Abstract: A multichannel ADC is fabricated on a single IC with each analog channel for concurrently processing input analogue signal in a pipelined manner and including a dual purpose intermediate amplifier for amplifying an input voltage to be converted and providing a reference voltage for use during conversion. A unique capacitor array reduces the area required to implement the convertors.

Abstract: A system for delivering a liquid reagent to a low pressure reactor in the vapor phase includes a source of the liquid reagent, a metering valve for measuring precise volumes of the liquid reagent and transporting those volumes to an expansion valve at a precisely controlled flow rate, and a vaporizing chamber. The expansion valve includes an adjustable orifice which is adjusted in response to pressure disturbances upstream of the expansion valve so as to decrease variations of the liquid flow rate to the expansion valve and thereby enhance uniformity of the vapor phase flow rate downstream of the expansion valve.

Abstract: A fluid control valve device includes a sleeve, a rotor, and a first recess groove. The sleeve has an inner circumferential surface in which two types of axial channel grooves communicating with an input port and a return port are formed in the circumferential direction, and left and right output ports are open in land portions between the channel grooves. The rotor is inserted in the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve so as to be rotatably held relative to the sleeve and has an outer circumferential surface in which channel grooves communicating with the axial channel grooves of the sleeve are formed in the circumferential direction at positions opposite to the land portions in which the output ports of the sleeve are open, and first and second land portions are formed at positions opposite to the channel grooves of the sleeve.

Abstract: A self-aligned silicide base contact structure for a bipolar transistor, and a process for fabricating the structure are disclosed. The structure has four key elements: a base region 36, a polycrystalline silicon emitter contact region 50, a spacer oxide 60 and 62, and a base contact 74 formed of metal silicide. The spacer oxide is an insulator that electrically isolates the side walls of the emitter contact region from the upper surface of the base region. The spacer oxide is a residual amount of oxide that is left on the side walls of the emitter contact region after anisotropic etching is used to remove most of a covering layer of oxide. The metal silicide base contact is created on an exposed upper surface of the base region, and is formed by first depositing a metal layer on the upper surface of the base region, and then heat treating. Where metal and silicon atoms are in contact, such as along the exposed upper surface of the base region, metal silicide forms.

Abstract: An infant cradle comprising a support stand and a hammock that is suspended from the support stand. The support stand has a ground engaging base member, an upright member extending upwardly at an inclined angle in relation to the base member and a support member that extends away from the upright member. A spring is suspended from the support member, and in turn a hammock is suspended from the lower end of the spring. The hammock comprises a loop of sheet material which is gathered at the point where it is suspended from the spring. Second gathers are formed at either side of the spring, and the hammock is spread by a spreader bar that extends between the second gathers so as to hold the hammock open as it hangs from the spring. The upright member is inclined such that the hammock hangs substantially over the center of the base member.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sensors are placed over the joints of a hand. Each motion sensor comprises an optical fiber disposed between a light source and a light sensor. An upper portion of the fiber is treated so that transmission loss of light being communicated through the optical fiber is increased only when the fiber bends in one direction. In another embodiment of the invention, a flexible tube is disposed in close proximity to a finger joint and bends in response to bending of the finger. A light source and light sensor are provided on opposite ends of the tube for continuously indicating the extent of bending of the tube. A wedge is disposed between the tube and the finger for setting the tube straight when the finger is hyperextended for eliminating the symmetry of the output signal which ordinarily would result from bending of the tube on opposite sides of the axis of movement.

Abstract: An improved luggage unit which has hollow spaces for receiving pouches in which toilette articles or other articles can be placed. The luggage item has quick release fastening structure on the inner walls for releasably connecting the pouches to the interior of the luggage unit. Thus, the pouches can be readily separated from and placed in the luggage unit and placed at a convenient location for access to the contents of the pouches. Snaps made of webbing are attached to the top of the pouches. Thus, the pouches can be placed adjacent to a horizontal bar, such as a towel rack, and allowed to be suspended from the bar. This is especially important when the bar is close at hand to the location at which the articles are to be used, such as a bathroom having a towel rack near a lavatory.

Abstract: A two-dimensional image of the voltage distribution across a surface at a large plurality voltage test points of a panel under test is extracted by illuminating the surface with an input beam of optical energy through an electro-optic modulator wherein the modulator is disposed to allow longitudinal probing geometries such that a voltage on the surface of the panel under test causes a power modulation in the optical energy which can be observed through an area optical sensor (a camera) for use to directly produce a two-dimensional spatially-dependent power modulation image directly representative of the spatially corresponding voltage state on the surface of the panel under test. Surface crosstalk is minimized by placing the face of the modulator closer to the panel under test than the spacing of voltage sites in the panel under test. The device may operate in a passthrough mode or in a reflective mode.

Abstract: A guidewire imaging catheter includes a catheter body, housing secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a drive cable extending through a central lumen of the catheter body, and an imaging system disposed within the housing and coupled to the drive cable. A fixed guidewire is secured to the distal tip of the housing, and the catheter body is highly flexible while retaining sufficient torsional stiffness to allow the entire catheter to be used as a guidewire. Thus, the imaging guidewire can be used to first image a desired region within a patient's vascular system and subsequently as a guidewire to allow placement of a desired interventional catheter.

