Abstract: A servo loop, including a dynamic compensator, for use in an optical disk player is provided. The optical disk player reproduces data over the optical disk. The pickup head reads data on a data track of the optical disk and generates a feedback signal. The dynamic compensator inputs a feedback signal and outputs a compensation signal after a predetermined transfer function operation over the feedback signal in order to adjust the dynamic response of the servo loop. The servo loop includes a switch, which is responsive to a signal indicative of high spinning rate of the optical disk for selectively outputting the compensation signal. The servo loop includes a device coupled to the switch for selectively transmitting the compensation signal into the servo loop.

Abstract: A memory system includes an array of solid-state memory devices are in communication with and under the control of a controller module via a device bus with very few lines. This forms an integrated-circuit mass storage system which is contemplated to replace a mass storage system such as a disk drive memory in a computer system. Command, address and data information are serialized into component strings and multiplexed before being transferred between the controller module and the array of memory devices. The serialized information are accompanied by a control signal to help sort out the multiplexed components. Each memory device in the array is assigned an array address by an array mount. An memory device is selected by an appropriate address broadcast over the device bus, without requiring the usual dedicated select signal. A reserved array mount configuration is used to unconditionally select the device mounted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rivet setting device having an electric drive motor, at lease one rivet setting means driven by drive motor, at least one rechargeable battery for supplying power to the drive motor, and a circuit for controlling the power supply to the drive motor.

Abstract: A removable memory card interface apparatus enables a removable memory card to communicate with a number of peripheral devices directly without the need for the memory card's host or a host computer. The interface apparatus includes a micro-controller operating with an internal bus to control, process and route signals between the removable memory and a peripheral device via a series of memory and device interfaces. A control panel and/or remote control allows a user to interact with the interface apparatus. In one embodiment, the interface apparatus also allows a host computer to communicate with the memory card via one of the peripheral device ports. In other embodiments, the interface apparatus serves as a memory card printer controller or as a memory card player and/or recorder when interfaced with consumer electronics.

Abstract: A sample cooler includes a cooling device such as a Peltier device and a rack for supporting vessels containing liquid samples. The rack is made of both a heat conducting material which is in a heat-communicating relationship with the side walls of the vessels and a thermally insulating material contacting the bottoms of the vessels such that the cooling device serves to cool the liquid samples through the heat conducting material and through the side walls of the vessels, not through the bottoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rivet setting device having an electric drive motor, a rivet setting means in a crank drive for driving the rivet setting means by the drive motor, wherein the crank drive assumes a rest position in one of its dead-center positions and, starting from its rest position, can be rotated by at least one complete rotation for performing a rivet setting operation of the rivet setting means. In order to simplify the construction of such a rivet setting device, the drive motor, the crank drive and the rivet setting means are in permanent operative communication according to the invention and a control means is provided for deactivating the drive motor when the crank drive is in its rest position after the rivet setting operation has been carried out.

Abstract: An agent containing a polyether compound, a straight-chain polyether modified polyorganosiloxane of a specified kind and an ionic surfactant at specified ratios are applied at a specified rate to synthetic fibers subjected to a heat treatment such as false twisting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of compounds that are potent inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase and HIV integrase. In addition to being multienzyme inhibitors, the inventive compounds of the present invention are remarkable in at least two other respects. First, they do not appear to be toxic to cells at typical therapeutic concentrations. Second, they appear to be equally effective against mutant strains of HIV reverse transcriptase commonly found in patients who have developed resistance to current reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Because the inventive compounds show promise in combatting viral resistance and are potent inhibitors of both HIV reverse transcriptase and integrase, they are ideal candidates for use in combination with existing therapies or alone in treating AIDS or HIV infection.

Abstract: Cement dispersants which contain two specified kinds of water-soluble vinyl copolymers mixed at a specified ratio can produce cement compositions such as concrete with water/cement ratio of 20-40 weight % with a reduced slump loss and provide a high early strength.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods and apparatus for pumping fluid from one location to another through the repetitive expansion and collapse of bubbles generated as a result of the absorption of repetitive pulses of radiation in a fluid. This pumping phenomenon can be used to aid removal of a total or partial occlusion in a body passage by emulsifying the occlusion with acoustic shock and pressure waves or by mechanically disrupting the occlusive material.

Abstract: An electron capture detector has a detection cell containing an electrode and a radioactive isotope for ionizing a carrier gas and causing electrons to be emitted. Before the detection cell begins to be contaminated, a pulse voltage is applied to the electrode and the frequency of this pulse voltage is controlled by a loop control routine to find an initial pulse frequency value such that a current through the electrode due to the emitted electrons comes to have a specified current value as a carrier gas is introduced into the detection cell. When a sample is analyzed after the detection cell becomes contaminated, the same process is carried out before the sample is injected and a pre-measurement pulse frequency value is obtained. After the sample is injected, the same process is repeated to obtain a measured pulse frequency value.

Abstract: A mixture of chromatographic particles and a solution of water, alcohol and metal alkoxide may be injected by means of a syringe into a capillary column as a gel. The volatile components in the gel are evaporated by means of heating and gas pressure reduction to form a porous sol-gel glass matrix attached to the inner wall of the separation channel. The pores are large enough for the passage of protons, neutral and ionic species but are too small to permit significant leaching of the chromatographic particles. The separation column so formed requires no frits to maintain the glass matrix in place in the column. Electrical potential difference and/or pressure difference may be applied to cause fluid flow in the separation column to cause electrophoretic and chromatographic separation.

