Abstract: In a signal processing system with an IC having an intrinsic signal provided at a pin of the IC, a first operational function (de-emphasis) for the signal is provided at the pin, and further along in the signal flow path, a second operational function (variable attenuation) for the signal is provided within the IC. An extrinsic signal is switchably coupled to the pin so that the second operational function can be used to operate on the extrinsic signal. The second signal is coupled to the pin at a low source impedance so that when the second signal is switched to be operational, the first operational function is defeated, and the first signal is severely attenuated. When the circuit is switched to not couple the second signal to the pin, the coupling path for the second signal and the low source impedance are both removed, thus restoring the first operational function and the first signal at the pin of the IC.

Abstract: Short range communication systems and techniques are described. In an implementation an interrogator held near a person interrogates multiple transponders and receives information separately from the transponders. The interrogator and/or the transponders may be held in an article of clothing or in a personal effect of the person. The transponders may transmit identifying information and/or information associated with the states of the articles of clothing or personal effects of the person. Such a system enables the clothes worn by a person to communicate with a plurality of items and obtain useful information. In addition, a network system may be configured so that any particular transponder may communicate with another transponder or group of transponders of other locales to activate functions, cause actions or otherwise share data and/or information.

Abstract: A device for assaying a steroid compound in a liquid sample is provided. The device comprises a porous zone permitting the migration of the liquid sample. The said porous zone comprises a first zone, a second zone and a third zone. The first zone comprising a first non-immobilised conjugate, capable of specifically binding to the steroid to be assayed and a second non-immobilised conjugate capable of binding specifically to a compound different from the steroid to be assayed. The second zone comprises the same type of steroid as the one to be assayed which is being immobilised to the porous zone. The third zone comprising the second member of the reference pair to the second conjugate.

Abstract: The control method allows execution of various functions in an electronic diary watch, which includes, in a case closed by a crystal, a time-keeping circuit and/or a watch movement powered by an energy source, and a dial on which the time is displayed in a digital and/or analogue manner. A determined number of sensors (C1 to C7) are provided with touch sensitive pads arranged on an inner or outer face of the crystal. These sensors are provided for carrying out the various controls of the method when they are individually activated by a user's finger. In order to consult data or parameters, the method includes a first series of steps consisting in displaying different menus (102 to 106) of the diary function on at least one liquid crystal display by activating at least one sensor (C4, C5) of a group of sensors (C4 to C7), and in selecting the menu or record to be consulted (107 to 111) by activating a validation sensor (C1).

Abstract: An electrically erasable and programmable memory includes at least one non-erasable secured zone. Detection and/or correction of read errors in the secured zone is provided by recording redundant bits in the secured zone and delivering an error signal and/or a bit having the majority value when the redundant bits read in the secured zone are not equal.

Abstract: An undercarriage for a helicopter, having a supporting structure connectable to the fuselage of the helicopter, a wheel suspended from the supporting structure, and a shock absorbing member which has a bottom end portion hinged to the wheel, and is interposed, in use, between the wheel and the fuselage. The supporting structure has an attachment fixable to the fuselage, and a first and a second beam having first connecting portions hinged about a first axis to each other and to a top end portion of the shock absorbing member. Second connecting portions are connected to separate portions of the attachment in articulated manner and lower down with respect to the first connecting portions.

Abstract: A connector with retainer members which is not broken even if elastic retainer pieces of the retainer members are excessively bent when the connector is attached to a panel. The connector with retainer members comprises an insulating housing proper having penetration holes inside thereof through which a plurality of connector terminals are fitted therein, flanges protruded outwardly from right and left or upper and lower wall faces of the housing proper in a direction orthogonal to a direction of insertion and removal of the connector, a pair of retainer members having elasticity and fixedly attached to both sides of the back face of the flanges.

Abstract: A process for forming a final passivation layer over an integrated circuit comprises a step of forming, over a surface of the integrated circuit, a protective film by means of High-Density Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Abstract: An interface is provided for an integrated system that includes internal circuits, with each internal circuit functioning based upon its own clock. The interface includes a finite state machine for managing asynchronous and independent interactions between the internal circuits and external circuits. The finite state machine functions based upon a unique clock and a unique reset. The interface also includes an arbitration circuit connected to the finite state machine for receiving input signals for the finite state machine. The arbitration circuit includes a memory buffer for storing signals generated by the internal circuits when the finite state machine is performing an evaluation. The interface may be used to form a command interpreter of a non-volatile memory device.

Abstract: A device for detecting load impedance having an analog circuit portion for detecting the impedance value of a load, and a digital circuit portion adapted to provide load impedance type information. The analog circuit portion having two power MOS transistors connected in series to each other and between a supply voltage and the ground, and a pair of mirror MOS transistors common-connected with their respective gate terminals to the gate terminals of the power MOS transistors. The digital circuit portion includes a first comparitor to determine whether the output current of an audio amplifier is higher or lower than a threshold value and a second comparitor to determine whether the output voltage of the amplifier is higher than a threshold voltage, a memory to store output signals of the first and second comparitors, and a logic circuit arranged in cascade with the memory to output a load-type indication signal.

