Abstract: The present invention relates to a data processing system comprising a processor (100), at least one data memory (132), at least one program memory (134) and a main bus (110), common to the data and program memories and connecting these memories to the processor, characterized in that at least one of the memories has a rapid-access mode and in that the device also comprises a distribution interface (120) between the main bus (110) and the memories in order to alternately put in communication, by means of the main bus, one from among the data memory and the program memory with the processor, in a so-called active-access mode, and to keep the other memory in a so-called passive-access mode allowing subsequent rapid access.

Abstract: The invention relates to a supply connector (10) for a discharge lamp (12) of the type which includes an insulating housing (18) in which an opening (56) is provided for the axial introduction of a free end (26) of the glass body (28) of the discharge lamp (12) including a longitudinal electrode (30) formed by a front section (32) which extends to the exterior of the body (28) and a rear section (34) which extends inside a front section (36) of the free end of the body (28) and which is designed to be supplied with a direct current, and of the type in which a contact blade (20) is formed, which blade cooperates with the front section (32) of the electrode (30) for connecting the lamp (12) to an electrical supply member, characterized in that it includes an electrically conducting ring (22) which is connected to ground, which is axially traversed by the front section (36) of the free end of the glass body (28), and which is designed to be at least partly in contact with a portion (150) of the outer wall of the

Abstract: There is disclosed a partially transparent, directional viewing sheet formed of plastic material with convex and concave lenses of elliptical cross-section, preferably lenticular lenses, formed respectively on the front and back surfaces of the sheet, there being intervening spaces with convex surfaces between the concave lenses which spaces are not transparent to images and may be imprinted with an image that is viewable through the sheet from some directions. Preferably the concave lens focal length is typically about one-half of the focal length of the convex lens. Elliptical cross-section of the lenses minimizes spherical aberration and sharpens the focus. The thickness of the sheet causes focal points of the lenses to substantially coincide producing the effect of a tiny Galilean telescope.

Abstract: Apparatus for the connection of cables comprises a container into which cables are inserted and a number of nested, hollow-walled cylindrical drums are disposed concentrically relative to a central axis. Each drum is displaceable along the central axis between a first position inside the container and a second position protruding outside the container. Each drum, around its outside circumference, has access apertures behind which connection means have been located, which in the second position are accessible for the connection of inserted cables. Excess cable lengths required for displacement lie wound in hollow-walled spaces of the drums. Drum displacements are preferably accomplished by specific rotations in a direction opposed to the winding direction of the excess cable lengths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transcoding macroblocks of a high definition television signal to co-sited macroblocks of a standard definition television signal wherein SD macroblocks are derived directly from co-sited HD macroblocks, i.e. without having to compute the SD macroblock information from its corresponding SD image sequence.

Abstract: An antenna diversity receiver comprises a zero-IF receiver connected to two antennas (102a, 102b) via switches (532,534). Simultaneous measurement of signal qualities from both antennas is possible by routing signals from the first antenna (102a) via a first mixer (106) and channel filter (116) and routing signals from the second antenna (102b) via a second mixer (108) and channel filter (118). A diversity controller (536) compares the signal qualities received from the antennas (102a,102b) during a data preamble to select a preferred antenna, then adjusts the switches (532,534) to route the signals from the preferred antenna to both input mixers (106,108). The amplifier (104a,104b) connected to the deselected antenna may be switched off during data reception, thereby minimizing extra power consumption. Such an antenna diversity receiver enables effective antenna selection to be performed, even in systems such as Bluetooth where only a very short preamble is provided for receiver configuration.

Abstract: A method for producing transducers having a 1-3 composite structure. The transducer element includes a plurality of thin piezoceramic wafers which are electroded on opposing major surfaces. The spaced wafers are separated by a passive polymer layer in a composite structure and the electrodes on the opposing major surfaces are connected to different ones of top and bottom electrode surfaces.

Abstract: A tungsten silicide etch process allows for a high etch rate and about 90° sidewall profiles of etched features. According to an example embodiment, a substrate is placed into an etch zone and a process gas comprising SF6, He, HBr, and a chlorine-containing gas is introduced in the etch zone. A plasma is generated in the etch zone to form an etch gas from the process gas that anisotropically etches the tungsten silicide layer.

Abstract: A method is described for the site-specific preparation of hGRF-PEG conjugates containing one or more PEG units (per mole of hGRF) covalently bound to Lys12 and/or Lys21 and/or N?, characterized in that the conjugation reaction between the hGRF peptide and activated PEG is carried out in solution and the desired hGRF-PEG conjugate can be purified by chromatography. The conjugates prepared by this method, as well as their use in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency, are also an object of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of color mixing with arc stability and arc straightening of HID lamps operated at high frequencies which modulates a duty cycle of a half bridge configured resonant inverter at a frequency which is substantially one-half the frequency of a second longitudinal acoustic mode of the HID lamp. The method also sweeps the switching frequency in a high frequency range of such resonant inverter. The duty cycle modulation effectuates power modulation to create a fixed frequency power component which is substantially equal to the frequency of the second longitudinal acoustic mode. The sweeping switching frequency of the half bridge configured resonant inverter drives the HID lamp in a manner which effectuates arc stability and arc straightening.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device which includes an X-ray source and an X-ray detector which are mounted at a respective end of a common holding device. The holding device being attached to the room by way of a supporting device. In order to realize a more flexible construction of such X-ray devices that are widely used and are usually provided with a holding device in the form of a C-arm and nevertheless maintain a high positioning accuracy. The invention further relates to a supporting device constructed with a plurality of hinged, serially interconnected supporting members. The supporting device is formed notably by a serial manipulator, for example, a conventional robot arm.

