Abstract: A spiral conveyor with automatic flow control includes a plurality of curved segments connected to form a spiral for the flow by gravity of articles from an upper level to a lower level. Each of the segments includes freely rotating skate wheels forming a conveying surface and a controlled, powered cylindrical roller. A sensor mounted in each segment senses the presence of an article in the segment. A controller receives the signals from the sensors and activates the associated roller for transport mode to assist articles through the conveyor if the path is clear, or if the downstream portion of the conveyor is blocked, to reverse the roller for accumulate mode to hold articles in the segment until the path is cleared.

Abstract: There is described a bio-compatible aqueous slurry for forming a fluid-tight barrier on a surface of a porous implantable article. This aqueous slurry includes a self-aggregating protein comminutate having a substantially uniform particle size, a bio-compatible plasticizer and water. This aqueous slurry is further characterized by having a viscosity of about 8,000 centipoise to about 60,000 centipoise at 25° C. and a pH sufficient to maintain the protein suspended in the slurry.

Abstract: The portion of TDMA frames otherwise containing the sync word is eliminated for one or more data frames at the end of a TDMA data burst to provided added bandwidth for data payload or for a reduced bandwidth. Once a communication channel has been established and is in steady state mode (after receipt of one or more frames), the sync word is eliminated from the remaining frame structure. Drift of a local clock with respect to an incoming data stream is monitored using an oversampled or multiplied master clock to provide suitable resolution to determine an approximate position of an active edge of the master clock with respect to a bit or symbol being clocked. Any drift from center results in an adjustment of the local master clock. In a preferred embodiment, the drift is measured in a last bit or symbol of a received TDMA burst, and the master clock is adjusted to re-center the local master clock with respect to that last bit.

Abstract: A method of transforming a first topology to a reduced topology is disclosed. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a method of transforming a circuit from a first topology to a reduced topology, said first topology comprising a plurality of inter-connected circuit elements. The method comprises the steps of: (a) identifying one or more circuit elements; (b) analyzing the effect of reducing one or more of said identified circuit elements on the topological and physical characteristics of said circuit; and (c) if the effect satisfies a first standard, generating a second topology reflecting the reduction of one or more identified circuit elements.

Abstract: Methods of preparing a low stress porous low-k dielectric material on a substrate are provided. The methods involve the use of a structure former precursor and/or porogen precursor with one or more organic functional groups. In some cases, the structure former precursor has carbon-carbon double or triple bonds. In other cases, one or both of the structure former precursor and porogen precursor has one or more bulky organic groups. In other cases, the structure former precursor has carbon-carbon double or triple bonds and one or both of the structure former precursor and porogen precursor has one or more bulky organic groups. Once the precursor film is formed, the porogen is removed, leaving a porous low-k dielectric matrix with high mechanical strength. Different types of structure former precursors and porogen precursors are described. The resulting low stress low-k porous film may be used as a low-k dielectric film in integrated circuit manufacturing applications.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is disclosed a device adapted to be used for percutaneous minimally invasive heart surgery including a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be fed through a blood vessel, a pump associated with the distal end of the catheter, and a tool associated with the distal end of the catheter. The tool is adapted to be used for percutaneous minimally invasive heart surgery. Examples of the tools include a tool for excising natural tissue, a tool for excising a natural valve, and anthretomy device, a prosthetic valve delivery system, a balloon catheter, a knife, a stapler, and a screwdriver. The pump is used for maintaining blood flow around the site of the heart surgery while the surgery is taking place without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically weighing portions of semi-solid matter using a weigh station having a rotating receptacle which receives the portion so that an accurate weight indication of the portion can be taken, and propels the portion from the weigh station to a further conveyor or processing system, a drive motor which powers the weigh station through a disengageable motor drive connection, and a weight signal processor which converts and stores the weight indications as weight data and transmits appropriate control signals to the drive motor, whereby variations in the weight of each portion are measured and evaluated to control the further processing of each portion, according to whether the portion weight is within predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A system for generating user interface code is provided. The system includes a user interface class system generating a user interface class that has two or more user interface features that can be assembled into a user interface by an operator, such as field entry prompts and data display fields. The system also includes a handler class system generating one or more states for each user interface feature of the user interface class, such as to navigate through the field entry prompts and data display fields. The user interface class system, in conjunction with the handler class system, generates the user interface code that causes the selected user interface features and associated states for the user interface features to be generated.

