Abstract: To enable easier manufacturability of the clamping ring for a surgical clip comprising two arms which are elastically pivotable towards each other and each have one clamping jaw, an end section in which the arms meet, and located therebetween a tensioning section on which the clamping ring surrounding the arms is displaceable in the longitudinal direction, with a part connected to the clamping ring engaging between the arms, it is proposed that the clamping ring carry diametrically opposed projections integrally formed on the clamping ring and protruding inwardly into the area surrounded by the clamping ring.

Abstract: In order to create an adjusting ring for the synchronous alteration of the angle of pitch of guide vanes of a compressor having several bearing points for mounting on a compressor housing of the compressor, which can be manufactured at least partially from materials with a low coefficient of thermal expansion and is, nevertheless, compatible with a metallic compressor housing with respect to temperature, it is suggested that the adjusting ring comprise curved ring segments each arranged between two adjacent bearing points, the curvature of the ring segments decreasing during an increase in the temperature of the ring segments so that the bearing points between the ring segments are displaced outwards in a radial direction.

Abstract: A phase modulator is provided in an externally modulated, feed-forward linearized, analog cable television (CATV) link for reducing fiber-induced composite second order (CSO) distortion components. The system is compatible with existing commercially available modulators. CSO distortion is caused, in part, by self-phase modulation of the transmitted signal in the fiber optic link. The problem is particularly prevalent when data is transmitted at a wavelength other than the minimum dispersion wavelength of the fiber. Moreover, CSO distortion increases with the length of the fiber optic link and with the optical intensity modulation index of the primary modulator of the link. The phase modulator modulates an optical signal which is provided to the primary modulator in accordance with an optical phase modulation index k of an RF data signal to be transmitted.

Abstract: A compact multiple-spindle machine tool has a spindle support which is rotatably mounted on a machine frame. Several work piece spindles are carried by the spindle support and may be positioned in various rotational positions when the spindle support is rotated about a rotational axis. A work piece is clamped to a spindle and can be machined by a tool in a work area. The machine frame has a bottom part which stands on a base. A stand extends upwards from the base to carry the spindle support. The work piece spindles are arranged in spindle positions around the stand. The working area for machining the work pieces which are held by the work piece spindles are also arranged around the stand.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for communicating VBI user information for digital television. A syntax is provided which allows the transport of closed captions, non-realtime video, sampled video and AMOL. Non-realtime video can be used to transport various types of data, such as a vertical interval test signal (VITS) through the system at full resolution. The provision in the syntax of a count for each type of VBI user information enables the adjustment of a digital television data stream to accommodate variable amounts and types of such information without space being reserved in advance. The provision of a priority number in the syntax enables decoders to discard VBI user information priorities which are not supported by the particular decoder.

Abstract: An unrestrained drying capability is added to an existing series of rotating drying cylinders in a cost- and space-efficient manner to enhance cross-directional (CD) stretch and tensile energy absorption (TEA) in a paper web such as for sack kraft grade paper. High-intensity air glide drying devices are adapted for use in a variety of configurations to provide different levels of unrestrained drying capacity for a pre-existing series of rotating drying rollers. The air glide drying devices carry the paper web on a cushion of air which is heated preferably to 500.degree.-850.degree. F. The sheet moisture content of the paper web during heating in the unrestrained drying section decreases by at least approximately 5%, with an evaporation rate of approximately 15-30 lbm/hr/ft.sup.2. A preferred temperature range of the paper web upon entry to the air glide drying device is 160.degree.-210.degree. F. A pre-heater such as a convection or infrared heater may optionally be employed.

Abstract: To improve a machine tool, comprising a machine frame, a workpiece holder arranged on the machine frame for a workpiece to be machined, a tool holder arranged on the machine frame for receiving a tool and at least one drive with a slide for executing a relative movement between the tool and the workpiece in the direction of at least one axis, such that it allows as high dynamics as possible, it is proposed that the drive comprise electric linear motors aligned parallel to the axis and spaced from one another in a transverse direction, that the slide extend between the two linear motors, and that a control be provided for simultaneously operating the linear motors for displacement of the slide.

Abstract: Auxiliary data subband samples representing an auxiliary data signal are transported in a subband-coded compressed digital audio signal without decompressing the data. A pre-existing packetized data stream is provided to an input of a encoder. Subband audio samples are extracted from the packet stream and normalized if required. The data to be transported modulates data carrier subbands including, for example, a pseudo-noise (PN) spread spectrum signal, each subband of which has a bandwidth corresponding to those of the digital audio signal. The data carrier sequence can also include a sparse PN sequence, sample twiddle sequence, or a bit twiddle sequence. The modulated data carrier sequence is combined with the audio subband samples to form a combined signal in which the auxiliary data subband samples are carried. The combined signal is then multiplexed into the pre-existing packet stream. In a decoder, the combined signal is demodulated to recover the auxiliary data signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptively compressing blocks of video image data provide a local coding level for use in compressing successive blocks of video image data. Each block is preliminarily compressed using a global coding level. The preliminarily compressed data is processed to provide a measure of the randomness of an image area represented by the block of video image data. A local coding level is generated based on the randomness measure. The video image data is then compressed using the local coding level to provide compressed data for transmission. One or more intermediate compression stages can be provided, each generating an intermediate coding level, to better refine the randomness measure for use in generating the local coding level.

