Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of calibrating a laser in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus used for producing a print image on a print medium. A laser having a selectively energizable laser beam output is provided. A rotatable optical device and the laser combine to define a movable projection path of the laser beam output. Rotation of the optical device results in movement of the projection path across a scan line overlaying a photoconductive drum. The optical device has a rotational acceleration upon initial rotation thereof with a ramp-up period during which the rotational velocity increases. A safe area is established in a portion of the scan line which does not overlay an image area on the photoconductive drum. The laser is energized and calibrated when the projection path is positioned in the safe area. The calibration is carried out during the ramp-up period of the rotating optical device.

Abstract: A cradle assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a pair of spaced side frame members, a front cross frame member and a rear cross frame member. The front cross frame member is connected with front ends of the side frame members. The rear cross frame member extends between rear ends of the side frame members. The frame members are formed from tubular metal blanks by a hydroforming process in which each blank has fluid pressure provided internally thereto and thereby radially expanded so that the frame members have a peripheral configuration modified with respect to an original peripheral configuration of the associated blanks.

Abstract: A method of using sodium or potassium borohydride to reduce dehydrated, aldehyde treated biological tissues is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing the tissue, such as porcine heart valves or bovine pericardium; treating the tissue with an aldehyde, such as glutaraldehyde; dehydrating the tissue, for example by treatment with an anhydrous polar organic solvent such as ethanol; and, treating the tissue with sodium or potassium borohydride. Following reduction, the sodium borohydride may be extracted from the tissue with an organic solvent, such as ethanol. The tissue may be rehydrated for use in bioprosthetic implants such as heart valves and pericardial patches.

Abstract: An inflatable occupant restraint device in an occupant protection system of a vehicle including a housing mounted in the vehicle and having an interior, at least one deployable airbag contained within the housing interior prior to deployment, an inflator coupled to the housing for inflating the airbag, the airbag being attached to and in fluid communication with the inflator, and an initiator for initiating a gas supply mechanism in the inflator to supply gas into the interior of the airbag in response to a crash of the vehicle. The airbag is made of a first non-perforated sheet of film and a member arranged in connection with the film sheet for arresting the propagation of a tear in the film sheet.

Abstract: The invention concerns a multifunctional polyacrylate aliphatic polyurethane oligomer or prepolymer of low molecular weight, a method of preparing such oligomers, and cured polymers and cured laminate-type products employing such oligomers.

Abstract: Proteins which are potent anticoagulants and have at least one NAP domain and are described. These proteins having anticoagulant activity can be isolated from natural sources such as nematodes, chemically synthesized or made by recombinant methods using various DNA expression systems.

Abstract: A biocompatible, biodurable polycarbonate polyurethane with internal polysiloxane segments and devices made therefrom.

Abstract: A magnetically-driven centrifugal blood pump includes a housing and an impeller mounted for rotation within. The impeller includes a generally disk-shaped base plate and a plurality of curvilinear vanes extending axially upward therefrom. The vanes project radially outward from the base plate approximately one-third of their curvilinear length. The housing includes a rear wall spaced from the impeller base plate across a constant gap, with a sloped transition wall surrounding the rear wall and joining it to a peripheral wall. A tangential outlet is provided in the peripheral wall. A front wall extends inward from the peripheral wall with a slight conicity to an axial inlet. The vanes each have a front edge which slopes away from the front wall in the radially outward direction to provide a widening gap therebetween. The vanes have inner ends which together define a vane-free inner region below and slightly larger than the inlet.

Abstract: In a device and method to provide a gateway for the transfer of information between financial markets and customers, a processor is coupled to a customer system and to a financial market system. The processor receives transaction information from the customer system in a first format, converts it to a second format and transmits the transaction information to the financial market system. The processor receives an acknowledgment and a transaction confirmation from the financial market system in the second format, converts these to the first format and transmits the acknowledgment and the transaction confirmation to the customer system. The processor may also be coupled to a memory, where it stores tracking information relating to the transaction information, the acknowledgment and/or the transaction confirmation.

Abstract: Proteins which are potent anticoagulants and have at least one NAP domain and are described. These proteins having anticoagulant activity can be isolated from natural sources such as nematodes, chemically synthesized or made by recombinant methods using various DNA expression systems.

Abstract: A physical signal is represented by a linear system. The linear system is transformed from the time and space domain to the frequency domain, generating a transformed system. The least significant portions in the transformed system are determined. The least significant portions are deleted from the transformed system, generating a smaller pruned system. The pruned system is solved in the frequency domain, generating a solution. The solution is inverse transformed from the frequency domain to the time and space domain, generating an approximation to the physical signal.

Abstract: A composite rotor for caliper disc brakes and the like includes an outer friction portion having two ring sections, with a plurality of supports extending therebetween to fixedly interconnect the ring sections in a mutually parallel, spaced apart relationship defining a cavity therebetween. The ring sections have opposite friction surfaces which interface with associated friction members. The rotor also includes an inner hub portion having a central mounting section which mounts the same on a drive member, and a peripheral section cast into the cavity of the outer friction portion to integrally interconnect the inner hub and outer friction portions of the rotor with primarily mechanical bonds formed at an unfused interface.

Abstract: In a system for displaying prices in a retail store, an improved protocol is disclosed to permit improved communications between a host, or central computer and display devices. Such a protocol enables the host to effectively communicate messages to the display devices for the latter to display information to consumers and/or store personnel.

Abstract: An improved side pocket mandrel having an orientation housing, which in turn has an orienting slot and guide surfaces integrally formed with the orientation housing. The orientation housing is preferably manufactured by machining out of a single piece of metal. The orientation housing is then welded onto the remainder of the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A utility rack provided for carrying loads on vehicles, such as skis, snowboards, bicycles, watersport equipment, lumber, etc., comprises an elongated carrier bar, legs at each end of the carrier bar and adapted to take support on the vehicle, strap and hook assemblies for removably securing the utility rack to the vehicle, a rack-and-pinion ratchet adjustment and locking mechanism in the carrier bar for selectively withdrawing the straps towards the legs and into the carrier bar such as to tighten the hooks to the vehicle until the utility rack is in a firmly mounted position thereof on the vehicle, and for locking the straps in place thereby retaining the utility rack in its mounted position. The thin hooks are made of high strength tempered steel and are PVC coated. The carrier bar defines accessory receiving channels. The legs are provided with swivel feet. A lockable lever actuates the ratchet adjustment and locking mechanism. The straps are angled at about 30.degree. to 40.degree.

Abstract: The present invention involves a programmable microprocessor based controller having the capacity to store multiple operational instruction sets for independently controlling system components. The invention further involves a distributed intelligence network of such programmable controllers having the capability to interface with one another, Host computers, and system control components to provide system-wide automation for simultaneously monitoring and controlling video, audio, and electro-mechanically operated equipment. The programmable controller accepts analog and digital inputs and provides a wide range of user defined control functionality through its analog and digital outputs and its many external connections. The controller can support one and possibly two communication buses, depending upon the application, upon which a plurality of system components may be connected to each.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and associated methods for testing containers to determine if the containers have the desired fill point volume. In a preferred embodiment, the test container will be provided with fluid to the desired fill line and the volume of air in the container will be measured preferably by a differential pressure sensor in conjunction with a microprocessor with the corresponding volume of air in a reference container. The system provides suitable apparatus and an associated method for the supply of a fluid, which may be water, to the fill line in the container and the use of the distance between the fill line and container base or the distance between the fill line and the container mouth, or the percentage headspace in ascertaining the desired volume.