Abstract: A horse's snaffle bit includes two side rings and a shackle arranged between the two side rings. The shackle has at least one joint and two side portions each of which has an end portion. Each joint is provided as an eyelet which interlocks with a clearance at the end portion of each of the two side portions. Each of the two side portions further has an end with an annular bore formed therein which is arranged distant from the joint to receive one of the two side rings therein. Each of the two side portions has a lip region arranged immediately adjacent to the annular bore, a transitional region, and a projection region. The transitional region provides for a continuous and smooth transition from a substantially round cross section of the lip portion to a substantially non-round cross section of the projection region.

Abstract: A modular combination toy and desktop writing accessory apparatus comprising a plurality of structural elements each having at least one nodal connector portion to which a complementary connector portion of another structural element can be coupled. The structural elements can be assembled into a barrel-like form that is configured with a passageway for carrying a writing component of the invention. The writing component can be a pen, pencil, marker, crayon, eraser or the like. The modular combination toy and writing instrument has multiple functions in playtime as well as in everyday desk-bound activities.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for curvature and thin film stress measurement are disclosed. The apparatus comprises two light sources and a detector. Two light beams from the two light sources with an angle are not parallel. The two light beams are collimated and projected onto a specimen with a pitch. The detector receives the light beams reflected from the specimen. The curvature of the specimen is calculated via a distance between spots of the light beams on the detector or a size variation of one of the spots.

Abstract: A system for applying radiofrequency energy to tissue comprising a probe, an energy-delivery surface, and an energy source. The energy-delivery surface is elastomeric with an electrically conductive knit component. The energy-delivery surface can be expanded within an interior of a patient's body to engage tissue and energy delivered from the source through the expanded surface.

Abstract: Real time system for two-directional memorization and transmission of the controls and data for a processor in the I/O process, with external serial peripherals such as graphic tablets and/or digitizers for the handwritten signature, which utilises an external medium for storing static data so as to constitute a transmission buffer capable of operating with the serial peripheral unit seen as a “USB drive” removable virtual disc. There is only used the file constituted as a linear sequential succession of data in sectors of constant dimensions, which can be shared between the serial peripheral unit and the processor, which can both read and write it, in virtually coinciding instants. There is defined the transmission of asynchronous I/O with data blocks with contents in the order of the Kbyte and a storage area as large as desired, used as a temporary storage for the passage of data awaiting to be transmitted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing disc for a container closure used for a container having a mouth delimited by a circumferential edge. The sealing disc is composed of a plurality of layers with an edge. Before the container is opened for the first time, at least one group of layers tightly closes the mouth of said container. One of the layers is a metallic layer that can be heated by induction. The other layers are non-metallic and unable to be directly heated by induction. The group of layers can be sealed, using a sealing layer, on the circumferential edge of the mouth. One of the layers is composed of a thermally insulating material. The sealing disc has at least one grip tab. The grip tab is formed from just one or more of the layers of the layer group. The surfaces of the layers that form said grip tab project beyond the edge of the metallic, induction-heatable layer of the group for the length of the surface of the grip tab.

Abstract: Laser sub-divisional error (SDE) effect is compensated by using adaptive tuning. This compensated signal can be applied to position detection of stage in ebeam inspection tool, particularly for continuous moving stage.

Abstract: A modular combination toy and desktop writing accessory apparatus comprising a plurality of structural elements each having at least one nodal connector portion to which a complementary connector portion of another structural element can be coupled. The structural elements can be assembled into a barrel-like form that is configured with a passageway for carrying a writing component of the invention. The writing component can be a pen, pencil, marker, crayon, eraser or the like. The modular combination toy and writing instrument has multiple functions in playtime as well as in everyday desk-bound activities.

Abstract: This invention provides two methods for improving performance of an energy-discrimination detection device with an energy filter of reflective type for a charged particle beam. The first method employs a beam-adjusting means to improve the energy-discrimination power, and the second method uses an electron-multiplication means to enhance the image signal without noise raise. A LVSEM with such an improved energy-discrimination detection device can provide variant high-contrast images of interested features on a specimen surface for multiple application purposes.