Abstract: An improved multiple-width keyswitch capable of inhibiting noise thereof induced during operation is provided. The multiple-width keyswitch includes a keycap and a substrate. During operation, the keycap moves vertically relative to the substrate. The keycap defines a lower surface which is provided with a plurality of bosses. The substrate is provided with a plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of openings is disposed under one corresponding boss and covered with a deformable layer. When the keycap moves downward to turn on the keyswitch, each of the bosses first impacts the deformable layer into the corresponding opening such that the impact energy of the keycap is absorbed by the deformable layer. Thereby the noise induced by the impact of the keycap can be effectively inhibited. Embodiments and equivalent modifications of the invention are described in detail in the specification.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal packaging machine has not only the basic elements such as devices for transporting a film and longitudinally and transversely sealing it but also a former and a chute formed integrally together as a former unit which is made detachably attachable to the frame structure of the packaging machine by an attachment mechanism. The former unit has wedge-shaped members, and the attachment mechanism includes a mobile member constrained to move linearly and a lever which is attached to the frame structure such that a one-touch operation to rotate this lever causes this mobile member to move towards or away from the wedge-shaped members on the former unit and to engage with them or disengage from them.

Abstract: A write process and circuit for a non-volatile memory such as a multi-bit-per-cell Flash memory has multiple local memory arrays and a global bias circuit that charges row lines in the arrays for programming operations. A programming operation in an array includes a charging period during which the global bias circuit charges a selected row line to a voltage corresponding to a value to be written in a memory cell and a sequence of program cycles and verify cycles during which the selected row line is isolated to preserve the charge from the bias circuit. A global control circuit can use a capacitive coupling to the charged row line to raise and lower the row line voltage. In one embodiment, the row line voltage rises to a programming voltage to change the threshold voltage of the selected cell during program cycles and falls to a verify voltage during verify cycles to sense whether the selected cell has a target threshold voltage.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory includes: multiple write pipelines, each including a memory array; a timing circuit which sequentially starts programming operations in the pipelines; and a shared charge pump and voltage regulation circuit that drives a current through the memory cells being programmed. Staggering the starts of programming operations reduces the current demand on the charge pump because spikes that occur at the starts of programming operations, for example, when using channel hot electron injection, are distributed over time rather than occurring all at once. Noise, which can reduce the accuracy of write operations, is also reduced because the total current required from the charge pump is more nearly constant. As further aspect of the invention, each write pipeline can perform a write operation as alternating programming cycles and verify cycles.

Abstract: Two novel proteins have been designated "cerberus" and "frzb-1," respectively. Cerberus is expressed as a secreted peptide during embryogenesis of the Xenopus embryo, and is expressed specifically in the head organizer region. This new molecule has endodermal, cardiac, and neural tissue inducing activity, that should prove useful in therapeutic, diagnostic, and clinical applications requiring regeneration, differentiation, or repair of these and other tissues. Frzb-1 is a soluble antagonist of growth factors of the Wnt family that acts by binding to Wnt growth factors in the extracellular space. A third novel protein is designated "PAPC" which promotes the formation of dorsal mesoderm and somites in the embryo.

Abstract: A multiple reference voltages generation apparatus, which generates multiple reference voltages to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), is provided. The apparatus includes a resistor-string and a control device. The resistor-string has a first terminal and a second terminal for connecting respectively with a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The resistor-string comprises a plurality of series-connected resistors which define a plurality of nodes for outputting the multiple reference voltages. A plurality of Bit-Decision-Node {n<2.sup.k .times.j>, where k=0, . . . (m-1), j is an odd positive integer and (2.sup.k .times.j) is smaller than 2.sup.m } determine accuracy of a corresponding output bit a.sub.k of the ADC. A corresponding reference voltage Vn<.sub.2.sup.k .times.j> is output at each Bit-Decision-Node. The control device adjusts the voltage V.sub.n<2.spsb.k.sub..times.j> on Bit-Decision-Node n<2.sup.k .times.j> to make V.sub.n<2.spsb.k.sub..times.

Abstract: For identifying components in a chromatographically analyzed sample, a chromatogram is produced and identification tables corresponding to presences and absences of specified components are preliminarily stored. Peaks corresponding to the specified components in the chromatogram are identified, and presences and absences of these specified components in the sample are thereby determined. A specified one of the identification tables is automatically selected according to the result of this determination of presences and absences, and components corresponding to individual peaks in the chromatogram are identified by using the selected identification table.

Abstract: A packaging machine has a roll supporting device with a support shaft rotatably supporting a film roll which extends in an axial direction, an elongated bag-forming film being wrapped around the film roll, a bag forming device which pulls out the film from the film roll and forms the film into a shape of a bag, a packaging device for filling the bag-shaped film with articles to be packaged and sealing the film to produce a package, a roll displacing mechanism for displacing the roll supporting device in the axial direction, and a roll position controller for controlling the roll displacing mechanism to adjust the position of the roll supporting device. The bag forming device includes a former for bending the film into a tubular form and a former roller for guiding the film to the former.