Abstract: A direct current offset correction system is disclosed for use in an analog signal processing system. The offset correction system includes a comparator unit for comparing the polarity of signals from an analog signal channel and producing a binary output signal. The system also includes a digital accumulator unit that is coupled to the comparator output signal for providing an accumulated average signal over a predetermined period of time. The system also includes a threshold corrective signal unit for determining whether the accumulated signal is within a defined threshold window of acceptable values. The system further includes a correction unit for applying a corrective signal to the analog signal channel.

Abstract: An integrated optical sensor using optical waveguide micro-cavity resonators. Using a laser and a detector it is possible to detect changes in the position of the resonance position, in wavelength or frequency, of one or more modes of the resonator. The change in resonance can be made dependent on chemicals, which have been adsorbed by chemically or biologically sensitive material provided in close proximity to the resonator.

Abstract: For use in a single serve beverage brewer in which a measured charge of a dry beverage medium is infused with a metered amount of heated liquid to produce a beverage medium, a reusable beverage filter cartridge is provided for containing the beverage medium and for accommodating an inflow of the heated liquid and an outflow of the beverage medium. The cartridge comprises a cup-shaped housing having a top opening and a closed bottom with an outlet port. A filter internally subdivides the housing into a first chamber accessible via the top opening and configured and dimensioned to contain the beverage medium, and a second chamber communicating with the outlet port. A lid is removably secured to the housing in a position closing the top opening, and an inlet port in the lid serves to admit heated liquid into the first chamber for infusion with the beverage medium contained therein.

Abstract: To demodulate the RDS signal, the stereo-multiplex signal is multiplied in a first branch by the in-phase component of an oscillator filtered by a low-pass filter while decimated in its sampling rate and filtered by a high-pass filter while in a second branch it is multiplied by the quadrature component of the oscillator filtered by a low-pass filter decimated in its sampling rate, and filtered by a high-pass filter. An error signal to control the oscillator is calculated from the high-pass-filtered signals and the RDS bit clock. A clock generator generating the RDS bit clock is controlled by the first high-pass-filtered signal and by the oscillator. An RDS decoder, to whose input the first high-pass-filtered signal is applied. and an arithmetic unit which calculates the error signal from the high-pass-filtered signals and from the PDS bit clock are both clocked by the clock generator. The RDS data are retrievable from the output of the RDS decoder.

Abstract: A brewer operates during a brew cycle to brew a beverage by infusing heated liquid with a dry beverage medium contained in a single serve disposable cartridge. During the brew cycle, the cartridge is contained in a cup-shaped housing closed by a lid. Rotation of the cartridge within the housing is resisted by locating surfaces arranged to interengage with at least one surface irregularity in the cartridge sidewall. Inlet and outlet probes pierce the cartridge and serve, respectively, to admit the heated liquid and to remove the served beverage.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converting includes a fanned out module for receiving an input signal and producing a plurality of new signals. A plurality of analog to digital converter modules receive the new signals from the fanned out module. Each of the new signals is assigned at least one of the analog to digital converters, such that the digital converter modules produce a plurality of digitized signals from each of their associated new signals. A combiner module receives the plurality of digitized signals, and combines the plurality of digitized signals to form a single digitized signal.

Abstract: For achieving a desired course in the demagnetizing circuit (I1) and power dissipation that is as low as possible during continuous operation of a color television set, a demagnetizing circuit for controlling the demagnetizing current (I1) includes two transistors (T1, T2) that are controlled via a common or via two separate capacitive voltage dividers (C1-C4). A rectified alternating voltage is applied to the capacitive voltage dividers (C1-C4). The demagnetizing current (I1) controlled by the transistors (T1, T2) is supplied to a demagnetizing coil (R4).

Abstract: A waveguide probe for the detection of pathogens in a sample which comprises a laser, a first and a second tubes that converge at a point to form a proximal end. A magnet is positioned in the end to configure to focus paramagnetic microspheres attached to antigen/antibody/optically labeled antibody complexes in the field of view. The proximal end is polished to form an aperture.

Abstract: A beverage filter cartridge includes a cup-shaped outer container with a bottom and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a circular rim surrounding an upper opening. The side wall has an upper section extending downwardly from the rim to an intermediate section, and a tapered lower section configured to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes extending downwardly from the intermediate section to the bottom wall. A filter element subdivides the interior of the container into first and second chambers. A beverage medium is stored in the first chamber. A cover is joined to the side wall at the rim to close the upper opening. The cover is yieldably piercable to accommodate an injection of liquid into the first chamber for combination with the beverage medium to produce a beverage.

Abstract: A microelectro-mechanical device which includes a fixed electrode formed on a substrate, the fixed electrode including a transparent, high resistance layer, and a moveable electrode formed with an anisotropic stress in a predetermined direction and disposed adjacent the fixed electrode. The device includes first and second electrically conductive regions which are isolated from one another by the fixed electrode. The moveable electrode moves to cover the fixed electrode and to electrically couple to the second conductive region, thus electrically coupling the first and second conductive regions, in response to a potential being applied across the fixed and moveable electrodes. The fixed electrode is transparent to electromagnetic signals or waves and the moveable electrode impedes or allows transmission of electromagnetic signals or waves.

