Abstract: A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network, which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie, or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an "agreement matrix" is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. "Virtual" channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer.

Abstract: A no touch machine trigger system which triggers the associated machine into operation without the aid of a foot switch or other external device(s) actuated by an operator. The target area of the trigger system is conical in shape so as to guide the trigger mechanism to a fiber optic sensor at the apex of the cone shaped target area. The machine is not activated until the light across the apex of the cone is interrupted by the trigger mechanism, which does not occur until the trigger mechanism is properly oriented for the machine's operation. The trigger system is placed inside the machine where the operator cannot cause an inadvertent trigger. The trigger system is ideally suited to implementation in a wire stripping device, where the trigger mechanism is a wire to be stripped. The cone shaped target area has an oblique angle so that wires of a variety of sizes may be used to trigger the wire stripping device without adjustment.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a number of contact elements that, in the preferred embodiment, are pins. Each pin includes an electrically conductive contact surface that is configured to engage an electrically conductive surface within a mating connector to achieve an electrical connection. Each pin also includes a leading surface that is integral with the contact surface and is configured to contact the conductive surface of the mating connector during connection and disconnection with the mating connector. One advantageous feature of the invention is the provision of a detent between the leading surface and the contact surface. The detent collects surface debris from the leading surface before the debris can be swept onto said contact surface during connection. As a result, any debris that is collected in the detent will not interfere with the electrical connection between the pin and the conductive surface in the mating connector.

Abstract: Processes and intermediates for preparing 2-substituted piperidines such as 2-substituted d-threo piperidines are provided. In preferred embodiments, the processes of the invention comprise the steps of reacting a 2-substituted pyridine with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst in an alkanoic acid, and adding an alkyl alkanoate to the resulting mixture of threo and erythro 2-piperidine stereoisomers to precipitate alkanoate salts of the erythro stereoisomers preferentially with respect to alkanoate salts of the threo stereoisomers. The erythro salts then are reacted with aqueous base to form the corresponding mixture of erythro amide free bases, which are reacted with a suitable organic acid resolving agent in an alkyl alcohol solvent to form acid salts of the l-erythro stereoisomers preferentially with respect to the d-erythro stereoisomers.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a slide member that moves in tandem with a disk cartridge from a first position to a second position upon insertion of the disk cartridge into the disk drive. The slide member has at least one flexure having a projection formed thereon. The slide plate is biased in a direction opposite the direction of insertion of the removable disk cartridge by a spring. As the disk is inserted into the disk drive and the slide plate moves, the flexure travels along an inclined cam slot within a rotating member of said disk drive to the projections through cutouts in the chassis of the disk drive apparatus into engagement with reference holes in the disk cartridge to locate the cartridge in the appropriate location.

Abstract: A solid state control system for controlling activation signals to circuit breaker electro-mechanical close coils is disclosed. The system employs a novel arrangement of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and other electronic components, such as a FET, to provide "anti-pump." The system locks out continuous close signals until after the close signal has been removed and then reapplied.

Abstract: A switching element is controlled by a control circuit. When the switching element is in an ON state, a coil current I.sub.L ramps up. When the switching element is in an OFF state, the coil current I.sub.L ramps down. If an output voltage V.sub.out is smaller than a predetermined output voltage value, a control circuit is informed of it. If the coil current I.sub.L rises to a peak current I.sub.LP set by a setting circuit, the control circuit is informed of it. The setting circuit sets the peak current I.sub.LP proportional to an input voltage V.sub.in. The control circuit sets the switching element in the ON state when the output voltage V.sub.out is smaller than the predetermined output voltage value, and sets the switching element in the OFF state when the coil current I.sub.L rises to the peak current I.sub.LP.

Abstract: The plastic snap closure possesses a snapping means (3) on the inside surface of the cap wall (2), said snapping means being able to be snapped over a bead on the container mouth. In order to display initial opening of the closure, approximately vertical weakened zones (4) are provided on the lower edge of the closure cap. The cap wall (2) will tear on initial opening of the snap closure in the area of at least one of these weakened zones (4).