Abstract: A configuration facility is presented and specified, with at least one computer unit and a display device for the configuration of a time-triggered bus system. The bus system has at least two bus nodes and a data bus connecting the bus nodes. At least one node task and at least one transmission task can be executed at the bus nodes. The node tasks can be presented in time sequence in a node task field, the transmission tasks can be presented in time sequence in a transmission task field separate from the node task field, and the node tasks and the transmission tasks can be coordinated with each other by graphic allocation.

Abstract: A composite hockey stick having a tubular hollow shaft and a blade is disclosed. The shaft includes a region of focused weight in the form of an overlay coating that is applied on top if the internal surfaces of the cured shaft using a coating plug. The blade includes a focused weight region that is inserted into a cavity within the cured composite blade. Methods and suitable materials for constructions of the various components of the blade and shaft are also disclosed.

Abstract: Carburetor start system comprising a primer pump bulb coupled to a valve-opening mechanism, the primer pump bulb and valve-opening mechanism being operably coupled to a throttle valve and/or a choke valve. Pushing the primer pump bulb causes the throttle valve and/or choke valve to be rotated and releasably fixed in a starting position.

Abstract: A needle point protective device for hypodermic and intravenous needles, catheter introducers, and similar devices protects users from injury and infection. The needle point protective device includes a needle point guard that is slidably mounted within the needle handle. In use, the needle point guard is integral with a cannula guide that is engaged with the needle cannula with enough force to cause the needle cannula to be subject to spring tension when the needle point is retracted proximal to the needle point guard, the needle point springs downward and behind the needle point guard. In one embodiment, the needle point guard is held in position manually as the needle is retracted. In another embodiment, the needle point guard is held in place automatically as the needle is retracted.

Abstract: A circuit breaker is provided having three horizontal circuit breakers coupled together with a base housing. Each of the horizontal circuit breakers comprising a tank secured in the housing, first and second current transformers extending from the tank and exit and entrance insulators extending from the first and second current transformers. The housing is mountable on a support frame. To facilitate shipping and field assembly, the circuit breaker includes an control panel moveably coupled to the housing.

Abstract: An inventive method for performing gastric bypass surgery and a gastric bypass band that is used in conjunction with the surgical method is disclosed. The inventive method involves separating a top portion of the stomach along with the esophagus from the remainder of the stomach, and re-connecting the separated portion to the small intestine to form a gastric pouch of about 20-30 cc in size. The inventive gastric band is placed midway along the gastric pouch to act as a restrictor valve to limit the amount of food passing through the valve. The band also retains food within the gastric pouch to give the patient a feeling of satiety. The band is comprised of an expansion-resistant section combined with a one-way latch mechanism. The latch has a curved orientation so that the band is formed into a radial profile when placed around the gastric pouch.

Abstract: Prosthetic intervertebral discs and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The prosthetic discs described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components of the discs. The interface mechanism between the endplates and the core members of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation.

Abstract: A rapid thermal conversion process for efficiently converting wood, other biomass materials, and other carbonaceous feedstock (including hydrocarbons) into high yields of valuable liquid product, e.g., bio-oil, on a large scale production. Biomass material, e.g., wood, is feed to a conversion system where the biomass material is mixed with an upward stream of hot heat carriers, e.g., sand, that thermally convert the biomass into a hot vapor stream. The hot vapor stream is rapidly quenched with quench media in one or more condensing chambers located downstream of the conversion system. The rapid quenching condenses the vapor stream into liquid product, which is collected from the condensing chambers as a valuable liquid product. The liquid product may itself be used as the quench media.

Abstract: Power tools are taught that may include, for example, means for detecting impact sounds generated, e.g. by a hammer strikes an anvil or by oil pulse from an oil unit. The detecting means may include a receiver (30) adapted to selectively convert sound within a narrow frequency range into electric signals. Preferably, the impact sounds fall within the narrow frequency range of the receiver (30). A processor 38 may be utilized to control the motor (22) in order to stop the rotation of the hammer when a pre-determined number of impact sounds has been detected by the detecting means. In addition or in the alternative, various means for setting various operating conditions are taught, including dials 34, sound sensors 30, keypads and remote control devices 250. Further, means for performing maintenance condition status checks are taught.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods are provided herein for passively filtering out droplets of different size such as satellite droplets from the generation of primary droplets and use these satellite droplets as the source for monodispersed production of submicron emulsions. The systems and methods described use active flow control to sort droplets of different size into desired collecting zones and use conventional shearing principles, and, as a result, provide 100% filtration of satellite droplets regardless of size differences.