Abstract: In a method of providing a surface with a protection layer having at least a first surface area (2) and a second surface area (1), which surface areas (1, 2) are distinguishable in that the surface areas (1, 2) differ from each other in at least one visual property, parts of the surface situated outside the first surface area (2) are masked with a mask layer which partially covers the surface, and the surface is subjected to an electrochemical treatment (14, 20), whereby non-masked parts of the surface are treated. As the mask layer provided on the surface is a sol-gel layer forming the protection layer in the second surface area (1), a wear-resistant surface-protection layer having visually distinguishable surface areas is provided in an efficient manner. An object which can be obtained by means of the proposed method is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a housing. Housing walls (1) are provided which are formed so as to be integral and collapsible, constituting the housing in the collapsed state, and which are fitted with functional elements (8) and closing elements (5) of synthetic resin injection-molded onto the housing walls (1), which closing elements (5) are designed so as to be movable.

Abstract: An automatic cutting and stacking device for arcuately shaped blanks is disclosed. The device contains a feeding table followed by a cutting unit and a stacking device. The cutting unit is movable in relation to the feeding table to thus allow a cutting perpendicular to the contour of the shaped film. The stacking unit comprises a slide plate and a movable base plate upon which the cut blanks are stacked. The height of the base plate can be adjusted/lowered in relation to the accumulating thickness of the stacking height of the cut blanks.

Abstract: An anchorage has two members, one fixed the other at the end of a strap or other element to be secured, which hook together and which can then be manipulated so that there is virtually no chance of separation, particularly when there is a pull on the strap. One member, usually the fixed one, may be a stud of mushroom form while the other may be a D-shaped plate with the curved periphery extended out of the plane of the plate to form a U-shaped channel that can hook onto the head of the stud. But formations on the head and on the plate, or a wall around the stud, allows full engagement only in one direction, while after that mutual rotation through at least 90° makes the hooked member captive to the stud. The stud may be biased by its weight or a spring so that its head is normally lowered against the mouth of a socket, but is shaped so that it can be wedged up by the hook member as that is offered up.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for sizing paper comprising providing an aqueous suspension comprising cellulosic fibres, dewatering said aqueous suspension thereby forming a paper web, said process comprising adding to the cellulosic suspension an aqueous composition comprising aggregates comprising a sizing agent, the composition obtainable by mixing in any order prior to the addition to the aqueous suspension, (i) an aqueous solution comprising at least one coagulation agent, and (ii) an aqueous dispersion comprising a sizing agent, wherein the zeta potential of the composition is less than 20 mV. The invention also refers to an aqueous sizing composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a closing cap for infusion and transfusion bottles. The inventive cap is provided with a flanged cap which encompasses a flanged neck of the bottle, secures a closing plug in the bottle and is provided with a middle recess that is closed by the middle region of a plastic lid in such a way that a ring zone (21) of the plastic lid (2) supports the edge of the middle recess from behind. At least one radially extending desired folding line (I) of the plastic lid (2) is embodied. Said line is formed by thinning the material. The aim of the invention is to indicate when said cap has been used. In an advantageous embodiment, the desired folding line (I) opens into a circumferential weakened area (S) that extends at a radial distance (y) from the center (z) of the plastic lid (2).

Abstract: A method of and arrangement for providing access to a consumer device (101). A user can switch between multiple content providers. To switch, he calls up a set of representations (202-207) of offerings by content providers (107, 108, 109). He can then select a content provider. The selection is submitted to a gateway system (106), which then provides the selected content provider access to the consumer device (101), preferably in return for a fee paid by the selected content provider. The invention makes it easier for users to switch content providers even when descrambling boxes, subscriptions and other hassles are normally involved in switching. All these hassles are taken care of by the gateway (106).

Abstract: An apparatus for recording a digital information signal in the form of an information file on a record carrier includes input apparatus for receiving the digital information signal, processing apparatus for processing the digital information signal into an information file, and writing apparatus for writing the information file on the record carrier in sections having a predetermined memory size. The apparatus further includes apparatus for generating characteristic point information (CPI) for inclusion in a CPI sequence. The characteristic point information identifies a characteristic point in the information file. The CPI sequence is formatted and CPI information for several CPI sequences is shared.

Abstract: A method of mapping voltage potential along a metal structural member extending underground through a range of depths comprises the steps of providing a voltage meter having positive and negative terminals, a reference electrode connected to the positive terminal, and a half-cell connected to the negative terminal; forming at least one hole in the ground alongside the structural member; contacting the reference electrode with the structural member at an aboveground location; and positioning the half-cell at a series of test points in the hole(s) and taking a series of voltage potential measurements respectively corresponding to the series of test points, wherein the test points are located at different depths. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of plotting test point depth versus voltage potential. A novel drill bit for drilling the hole through earth comprises a common wood-boring auger shank and a flat masonry-style drill bit tip.