Abstract: An environmentally protected electrical socket and plug assembly retains environmental security throughout repeated connections and disconnections. The socket and plug assembly includes a socket containing an electrical conductor and adapted to insertably receive a plug, an environmental sealant at least partially filling the socket so that the sealant is at least partially displaced from the socket when the plug is inserted into the socket, and an elastomeric containment means for containing displaced sealant when the plug is inserted into the socket and for urging the sealant back into the socket when the plug is removed.

Abstract: A 1 X N splitter for single-mode optical fiber includes an individual single-mode optical fiber having its junction end juxtaposed, through a focusing lens/junction element, to the end of a bundle of arbitrarily arranged single-mode fibers which are fused together along a portion of their lengths and which have a total diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the first single-mode fiber.

Abstract: The apparatus is provided with a line (1) connected to the containment for feeding air to a water bath (5). The line (1) is connected to plurality of nozzles (4) disposed in the water bath (5) having at least one perforate baffle plate (27) disposed above said nozzles. A set (6) of static mixing elements (30, 31, 32) surrounded by a jacket (7) is disposed above said baffle plate (27). A dry separating stage is disposed above the water bath (5) and the set (6) and consists of an entry separator (8) and an agglomerator (9) which are in the form of annular discs. Air emerging from the set successfully flows through the entry separator (8) and the agglomerator (9) in opposite directions. The entry separator (8) and the agglomerator (9) consist of static mixing elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for the determination of therapeutic agents in blood. This method utilizes a solid phase extraction of the solute from plasma followed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography on a column of irregularly shaped C-18 modified silica. Comparison of the produced chromatogram with a standard curve provides a precise and accurate quantification of the amount of the solute in blood. Additionally, the extraction and chromatography steps can be readily automated for the rapid determination of multiple samples.

Abstract: A device for controlling the level of light in an area or room. The device includes a sensor that detects whether the room is occupied, a light meter that detects the level of ambient light entering the room, and circuitry that controls the lights in the room in response to the sensor and light meter. The controlling circuitry increases the light level in the room when the room is occupied and the light meter senses that the ambient light level is not above a particular level. When the room is unoccupied for a brief period of time, the device increases or decreases the light level of the room by controlling lights accordingly, in response to the level of light sensed by the light meter. And finally, when the room is unoccupied for an extended period of time, the device turns power off to all the lights in the room.

Abstract: An instrument for testing defects on active matrix liquid crystal display base plates used for liquid crystal display panels. The instrument includes a testing device having an electro-optical element and active matrix liquid crystal display base plate, a light source for emitting light to said base plate, a light guide for guiding light perpendicular to said electro-optical element, and a photo-receiver for receiving light reflected from the electro-optical element. The lighting device has a halogen light, a filter, and other elements, and the electro-optical element is equipped with an optically reflective part made of a dielectric multi-layer coating. The light guide has a translucent mirror incorporated inside a transparent vessel and is positioned at an angle with respect to the optical axis. The instrument can also detect various defects in active matrix liquid crystal display base plates with high accuracy.

Abstract: A data transfer delay compensation system for a data communications system having a first transceiver and a second transceiver wherein the first transceiver includes circuitry for transferring an external cycle reference signal and a cycle delay signal to the second transceiver. The second transceiver includes circuitry for transmitting the received cycle reference back to the first transceiver a given time period after receipt of the cycle reference. The first transceiver receives the cycle reference transmitted from the second transceiver and measures a phase difference between the received cycle reference and the external cycle reference signal in order to update the cycle delay signal.

Abstract: A disposable safety syringe has a needle shuttle slidably located within a main syringe barrel. The shuttle has a pair of outwardly extending guide tabs which engage a guide slot formed in the barrel wall. The upper end of the needle shuttle is configured to accept a luer lock needle assembly and has a downwardly extending spike used to penetrate the septum of an ampoule mounted in the barrel. A sleeve and rod assembly are mounted in the barrel below the ampoule and can be used to translate the ampoule from a suspended shipping position to an injecting position in which the septum is penetrated by the spike. The sleeve and rod assembly is removed after use, the spent ampoule is withdrawn and the needle shuttle is maneuvered downwardly by means of the guide tabs to a locking position in which the needle assembly is housed within the barrel for safe disposal.

Abstract: A dispenser for receiving and dispensing oral solid drugs from prior art a blister pack singulates and dispenses oral solid drugs. The dispenser for the blister pack includes a cylindrical cage defining at least one recess for keying to one or more of the blisters of the blister pack, the cage having a sufficient cylindrical dimension to permit the blister pack to be wrapped around the cage in a cylindrical disposition. A cylindrical dispenser container having a cylindrical inside dimension sufficient to receive the outside cylindrical diameter of the blister pack as disposed over the cage receives the cage and wrapped blister pack. This cylindrical container defines through the cylindrical side wall a dispensing window having a dimension sufficient to permit an oral solid drug dispensed from the blister pack to pass through the dispensing window. A rotational rachet successively registers to the dispensing window discrete blisters from the blister pack.

