Abstract: In a vehicle roof which is movable between a closed position and a storage position in a rear storage compartment of a vehicle comprising a rear cover which is pivotally supported such that it can be raised at the rear end thereof from a closed position, in which it covers the storage compartment, to a loading position, in which the rear end of the rear cover is raised, the vehicle roof stored in the rear storage compartment can be raised independently of the rear cover and can be locked with the rear cover in the raised position, in which access to the rear trunk is facilitated.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle with an upright rear end, such as a station wagon, a van or an SUV, having a rear loading space with a roof extending over the rear loading space to the upright rear end of the vehicle and a loading opening at the rear end extending from the vehicle floor up to the vehicle roof, the roof includes a rear roof part with a pivotal support at the front end thereof so that it can be tilted upwardly to facilitate access to the loading space and a drive mechanism is provided for operating the rear roof part including a releasable coupling permitting uncoupling of the rear roof part from the pivotal support for transferring the rear roof part into an upright position in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a foldable vehicle roof for a convertible vehicle with an operating mechanism including spaced control arms pivotally supported on the vehicle body for moving the vehicle roof between a closed position, in which an interior vehicle space is covered, and an open position, and the vehicle roof includes a rear roof part and a roof part disposed in front of, and adjacent, the rear roof part, the rear roof part is biased in the closed position of the vehicle roof against the vehicle body by way of clamping means engaging one of the control arms with the rear roof part.

Abstract: In a hardtop vehicle roof including two rigid roof parts which are movable between a closed position in which they cover an interior vehicle space and an open position in which the roof parts are deposited in a storage compartment, an operating mechanism is provided which comprises a main pivot arm, which is pivotally supported on the vehicle body and a common carrier, which is supported on the main pivot arm by an operating structure which permits the common carrier to move relative to the main pivot arm and the rigid roof parts are supported on the common carrier such that they are movable together with the common carrier relative to the main pivot arm.

Abstract: In a folding vehicle roof, particularly for passenger cars, comprising roof parts of which one forms a support for an adjacent follower roof part, the support roof part is supported on the vehicle body, and the follower roof part is supported on the support roof part each by a four-link operating mechanism forming, with the support roof part, a connecting linkage in the form of a parallelogram having connecting points to four link operating mechanisms defined by corner points of congruent essentially rectangular connecting triangles.

Abstract: A removable top system for a vehicle having a front removable roof section and a rear removable roof section. Different removable roof coverings may be interchangeably combined to provide a complete roof for a sport utility vehicle having a permanent hoop dividing the front and rear roof sections. Soft top and hard top roof coverings are selectively provided. Different retraction mechanisms are disclosed for retracting and storing the removable roof sections.

Abstract: An equipment (22) for the automatic deposit of banknotes (23) comprising a transaction port (33) for receiving a stack (24) of banknotes, a separating device (36) for separating the constituting sheets of the stack (24), a validation device (37) for discriminating the constituting sheets as recognized banknotes and constituting sheets not recognized, a transport mechanism (38, 39) servo-dependent on the validation device to drag said constituting sheets along differentiated paths (72, 73) for the recognized banknotes and the constituting sheets not recognized, and a box assembly (51) adjacent to the transaction port. The box assembly (51) includes two storage boxes (53, 54) and is shiftable among at least three different positions.

Abstract: The present invention is a child seat detecting apparatus for detecting the presence of a child seat in a vehicle. The child seat detecting apparatus is a tension sensing device that is attached to a vehicle seat. The tension sensing device includes a bracket that is mounted to the vehicle seat. A moveable bar is retained by the bracket. The moveable bar is attached to the child seat. A sensor is mounted between the bracket and the moveable bar. The sensor is adapted to provide an electrical signal that is indicative of a magnitude of tension on the moveable bar. A spring is located between the bracket and the moveable bar. The spring biases the moveable bar away from the bracket.

Abstract: A ceramic material suitable for use as a microwave band filter for telecommunications equipment comprises oxides of titanium, barium, neodymium, samarium, and optionally, bismuth, and containing, on an elemental weight basis: about 28 to about 31 weight % titanium, about 19 to about 21 weight % barium, about 11 to about 18 weight % samarium, about 7 to about 13 weight % neodymium, up to about 3 weight % of bismuth, and the remainder substantially being oxygen. The ceramic compositions have a resonant frequency, f, in the range of about 2000 MHz to about 2300 MHz, a quality factor, Q, of at least about 4000, a dielectric constant, K, in the range of about 50 to about 70, and a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency, Tf, in the range of about 0 ppm to about +20 ppm. Calcined metal oxide powders useful for preparing the microwave ceramic materials, a method of making the ceramic materials, and devices containing the ceramic materials are also described.

Abstract: A ball grid array resistor network has a planar substrate formed of an organic material. The substrate preferably is a printed circuit board. The substrate has a top and bottom surface. A ball pad is located on the bottom surface. A low temperature resistor is located on the bottom surface and is connected to the ball pad. A solder mask is located over the first surface except for the ball pads. A conductive ball is attached to the ball pad. A reflowed solder paste connects the conductive ball to the ball pad. Several embodiments of the invention are shown.

