Abstract: A display control apparatus is provided to generate a scaled video output overlaid onto a computer graphics output. The display control apparatus includes a timing generator, adapted to receive a horizontal synchronization signal of the computer graphics output and the pixel number of horizontal scan line of the scaled video output, for generating a pixel clock of scaled video output and a horizontal lock signal; a scaling buffer, storing a video digital pixel data and having an output port generating the scaled video output, responsive to the pixel clock of scaled video output; an overlay controller, coupled to a controller bus and receiving an analog pixel data of the computer graphics output and, responsive to the pixel clock of scaled video output, the horizontal lock signal and a vertical synchronization signal of the computer graphics output, for overlaying the scaled video output onto the computer graphics output.

Abstract: An acupressure device is disclosed for stimulating an LI-4 acupressure point located on the back side of a hand within the fleshy crotch between the thumb and index finger. The acupressure device is simple to use and enables accurate positioning over the LI-4 acupressure point and simultaneous stimulation of both hands.

Abstract: An output buffer is provided with a terminal, a first driver, a second driver and enable circuitry. The first driver is for driving the terminal to a voltage corresponding to a logic value of the output signal. The second driver is for driving the terminal to the same voltage as the first driver, when the output signal transitions in logic value. The enable circuitry responds to a transition in logic value of the output signal by, after a predetermined delay, enabling the second driver to drive the terminal. However, the enable circuitry only enables the second driver to drive the terminal for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a screen voltage is provided. The circuit employs an operational amplifier and two NPN transistors and receives an analog control signal from a microprocessor. The analog control signal is input to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier. The output screen voltage is taken at emitter of one NPN transistor. In one preferred embodiment, Vcc is taken at a primary side of a high voltage transformer within the display device and input to the collector of the one NPN transistor.

Abstract: A drive circuit for displaying the partition symbol intermittently comprising at least a pair of buffers, a plurality of display units of seven-segment, a partition symbol display buffer, a control circuit, a display unit of partition symbol, is provided. The pair of buffers store a set of signals. Each of the plurality of display units of seven-segment includes a first display portion and a second display portion, and, responsive to the set of signals, the first display portion and the second display portion are enabled to display. The partition symbol display buffer has an output value. The control circuit resets and sets the partition symbol display buffer in accordance with a predetermined manner. The display unit of partition symbol, in response to the output value, displays the partition symbol intermittently.

Abstract: A pressure medium actuated braking system comprises at least first and second braking circuits, and a multi-circuit braking power imparting device, such as a motorcar brake valve. The first braking circuit assigned to, e.g., the rear axle, has a first pressure medium storage container, at least one braking cylinder, and a first control valve system which connects the braking cylinder to the first pressure medium storage container or to a pressure medium sink (atmosphere) depending on a first control signal produced by the motorcar brake valve. The second braking circuit, assigned to, e.g., the front axle, has a second pressure medium storage container, first and second braking cylinders, and a second control valve system which connects the first and second braking cylinders to the second pressure medium storage container or to a pressure medium sink depending on a second control signal generated by the motorcar brake valve.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of pharmaceutical grade ranitidine base(N-?2-???5-(Dimethylamino)methyl!-2-furanyl!methyl!thio!ethyl-N'-methy l-2-nitro-1, 1-ethenediamine), is described. In-vitro and in-vivo pharmacological studies and acute toxicity studies indicate that it is as active and as safe as Form 2 ranitidine hydrochloride.

Abstract: The invention relates to a time display apparatus consisting of at least two partly transparent discs (A, B, C) which are arranged concentrically and axially displaced with respect to one another, with each of the discs (A, B, C) being rotationally driven about the central axle with separately preselectable period duration and being provided with a visible marking for the display of hours, minutes and seconds, with one freely rotating disc (D, E) which carries a graphical representation being concentrically arranged axially adjacent to at least one of the rotationally driven discs (C). The invention is based on the object of displaying not only the time by means of the time display apparatus, but also of enabling special optical effects. This is achieved in such a way that the rotationally driven disc (C) is provided with a (first) entrainment means (X.sub.1) on its side facing the freely rotatable disc, which means cooperates with a (first) actuating means (X.sub.

Abstract: An SC-integrator comprises an amplifier connected to a circuit network, which includes an integrating capacitor and a storage capacitor. The storage capacitor is connected via a first switch to the output of the amplifier and via a second switch directly to one side of a switching circuit capacitor, which is also connected by means of third and fourth switches to ground and the inverting input of the amplifier, respectively. The other side of the switching circuit capacitor is connected by means of a fifth switch to an input voltage Vin, via a sixth switch to ground, and by means of a seventh switch to a reference voltage Vref. The SC integrator uses a storage capacitor of relatively low capacitance value, since the storage capacitor is connected in parallel with the switching circuit capacitor when effecting a reversal of the voltage polarity across the integrating capacitor.

