatible synthetic membrane or biological membrane of autologous, homologous or heterologous origin. A single piece of the selected membrane material is trimmed so as to form two unequal sheaths similar to the normal anterior and posterior mammalian mitral valve leaflets with a wide upper base to be sutured to the host's mitral annulus. These two leaflets are prolonged and tapered into two thin bands to be connected to the papillary muscles serving as replacements for the natural marginal chordae tendinae of the normal mitral valve. The two lateral sides of the membrane are joined to form a truncated cone with a wider upper circular base and a narrow extremity formed by the thin chordal bands. A set of sutures are placed between selected points at the base of the cone and the two thin prolongations serving as replacements for the strut or stay basal chords of the natural mitral valve.

Abstract: An aqueous solution containing a water miscible organic solvent, polyethylene glycol and heparine, is used to modify the tissue reactivity of an autologous tissue freshly obtained from a host mammal and to render the tissue temporarily more rigid than in its native state, and better suited for shaping, molding, handling and cutting prior to implantation into the host patient. The implant is highly resistant or immune to thickening, contraction and reduced fibrin deposition after it is implanted and exposed to the bloodstream of the host.

Abstract: A jet powered boat may be provided with a water monitor for fire fighting purposes. The conduit for the monitor is connected to an opening through the bottom of the hull to draw water vertically from beneath the hull. Two motors are provided in the boat. One motor is configured to propel water through the monitor conduit to the water monitor. The other motor is configured to propel water through a propulsion jet at the rear of the boat. In one embodiment, a second propulsion jet is provided at the rear of the boat, connected to the conduit for the water monitor. A baffle at the intersection of the second propulsion jet and the monitor conduit may be operated to selectively direct water to either the monitor or the propulsion jet. In this embodiment, the two motors may be placed symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal centerline of the boat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stir-frying discrete pieces or particles of one or more foodstuffs by heating a surface (14) and bringing discrete pieces into contact with the heated surface through an inlet means (22), transporting said discrete pieces across the heated surface (14) by means of a mechanically driven stirring means and scraping means in the form of a helix (4), the discrete pieces being stirred such that the orientation of same with respect to the heated surface (14) is altered such that the various surface portions of the discrete pieces are brought into heat conducting contact with the heated surface (14), at the same time scraping the heated surface (14) by means of the rim of the helix or by means of special scraping and stirring elements (27) arranged along the rim of the helix such that the entire area of the heated surface contacted by the discrete pieces is scraped mechanically so as to remove any layer of material originating from the foodstuffs and adhering to the heated surface (14) and

Abstract: An adjustable orientation device includes a rigid spherical bearing surface and a sleeve made of a hard, non-visco-elastic material. The sleeve defines an inner surface which is part-spherical and is configued to receive the spherical bearing surface having substantially the same radius of curvature as the part-spherical inner surface and also defines at least one gap. The device includes a means for adjusting the size of the gap in the sleeve, typically a screw clamp which may be associated with an outer sleeve. When the gap is relatively wide, the sleeve can move freely over the spherical being surface, however when the gap is narrowed frictional engagement between the sleeve and the bearing surface increases and clamps the sleeve and the bearing surface in a fixed orientation. The device can be used to mount various object particularly speakers and projectors.

Abstract: A piston or plunger is made by passing an annular sealing member blank around a piston body and by moving it towards a central outer cylindrical surface part of the piston body defined between first and second circular edges. The sealing member blank is deformed into tight engagement with the central outer cylindrical surface part and into grooves or depressions formed therein. In this manner, a tubular sealing member, which extends axially along the central outer surface part, and which has opposite first and second ends extending beyond the first and second circular edges, respectively, is formed. Thereby both of these opposite end portions of the tubular sealing member may function as sealing lips.

Abstract: A collecting apparatus for automatically collecting a sample during a particular time interval is disclosed. The collecting apparatus includes a power supply for providing an electric power to operate the collecting apparatus and a plurality of sampling units. Each sampling unit includes a timing device for counting down and generating a first starting signal at a specific time for collecting the sample, a valve for allowing the sample to enter the sampling unit, a valve controller electrically connected to the timing device for generating a timing signal to open/close the valve after receiving the first starting signal, and a collector connected with the valve for collecting the sample through the valve. The collector includes a tube connecting to the valve, a reservoir connected to one end of the tube for containing the sample, and a flow controller connected to the other end of the tube for controlling the flow rate of the sample entering the reservoir.

Abstract: An endoscope for insertion into a patient's inner body cavity has a shell with lumens for (1) illuminating a lens and (2) passing light from an imaging (or objective) lens, each lens being disposed on the distal face of the shell. The shell also has a lumen, preferably off-round, for receiving a resilient disposable core. The resilient core has passageways for introducing a pressurized fluid (e.g. air or water) to selective ones of the lenses to clean the lenses. The core may also have another passageway for removing material from the patient's inner body cavity for analysis. This passageway may communicate with two (2) conduits for removing specimens from the body cavity (1) as by a vacuum or (2) as by an instrument. The second conduit may be closed except when the instrument is to be inserted into a patient's inner body cavity. The core may be drawn through the shell lumen to position the core in the lumen.