Abstract: The invention provides for a method of optimizing the scheduling of program threads within an operating system based on quality objectives, and a system implementing said method.

Abstract: OCT apparatus includes an interferometer, having an input beam splitter and a 50/50 output splitter. The splitting ratio of the input splitter may be optimized depending on the source power of light source and on the mismatch of the balanced receiver. The input splitter is a plate beam-splitter to minimize the stray reflected light in the interferometer and allow sequential operation of the apparatus in the OCT or in the confocal regime. The switching between the two regimes may be at will, or synchronous with the en-face scanning which results in quasi-simultaneous OCT/confocal imaging or in alternatives frames, confocal and OCT. By using polarization sensitive elements, two channels are provided in each regime, OCT and confocal. The two confocal polarization sensitive channels may allow adjustments of compensators prior to OCT measurements or OCT imaging.

Abstract: Device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft that slide in the direction of a common axis with balls disposed between the two shafts. The balls are disposed in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is held by a double spring member that bears on the groove and which pushes on two rolling tracks for the balls, which come into contact with the groove. The two rolling tracks are articulated at the junction of the groove and the inner shaft.

Abstract: A pot holder/mitt is characterized by formation from a single layer of Z-folded fabric which is formed from hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials which extend from opposite surfaces of the fabric. The front surface of the holder/mitt is formed of hydrophobic material and is adapted to receive a decorative pattern which is printed thereon. The rear surface of the holder mitt is formed of hydrophilic material. The inner surfaces of the pocket are also formed of hydrophilic material for comfort and heat protection for the hand of the user.

Abstract: A cam tremolo device for a stringed musical instrument includes a frame secured to the instrument and a tailpiece rotatably connected with the frame and is characterized by a locking mechanism which is manually operable to prevent the tailpiece from rotating. The locking device is preferably a screw which is manually displaced by the operator relative to a threaded opening in the frame and a slot in the string attachment device connected with the tailpiece. When the screw is rotated to a locking position, the screw advances through the frame opening into the slot in the string attachment device. When the screw is rotated to a release position, the screw is retracted from the slot in the string attachment device, thereby allowing the tailpiece to rotate relative to the frame. Thus, the tailpiece is in either a fixed or floating condition, but not both at the same time.

Abstract: An optic fiber connection arrangement has a module mountable on a printed circuit board, and an optic fiber coupler including mating components. One of the mating components is adapted for coupling into the module. A frame supports one of the components. The frame is releasably latchable to the module so as to couple and decouple the mating component to the module. In this way, the optic fiber coupler can be removed from the module by releasing the frame. The other mating component can be removed from the one mating component after removal of the frame from the module.

Abstract: A terminal block connecting apparatus includes first and second support members displaceable from a disengaged condition toward an engaged condition in which corresponding main terminal blocks are brought into electrical engagement, characterized by the provision of first and second test terminal blocks connected with the support members for electrical engagement when the first and second support members are in an intermediate condition between the disengaged and engaged conditions. One of the test terminal blocks is supported by a carrier member for movement relative to the associated support member, whereby the test terminal blocks will remain in electrical engagement during displacement of the support members between the test and connected conditions. A friction retaining arrangement serves to resist displacement of the carrier member relative to its associated support member.

Abstract: An electrical module connecting arrangement includes a male lug projection integral with a first module and arranged for insertion within an opening contained in a second module, which opening includes an entrance portion having cross-sectional dimensions less than those of the lug projection, and an enlarged chamber portion of greater dimensions, thereby to define a transition wall surface. The male lug projection is formed from a suitable non-resilient compressible synthetic plastic material, such as a polyamide, that is so operable that a first section of the projection is compressed within the opening entrance portion, and a second section subsequently expands, after a delay, within the enlarged chamber portion and engages the transition wall, thereby to lock the two modules together.

Abstract: Metal hydride compounds, which are prepared by mixing together from about 1 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, tin, and zinc; from about 1 to about 3 parts by molecular weight of an alkali metal hydroxide; and from about 5 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of water and allowing this mixture to stand for a time sufficient to form a metal hydride, can be used for making fuel additives, treating sour gas, enhancing oil refining, extracting oil from tar sands and shale, increasing production of hydrogen from a hydrogen plant, treating oil and gas wells to enhance production, eliminate PCBs, cleaning soil contaminated by hydrocarbons and/or heavy metals, controlling odors, cleaning polluting stack emissions, extracting edible and essential oils, and eliminating bacteria, fungicides, and parasites from vegetation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining combustion gases of high calorific value, wherein carbonaceous materials are allotermically gasified in a fluidized layer containing solid particles, using a gaseous gasifying agent and by supply of heat, and the gases thus produced are separated from the solid particles and withdrawn. Said method is characterized in that the solid particles are indirectly heated in a first descending bed and supplied to a second ascending fluidized bed in which the fluidized layer is formed and gasification takes place for the greatest part. The method further relates to an apparatus for performing said method.