Abstract: A display device with article support device thereon is provided. The article support device is elongatable to cope with different size of the article. The display device has a casing which defines an inside which is space within the casing and an outside which is space not within the casing. The display device comprises a rear casing having two passages. The support device comprises an elongatable frame and a retainer which passes through the passage and is connected to the rear casing by a first screw. The retainer has a first end on which a pressure exertion apparatus is provided. The pressure exertion apparatus is accessible from outside. A thread is provided at the pressure exertion apparatus and cooperates with a second screw. The retainer and the second screw have a hole for passage of the elongatable frame which is positioned and unable to move when the second screw is screwed to tighten the pressure exertion apparatus.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for reversible movements of an actuator is provided with a drive element made from a shape memory alloy with one-way effect. The drive element acts upon a lever rotatable about an axle in opposition to the force of a resetting element, wherein the lever can be used as a coupling member for converting a deformation of the drive element into a movement of the actuator. The drive element is a winding with a plurality of turns of a wire, wherein the turns are fixed and arranged mechanically parallel between an anchor point and the lever so that the lever is rotatable about the axle by means of a deformation of a turn, and the tractive force acting upon the lever by means of the drive element results from the individual forces of the turns of the winding acting mechanically parallel upon the lever. The diameter of the wire is advantageously approximately equal to the standardised diameter of the crystalline grain of the shape memory alloy in the austenitic state.

Abstract: A rate control algorithm for an MPEG-2 compliant encoder. The rate control has embodiments useful for constant bit rate and variable bit rate encoding of video frames. The present invention relates to statistical multiplexing, virtual buffers and virtual buffer verifiers.

Abstract: An arrangement for interconnecting groups of users into collision domains in a Local Area Network such as an Ethernet comprises a plurality of repeater groups, with each repeater group being connected to a group of user stations. The arrangement also comprises an electronically reconfigurable switch matrix. The switch matrix comprises a plurality of segment lines (or other transmission media) each of which is used to form one collision domain or Ethernet segment. Switch elements under the control of a microcontroller selectively connect particular repeater groups (and the associated user groups) to particular segment lines to form Ethernet segments, each Ethernet segment being a single collision domain. Internetworking devices such as bridges and routers may also be connected to the switch matrix to interconnect particular collision domains.

Abstract: A process to determine the response pressure of a brake in a braking system of a vehicle comprises: measuring the existing vehicle deceleration of the vehicle to determine a value of ground-vehicle deceleration, supplying a test pressure to the brake, measuring the deceleration of the vehicle after the test pressure has been supplied to the brake to determine a value of vehicle test deceleration, and comparing the value of ground-vehicle deceleration and the value of vehicle test deceleration. If the value of vehicle test deceleration is greater than the value of ground-vehicle deceleration by more than a predetermined tolerance value, the steps of the process are repeated with a reduced test pressure until the difference between the values of ground-vehicle deceleration and vehicle test deceleration is no more than the predetermined tolerance value.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for a CMOS cell with a buried contact uses highly selective etching techniques in combination with a thin oxide etching stop to prevent damage to the buried contact during the etching process. A cavity is formed in the oxide layer between the buried contact and its adjacent interconnect polysilicon element. A self-aligning silicide process (salicide) is used to coat the interconnect polysilicon, the cavity, and the buried contact, to form a continuous electrical connection between the interconnect polysilicon and the buried contact.

Abstract: A buried bit line ROM is disclosed having orthogonal sets of buried bit lines and polysilicon word lines. Polysilicon spacers are disposed on either side of each of the bit lines. The polysilicon spacers are slightly doped. The bit lines have a doping profile so that the edges of each bit line is doped less and the center of each bit line is doped more.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously forming a self-aligned contact, a local interconnect and a self-aligned silicide in a semiconductor device. An oxide layer is deposited over a gate structure, a source region and a drain region formed on a substrate of the semiconductor device. The gate structure may be a multi-layer structure including a polysilicon gate, a silicon nitride layer and a tungsten silicide layer. The oxide layer deposited over the gate, source and drain is etched to define portions of the oxide layer which will form contact areas of a self-aligned contact and a local interconnect of the semiconductor device. An amorphous silicon layer is then deposited over the etched oxide layer to a thickness selected such that substantially the entire thickness of remaining portions of the amorphous silicon layer will be consumed during a subsequent silicidation reaction.

Abstract: A machine is described for the pretreatment, dyeing and/or aftertreatment of textile goods, with an autoclave for reception of the textile goods and a treatment liquor, a circulating system for the liquor equipped with at least one transport pump for the liquor and a filter system through which the treatment liquor flows, whereby the filter system is situated within the autoclave.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a parallel variable length decoder and a method for decoding a signed variable length code word. Variable length decoding (VLD) is a widely-used method in data compression, especially, in the applications of image data communication and storage. Many international standards have adopted this technique in video data compression, for example, JPEG, MPEG, CCITT H.261 and so on. Two programmable logic arrays (PLAs) are used in conventional VLD which differ only in there sign. The present invention uses a single PLA which is triggered by bits of signed fixed length inputs, not including a sign bit. The PLA output an unsigned run-level pair. The VLD processes the sign bit outside the PLA. A mask circuit is used to extract the sign bit which is then combined with the decoded unsigned run-level pair to get a signed run-level pair.

Abstract: A tragus acupressure clip is disclosed with a concave spring having two opposing jaws. The jaws are separated by an opening of a slot delineated by an inner surface of the concave spring. Two opposing pressure pads are provided, each positioned on an inner surface of the concave spring and separated by the slot. Two mutually non-touching finger tabs are provided, each having one end attached to a different jaw on the outer surface of the spring. Each finger tab has a second end extending along an outer surface of the spring approximately only as far as the portion of the spring opposite the opening separating the jaws. When the second ends of the finger tabs are urged towards each other, against a compression bias of the spring, the slot separating the pressure pads is enlarged. The tragus acupressure clip is not subject to over-opening of the slot which over-opening would otherwise permanently deform the spring.