Abstract: A smart card is provided having a removable integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is mounted on a semiconductor chip assembly which is locked within the smart card. The semiconductor chip assembly is configured so that once it is locked in place, it may only be removed with a special tool. The special tool allows the locking mechanisms holding the semiconductor chip assembly within the smart card to be disengaged. Attempts to remove the semiconductor chip assembly without the special tool may result in damage to one or both of the semiconductor chip assembly and the smart card. The semiconductor chip assembly may be mounted through the side of the smart card or through one of the faces. A security label applied to the smart card and the semiconductor chip assembly provides additional security with a visual indication of tampering with the semiconductor chip assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing relocatable code storage in a multifunction controller or other integrated circuit which includes an embedded microprocessor and an internal memory. The relocatable code is initially stored in an external memory which is shared by the embedded microprocessor and other system processing elements such as a host CPU. During a system initialization, power-on reset or other predetermined event, a memory multiplexing circuit connects the address inputs of the internal memory to a read/write address bus, and connects the output of a jump data storage circuit to a code data output bus. The jump data storage circuit uses code addresses received from the embedded microprocessor to generate a jump instruction code which is supplied to the embedded microprocessor via the code data output bus.

Abstract: Device for cooling fluid, comprising: an inlet for infeed of the fluid; a through-flow space through which the fluid flows; a discharge for outfeed of the fluid; and a number of pipes containing coolant which extend helically in the interior of the through-flow space and the pitch of which is such that the upward angle at least equals the angle of fall of solid particles present in the fluid flow.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit comprising: a housing having a first half and a second half; the first half of the housing containing an indoor heat exchange coil and a blower moving air through said coil from at least a housing inlet to a housing outlet. The blower discharges into a diffuser duct having a diffuser section with a first segment and a second segment where the first and second segments have first and second respective and differing angles of diffusion.

Abstract: A printed document includes a print quality indicator on the print surface of the document in the primary printing area. The image of the print quality indicator has a plurality of printed targets, each of the targets defining an unprinted area. The dimensions of the unprinted areas of the targets varying among the targets. The print quality of the printed document is determined by noting which of the unprinted areas in the print quality indicator printed on the document are not clearly free of ink upon close visual inspection of the document. Each target is made up of a printed circle, having a specified outer diameter, a specified line weight, and a specified inner diameter, and a printed circular dot, having a specified diameter, positioned centrally within the printed circle. The specified diameter of the printed circular dot is less than the specified inner diameter of the printed circle such that the printed circular dot and the printed circle define an annular unprinted area there between.

Abstract: An extrusion die for extruding biodegradable material, the extrusion die including: a mandrel; an outer member positioned near the mandrel; an extrusion orifice between the mandrel and the outer member; a member in communication with at least one defining member of the extrusion orifice, wherein the member is capable of producing relative movement between the outer member and the mandrel, wherein the relative movement has a component transverse to an extrusion direction of biodegradable material through the extrusion orifice; a flow control device which controls flow of biodegradable material through the extrusion die; and a positioning device which positions the outer member and the mandrel relative to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peripheral microcontroller for providing a high performance USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection to existing peripheral architectures (such as printers and disk drives with existing microcontrollers) and to new peripheral architectures (such as a 4-port USB-to-Ethernet Bridge). The USB peripheral microcontroller includes three units. A Serial Interface Engine (SIE) connects to a USB host or USB hub. A Microcontroller (MCU) Interface Unit connects to one or more peripheral devices such as ISA-like peripherals. A Memory Management Unit (MMU) provides a buffering mechanism between the SIE and MCU Interface Unit. The MMU utilizes a unique data packet buffering architecture. Packets received at the MMU from a peripheral for transmission to the USB host and packets received at the MMU from the USB host for transmission to a peripheral are buffered in a RAM.

Abstract: An axially elongated extruder screw includes a screw body having an axially extending extruding portion defined by a feed section at an inlet end of the screw, a metering section at an outlet end of the screw and a barrier section between the feed and metering sections. At least one helical primary flight extends about and is coaxial with the screw body. The primary flight and the screw body cooperate to form a channel in the feed section for conveying resinous material to the barrier section. The barrier section includes at least one helical secondary flight extending from the primary flight about the screw body which in turn defines a first surface of revolution between the primary and secondary flights. At least one helical tertiary flight is positioned between the primary and secondary flights and also extends about the screw body which defines a second helical surface of revolution between the secondary and tertiary flights.

Abstract: Biodegradable sorghum meal-based extruded shaped products or articles and methods of manufacturing the same. In particular, extruded sorghum meal-based products processed by compression, stretching or compression and stretching provide excellent flexibility, pliability, dimensional stability, resiliency, abrasion resistance and other properties making them attractive for use as packaging materials.

