Abstract: The invention comprises improved matrix band retainers for use in dental procedures. The matrix band retainers comprise a pair of tines anatomically configured to be inserted into the interproximal spaces between adjacent teeth for holding a matrix band in proper alignment during a dental filling procedure. The matrix band retainers have a thin profile characterized by the cross-sectional area of the flexible body member in which the width of the body is greater than the height of the body. The tines are connected to the flexible body member by crossbar members. The matrix band retainers also comprise receptacle means for securely receiving the prongs of a spreading device. The receptacle means may include hole formations formed in the body member configured for engaging the prongs of a rubber dam clamp spreading tool.

Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomously controlling agricultural machinery such as a grain combine. The operation components of a combine that function to harvest the grain have characteristics that are measured by sensors. For example, the combine speed, the fan speed, and the like can be measured. An important sensor is the grain loss sensor, which may be used to quantify the amount of grain expelled out of the combine. The grain loss sensor utilizes the fluorescence properties of the grain kernels and the plant residue to identify when the expelled plant material contains grain kernels. The sensor data, in combination with historical and current data stored in a database, is used to identify optimum operating conditions that will result in increased crop yield. After the optimum operating conditions are identified, an on-board computer can generate control signals that will adjust the operation of the components identified in the optimum operating conditions.

Abstract: An apical portion of a root canal is cleaned with an abrading portion of a file that has a taper that is greater than 0.20. Once the apical portion has been cleaned with an abrading portion that is greater than 0.20, such as 0.25, then an endodontic point, such as a gutta percha point can be easily received in the apical portion of the root canal to seal the apex. It is optimal to utilize a set of instruments. All of the instruments may have files with abrading portions that are greater than 0.25. However, only the larger files need have such abrading portions since they are the last to be used when cleaning the apical portion.

Abstract: A client is coupled to a modem pool and a server by a communication link in a wide area network. The client allows a user to browse the World Wide Web in response to user inputs entered entirely from a remote control device using a television set as a display device. The communication link to the client is shared by a telephone circuit at the client end of the link. A disruption in communication with the server may occur due to a Call Waiting signal caused by an incoming telephone call. The incoming call includes Caller ID information. In response to such a disruption, communication with the server is terminated. After pausing for a predetermined period of time, the client automatically re-establishes communication with the server if the line is clear. Upon reconnecting to the server, the client accesses a “White Pages” telephone directory Web site on a remote server.

Abstract: A flake-based pigment is provided having improved specular reflectance characteristics in the visible wavelength range. The flake-based pigment has a plurality of composite reflective flakes each formed of a support layer and a reflector layer on one or both opposing sides of the support layer. This flake structure exhibits a uniaxial compressive strength much greater than a corresponding uniaxial tensile strength. The structure of the flakes provides the benefits of rigidity and brittle fracture during manufacture and application processes, which ultimately provides favorable planar and specular reflectance characteristics to the pigment in the visible wavelength range. A variety of outer coating layers can be formed around the composite reflective flakes, such as various dielectric and/or absorber layers, to produce desired optical characteristics in the pigment.

Abstract: An improved transistor header assembly incorporating a rectangular platform perpendicularly bisecting the base of the transistor header. The ceramic platform provides the ability to house multiple electrical components and/or devices on either side of the base. The platform has a higher thermal conductivity than the base of a standard header. In addition, the platform increases the electrical input/output density of the header by increasing the number of potential electrical connections between the two sides of the base.

Abstract: A client is coupled to a modem pool and a server by a communication link in a wide area network. The client allows a user to browse the World Wide Web in response to user inputs entered at the client device. The communication link to the client is shared by a telephone circuit at the client end of the link. A disruption in communication with the server may occur due to a Call Waiting signal caused by an incoming telephone call, or due to another user picking up a telephone extension associated with the client. In response to such a disruption, the client saves the browsing status after which communication with the server is terminated. When the telephone line is once again available for connecting to the server, the client uses the browsing information saved to reconnect to the Web page that was displayed by the client at the time of the disruption.

Abstract: A capacitive reusable electrosurgical return electrode pad for use with electrosurgery. Through selection of the electrode geometries and the impedance characteristics of the electrode, the electrode is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. The electrosurgical return electrode can include a connector and a sheet of material having an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 100,000 &OHgr;·cm. The electrode can have a working surface area from about 11 to about 1,500 square inches (or about 70 to about 10,000 square centimeters). The electrode can be disposed on the working surface of an operating table or dentist's chair immediately underlying a patient during electrosurgery. This very large working surface area eliminates the need for direct contact or contact through conducting gels and by employing washable surface areas, it is made readily cleanable and reusable.

Abstract: A process for preparing a chewing gum tablet includes cooling a chewing gum composition to a temperature at which the gum composition is brittle, and grinding the cooled, brittle gum composition to form a chewing gum powder. The gum composition can be cooled by mixing it with a coolant, such as solid carbon dioxide, prior to grinding. The chewing gum powder is mixed with an active composition comprising a nutritional supplement, such as one or more vitamins, minerals, or herbs, to form a nutritional supplement-containing powder. The mixture of gum powder and the nutritional supplement, along with other optional additives, is then granulated to form nutritional supplement-containing granules. These granules are then compressed to form chewing gum tablets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to structures within an x-ray device including an x-ray can, an x-ray can window frame insert, a rotor sleeve, and a bearing support assembly for a rotor structure. The various structures are fabricated from a chromium alloy of copper that is essentially oxygen free copper having a minor amount of chromium, the combination of which imparts desirable qualities to the x-ray device structures, including efficient heat sink and emissivity qualities that are beneficial in an x-ray device environment. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, oxygen free high conductivity (OFHC) copper is melted in an RF furnace in the presence of a minor amount of chromium and is either ingot cast or powder metallurgically cast into a desired article and further fabricated into a finished article.