Abstract: This description deals with a medical device, specifically a prosthetic intervertebral disc having a compressible core that is mechanically interactive with the prosthetic disc's end plates thereby providing excellent torque or twisting transmission between the end plates.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device of the AAI/DDD type, notably a cardiac pacemaker, including automatic mode adjustment at implantation. The device detects spontaneous atrial and ventricular events, and is able to pace the atrium and ventricle. The device can operate in an AAI mode with ventricular sensing, a DDD mode, and includes automatic mode commutation, able to schedule, as a function of predetermined criteria, commutation from AAI to DDD mode, and reversely from DDD to AAI. The device automatically detects an implantation and has its initial mode of operation adjusted upon detection of the implantation (10). The device temporarily operates (14) in an AAI mode with activation of the means for mode commutation, then analyzes (20) the atrio-ventricular conduction so as to detect whether a potential conduction disorder exists. In case of a potential conduction disorder existing (presence) (24), the device is then set to a DDD mode and the automatic mode commutation is inhibited.

Abstract: A probe including at its distal extremity a tubular flexible sheath core supporting at least a winding forming a shock electrode and connected to a electrical conductor of connection extending in a internal lumen of the sheath core. The sheath core extends axially without a solution of continuity in the area supporting the winding. In particular, the sheath core comprises cavities to receive and hold conducting inserts, of homologous size with cavities formed locally close to the ends of the winding, the insert being connected to the interior side to the electrical conductor, and on the external side to the corresponding extremity of winding. A longitudinal slit connects the two cavities and allows, by elastic deformation of the sheath core, the introduction into the cavities and in the internal lumen of the unit formed by the final extremity of the electrical conductor beforehand equipped with its two inserts.

Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate the selection and connection of sub-devices managed by virtual device or logical units (LUs) within a network. In one exemplary embodiment, LU connections are preferably brought to the IP layer using HTTP commands and responses. These IP layer commands are used to communicate connection information among the LUs involved in the connection and to allow for LUs to determine which sub-devices within the LU will be used in a connection. When the specific details have been determined, the sink device will work at the network specific level to make the actual connection. This allows for the connections between LUs to be network independent until all of the specific details of the connection have been determined. After that, a connection is established using network specific commands and protocols.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that facilitate the formation of micro-mechanical structures and related systems on a laminated substrate. More particularly, a micro-mechanical device and a three-dimensional multiple frequency antenna are provided for in which the micro-mechanical device and antenna, as well as additional components, can be fabricated together concurrently on the same laminated substrate. The fabrication process includes a low temperature disposition process allowing for deposition of an insulator material at a temperature below the maximum operating temperature of the laminated substrate, as well as a planarization process allowing for the molding and planarizing of a polymer layer to be used as a form for a micro-mechanical device.

Abstract: Provided herein are photonic devices configured to display photonic band gap structure with a degenerate band edge. Electromagnetic radiation incident upon these photonic devices can be converted into a frozen mode characterized by a significantly increased amplitude, as compared to that of the incident wave. The device can also be configured as a resonance cavity with a giant transmission band edge resonance. In an exemplary embodiment, the photonic device is a periodic layered structure with each unit cell comprising at least two anisotropic layers with misaligned anisotropy. The degenerate band edge at given frequency can be achieved by proper choice of the layers' thicknesses and the misalignment angle. In another embodiment, the photonic device is configured as a waveguide periodically modulated along its axis.

Abstract: Cooling air intake port (52), cooling air exhaust port (55), and securing walls (86, 87), which contact and secure the side surfaces of one or more battery cells (72), may be defined within two battery pack housing halves (50, 80). When battery pack (99) is assembled, at least one cooling air passage (91, 92) is defined by the side surfaces of the battery cells, the interior surface of the battery pack housing, and the securing walls. The cooling air passage connects the cooling air intake port to the cooling air exhaust port. Further, the securing walls isolate or physically separate the cooling air passage from battery terminals (72a, 72b). By forcing cooling air through the cooling air passage, the battery cells can be effectively and efficiently cooled.

Abstract: An economical device for lighting lamps such as discharge tubes. The lamp-lighting apparatus has an inverter transformer, a switching circuit connected with the primary winding of the inverter transformer and acting to perform switching for converting a voltage from an input power supply, a shunt transformer connected in series with the secondary winding of the inverter transformer, lamps connected in series with the shunt transformers, and a control circuit for producing a control signal to control the switching performed by the switching circuit based on the voltages at the junctions of the shunt transformer and each of the lamps without directly detecting the voltage applied to the secondary winding of the inverter transformer. The number of protective circuits can be reduced. Consequently, the cost can be reduced.

Abstract: A method and system for interconnecting a number of peer to peer networks is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a peer to peer gateway communicates with one or more peer to peer networks. The gateway communicates with these networks through the Internet, to which it is connected. The gateway may be configured to perform a number of functions on each of the connected networks, including but not limited to: data storage, searching, data transfer, and data translation.