Abstract: In a data transfer control device for controlling a data transfer bus connected to plural buffer units, an address generation circuit for specifying a buffer unit address is provided with an address register for holding upper and lower limit values of the buffer unit address, an address counter which sequentially increments the buffer unit address, starting from the lower limit value, and a comparator for judging whether an output of the address counter reaches to the upper limit value. The data transfer control device composes a crossbar-type data transfer network together with the buffer units, and plural processor elements or plural I/O devices are connected to the network.

Abstract: A veneer-slicing apparatus includes a flitch table movable relative to a carriage which carries a cutting blade for slicing veneer sheets from the flitch. The cutting blade is mounted on a blade carrier that is rotatable relative to the carriage. The apparatus further includes a remotely operable mechanism for adjusting the angle of attack of the cutting blade relative to the flitch by rotating the blade carrier relative to the carriage. The adjusting mechanism includes an electrohydraulic cylinder and piston coupled to the carriage and the cutting blade, a hydraulic fluid flow control valve, a piston position sensor, a computer, and an operator console. All of the components of the adjusting mechanism are electrically coupled to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for adjusting the position of a backrest relative to a chair seat. The backrest includes an elongated stem having a curved lower portion. Preferably, a spring operably engages the stem to bias it in an upward direction. A housing is adapted to slidably receive the curved portion of the stem and guide the spring. A latch mechanism is adapted to engage the stem to lock the backrest in a desired position, and an actuator member is adapted to move the latch mechanism between an engaged and disengaged position. In operation, the latch mechanism is disengaged to allow the backrest stem to move in a curvilinear path to a desired height and corresponding angular position, and reengaged to lock the backrest stem in said position.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip package comprising at least one semiconductor chip disposed in a package and a plurality of first and second pins extending from the package, which first pins are electrically connected to the at least one semiconductor chip and are adapted to conduct signals between the at least one semiconductor chip and external circuitry, the first pins being divided into a plurality of groups, each group representing a respective signal type, and which second pins are not electrically connected to the at least one semiconductor chip, the first pins of at least one group and the second pins being asymmetrically disposed along edges of the package and the remaining groups of first pins being symmetrically disposed along edges of the package. The invention also provides a stacked module of the semiconductor chip packages.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and process for fuel or liquid preparation including a plurality of vortex stacks of sequential vortex elements operationally coupled with an integrated pre-manifold centrifuge type-cyclone scrubber. Each vortex stack comprises a base vortex element having a fuel-air mixture enters such base vortex element creating a vortical (spinning) column, which is enhanced and accelerated by transonic-sonic velocity air inflows in the accelerator vortex elements. Entrained fuel aerosol droplets are sheared into a viscous vapor phase, and then into a gas-phase state. The vortical column containing turbulently vaporized fuel and any residual aerosols in the air mixture is then passed through a venturi to the scrubber where the mixture is homogenized and any collected aerosols are returned as liquid and re-processed by the system. This allows only the vaporized, chemically stochiometric (oxygen balanced) and combustion ready gas-phase fuel to exit the system.

Abstract: A paper shredding machine having a top housing unremovably sealed to a lower housing. The top housing has upper teeth integrally formed on its inside surface and the lower housing has bottom teeth integrally formed on its inside such that when the top housing is joined with the lower housing and sealed, the upper teeth are unremovably joined with the lower teeth to define a continuous stripper to strip shredded material from the cutting area of the shredding mechanism. The paper shredder is made by providing a top and bottom housing with the top housing having upper teeth and the bottom housing having lower teeth. The top and bottom housings are joined and passed through an ultrasonic welding apparatus to fuse the top housing to the bottom housing and the upper teeth to the lower teeth.

Abstract: A raceway cable retention and accommodation apparatus which has a support surface and a bracket. The bracket comprises a mounting portion, a first leg connected to the mounting portion, a second leg connected to the first leg, and a third leg connected to the second leg. The mounting portion and the first, second, and third legs are configured so as to define a J-shaped structure. The bracket is attached to the support surface by a mounting device. A panel for a panel system which has five surfaces. The panel has a first surface, a second surface connected to the first surface, and a third surface connected to the second surface. Furthermore, the panel has a fourth surface connected to the third surface and a fifth surface connected to the fourth surface. The panel is configured such that the first and second surfaces are mirror images of the fourth and fifth surfaces with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the third surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for graphically indicating the dimensions of fasteners on the fastener itself. According to a preferred embodiment, graphical indica are disposed on the head of a nail to visually indicate the length and/or gauge of the nail. Such indicia may include numerals and other shapes or objects. Preferably, one or more hatch marks are disposed about the face of the nail in the form of a clock face and representing such dimensions.

Abstract: A security device, intended for use as a temporary or permanent vehicle security device, having an intrusion detection device in the form of a pair of electrical contacts supported on a shock amplifying, rigid base and responsive to percussive-type forces for generating a detection signal. At least one of the electrical contacts is supported on a relatively stiff cantilevered arm which will not respond to small movements and vibrations, to thereby avoid generating frequent false alarms. Any contact closure signal from the electrical contacts is processed by a detection circuit which counts multiple contact closures and/or measures total closure time, thus ignoring signals generated from small forces or vibrations, thereby preventing against the source of most false alarms when generating a detection signal.