Abstract: A blood extraction device features an extraction cylinder (11) having a forward end for attaching a needle (12) and a rear end having an opening (13) for a piston rod (14) together with a piston (15) secured to the forward end of the piston rod (14) arranged to slide axially in the extraction cylinder (11). The piston (15) can essentially be moved only in the direction away from the forward end of the extraction cylinder (11) and practically incapable of being moved when subjected to a force in the direction of the forward end due to one-way coacting means of prevention (17, 18).

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit with a non-volatile memory capable of electric rewriting of data is disclosed. The circuit is provided with inhibiting means for comparing an address of a write inhibition area of the non-volatile memory and an address from an external or internal CPU and inhibiting the writing of data in the area when the two compared addresses coincide, and also comparing an address of a read inhibition area of the non-volatile memory and an address from an external reader/writer and inhibiting the reading of data from the area when the two compared addresses coincide. It is thus possible to prevent erroneous rewriting of a program or protection-required data due to runaway of CPU and also prevent reading of secret data by a third party. Thus, a microcomputer can be realized, in which a program memory and a data memory both consist of non-volatile memories capable of rewriting of data, and which is very easy to use and has improved reliability and confidential property.

Abstract: In an apparatus for fixing a roll ring 4 on a roll shaft 2 mounted in two parallel roll stands 1a, 1b on both sides of the roll ring, by means of a tensioning means 18 and an axially tensionable conical sleeve 8 a radial tension is generated in the roll ring 4. In addition, the conical sleeve 8 carries the roll shaft bearing 3a.To enable the axial and radial tensioning of the roll ring 4 to be adjusted simply and accurately in spite of the additional roll shaft bearing 3a, the tensioning means 18 acts on the one hand on the conical sleeve 8 via a first thrust transmitting means passing through the roll stand 1a and on the other hand on the roll ring 4 clamped between two thrust rings 22, 23 via a second thrust transmitting means passing through the roll stand, one of the two thrust transmitting means also receiving the roll shaft bearing 3a.

Abstract: An optical transmission device comprising a body, a tapered surface disposed in the body, and means for attaching an optical transmission means to the body. In the preferred embodiment, the optical transmission means is a hollow waveguide. The tapered surface has an inlet aperture for receiving radiation and an outlet aperture. The diameter of the outlet aperture of the tapered surface is smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow waveguide.

Abstract: The machine of the present invention operates to automatically nail a combination of pre-cut wood boards together to form a pallet. The machine may be adjusted so that the size of the pallet can be varied as to dimensions and number of pre-cut boards. Once the pallet size and board combination has been selected, the machine is set up by moving jigs, stops, clamps and nailing heads into their proper operative positions. A number of nailing heads are adjustably mounted on a carriage that moves past a support on which the pre-cut boards are mounted. Both the top and bottom boards of the pallet are nailed simultaneously to the central or longitudinal board of the pallet. By way of a clamping system, the boards are squared and precisely positioned and secured together by clamping action. The carriage then begins to move and the nailing operations commence and continue until all of the nails have been driven into the boards of the pallet.

Abstract: Compositions of matter according to the present invention comprise a carrier compound immobilized in or on a solid phase. The carrier compound is reactive to bind a ligand such as molecular oxygen and includes a complex formed from a transition metal ion and a multidentate organic chelate. The solid phase is substantially immiscible in or separated from a ligand-containing environment, and the compositions are utilized by contacting the immobilized carrier compounds with the ligand-containing environment. Desirably, the compositions may be maintained in an inactive state (i.e., unable to bind ligand) where the transition metal ion is separated from the chelate. By allowing the complex to form at a preselected time, premature ligand binding can be avoided.

Abstract: A suction drape is shown for use by an anesthesia provider during a surgical procedure to temporarily hold a suction instrument. The drape is adapted to be received on a hospital operating room table and includes a main sheet of flexible, drapeable material including a head region received beneath a patient's head having a first fold which defines an accessory receiving pocket. A second fold is formed beneath the head region by folding a portion of the main sheet back upon itself. The second fold forms a second accessory receiving pocket for the drape and further anchors the drape to the table during use.

Abstract: A safety ski binding comprises a releasable front jaw (11) engaging one end of the ski boot (15) and a heel jaw (12) which engages a second end of the ski boot (15). A heel jaw housing (16) is mounted longitudinally displaceably in longitudinal guides (13) affixed to the ski. Preferably, there is at least some vertical and horizontal play between heel jaw housing (16) and longitudinal guides (13). Heel jaw housing (16) is urged by at least one thrust spring (14) against the ski boot (15) which bears on the one side on heel jaw housing (16) and on the other side on a longitudinally adjustable lock member (18) which is also affixed to the ski. Between the end of the thrust spring (14) bearing on the lock member (18) and the lock member (18), a force-resolving means (20), which resolves a part of the longitudinal force (F) of the thrust spring (14) into two opposite spreading forces (S), is disposed.

Abstract: The present invention provides protection against the effects of overerasure while essentially maintaining a single transistor per memory cell through the use of an additional transistor for each row of memory cells. The added transistor is a positive voltage threshold device which is coupled between the connected sources of the floating gate transistors and a read input line to limit the threshold voltage. For programming, a second transistor with a negative voltage threshold is coupled in the same manner, but is coupled to a program input line. The positive threshold transistor prevents an unselected transistor from turning on during a read operation.