Abstract: In a lamellar roof for a motor vehicle a support structure for the roof lamella section is provided in which the guide and operating mechanism is simplified and tolerance variations are reduced and which provides for firm support of the roof lamella sections also when the roof is open to avoid rattling noises. This is achieved in that the lamella sections are supported by lamella carriers and each lamella carrier is supported on two adjacent guide carriages, and a control rocker is provided on each carriage so as to be movable out of a basic closed position to a roof opening position, in which it raises the rear edges of said lamella sections to tilt the lamella section upwardly, the guide carriage of said front lamella section carrier and the control rocker projecting, in opening direction, beyond said connection and being supported, in the projecting area, on the lamella carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed are popping pharmaceutical compositions, which comprise OTC or prescription drug, and popping material. The popping material includes pressurized gas trapped within cavities of a pharmaceutically acceptable material in a manner that allows the gas to escape from the pharmaceutical composition upon dissolution, contact with saliva or shattering of the popping material. Such an oral pharmaceutical composition may be popular with children that will prefer it on other ones, which do not pop. Methods for preparation of such oral pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ball grid array resistor network that has a ground plane to reduce noise and improve signal integrity. The ball grid array resistor network includes a substrate having a first and a second surface and vias that extending through the substrate between the first and second surfaces. Resistors are located on the first surface between the vias. Conductors are located over the vias and are electrically connected to ends of the resistors. A cover coat covers the conductors and resistors. A ground plane is located on the second surface. An insulating layer is located over the ground plane. Ball pads are located over the vias. The ball pads are electrically connected to the vias. Solder spheres are attached to the ball pads.

Abstract: A duplexing communication signal filter has a substantially U-shaped core of dielectric material including a transmit arm, a receive arm and a base portion joining the transmit arm to the receive arm. Both the transmit arm and the receive arm each define a series of through-hole resonators. Present on the core of dielectric material is a surface-layer pattern of metallized and unmetallized areas. The pattern includes a wide area of metallization for providing off-band signal absorption, a first unmetallized area surrounding a plurality of the through-hole openings of the transmit arm, a second contiguous unmetallized area surrounding a plurality of the through-hole openings of the receiver arm, a transmitter pad metallized area on the transmit arm, a receiver pad metallized area on the receive arm, and an antenna pad metallized area.

Abstract: In a lamellar roof for a roof opening of a vehicle, wherein the roof comprises a number of roof sections (lamellas) supported on guide carriages, which are movable along guide tracks mounted along opposite sides of the roof opening for opening and closing the roof, a lamella guide mechanism is provided including lamella carriers pivotally supported on the guide carriages together with support levers such that overlapping areas of the support levers of adjacent guide carriages are firmly in engagement with each other when the roof is open and the guide carriages are in an abutting relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering or suppressing a tactile feedback to a user of a computer cursor control device such as a pointing stick is provided. A pzt material is first mounted to a semi-rigid material such as by bonding the pzt material to a metal substrate. When an ac signal is applied to this assembly it vibrates. By coupling this mechanical vibration to the pointing stick, the user can sense the feedback. This can be used, for example, to provide a tactile feedback when the user depresses the pointing stick to cause a “mouse click.” In order to prevent unwanted cursor movement on the display, a suppression circuit is provided that filters out the spurious signals or completely deactivates cursor movement during activation of the tactile feedback.

Abstract: In a hardtop vehicle roof comprising front, intermediate, and rear roof parts, which are movable between a closed position, in which they cover an interior vehicle space, and an open position, in which they are stacked in a storage compartment of the vehicle, and wherein the front and rear roof parts are supported on the intermediate roof part by a roof part operating mechanism, which is operatively connected to a support and operating mechanism by which the intermediate roof part is mounted on the body of the vehicle, the roof parts operating mechanisms for the front and rear roof parts are operatively connected to the support and operating mechanism of the intermediate part such that, when the roof is opened, the front and rear roof parts are moved on top of the intermediate roof part to form a packet in which the top sides of all roof parts face upwardly and which requires relatively little space on top of the vehicle and does not intrude in the vehicle interior during the transfer between the closed and t

Abstract: In a hard top vehicle roof comprising front and rear roof parts movable by an operating mechanism between a closed position, in which the roof parts cover an interior vehicle space, and an open position, in which they are deposited in a rear vehicle storage compartment, the rear roof part includes a window supported on the rear roof part by a four link mechanism having two window links pivotally connected with one of their ends to the rear roof part and with their opposite ends to the rear window, and a control lever connected to the front roof part for controlling the movement of the rear window relative to the rear roof part during movement of the roof parts between the closed and the open positions.

Abstract: A resistor-capacitor network for terminating transmission lines. The network includes a core of dielectric material. Capacitors are formed within the core from spaced apart electrode plates. Terminals extend from the electrode plates to a top surface of the core. The electrode plates are oriented perpendicular to the top surface. Ball pads are located on the top surface. Resistors are located on the top surface and are connected between the ball pads and terminals. Conductive spheres are attached to the ball pads.

Abstract: In a single-piece connector clamp for flange connections of pipe sections wherein the clamp has a U-shaped spring back with opposite legs and spring arms extending from the legs in spaced relationship and forming spring arm pairs disposed at opposite sides of a reception space for the connector flanges, the connector clamp includes in the center area of the web a cutout area which extends from the base of a spring arm to the adjacent spring arm base so that the spring arms of the single piece connector clamp are supported resiliently for independent clamping action.