Abstract: An improved coin receiving mechanism for a vending machine, especially of the bulk vending machine type, and a method for operation thereof. The coin receiving mechanism accepts magnetic coins of a proper denomination and rejects other coins. The improved coin receiving mechanism includes a coin reception slot into which a coin of proper denomination can be received, a coin rejection slot aligned with respect to the coin reception slot so that a coin received in the coin reception slot is expelled from the coin receiving mechanism through the coin rejection slot, and a magnet mounted adjacent to the coin reception slot and adapted to apply a magnetic field to retain a magnetic coin in the coin receiving mechanism so that the magnetic coin can be directed into a coin storage area.

Abstract: A sorter with a plurality of sheet containing bins. The sorter has a first roller and a second roller for transporting a sheet received from a copying machine, and a punching mechanism for punching a sheet is provided immediately after the first roller. Power transmission to the second roller can be connected and disconnected. Immediately before the trailing edge of a sheet passes through the first roller, rotation of the second roller is stopped. Thereby, the trailing portion of the sheet makes a curve, the curve in the sheet caused by buckling of the sheet as the first roller holds the sheet against any further downstream movement, and the trailing edge is regulated by the first roller. In this moment, the punching mechanism is driven to punch the sheet.

Abstract: In each processing device of a parallel processor system, a processor outputs a signal when all the transmit data are transmitted to a router. A latch receives the signal from the processor to output a signal set to HIGH. To an AND gate are inputted the signal set to HIGH outputted from the latch and a signal set to HIGH which indicates that the router has no receive data received from a network. The parallel processor system performs AND operation on the outputs of the AND gates of all the processing devices, and detects that a data transmit/receive processing is completed among all the processing devices according to the results of AND operation.

Abstract: Valve (10) comprising a housing (20) with an air inlet (23) mounted at the end of a discharge air duct of a domestic appliance, and with an air outlet (24) communicating with the outside. The valve (10) includes a shoulder (41) sealed to the air inlet (23). A ball (42) is received in the housing (20) and is movable on a guide (43 between first and second positions. When there is no airflow from the duct (60), the ball sealingly engages the shoulder (41) under gravity so as to prevent air from being introduced into the duct from outside through gusts of wind. The shoulder (41) and the ball (42) can be made from an insulating material in order to reduce conductive heat loss in cold weather. When the domestic appliance is operating, the ball (42) moves towards the second position under the discharge airflow in order to evacuate said airflow. As soon as the appliance is stopped, the ball (42) resumes automatically its initial position.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter for providing access to distal vascular sites. The intravascular catheter comprises an elongate shaft with a lumen extending therethrough. The elongate shaft is comprised of a composite construction and has a proximal relatively stiff section, a distal section relatively more flexible than the proximal section, and an intermediate section between the proximal and the distal sections that provides a transition in flexibility between the proximal section and the distal section. The distal section has surface contours that impart flexibility to the distal section. A method for processing a tubular member with surface contours for use in a medical device, such as a catheter or guide wire, is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for closing and sealing a vascular puncture is connected to an energy supply such that heat is generated in, or thermally conducted to, the tissue, thereby thermally fusing the vascular tissue together. The method for closing and sealing a vascular puncture comprises applying radio frequency or other energy to the tissue, the energy being sufficient to thermally fuse the tissue together, thus sealing the puncture. Embodiments of depth finding and guiding devices, as well as blood vessel occluders, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wrist rest for a keyboard, such as for computers, that can be adjusted vertically in height and in inclination independently of each other.

Abstract: A roller chain assembly has pins extending through the outer links with minimal projection beyond the outside edge of the outer links. The minimal pin projection provides a chain assembly of narrow construction.

Abstract: N-piece redundant address comparing circuits are individually composed of impedance converting circuits, so that information using redundancy is transmitted as an impedance value. Consequently, even though the N becomes larger as the capacity of a memory becomes larger, a signal line having large capacitance and the node of a redundant judging circuit are not charged or discharged. A high-speed operation can be realized without being affected by the capacitance of the signal line or by the capacitance of the node of the redundant judging circuit.

Abstract: A bag for enclosing an object having a top face, a bottom face and a side panel. The side panel has a first fold line attached to the top face and a second fold line attached to the bottom face, wherein the side panel has a third fold line defining a first area and a second area and wherein the first area defines a trapezoid. In other embodiments, the first area may be a rectangle, a five sided area defined by a rectangle and either a trapezoid or a rounded gusset area. In addition there is disclosed a bag that is convertible into an eating surface. The convertible bag has a top face and a bottom face with each having a first edge and a second edge. A pair of side panels are attached to the side panels along the first and second edges so that they extend substantially perpendicular with respect to the top and bottom faces.

Abstract: In a pulse width modulation amplifier use for audio devices, an input side of an operational amplifier of a pulse width modulation amplifier is used as an alternating current amplifier by grounding its negative terminal through a series circuit formed with a resistor and a capacitor. The direct current gain of the operational amplifier becomes 1, and the offset voltage decreases to the inherent offset voltage of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier has no direct current coupling with next amplifying stage and hence, the offset voltage is not increased after leaving the operational amplifier.