Abstract: In a rigid/flex circuit board and fabricating process, patterns of electrical traces are formed by etching conductive layers on outer surfaces of a flexible multi-layer circuit structure. A protective barrier material is deposited on the etched traces using an "electroless" process, such as immersion of the flexible circuit board in an aqueous solution containing ionic tin. The protective barrier material adheres to and encapsulates the copper traces. An outer circuit structure including a bondfilm of epoxy-impregnated fiberglass ("prepreg" bondfilm) and a copper foil layer is laminated onto the flexible circuit structure. The prepreg bondfilm has a window area removed by routing or an equivalent process prior to being laminated to the flexible structure. The window area defines a flex area of the rigid/flex circuit board that will be relatively flexible.

Abstract: A safety system which protects the open side of a mezzanine, loading dock or other elevated work area when in use. The safety system is easy to use while requiring only minimal floor space. The safety system comprises two posts, a movable arm having a safety net and associated hardware such that when the safety system is in a first position the opening of the mezzanine or loading dock is substantially covered by the net. When the safety system is in a second position, the arm and net are out of the way, allowing access by workers and machinery to and from the open side. The operation of the safety system from the first position to the second position or vice versa is performed remotely from the open side, thus further reducing the risk of falling.

Abstract: A tool holder is provided for retaining a cutting tool which can be pivotally adjusted to align the cutting tool and provide a precise cut. The tool holder body has an area of reduced cross-section which serves as a fulcrum about which the cutting tool is pivotable. The tool holder body has a forward tool end for retaining a cutting tool and a rearward end operative to be mounted or retained on a lathe or other machine tool. The forward tool end can be pivotally adjusted about the fulcrum to align the cutting tool and provide an accurate, straight cut into a workpiece. A lever arm attached to the cutting tool end is adjustable to cause pivotal movement of the cutting tool by displacing the tool end laterally in response to the force of the lever arm when it is drawn toward or away from the tool holder body.

Abstract: A mapping between an object model and a relational database is generated to facilitate access to the relational database. The object model can be created from database schema or database schema can be created from the object model. Further, the mapping can be automatically generated. The Database schema, object model and mapping are employed to provide interface objects that are utilized by a runtime engine to facilitate access to the relational database by object oriented software applications.

Abstract: A shape formed multi-laminate transducer which conforms to nonlinear dependent shaped geometries and the shape forming process for producing the nonlinear dependent shaped multilaminate transducer is presented. The shape forming process includes the cutting of the tape cast material to a predetermined two-dimensional shape and then pressing the cut material to form the desired three-dimensional nonlinear dependent shape. After shape forming, the sample is sintered, metalized, poled, and made into an acoustical device such as a transducer. The production of such a device by using tape cast material allows designers to easily vary the shape of the product as well as to be able to vary the properties within simply by exploiting the lamination method associated with tape casting. As such, a designer is able to design and manufacture a transducer optimized to meet the requirements of a particular application.

Abstract: A clock crossing FIFO capable of functioning regardless of relative clock frequencies on the write and read sides. Toggle signals are utilized to cross the clock boundaries. The number of write counts which have been accrued but not acknowledged by the read side are tracked, and this number is stored as of the issuance of a write toggle. Upon toggle receipt on the read side, this number is latched as a measure of the number of data units which can be read from the FIFO. At the same time, the toggle is returned to the write side for decrementing the number of write counts outstanding by the number conveyed to the read side. Similar circuitry is employed for conveying to the write side circuitry the number of data units which have been read by the read side circuitry. The presently disclosed FIFO and associated circuitry operates independent of relative clock speeds, and the particular size of the FIFO is scalable.

Abstract: A telephone headset including a boom microphone, a earphone, and an ear support constructed and arranged to be adjustable and comfortable for a wearer. The headset is configured with an adjustable ear support to fit a variety of ear sizes without affecting the balance of the ear support on the ear of the wearer. The ear support includes a rotational hinge which is biased into a given position by a compression washer. The earphone is removably and adjustably attached to a mounting ring which in turn is movably attached to the ear support by a spring biased ball and socket joint. The combination of flexible joints and removability of the earphone provides the degrees of freedom and stiction necessary to permit the earphone to be worn comfortably on either ear of the wearer.

Abstract: A computer network includes frame- or packet-based subnetworks connected by switches, the switches being interconnected by high-capacity trunks using a connection-based data transfer protocol similar to Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). Some of the trunks include a Permanent Virtual Path (PVP) trunk crossing an ATM core network, the PVP trunk including one or more bidirectional PVPs. A multipoint-to-point (MPT) protocol is used among the switches to transfer packets as groups of cells directly from "leaf", or source, switches to "root", or destination, switches without requiring significant routing-related processing during cell transmission.

Abstract: A switching node for use in connection with a computer network includes an input interface, a buffer and a control element. The input interface receives cells from at least one input communication link. The buffer buffers selected cells prior to transmission over at least one output communication link. The control element selectively enables cells received by the input interface to be buffered in the buffer. The control element discards cells if the cell occupancy of the buffer exceeds a predetermined threshold level and a credit value indicates that the switching node has loaded a number of cells into the buffer for transmission which exceeds a cell loss ratio guarantee provided by the switching node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating and deallocating control blocks for virtual connections in a network telecommunications device allows optimal usage of memory. Lists are maintained within the telecommunications device which identify control blocks as being fully utilized or partially utilized for either an incoming or outgoing connection. New connection requests for a user are handled by utilizing a partially used control block, if available, to avoid the allocation of unused memory resources in partially utilized control blocks.