Abstract: Access of sources of resources within standard request-response protocols such as HTTP is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method specifies a request for application against a resource, where the resource has a source and a response. Within a TRANSLATE header within the request, there is either a FALSE flag to indicate that the source is desired, or a TRUE flag to indicate that the response is desired. In one embodiment, the TRUE flag is the default for the TRANSLATE header. The request is output according to a predetermined request protocol such as HTTP, and in one embodiment, also according to a predetermined markup language such as XML.

Abstract: An electrospray device, a liquid chromatography device and an electrospray-liquid chromatography system are disclosed. The electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate an electrospray; and, optionally, additional electrode(s) to further modify the electrospray.

Abstract: “A cooling disk to transfer heat from an anode to a circulated coolant. The cooling disk includes an annular body that defines an aperture and includes extended surfaces. The cooling disk resides in a fluid passageway defined by the anode, and contacts the anode so as to transfer heat from the anode to a coolant circulated through the fluid passageway by an external cooling unit. The coolant passes through a coolant supply passageway which includes a converging portion that serves to accelerate the coolant as it exits the coolant supply passageway. The accelerated coolant passes through the aperture and contacts a flow diverter disposed in the fluid passageway, as well as the extended surfaces of the cooling disk, so as to remove heat therefrom. The flow diverter transmits heat from the anode to the coolant. The coolant enters the coolant return passageway and returns to the external cooling unit.

Abstract: A retractable connector (44) includes a base (82) slidably positioned within an electronic card (42). The connector further includes an elongated channel (104) which provides the tracking of the base member between an extended position and a retracted position along an axis. The elongated channel (104) is comprised of a retraction profile (160) for maintaining the base member having the connector thereon in a retracted position and an extension profile (162) for maintaining the base member in an extended position. The extension profile within the channel includes sides or facets including guide posts that facilitate the stopping of the base member from entering into a retracted position when axial forces are initially applied such as during the mating of an external connector with retractable connector of the electronic card.

Abstract: This invention describes a novel method and system that implements wavelet packet trees and inverse wavelet packet trees. A modified Recursive Pyramid Algorithm (RPA) is advanced by this invention. The algorithm uses a filter that changes its size at each given octave of the wavelet packet tree. This filter may also be used in the reconstruction, synthesis, or inverse wavelet packet tree using RPA. The invention reduces the cost of implementing wavelet packet trees by using the same hardware for each octave and thereby offers superior products at attractive prices.

Abstract: A method for use with a power saw having a frame with a first blade rotatably mounted thereon, the first blade having a cutting edge with a maximum first thickness. A light source is mounted on the frame. An opaque barrier has a first slot with a first width. The opaque barrier is positioned in alignment with the light source such that light from the light source passes through the first slot and shines on the first blade so as to produce a shadow of the first blade. The method includes exchanging the first blade with a second blade, the second blade having a maximum second thickness. The opaque barrier is adjusted such that the first slot is replaced with a second slot having a second width, the second width of the second slot being greater than or smaller than the first width of the first slot.

Abstract: A method for reactivating a solid alkylation catalyst is provided which can be performed within a reactor that contains the alkylation catalyst or outside the reactor. Effective catalyst reactivation is achieved whether the catalyst is completely deactivated or partially deactivated. A fluid reactivating agent is employed to dissolve catalyst fouling agents and also to react with such agents and carry away the reaction products. The deactivated catalyst is contacted with the fluid reactivating agent under pressure and temperature conditions such that the fluid reactivating agent is dense enough to effectively dissolve the fouling agents and any reaction products of the fouling agents and the reactivating agent. Useful pressures and temperatures for reactivation include near-critical, critical, and supercritical pressures and temperatures for the reactivating agent.

Abstract: A wireless PC card for use in facilitating radio communications by a host computer in the context of a wireless computer network. The wireless PC card includes a housing conforming to a Type II PCMCIA form factor and having first and second extending portions which cooperatively define a recess configured and arranged to accommodate two RJ-type connector bodies of a Type III PC card. By virtue of its configuration and arrangement, the recess permits both the wireless PC card and a Type III PC card to simultaneously reside in a single Type III PC card slot of the host computer. Additionally, the recess is configured and arranged to permit removal of the Type III PC card from the Type III PC card slot, without also necessitating removal of the wireless PC card. Disposed within the housing are electronic circuitry and two antennae in communication with the electronic circuitry. One of each of the antennae is disposed in a respective extending portion.

Abstract: The present invention is a chip scale package handling part and process manufacturing method that uses existing automated equipment to economically mass produce chip scale packages. The present invention includes a unitary substrate panel having a plurality of die attach areas thereon for forming chip scale packages. The substrate panel has indexing holes formed therein so that the substrate panel is capable of being indexed by lead frame handling equipment. The lead frame handling equipment indexes the substrate panel through chip scale package fabrication machinery, where the chip scale package fabrication machinery is compatible for indexing lead frames therethrough. Examples of the chip scale package fabrication machinery include die attach machinery and wire-bonders. Conductive contacts are attached to the bottom portion of the substrate panel and the substrate panel is singulated to form a plurality of separated chip scale packages. The chip scale packages are preferably encapsulated for protection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing multiple copies of data in a network environment that includes servers and clients so that incremental changes made to one copy of the data can be identified, transferred, and incorporated into all other copies of the data. The synchronization can be accomplished regardless of whether modifications to the data have been made by a client while the client is in an on-line or off-line mode of operation. The clients cache data locally as data are modified and downloaded. The caching enables the clients to access the data and allows the synchronization so be performed without transmitting a particular version more than once between a client and a server. Such elimination of redundant data transmission results in an efficient use of time and network bandwidth.