Abstract: A three dimensional module for housing a plurality of integrated circuit chips is shown. The IC chips are mounted in rows on a plurality of substrates. Parallel to each row are communications bars which provide signal paths allowing chips on one substrate to communicate with those on another substrate. The communications bars also serve as spacers between substrates, thereby forming cooling channels. The IC chips are disposed in the cooling channels so that they come into direct contact with the cooling fluid. Signal lines to and from the IC chips are kept as separated as possible from the power lines so as to minimize noise. To this end, relatively thick power supply straps are mounted to each substrate below each row of IC chips. The power supply straps are, in turn, connected to power feed straps such that a very low impedance power supply path to the IC chips is maintained.

Abstract: The sensing array detects an image by measuring the changes in the dielectric constant of individual capacitors in a rectangular array of capacitors. The present invention avoids the use of isolation transistors to eliminate the effects of other capacitors in the array when measuring the capacitance of a given capacitor in the array. During the measurement of any given capacitor in the array, the present invention maintains a zero potential difference across the capacitors that are not being measured, thereby eliminating any interference that might be caused by these capacitors.

Abstract: An improved audio mixing system that does not instantaneously switch a microphone from the attenuated level to the unattenuated level in response to level changes on the microphone is disclosed. The system is not limited to one type of microphone and does not depend on separate sensing microphones to determine the background noise level. In addition, the active signal is not amplitude modulated by extraneous noise inputted through inactive microphones.

Abstract: A memory constructed from a plurality of capacitor elements organized into a two-dimensional array having a plurality of rows and columns. Each capacitor element includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode, and a dielectric layer disposed between the top and bottom electrodes, all of the bottom electrodes in each column being connected together to form a column electrode and all of the top electrodes in each row being connected together to form a row electrode. The memory is read by generating an electrical signal on one of the row electrodes while connecting the remaining row electrodes to a reference potential and sensing the current generated in one of the column electrodes. The capacitance of the capacitor elements corresponds to data values stored in the memory. Different capacitor values may be constructed by altering the area of the top electrodes or altering the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer between the corresponding top and bottom electrodes.

Abstract: A Circuit for reversing the direction of current flow in a rectifying device of a power converter during a time interval just prior to when the rectifying device is to be rendered non-conductive is described. The current reversal substantially reduces or eliminates reverse-recovery currents in the rectifying device, which may cause short circuits and needlessly dissipates power. The circuit comprises an energy source, a magnetic storage device, and a switch for coupling the magnetic storage device to the energy source. The magnetic storage device may comprise an inductor or a transformer. The energy source may include a voltage source, the converter's input voltage, the output voltage, or a winding magnetically coupled to another magnetic storage device of the converter. The reversal circuit includes a circuit for coupling the reversing current to the rectifying device such that it partially or completely reverses the flow of current in the rectifying device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for simultaneously and more efficiently setting the stroke position of a crankshaft on a crankshaft lathe and a method of using the system in combination with the lathe for regrinding, building-up by welding or other machining of journals of the crankshaft. The system includes slide blocks and slides in operable combination with rack and pinion gears for simultaneously positioning the crankshaft from a zero loading position to an offset position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lathe.

Abstract: The compression system utilizes sub-band analysis filters whose bandwidths are chosen to approximate the critical bands of the human auditory system while avoiding the aliasing problems encountered in QMF filter banks designed to provide similar band splitting. One embodiment of the invention may be implemented on a digital computer. The computational requirements of the synthesis filters may be varied in response to the available computational resources of the computer, thereby allowing a single compressed audio signal to be played back in real time on a variety of platforms by trading off audio quality against available computational resources. Similar trade offs can be made in compressing an audio signal, thereby allowing a platform having limited computational capacity to compress a signal in real time.

Abstract: A honeycomb grass planting unit includes a hexagonal body with six peripheral walls extending vertically and including a plurality of soilpots and a central fence therein. The soilpots are interconnected by plates to reinforce the structure. Holes are formed in the soilpots and the fence through which hoses pass. Two receiving sockets are disposed on diagonal apexes of the hexagonal body and are releasably engaged with four snapping fasteners disposed on the remaining apexes of another hexagonal body to provide a releasable interconnection between two honeycomb grassplanting units.

Abstract: A headset for a bicycle includes an upper bearing assembly and a lower bearing assembly between which is disposed a head tube and a steerer tube is inserted through head tube and rotatably engaged between the two assemblies. The upper bearing assembly has a bearing with a plurality of rollers each roller is disposed in an inclined fashion by 10-20 degrees regarding to a vertical line of said assembly.

Abstract: A bypass capacitor for use with an integrated circuit module, and method of making the same, are shown. The integrated circuit module comprises an integrated circuit "chip" mounted in opposing relationship to a carrier substrate and having a plurality of interconnects, such as solder bumps or wire interconnects, for providing signal lines and supplying power to the chip. Some of the interconnects are, instead, used to form capacitors such that bypass capitance is placed in close proximity to the chip, while not using up valuable real estate on the chip or on the carrier substrate. Various embodiments of such bypass capacitors are shown.