Abstract: A powder coating spray gun includes a high voltage generator with a transformer and voltage multiplier circuitry located within the handle and barrel portions of the gun. The voltage multiplier circuitry includes a number of stages of capacitors and diodes. In the event of failure of the voltage multiplier, backup or secondary circuitry may be selected by the user by removing the barrel of the spray gun from the handle, rotating the barrel to a second position, and re-inserting the barrel into the handle. The secondary circuitry can include a duplicate capacitor for the first stage of the voltage multiplier. A first and second set of connecting pins in the barrel of the spray gun couple the voltage multiplier circuitry with the transformer. The connecting pins are received at active sockets and inactive openings in the handle portion of the spray gun.

Abstract: In a surgical instrument with at least one jaw part (9) actuatable via a pull or push element (10), the pull or push element (10) is to extend through a tube (13), at the end of which the at least one jaw part (9) is arranged. The jaw part (9) is releasably connected to the tube (13) via a holder (8) and is arranged for removal together with the pull or push element (10) from the tube (13).

Abstract: Pixel data is stored and subsequently read from a random access memory of a video decompression processor in a manner that reduces the number of times different rows of the RAM must be addressed in order to retrieve portions of the pixel data therefrom. Pixel data from a video frame is stored in the RAM as a plurality of pages. Each page substantially fills a different row of the RAM and corresponds to a different section of the video frame. A motion vector is decoded to determine the location of a prediction area within the video frame. In the event that the prediction area encompasses more than one of the pages of the video frame, the pixel data is retrieved one page at a time, minimizing the number of row changes required when addressing the RAM to retrieve the data.

Abstract: In order to provide a joint connection, comprising a first joining piece with a first contact surface and a passage opening onto the first contact surface, and a second joining piece with a second contact surface and a recess opening onto the second contact surface, said first joining piece and second joining piece standing in a joining position in relation to one another, in which the contact surfaces abut one another and the passage and the recess together form a cavity, for joining pieces made from brittle materials it is proposed that a positive-locking element is disposed in the cavity; that the positive-locking element comprises a plastically inserted molding, which is cured in the cavity and abuts the joining pieces over their surface; that together with the first joining piece and the second joining piece, the positive-locking element forms a positive locking which secures the first joining piece and the second joining piece relative to one another in at least one direction of stress along the contact

Abstract: Impulse purchasing is provided for packages of services offered to consumers via an information network. A plurality of services is offered for individual purchase on an impulse basis via a user terminal coupled to the information network. The plurality of services is offered for purchase as a package on terms that may be more favorable than when the services are purchased individually. Upon purchase of a package, a package record is established for access by the user terminal. The package record provides cryptographically secure access to services provided in the package during a defined time period over which the package is valid.

Abstract: A drilling jig for surgical drilling tools is disclosed. The drilling jig comprises two sleeves of identical design mounted alongside each other on a common holder, with each sleeve being mounted on the holder so as to be pivotable in relation to each other about an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to their respective longitudinal axes. Each sleeve is hollow to allow a drilling tool to pass through. At the rear end of each sleeve is a stop surface for the drilling tool to rest against, the stop surface delimiting the depth to which the drilling tool penetrates the sleeve. Each sleeve is of two-part design and includes a bearing part and an adjusting part, with the bearing part carrying the front end of the sleeve and the adjusting part carrying the stop surface.

Abstract: Disparity estimation between the right and left view pixel luminance values in a stereoscopic video signal is optimized by determining the minimum least-square-error between macroblocks of the right and left view pictures. Affine transform coefficients and disparity vectors which correspond to the minimum error are also determined and transmitted in the data stream for use by a decoder in reconstructing the right view picture. The scheme can be implemented either locally, at the macroblock level, or globally, at the picture level. At the macroblock level, least-square-error optimization may occur for each individual macroblock in the right view picture. In this case, affine transform coefficients are provided for each macroblock. At the picture level, the sum of the least-square-errors is minimized after the blocks of the right view picture are matched to the left view picture. In this case, only one set of affine transform coefficients are required for the entire right view picture.

Abstract: A method and structure are provided for joining structural wood members. A plurality of slits is formed in the end portions of members to be joined, and the end portions are brought into proximity with slits in alignment. The members are temporarily fixed in the desired orientation and adhesive is applied into the slits. Connecting plates are coated with the adhesive, inserted into the aligned slits and the adhesive is hardened.

Abstract: A video signal is modified to include a supplemental burst signal on at least some of the scan lines for each frame. The supplemental burst signals are used to prevent a pirate decoder from descrambling horizontally sync suppressed scrambled signals by deriving a synchronization timing reference from the color burst signal. The supplemental burst signals can also or alternatively be used to carry data in an otherwise conventional analog video signal.

Abstract: An exposure slit is provided for a shuttle style film gate in a film transport. The exposure slit is provided on a plate that is mounted to the film gate shuttle. After the shuttle advances a frame of the film, it carries the slit with it during its return to a home position. Exposure of the film frame is made through the slit during the return travel.

Abstract: A satellite receiver is provided which downconverts an incoming band of signals received at a carrier frequency to a signal spectrum centered about an intermediate frequency (IF). The IF signal spectrum is filtered to provide a group of signals therefrom. The group comprises a subset of all the signals in the incoming band of signals. The group of signals from the IF signal spectrum is sampled at a high frequency which is greater than the highest frequency present in the group but lower than the intermediate frequency, in order to provide the group of signals at baseband directly from the IF signal spectrum.