Abstract: A safety apparatus to be mounted on a chassis of a dump vehicle having a dump back movable between a rest position and a dump position. The safety apparatus has a guide member attached to the vehicle chassis to define a closed track. There is a safety prop pivotally attached to the dump back. At the bottom of the safety prop a wheel or the like is attached and is received by and engages the guide member. There is a locking member to retain the safety prop and thus the dump back in a fixed position relative to the guide member when the back is raised to the dump position. The locking member acts to prevent downward movement of the back.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for communicating data among transceivers in an electrical utility distribution system where a signal path between the transceivers includes multiple power distribution transformers is described. A first transceiver, common-mode coupled to a secondary of a first power distribution transformer transmits a carrier signal modulated by a data stream to the secondary. The modulated signal is transferred to the primary of the first power distribution transformer which is coupled to the primary of a second power distribution transformer. A second transceiver, common-mode coupled to a secondary of the second power distribution transformer, receives the modulated signal from the secondary. Both transceivers are protected from the high power delivered at the line frequency by filtering capacitors which attenuate signals at the line frequency and pass signals at the carrier signal frequency.

Abstract: An interenterprise communications center has a computer hub comprising a common core and a plurality of input and output modules. The input modules connect to a first end user and converts a message sent by the first end user into a universal format. The hub core queues the message and forwards it to the output module for conversion into the format of the destination user.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic head slider with uniform and controllable flying height through a range of skew angles. According to the invention, a transverse and negative pressure contour (TNP) slider comprises a support structure which carries at least two TPC type pads, each having a transverse pressurization contour along at least one side edge of its face, at least one NP type pad provided with a bearing face and a recess which develops a subambient pressure level, and an ambient pressure reservoir separating each TPC type pad from each NP type pad for preventing hydrodynamic interaction between the pads. The ambient pressure reservoir defines a cavity having a depth with respect to the face of each TPC pad sufficient to maintain substantially ambient pressure in the cavity during movement of the recording medium.

Abstract: A computer architecture has a plurality of processing cells interconnected to perform programming tasks. Each cell contains both memory and processing elements. Memory packets contain an instruction, a data element, and a pointer to another memory packet. Tasks are executed by following a linked list of memory packets. Transmission packets communicate instructions and register values along the linked list. A plurality of computer processes may be executed simultaneously.

Abstract: A test system directed to apparatus for transmitting and receiving multiple telephone transmission signals over a single twisted pair. The system converts an analog signal from a local switching station to an 80 ksymbols/sec signal for transmission over a twisted pair by a line card. A remote terminal converts the 80 ksymbols/sec signal back into a conventional analog signal for use in conventional telephone, facsimile or other related equipment. The test equipment separately tests the entire system, the line card portion of the system, the remote terminal portion of the system, and the twisted pair.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the identification and characterization of new genes and proteins. More particularly, the present invention relates to the discovery of novel members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and cDNA clones thereof. The family members are designated as H-2RIIBP (or RXR.sub..beta., retinoid x receptors). These proteins bind selectively only to the native region II sequence of the conserved major histocompatibility complex class I regulatory element (MHC CRE). Sequences homologous to the H-2RIIBP gene are found in the nuclear receptor family including: retinoic acid receptors (RAR), estrogen receptors (ER), thyroid hormone receptors (TR), (COUP-TF), and other RXR isoformes.This invention also provides for a diagnostic test which determines the nature and progression of a human tumor by measuring the quantity and quality of H-2RIIBP gene dosage or expression.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device such as a one-chip microcomputer having therein a runaway monitor (watch dog timer) there is provided a control unit for directly controlling the state of an input/output port on the basis of an output (overflow signal) of the runaway monitor and for controlling, in response to the detection of the runaway, the input/output port so that only the input of the input/output port becomes effective. This arrangement can separate the semiconductor device from an external system at the real time when the semiconductor device enters into the runaway state.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing accidental injury from hypodermic needles comprises an extension for attachment to a standard medical syringe. A standard hypodermic needle attaches to the opposite end of the extension and the extension has an inner cavity for conveying fluid between the syringe and the needle. An outer cover is disposed about the extension for sliding along the length of the extension to cover the needle. The safety device is easily modified to perform as a system for collecting blood or other fluid from a patient by adding a special needle and a blood collection holder at the back end of the extension. In this configuration, the outer cover guards the standard needle and the blood collection holder covers the special needle to prevent accidental injury or disease transmission.

Abstract: A portable data entry unit capable of being set up for right handed or left handed operation. The lower housing of a casement for the data entry unit is provided with four carrier mount receiving regions configured to secure a strap bracket. Two strap carrier mounts are used, one each in an appropriately located region for either handed configuration. The rear external surface of the lower housing has a central recessed portion flanked by two support portions. Each support portion is provided with a co-molded surface region to enhance the gripability of the unit.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for accessing remote electronic facilities and displaying associated information on a conventional television set. The electronic device self-configures itself upon power-up or reset by initiating a data call to a configuring facility. Information related to available facilities and programming, autonomous mail checking is downloaded to the electronic device. The electronic device displays a menu including several user selectable facilities on the display for a user. The user chooses one of the options from the menu by use of a remote keypad control, similar to a conventional television remote control. The options available include printing, electronic mail and other news and information services. Interfacing the electronic device with a stylus-type pointing device permits sketching and drawing on the television, including superposition of images on captured television images.