Abstract: In a multimedia system for a vehicle, a plurality of multimedia units are connected to one another by an optical bus laid as a ring line. An interface unit, situated at an arbitrary point in the ring line or integrated into one of the multimedia units establishes a radio connection between the multimedia system and an external unit, which for example transmits traffic information to the multimedia system.

Abstract: A beverage is brewed by infusing heated liquid with a dry beverage medium contained in a first chamber of a disposable cartridge. The cartridge is internally subdivided by a permeable filter separating the first chamber from a second chamber, with both chambers being closed by piercable lid on one side of the cartridge. During a brew cycle, the cartridge is clamped between confronting arms, an the cartridge lid is pierced by inlet and outlet probes carried by a platen and arranged to communicate respectively with the first and second cartridge chambers. Heated liquid is admitted in to the first chamber via the inlet probe for infusion with the dry beverage medium, and the resulting brewed beverage permeates through the filter into the second chamber from which it exits via the outlet probe.

Abstract: To detect a fault state due to a line break in power supply lines on the receiving side during the operation of a transducer device, the transducer output voltage is forced to an extreme voltage range by a co-integrated p-channel-depletion-transistor. As a result, the signal detection device can reliably detect the presence of the fault state due to a line break in the supply feed lines.

Abstract: A firing mechanism for firearms, in particular a firing mechanism for automatic firearms, without preadjustmnent with regard to the choice of firing single rounds or bursts of fire, whereby a firing link provided with firing edge and arranged around a rotational axis, a lever arm being able to become influenced by the firing edge, which lever arm is present in a spring joint with a lever link, whereby said lever link is present in a spring joint in relation to a sear which carries one or more holding teeth for a bolt, whereby the lever arm/lever link are arranged around a further rotation axis.

Abstract: A security system includes a network adapter that links the security system to a computer network infrastructure to establish a connection to the network. An embedded HTTP server receives and responses to the requests sent from any HTTP client having access to the computer network. A browser-based management module allows any HTTP client that is capable of accessing the computer network to setup and maintain the security system. A browser-based information query module allows any HTTP client that is capable to access the computer network to access the information of the security system.

Abstract: A highly linear analog-to-digital (ADC) conversion system has an analog front-end device in cascade with a standard ADC converter, and a tunable digital non-linear equalizer. The equalizer corrects the quantization distortion, deviations from ideal response, and additive noises generated by the analog front-end device and ADC converter. The equalizer is formed by three main parts: Generate Function Streams Unit, Finite Impulse Response FIR filters and a summer. The equalizer receives the unequalized output from the ADC converter and generates a plurality of monomial streams in a systolic fashion. Each of the monomial streams is passed through a corresponding linear finite impulse response FIR filter. A convolution sum of all outputs from the FIR filters produces a unique equalized output with the non-linear distortion reduced to a satisfactory level. The FIR filter coefficients are determined by an Identity Equalizer Coefficient Unit, and a Test Signal Generator with different types of test signals.

Abstract: A lanyard, two-piece, high load buckle assembly including a keeper and a cover. The cover is hinged to the keeper and the lanyard is secured thereto. The cover defines an elongated slot. The cover has a cam surface formed on the under surface thereof and terminates in a locking surface. An opening is formed in the cover. The assembly also contains a secure part which includes a base and a tongue section extending from the base. The tongue section has parallel guide arms extending from a rear wall and terminating in leading ends. A member secured to the guide arms is configured with reference to the slot to remove debris from the slot through the opening in the cover. A cam surface formed in the tongue section terminates in a catch surface, such that when the secure part is received in the keeper, the cam surfaces engage and the cover deflects upwardly. The catch surface extends beyond the locking surface and the cover closes fastening the secure part to the keeper.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for sorting pellets (2), that includes a transportation device (3) for feeding the pellet (2), a first container (8) for faultless pellets (2a) fed over the end portion of the transportation device (3), a second container (13) for defective pellets (2b), a detector (9) for detecting defective pellets (2b) and a sorting device (11) for feeding any defective pellets (2b) detected to the second container (13). The invention is characterised in that the transportation device (3) is arranged with an angle of inclination (&agr;) relative to the horizontal plane which is selected within a predetermined interval corresponding to a predetermined, limited scattering of the trajectory of the faultless pellets (2a) fed over the end portion of the transportation device (3). The invention also relates to a method for such a sorting. Thanks to the invention, an improved sorting with an even and controlled flow of pellet and a high capacity is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical system for reshaping and spatially homogenizing light beams with variable cross-section output, comprising six optical components, with three components associated to each of two orthogonal transverse directions, wherein the first component operates as a Divider component (D; DO, DV) and is formed by a number n of cylindrical lenses (D1, . . . , Dn), where n is greater than 1, whose total dimension is not greater than the respective dimension of the light beam and whose center point lies upon the optical axis of the light beam, the second component operates as a Condenser component (C; CO, CV) and is formed by a cylindrical lens and the third component operates as a Zoom component (Z; ZO; ZV) and is formed by a cylindrical lens, and wherein, in the case the cylindrical lenses (D1, . . . Dn) have different sizes si (i=1, 2, . . . n), the ratio size/focal length si/fi must be constant for every i=1, 2, . . . n.