Abstract: A length-adjustable handle assembly for a baggage cart integrated with a suitcase, includes a handle for gripping by a user, at least an outer tube fixedly connected to the suitcase and having a plurality of locking holes along its length, an inner tube fixedly secured to the handle and telescopically movable within the outer tube, an operating sleeve fixedly connected to the inner tube and having holes formed in its wall for receiving steel balls, an operating means movable between a first position and a second position in respective to the inner tubes, a plunger with a flange surface fixedly connected to the operating means and movable within the operating sleeve. When the operating means is operated to the first position, the flange surface of the plunger will contact the steel balls and force at least parts of them to fixedly engage with the holes of the outer tube when the holes of the operating sleeve are aligned with the holes of the outer tubes.

Abstract: A fish bite indicator in combination with a fishing rod and reel is provided to give an audible and/or a visual signal when the fishing line is under sufficient state of tension. An oscillating arm of the indicator extends below the rod. The fishing line is threaded in a loop at the end of the oscillating arm below the rod in such a way to cause the arm to move upward toward the rod when the line has sufficient tension to indicate a fish strike. The other operative elements of the indicator include an on/off switch, a switch activating cam that is attached to a portion of the oscillating arm for activating the on/off switch, an alarm means electrically connected to the switch for, and a battery power source for the alarm means.

Abstract: A mount or holder apparatus and method for releasably securing a lock comprised of a U-shaped shackle and a cross-bar connected across the open end thereof to a bicycle. The holder comprises a plurality of mounting blocks, each mounting block having a first concave mounting surface of a predetermined axial length in which the lock may be cradled and an opposing second concave mounting surface of a predetermined axial length in which a portion of the bicycle may be cradled. The first and second concave mounting surfaces are positioned relative to each other so that the direction of the first axial length is transverse to the second axial length. Each mounting block includes a first means proximate the second concave mounting surface for securing the lock in the first concave mounting surface and a second means proximate to the first concave mounting surface for securing the bicycle in the second concave mounting surface.

Abstract: A carpet seam tape apparatus for dispensing carpet seam tape below and centered with respect to juxtaposed edges of adjacent carpet sections. The carpet seam apparatus generally comprises a base guide means connected to the base adapted for mounting between upturned juxtaposed edges of adjacent carpet sections and clamping means connected to the base adapted to engage and align the carpet seam tape substantially centered between the juxtaposed edges of the adjacent carpet sections. The guide means are configured to maintain displacement of the juxtaposed edges of adjacent carpet sections when disposed therebetween at substantially less than the width of the carpet seam tape thereby effectively preserving the carpet fibers near the juxtaposed edges.

Abstract: The present invention is a tool rack for storing air powered tools. The rack immobilizes each air powered tool by using a male air hose connector attached to the air powered tool. The male air hose connector has a flanged end and a neck region. The neck region has a diameter less than that of the flange region. The tool rack includes a first surface having a plurality of capture regions therein. Each tool capture region includes first and second regions. The first region has an opening sufficient to allow the passage of the flange region therethrough. The second region includes a slot having an opening less than the diameter of the flanged region but greater than the diameter of the neck region. The tool rack is attached to a surface such as the side of a tool box or tool tray-cart or to a wall via appropriate connectors.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for generating a mixed oxidant that is rich in ozone is disclosed. The cell disassociates a brine solution to generate ozone and chlorine based oxidants. The improved cell design allows the ratio of ozone to the other oxidants to be optimized, thereby providing a more efficient sterilization solution. The ozone production is adjusted by adjusting the residence time of the brine solution in the cell and the orientation of the cell.

Abstract: An emergency medical system is disclosed for movably supporting a plurality of patients in a generally rectangular vehicle interior space. Three litter rack systems are disposed on respective walls of the interior space. Each of the litter rack systems is provided with a system for automatically adjusting the vertical position between and tilt of the patient litters in each of the rack systems. Adjustable attendant chairs are placed strategically adjacent the rack systems for attending patients therein.

Abstract: An insertion device for extracting polarized electromagnetic energy from a beam of particles is disclosed. The insertion device includes four linear arrays of magnets which are aligned with the particle beam. The magnetic field strength to which the particles are subjected is adjusted by altering the relative alignment of the arrays in a direction parallel to that of the particle beam. Both the energy and polarization of the extracted energy may be varied by moving the relevant arrays parallel to the beam direction. The present invention requires a substantially simpler and more economical superstructure than insertion devices in which the magnetic field strength is altered by changing the gap between arrays of magnets.

Abstract: An electrical power inverter having an output voltage waveform that closely corresponds to a reference waveform under a wide range of load conditions is disclosed. The present invention allows for excess energy present at the output port of the electrical power inverter to be coupled back to the input port to maintain the correspondence of the output voltage waveform with the reference waveform when the inverter is providing power to inductive or light resistive loads.