Abstract: A comparator circuit having a signal input and at least one signal output having an ON-state and an OFF-state, wherein the ON-state represents an input signal lying above a pre-given switching level V.sub.s and the OFF-state represents an input signal lying below the switching level V.sub.s. The comparator circuit has two comparators, the signal inputs of which are each acted upon by the input signal, wherein both the comparators are wired together in such a way that a switching on of the first comparator produces a signal corresponding to the ON-state of the comparator circuit and the switching off of the second comparator produces a signal corresponding to the OFF-state of the comparator circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices, methods, and kits for treatment and detection of analytes requiring pretreatment in samples. One-step treatment and detection is possible utilizing the devices and methods of the present invention.

Abstract: Methods of assaying the presence of enzymatically active hydrolases (i.e., hydrolytic enzymes) in a sample or specimen are disclosed. In particular, a method of detecting candidiasis by assaying for the presence of enzymatically active aspartic protease in a sample is provided. In these methods, a sample or specimen is contacted with a solid support. The solid support with which the sample is contacted has a reporter enzyme (i.e., a signal generating enzyme) immobilized thereon. The reporter enzyme is immobilized on the solid support in a manner such that it is released from the solid support upon action of the enzymatically active hydrolase if the enzymatically active hydrolase is, in fact, present in the sample. The sample after having been contacted with the solid support is combined with an indicator. The indicator is any chemical species which is susceptible to a detectable change, usually a change in color, upon action of the reporter enzyme.

Abstract: A grid casting mold for the casting of accumulator lead grids has two plates (11, 12) which can be placed against one another with a casting profile (13) or mold cavity complementary to the lead grid which is to be manufactured being formed in their confronting mold surfaces. The plates (11, 12) moreover have a base body (14, 15) which is provided at the profile side with a thermally insulating layer (16, 17) of high temperature fiber ceramic material which is coated on the side remote from the base body (14, 15) with a high wear resistant metal oxide (18, 19).

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for picking a separated semiconductor die 128 from a wafer and placing it on a die attach pad 144 for bonding thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a die collet having a body 124 with a proximal end 123 and a distal end 125; at least one pair of spaced-apart walls 136 extending distally from the distal end of the body and having opposing faces 181 defining an aperture 126, the faces of the walls being sloped such that a distal portion of the aperture is wider than the die and a proximal portion of the aperture is narrower than the die; a recess 152 on the faces of the walls extending substantially the length of the die, the recess having a distally-facing surface 154 for contacting at least a portion of the top side 138 of the die; and means for holding the die in the aperture, usually including a vacuum port 128.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable protective garment for protecting personnel when caring for potentially infectious victims in an emergency situation. The garment is adapted to be readily donned by the user and is provided with strategically located fastener means to provide for quick and substantial closure of the garment about the user. Specially connected gloves and detachable masks are also provided for use with the protective garment.

Abstract: A frequency controlled clock circuit for use in a television receiver utilizes a detected sound intermediate frequency (IF) signal for use in controlling a voltage controlled oscillator and thereby provide immunity from ghost signals in the transmitted video signal. A phase locked loop responds to phase errors detected from the voltage controlled oscillator and a reference signal from the sound IF signal to control the frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A vascular catheter includes a catheter body, an inflatable balloon disposed at the distal end of the catheter body, and an inflation conduit extending from the proximal end of the catheter body to the inflatable balloon. The inflation conduit is disposed on the exterior of the catheter body, minimizing the total cross-sectional area but imparting a non-circular periphery. Catheter whip resulting from the non-circular periphery is reduced by arranging the inflation conduit in a helical pattern over at least a distal portion of the catheter body.

Abstract: A paste bin is disclosed in which the combination of self locking corner irons enable both the elimination of straps utilized to hold the containers together as well as the relatively complex pre-strapping assembly. Accordingly, self locking corner irons are placed on the off pallet sides of the container with two such self locking corner irons being on either vertical side of the off pallet side of the bin. Each of these corner irons consists of eleven gauge (1/8 inch) steel strips bent at 90.degree. to form two longitudinally extending side capturing edges. The vertical dimension of the self locking corner irons is slightly less than all of the height of the sides. On the off pallet side, the edge of the corner irons includes punched intermittent annular inwardly protruding male flanges. These inwardly protruding annular male flange are for receiving the heads of flat head machine screws for permanently fastening the self locking corner irons to the off pallet sides.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism having a drive shaft operatively connected to a drive section of a working vehicle, and a driven shaft connected to a working implement such as a mower unit. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch mounted on the drive shaft to be operable between an ON state to transmit drive from the drive shaft to the driven shaft, and an OFF state to break drive transmission; a transmission shaft connected to the clutch; and a shift device connected to the clutch to be shiftable between a first position corresponding to the ON state of the clutch and a second position corresponding to the OFF state of the clutch. The shift device has a clutch control device shiftable to control the clutch, and a first helical gear axially movably mounted on the transmission shaft. The clutch mechanism further includes a second helical gear rotatable with the driven shaft and meshed with the first helical gear, and a brake for applying a braking force to the shift device when the shift device is in the second position.