Abstract: An improved electrical connector is formed by stamping and bending a sheet of conductive metal, wherein as a preliminary step, a series of longitudinally-spaced openings are formed in the sheet to define a plurality of transversely extending strips from the side edges of which a pair of parallel spaced integral side walls extend, which sheet is coiled on a storage spool, and is subsequently unwound and fed toward a stamping station at which the transverse strips are severed at spaced separation points, thereby to define a connector body wall integral with the side walls. The side walls have portions that are simultaneously bent to form top, bottom and/or end walls which cooperate to define a chamber in which a spring contact is mounted. The connector is then connected an electrical component, such as a printed circuit board, in the manner of a surface mounted device (SMD).

Abstract: A compact insulation stripping tool includes a U-shaped tool body to which are pivotally connected a pair of clamping jaws that pivot about parallel spaced pivot axes, thereby to clamp an insulated conductor within clamping recesses contained in the extremities of the leg portions of the tool body. A knife is supported between the leg portions by a knife support member arranged in an opening contained in the transverse base portion of the tool body. The knife has a linear cutting edge, and the knife support member is rotatable between first and second positions in which the knife edge extends alternatively transversely and longitudinally of the insulated cable. A depth control member controls the depth of cut of the knife edge into the insulation layer. The clamping jaws are interconnected for simultaneous movement relative to the tool body, and have relatively short operating levers.

Abstract: A quick-fastening plug and socket arrangement includes a locking sleeve arranged concentrically between the plug and the circular socket opening within which the plug is axially inserted, which locking sleeve includes a resilient projection that is radially biased outwardly into locking engagement with screw threads carried by the inner circumferential surface of the socket opening. Alternatively, the projecting portion is biased radially inwardly for locking engagement with screw threads carried by the outer circumferential surface of the plug member. The sleeve is connected against longitudinal displacement relative to one of the plug and socket members, which sleeve is rotatable relative to the associated plug and socket member, thereby to release the plug for removal from the socket opening.

Abstract: An improved tin tag dispensing and nailing tool includes an operating member that is adapted for connection with a roofer's nailing gun, which operating member is guided by a pair of spaced vertical guide rods for vertical sliding displacement relative to the tool housing between an upper retracted position and a lower nailing position. The operating member is formed from a synthetic plastic material and contains vertical though bores that respectively receive the guide rods. Tubular oil-impregnated bushings are mounted in the through bores concentrically about the guide rods. A linkage arrangement connects the operating member with a shuttle plate that is displaced between a loading position adjacent the tin tag supply station and a discharging position adjacent the tin tag nailing station. An integral punched-out tongue portion extends upwardly at an acute angle from the shuttle plate for engagement with the lowermost tin tag of a stack.

Abstract: A connector system includes a plurality of conductor piercing units supported by a frame for vertical displacement between upper disconnected and lower connected positions relative to a plurality of parallel spaced insulated conductors supported in a horizontal plane by a base plate. The piercing units are displaced between said upper and lower positions by operating disks eccentrically mounted for rotation on a horizontal support shaft that extends between an opposed pair of side walls of the frame. The base plate, frame and piercing unit assembly are arranged in an open-topped support housing that is closed by a cover member or lid. Electrical components may by mounted on the lid for connection with the piercing unit assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement includes a socket having a central body portion supporting a plurality of female contacts, and a tubular outer portion extending in concentric spaced relation about the body portion to define a groove. A plug component having a cylindrical body portion including a plurality of male contacts includes a tubular end portion that extends axially within the groove to connect the male and female contacts, respectively. A fastening sleeve is rotatably mounted on the plug between the outer surface thereof and the socket outer portion, whereby external screw threads on the sleeve engage internal threads on the socket tubular portion, thereby to fasten together the plug and socket components. In order to reduce the assembly time, the number and length of the screw threads on one of the sleeve and socket components is less than the number and length of the screw threads of the other component.

Abstract: A time division multiplex switch supporting multi-rate input and output serial data streams has a double-buffered data memory with buffer extensions associated respectively with each portion of the memory. The extensions store residual data for a delay period after the main portion of the double-buffered data memory has switched.

Abstract: A drill fixture enabling drilling through hard objects in a confined area includes a housing, a threaded rod connected with the housing, and a tubular adjustment sleeve rotatably connected with the rod. A drill is arranged in the housing and has a drill bit extending in a forward direction. The sleeve is rotated relative the threaded rod for displacement along the length of the rod until the sleeve engages a fixed surface opposite the object to be drilled. With the sleeve rear portion engaging the fixed surface, further rotation of the sleeve displaces the housing in a forward direction during rotation of the drill bit so that the bit bores through the hard object until a hole is formed. Rotation of the sleeve in the opposite direction causes the drill bit to be retracted from the object. In lieu of a rotatable sleeve, a piston may be provided which is extended and retracted relative to the housing to provide a linear drilling force to the drill bit relative to a fixed surface.

Abstract: A FIR filter for use in an adaptive multi-channel filtering system, includes a first memory for storing data, and a second memory for storing filter coefficients. The second memory stores only non-zero valued coefficients or coefficients that are above a predetermined magnitude threshold such that the overall number of coefficients processed is significantly reduced.