Abstract: A barrier which can be easily deployed in a lagoon, pool or other containment structure to partition and provide isolation between adjacent bodies of water or other liquid. As a result, different treatment operations can occur in the adjacent bodies of water which are separated by the novel curtain barrier. The bodies of water can also be easily rearranged by use of the invention. The barrier includes first and second curtains of flexible water impermeable material which are disposed in a generally vertical disposition and the bottoms of which are joined to a bottom web which preferably is integrally formed with the first and second curtains. The bottom web is adapted to be disposed on the lagoon bottom and ballast material is contained between the first and second curtains on the bottom web to seal the barrier to the lagoon bottom and to prevent movement of the barrier in response to wind, tide, current or other forces.

Abstract: An eyeglass interface system is provided which integrates interface systems within eyewear. The system includes a display assembly and one or more audio and/or video assemblies mounted to an eyeglass frame. The display assembly is mounted to one temple and provides an image which can be viewed by the user. The audio or video assembly is mounted to the other temple and is in communication with the display assembly. The audio or video assembly may comprise a camera assembly and/or an audio input or output assembly, such as a microphone and/or speakers. The camera assembly is placed on the temple to record the visual field observed by the user. A head-tracking assembly may be provided to track the position of the user's head. A number of applications can be provided with the present system, such as a telephone system, pager system, or surveillance system.

Abstract: A valve assembly has a unitary teflon valve housing with six peripheral facets. A recessed area on the surface of each facet forms a valve seat. Pairs of fluid channels formed in the housing each terminate at openings at a central, planar area of a corresponding valve seat. A pair of rigid tubes are disposed in the openings at each valve seat, each tube forming a fluid-tight seal with periphery of the corresponding opening. The tubes extend slightly beyond the surface of the housing by a predetermined clearance. A diaphragm made of a resilient material covers the valve seat. The periphery of the diaphragm is in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the periphery of the valve seat. A central portion of the diaphragm is coupled to a solenoid above the diaphragm. The solenoid moves the diaphragm central portion between a closed position toward the valve seat and an open position away from the valve seat.

Abstract: The present invention is an active micromechanical electronic device of extremely small physical size, such that the device can take advantage of the quantum-mechanical phenomenon of electron tunneling. The device is produced using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) electron beam lithography. In operation, the gap between the tip of the beam and the drain contact is small enough (typically tens of angstroms) that electron tunneling occurs across the gap between the tip of the beam and the drain contact occurs, with the amount of resulting electron flow dependent on the width of the gap between the tip and the drain contact. The device acts as a controlled current source whose output is dependent on the mechanical position of the beam tip with respect to the drain contact. The tip to drain spacing varies due to the electrostatic force presented between the beam and the gate contact.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector includes a sleeve and a collar configured to receive the sleeve substantially therein, the sleeve is configured to receive a coaxial cable and has at least one slot extending longitudinally forming a plurality of sides, each side having at least one tooth for engaging a coaxial cable. A threaded nut is also provided with one end of the nut disposed coaxially around and rotatable about a mating area of the collar. The connector also includes a ground coupler that is centrally disposed along a common longitudinal axis within one end of the collar and one end of the nut.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the "perceptual distance" between an approximate, reconstructed representation of a sensory signal (such as an audio or video signal) and the original sensory signal is provided. The perceptual distance in this context is a direct quantitative measure of the likelihood that a human observer can distinguish the original audio or video signal from the reconstructed approximation to the original audio or video signal. The method described herein applies to noisy compression techniques; the method provides the ability to predict the likelihood that the reconstructed noisy representation of the original signal will be distinguishable by a human observer from the original input representation. The method can be used to allocate bits in audio and video compression algorithms such that the signal reconstructed from compressed representation is perceptually similar to the original input signal when judged by a human observer.

Abstract: A system for manipulating a transport container cover using a variable height gantry. The gantry supports an assembly for storing the cover including a winding mechanism. The gantry height is adjustable so that the cover may be raised above the top of the transport container. The cover is extended over the top of the container when the gantry is at a position such that the storage assembly can release the cover above the top of the transport container. An attachment mechanism on the other end of the cover secures the cover. The gantry is adjusted to a low position for transporting the covered container. A motor is included to drive the winding mechanism to assist in withdrawing the cover. The system is operable to withdraw the cover when the gantry is in its raised position. The motor and the clutch mechanism may be operated through radio signals generated with a wireless remote control.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for optically measuring the temperatures of cryogenic fluids or of moving surfaces in such fluids by analyzing the decay in the luminescence of a doped crystal, the device comprising a light source for exciting said crystal, an optical fiber for transporting the light flux emitted by said source to the crystal and for returning to a detection assembly the luminescent light emitted by the crystal as a result, and a measurement probe past which the fluid or the moving surface moves, wherein the doped crystal is constituted by one of the crystals from the group comprising strontium fluoride doped with divalent ytterbium, SrF.sub.2 :Yb.sup.2+ ; and calcium fluoride doped with divalent ytterbium, CaF.sub.2 :Yb.sup.2+.

Abstract: A mechanism enabling plural queues in a downstream telecommunications network element to be treated as a single, joint queue for purposes of connection-level flow control. A pointer in at least one queue descriptor points to a queue descriptor in which is maintained a set of shared, joint counters. Other flow control elements are maintained individually with respect to each queue descriptor. This mechanism enables flow control elements associated with a single transmitter queue to flow control plural connections terminating in plural queues associated with a single receiver processor.