Abstract: Compounds of formula CH2Y—CH(COOR1)—O—CF2CF2—SO2F, usable in the synthesis of the fluorosulphonic vinylether —CF2═CF—O——CF2CF2—SO2F.

Abstract: A binary encoding circuit is for converting at least first and second binary input signals into an output code that includes at least first and second binary output signals. The circuit may include at least one first selection circuit and at least one second selection circuit that are interconnected and comprise transistors that can be activated/deactivated, i.e. made to conduct/not conduct, according to the binary input signals. The circuit makes it possible to generate a binary code that represents the binary number of the binary input signals that are simultaneously asserted. The encoding circuit can act as a static counter, for example.

Abstract: The invention relates to a local area network including at least one bridge terminal, which bridge terminal is provided for transmitting data between the terminals of at least two sub-networks via a wireless medium. The bridge terminal is alternately connected to the sub-networks for exchanging data. For buffering received data for an unconnected sub-network, the bridge terminal includes an intermediate store.

Abstract: An ergonomic manual switch arrangement for motorcycles and the like comprises a left-hand section and a right-hand section mounted next to a respective handgrip. Each section comprises a box to house electrical switch contacts, or a unit for transmitting and processing data and mounts a set of pushbutton switches with a triangular, elongated or round shape. The housing box is divided into an upper area and a lower area that is recessed with respect to the upper area. The ergonomic manual switch arrangement according to the invention further comprises rocker switches used to change the gears of the motorcycle. The pushbutton switches may be of the illuminated type and may comprise a multiplex wiring system through which information used to control the motorcycle is sent and received.

Abstract: The current invention provide novel compounds, methods of treating or preventing emphysema, cancer and dermatological disorders, pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment or prevention of emphysema, cancer and dermatological disorders and methods for delivering formulations into the lung of a mammal suffering from emphysema, cancer and dermatological disorders.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a modular hearing aid as well as the resultant hearing aid is provided. The provided hearing aid is comprised of a shell and a faceplate assembly. The shell may be formed of a soft, flexible material or a rigid or semi-rigid material. The faceplate assembly is comprised of at least a pair of pieces, preferably an upper faceplate piece and a lower faceplate piece, and can be fabricated from a variety of different materials. During assembly, a portion of the shell is captured within the faceplate assembly, for example between the upper and lower faceplate pieces. The individual faceplate pieces can be attached to one another using any of a variety of techniques, including miniature screws, interlocking and complementary members, fastening clips or other means. The faceplate assembly can also be coupled together using a permanent or semi-permanent means, although the use of a permanent means limits the ease with which the device can be disassembled.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a generation system for driving voltages of the rows and of the columns of a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A symbol length is evaluated on the basis of receiving a first-symbol length, and a phase error with respect to detection of a length of the first symbol before receiving a length of a second symbol following the first symbol. The process includes evaluating at least two random phase errors on the basis of the phase error received. A first random phase error is dependent on a deterministic phase error with respect to a first state corresponding to an absence of a corrected first-symbol length. A second random phase error is dependent on a deterministic phase error with respect to a second state corresponding to the corrected first-symbol length. The process includes retaining as an evaluated symbol length the first-symbol length received if the absolute value of the first random phase error reduces a condition of passing through the first state.

Abstract: A system includes but is not limited to at least one manifold; an inhalant dissemination device coupled to the at least one manifold; an inhalant characterization device coupled to the at least one manifold; and a control module operably coupled to the inhalant dissemination device and the inhalant characterization device, said control module configured to (a) determine an inhalant concentration in a manifold, and (b) calculate at least one of a retrospective and a prospective inhaled dose in response to the inhalant concentration, and (c) start and stop a flow through the manifold until the at least one of the retrospective and the prospective inhaled dose is greater than or equal to a specified dose. A method includes but is not limited to starting a flow of an inhalant through a manifold; determining an inhalant concentration of the inhalant in the manifold; and stopping the flow of the inhalant through the manifold when the inhalant concentration is in a first specified inhalant-concentration range.

Abstract: The device for managing memory in an electronic watch of the diary type includes a non-volatile memory (15) connected to a microprocessor unit (14). The unit is programmed to manage data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations in the memory. Activation of at least one key of the watch (C1) allows an instruction to be provided to the unit for managing data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations. The memory (15) includes a first static zone (100) for storing data and/or parameters in fixed memory locations and a second dynamic zone (101) for storing data records of different types. The memory location of each type of record is managed by the microprocessor unit (14) as a function of the modification or deletion of certain records and as a function of the storage of new records. Each record starts with a heading in which two pointers are placed to establish a link with a following record and a preceding record of the same type.