Abstract: An axially elongated extruder screw includes a screw body having an axially extending extruding portion defined by a feed section at an inlet end of the screw, a metering section at an outlet end of the screw and a barrier section between the feed and metering sections. At least one helical primary flight extends about and is coaxial with the screw body. The primary flight and the screw body cooperate to form a channel in the feed section for conveying resinous material to the barrier section. The barrier section includes at least one helical secondary flight extending from the primary flight about the screw body which in turn defines a first surface of revolution between the primary and secondary flights. At least one helical tertiary flight is positioned between the primary and secondary flights and also extends about the screw body which defines a second helical surface of revolution between the secondary and tertiary flights.

Abstract: A refrigeration chiller employs a centrifugal compressor the impellers of which are mounted on a shaft which is itself mounted for rotation using rolling element bearings lubricated only by the refrigerant which constitutes the working fluid of the chiller system. Apparatus is taught for providing liquid refrigerant to (1.) the bearings immediately upon chiller start-up, during chiller operation and during a coastdown period subsequent to shutdown of the chiller and (2.) the drive motor of the chiller's compressor for motor cooling purposes. By use of a variable speed-driven motor to drive the compressor, optimized part load chiller performance is achieved in a chiller which does not require or employ an oil-based lubrication system.

Abstract: Oil is returned from the evaporator to the oil sump in a refrigeration chiller by directing the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture found in the chiller evaporator into heat exchange contact with relatively hotter system lubricant as such lubricant flows from the oil sump to the location of its use in the chiller's compressor. The oil flowing from the sump to the compressor rejects sufficient heat to the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture to induce the percolation thereof, such percolation being sufficiently energetic to cause slugs of the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture to be delivered from the location of heat exchange into the chiller's lubricant sump thereby effecting the return of oil from the evaporator for re-use in the compressor.

Abstract: A faucet fitting system having interchangeable components useable in both single handle and dual handle faucet fixtures. The component system is designed to allow the same putty plate with breast plate, waterway spout, aerator and mounting nuts to be used with the various escutcheons, metering valves and waterways associated with the single handle and duel handle faucet fixtures. Specially constructed water valves, putty plates and escutcheon constructions useable in conjunction with the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fresh air unit. The unit comprises: a housing having an airstream flowing therethrough; a pre-cooling portion, and dehumidification portion. The pre-cooling portion is located within the housing and reduces the temperature and specific humidity of a gas in the airstream to a target zone on a psychrometric chart. The dehumidification portion is also located in the housing downstream of the pre-cooling portion. The dehumidification portion removes a selected amount of moisture from the gas and reheats the gas a selected amount of sensible heat gain.

Abstract: A shift by wire vehicle transmission system includes control methods that are especially useful for controlling the transmission under start-from-stop conditions. Since the master clutch must be manually operated under such conditions, the invention includes a method of determining whether the clutch is open or closed. The rotational speed of the engine output shaft is compared to the rotational speed of the transmission input shaft and if the difference between those speeds is greater than a preselected value, the clutch is determined to be open. Another use of the disclosed method is to provide an indication to the driver whether a desired gear has been engaged. A visual or audible signal indicates to the driver that the desired gear is not yet engaged. Once engagement is confirmed, the signal is turned off and the driver knows that the desired shift has been accomplished.

Abstract: Efficient two-phase refrigerant mixture distribution is accomplished in a falling film evaporator by use of a refrigerant distributor disposed internal of the evaporator shell which overlies the evaporator tube bundle and which internally causes said two-phase refrigerant mixture to be made available along essentially the entire length and across essentially the entire width of the tube bundle prior to the delivery of the refrigerant out of the distributor.

Abstract: The operation of a planar geometry superconducting coil used in conjunction with a ground plane is improved by intracoil damping. This damping reduces coil resonances. The improvement consists of an intracoil shunt, which damps the resonances of the coil by connecting each turn, or loop, of the multiturn/multiloop coil with resistors. One example of a planar geometry superconducting coil which is effectively damped according to the present invention is the input coil to a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The intracoil shunt may be added to the SQUID at the same time in the SQUID fabrication as the junction shunts.

Abstract: A device and method provide improved measurement of flow through an enclosed channel, such as a pipe. A flow measurement device, such as a differential pressure sensing pitot tube, includes a pressure sensing probe that is inserted into the pipe for measuring the rate of fluid flow therein. A compressible or elastic barrier is attached to the distal end of the sensing probe to fill the space between the tip end of the sensing probe and the nearby portion of the inside wall of the fluid carrying pipe. The resilient barrier prevents undesirable fluid flow between the tip end of the sensing probe and the inside wall of the pipe.