Abstract: A controller for a graphical display. The controller is preferably integral to a computing device that is operable while being held in one hand. The user views the display through a magnifying lens while controlling the display and controllable elements on the display with the thumb, either by actuating a push plate or by moving the thumb over a window in the push plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cabin pressure control system (10), a method of controlling the actual pressure inside a cabin (50) and an outflow valve (14; 15; 16; 17), especially for use in said system (10) or said method. The invention provides communication of actual cabin pressure to the outflow valve (14; 15; 16; 17) and additionally a common data exchange line (22) connecting the components of the cabin pressure control system (10). The system (10) is highly redundant and reliable, guarantees the desired sophisticated pressure control even if one or several components fail and allows complete elimination of the previously used fully pneumatic safety valves.

Abstract: A method and device for the continuous real-time monitoring of relative blood volume change, based on registration of blood hemoglobin concentration, during long periods of time, such as dialysis session. A method and device for cardiac output measurement during dialysis, surgeries, intensive care procedure is provided. Calibration of a sensor in response to a change in a measureable blood property is determined from a coefficient corresponding to a change in the measured blood property.

Abstract: A sheet of inkjet printed photographic images having orthogonal fiducial marks extending along a leading edge of the printed field and along a lateral side of the printed field. The fiducial marks register with the printed field and provide information regarding the location of the images in the printed field relative to the larger sheet. The registration of the lateral side fiducial mark and print field is accomplished by exercising the nozzles of the print head at each pass of the print head during the printing of the photographic image.

Abstract: A post for a queue management system is disclosed, the post being constructed so as to be capable of nesting with one or more similar posts and having an upright portion 3 or 65 adapted to support at least one barrier device 25 and having at its bottom end a foot 5 or 61 which is so constructed that it can nest within or upon a foot of an adjacent post, the post preferably being provided with at least one wheel 19 or roller 75 to facilitate moving the posts between storage positions in which they are nested together and positions of use.

Abstract: We report an optical pulse-compression technique based on quadratic nonlinear media. Negative nonlinear phase shifts are generated via phase-mismatched second-harmonic generation, and the phase-modulated pulses are then compressed by propagation through materials with normal dispersion. Millijoule-energy pulses from a Ti:sapphire amplifier are compressed from 120 to 30 fs, and calculations indicate that compression ratios>10 are realistically achievable using this approach with optimal materials. The insertion loss of the compressor can be less than 10% of the pulse energy, and scaling to higher pulse energies will be straightforward.

Abstract: Methods for preparing a puffable food product suitable for cooking by microwaving, deep fat frying and hot air cooking are disclosed. The methods include mixing a starch with water at a temperature and for a time sufficient to at least partially gelatinize the starch, forming the mixture into a sheet and subjecting the sheet to a steam treatment to fully gelatinize the starch. The sheet is then cooled and cut into pellets of a desired shape and the pellets are dried. The inclusion of flavoring ingredients to improve the puffability is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fault tolerant network switch includes two or more switches units and a highly reliable (i.e., one with no single point of failure) interconnect unit so that during normal operation both switches are actively handling network packets and upon the failure of one of the switch units, another switch unit takes over, ensuring continued normal network operation, with somewhat reduced performance. The failed switch unit can then be replaced and the network returned to its original performance without disturbance to the other switch or the network cable connections.

Abstract: Ultrafast pulse beams of light are used to direct-write three-dimensional index profiles in materials using the unique material changing capabilities of ultra-short (i.e. <10 picosecond) laser pulses. An existing waveguide or waveguide circuit fabricated by some technique (for example but not limited to photolithography, flame hydrolysis deposition, modified chemical vapor deposition, or ultra-fast laser pulse direct writing) is modified by altering the index of refraction (index trimming) in a localized region or different local regions of the waveguide structure. Index trimming is accomplished through the action of a focused laser beam (or multiple focused beams) consisting of one or more ultra-short laser pulses and is generally performed at a wavelength in which the material is transparent or weakly absorbing, to the fundamental wavelength of the beam of light. The trimmed index pattern is generated by, but not limited to, moving the focal position of the beam or by moving the sample (i.e.

Abstract: A catheter for retrograde orientation in a blood flow is used to determine the blood flow rate by thermodilution measurements. The determination of the blood flow rate accommodates injectate induced thermal influences on a dilution thermal sensor, wherein the thermal influences can occur prior to introduction of the injectate into the blood flow.