Abstract: A yarn clamp made of two clamping members which are arranged with respect to one another so that a clamping gap is formed which has a curved cross-sectional shape of continuously decreasing width in the effective direction and a continuously increasing cross-sectional contour. The holding of a weft yarn in the clamp is effected through elastic deformation of the weft yarn and partial looping of it about one of the clamping members so that damage to the yarn is substantially avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating an optical sensor arrangement for detecting articles present in a monitored region by means of a light transmitter and a light receiver. The light transmitter emits light signals which respectively comprise a number of pulses which follow each other at a determined pulse repetition frequency.

Abstract: Colors for a two-dimensional ordered image such as a fractal map are selected by first sampling colors from a real or natural source of colors, such as a tree or a feather and storing values representing the colors in Munsell color space (the three-dimensional space defined by hue, saturation and value) in a source color file, then ordering colors by distance in Munsell color space from a seed reference color (e.g. black), thereafter storing a representation of the color whose distance is closest to the seed reference color as the first color in a storage file known as an ordered color file, using the first color as a new reference color, then sorting the remaining colors according to distance from the new reference color, and storing a representation of the color closest to the new reference color as the second color in the ordered color file. The process is recursively performed until all colors in the source color file have been ordered in the ordered color file.

Abstract: Improvements in wiring assemblies using an electrical junction box assembly having preset electrical terminals. Such present terminals are hard-wired to certain electrical connection devices near the outer periphery of the box. Electrical components, such as a switch, a receptacle and the like can be quickly and easily mounted in place in the box in electrical contact with respective preset terminals. The selective electrical component can be provided with a number of pins at predetermined locations for electrical contact with certain of the preset terminals. One or more power-receiving members, such as a light fixture, can be coupled to respective outer peripheral electrical connection devices for receiving the three or four individual wires of an electrical line from each power-receiving member.

Abstract: Biological samples are analyzed for benzodiazepines in a single isocratic analysis using a chromatographic column system containing an immobilized enzyme reactor which cleaves glucuronic acid-conjugated benzodiazepines, an anion exchange column, a hydrophobic cation exchange column and a reverse-phase analytical column. Preferred methods of performing the analysis further involve the use of a hydrophobic cation exchange precolumn prior to the anion exchange column. The system readily lends itself to automation, automatic periodic sampling and benzodiazepine identification and quantification. The system is particularly well adapted to the determination and identification of benzodiazepines in urine samples.

Abstract: An improved multilayer integrated circuit package. The package, which has a plurality of layers of conducting leads, has metal vias which connects leads in a first layer connected to leads in a second layer. The improvement comprises having at least on of the vias with a cross-section such that the via is much larger in a first direction than in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A method is provided to improve the production of hot direct reduced iron in a melter-gasifier; reduction furnace system. All of the reduction gas produced in the melter gasifier and the top gas produced in reduction furnace which has been stripped of CO.sub.2 are recycled to the reduction furnace. The reduction furnace is sized to process all this gas and bypassed direct reduced iron may result.

Abstract: A solid-phase binding assay that measures interferometrically either antibodies or binding pair antigens bound to a spinning disc on which the complementary antigen or antibody has previously been coated in an alternating pattern of immunologically active and inactive spots. The spinning disc is inserted into one arm of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and as the disc spins the bound and unbound spots pass one after another through the two light beams causing a periodic phase shift in the light. These phase modulated light beams are then recombined at a beam-splitter converting the phase modulation into an amplitude modulation. The two recombined beams then fall on a photodetector which converts the periodically varying optical power into a periodically varying electrical current whose amplitude is proportional to the amount of bound protein on the surface of the disc and whose modulation frequency is equal to the frequency with which the spots pass through the light beam.

Abstract: `Balboa` is a spring bearing variety which produces smooth glossy, attractive, full colored fruit, both on the surface and in the juicy flesh and has a very good flavor.The crop is medium early in southern and central California and has the ability to produce a high volume of fruit in March, April and May in southern California, if the transplant is given proper chilling before being planted.If grown in central California, the plants have the ability to continue production in the summer and fall. The plant is characterized by being medium dark and becoming large by summer. When vigorous, it is common to have one or more leaves per plant produce four leaflets per leaf instead of the normal three.The fruit of the plant is also characterized by a large, dark calyx on primary berries which often produce a double row of serrated sepals. These sepals often become curled and are held irregularly, with narrow sepals, when present, held on the row away from the fruit, not next to the fruit.