Abstract: A glass break detector is disclosed that uses a neural network to determine if an audio signal is breaking glass. A characteristic extraction unit is used to extract a set of signal characteristics from a time domain signal based on the audio signal. The set of signal characteristics is the set of the magnitudes of the discrete Fourier transform coefficients of an acquired time domain signal, or the Fourier transform coefficients themselves. A classifier is connected to the characteristic extraction unit. It is a two-layer neural network that uses the set of signal characteristics to accurately determine whether the acquired time domain signal represents breaking glass.

Abstract: A method of applying a sign comprising of raised characters to a surface using a template or pattern which provides a precise orientation and alignment of the characters. The method renders it unnecessary to separately align each character.

Abstract: A gfi wiring device is disclosed in the form of a duplex receptacle for receiving the blades of a plug connecting an electrical appliance or other load to the circuit wherein the gfi device is connected. The housing sections and components of the gfi are so configured and relatively arranged that the device may be automatically assembled by downward, vertical movement of the components and the front housing section in a predetermined sequence relative to the rear housing section as the latter is positioned on a horizontal support. The device is operationally tested after assembly is complete and, upon successful testing, the housing sections are permanently connected by heat deformation of portions of one section to form a rivet-like connection. Reliability of testing is improved by breaking the usual traces on a printed circuit board extending between terminals to which jumper cables are connected to provide a fail-safe indication of circuit continuity through the jumper cables.

Abstract: A drying tunnel applicable to products of fruits and vegetables for drying, using ambient temperature dry air. The tunnel has an outer casing fitted with two independent stories which has openings at the ends of the upper floor, which crossed inside in an upward direction by a conveyor belt which is in turn crossed in a counterflow direction by a particular flow of drying air at ambient temperature. Humidity of the products is absorbed by traveling along the conveyor belt which passes through the upper flow. The upper floor is blown by fans treated by air passing through a refrigeration evaporator, condenser, and compressor located on the upper floor. Air curtains are at the tunnel openings to minimize escaping air. Air filters are included to eliminate suspended particles from the product surface.

Abstract: An improved hand held medical instrument having an instrument tip having a preferred orientation, and rotatable to at least one other orientation, the tip being attached to an instrument handle adapted to be held in the hand of the user, the handle having at least one substantially round body portion for facilitating rotation of the instrument, and an at least generally flat reference surface on the body portion, the reference surface engagable by the hand of the user for orienting the instrument in the preferred orientation, or as a reference point in facilitating rotation to another position.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having especially low thermal impedance between a semiconductor element and a heatsink is described wherein the semiconductor element is directly disposed upon a thin, low thermal impedance current-spreading layer on an electrically isolated layer. An electrode connected to the current-spreading layer surrounds the semiconductor element so that it introduces no additional thermal impedance between the semiconductor element and the heatsink. Relatively inexpensive electrode materials may be used in accordance with the invention without increasing thermal impedance.

Abstract: A thin film metal oxide-metal oxide heterojunction nonlinear resistor is described. A non-symmetrical embodiment wherein zinc oxide and bismuth oxide are employed provides exemplary nonlinear characteristics for triggering or transient suppression applications. A symmetrical embodiment which includes a sandwich-like structure of one metal oxide between layers of a second metal oxide provides similar characteristics in a symmetrical form.

Abstract: The isolation voltage of an optocoupler including a light transmissive inner region and a reflective or opaque outer region, the interface between such regions being intersected by input and output terminals, is improved by providing a layer of breakdown voltage enhancing material at the interface. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a layer of glass frit is provided at the interface, the particles comprising the frit extending into each of the regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for flush mounting to an external heatsink includes an integral encapsulating body and an internal heatsink having a surface for heat transfer to an external heatsink. The encapsulating body encloses a semiconductor element and a portion of the internal heatsink but has a lower surface which when mounted to the external heatsink, lies above the surface thereof thereby insuring that flush mounting can be consistently achieved.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is described wherein a semiconductor pellet is disposed within a hermetically sealed chamber including a thermally conductive base and a substantially rigid housing, said housing including an open upper chamber in which are disposed electrical terminals and which is filled with a sealing and strengthening layer to substantially increase the strength and hermeticity of the package.