Abstract: A self-expanding cage for use in conjunction with an embolic filtering device includes one or more circumferential members adapted to expand from an unexpanded position to a expanded position within the patient's body vessel. At least one proximal strut and at least one distal strut are attached to the circumferential member to form the basket. The circumferential member may include a plurality of bending regions which enhance the ability of the circumferential member to move between the unexpanded and expanded positions. The proximal and distal struts can be attached to one of the bending regions. When two or more circumferential members are utilized, each member may be connected by a connecting strut which may be connected at a bending region. The connecting strut can be a straight segment or may have a non-linear shape to provide additional flexibility. The expandable cage can be mounted to a elongated member, such as a guide wire, and can be either permanently mounted or rotatably mounted thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that generates an estimate of a property of a batch process uses a non-parametric model to generate a plurality of rate of reaction estimates associated with the batch process. Each rate of reaction estimate may correspond, for example, to a particular time during the batch process. The plurality of rate of reaction estimates are then integrated to generate an estimate of a property of the batch at the particular time.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide novel methods for representing items in a design layout. For instance, they use a method that identifies several half-planes, that when intersected, define the shape of the item. Some embodiments use a method that (1) identifies a first set of location data for the item with respect to a first coordinate system, (2) identifies a second set of location data for the item with respect to a second coordinate system, and (3) specifies the item in terms of the first and second set of location data. In some embodiments, both the first and second coordinate systems have first and second coordinate axes. Some embodiments use a method that receives a first set of data that defines the item with respect to a first coordinate system of the design layout.

Abstract: An actuatable fastener (50) includes a body (80) including a head (82) and a shank (84). The body (80) includes an interior chamber (120) partially defined by a side wall (132) extending from the head (82) into the shank (84) and an end wall (138) positioned in the shank. A member (140) is disposed in the chamber (120). An initiator (160) is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber (120) that act on the member (140) to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (138). The member (140) strikes the end wall (138) creating a fracture (222) in the shank (84) separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder (220) of the shank. The combustion products moving the member (150) beyond the fracture (222) at least a predetermined distance (226) to move the portion of the shank (84) at least the predetermined distance from the remainder (220) of the shank.

Abstract: A portable electricity generation device comprises a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an anode end with a catalyst facilitating the separation of hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons, a cathode end facilitating the combination of the electrons and protons into water molecules in the presence of oxygen, and a current bearing portion providing a current path for the electrons to traverse. The electricity generation device also includes a fuel storage container for storing a supply of hydrogen and delivering the supply of hydrogen to an anode end of the plurality of fuel cells so as to initiate a flow of the electrons through the current bearing portion. In addition, the portable electricity generation device includes an air moving device configured to direct atmospheric air toward a cathode end of the plurality of fuel cells, wherein the air moving device is positioned to convectively cool the plurality of fuel cells as it supplies atmospheric air to the cathode end.

Abstract: Two sensor modules that each contain two Hall effect sensors are positioned with respect to each other and with respect to a circuit board in a gear tooth sensor assembly. The sensor modules are arranged rotated in the plane of a positioning surface 120° with respect to each other, and tilted toward each other 15°. Sensor leads are bent at an angle of 98.64° such that the leads on both sensors pass perpendicularly through holes in a single circuit board tilted at an angle of 4.30° away from a plane tangent to the gear at a point halfway between the sensors. The sensor package is formed by a plastic mounting bracket arranged to position the sensor modules with respect to each other and the circuit board. The first two angles are selected, and the second two angles are determined so that the sensors are inserted perpendicular to the circuit board.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a regenerative electrochemical cell system, comprises: a fuel cell module, an electrolysis module, a heat exchange, and an inverted hydrogen storage device. The fuel cell module can comprise a fuel cell hydrogen inlet in fluid communication a hydrogen storage system, and a fuel cell oxygen inlet in fluid communication with a surrounding atmosphere and in fluid communication with a gaseous portion of an oxygen/water phase separation device. The electrolysis module can comprise an electrolysis water inlet in fluid communication with the water storage device via the fuel cell module, and an electrolysis water outlet in fluid communication with a second water storage device. The inverted hydrogen storage device can comprise a fluid inlet in fluid communication with an electrolysis hydrogen outlet, and a gas outlet in fluid communication with a fuel cell hydrogen inlet.

Abstract: Device packages often include walls build on a heat sink that surrounds a device die that thermally interacts with the heat sink. Use of raised or depressed feature on said heat sink that contacts the walls improves the cohesiveness of the package. By appropriately positioning these features contaminant infusion into the package is improved without degrading cohesiveness.

Abstract: The bandgap circuit comprising a plurality of cells that are sequentially connected to provide summation of ?VBE of each cell, with low noise. Each cell is formed of a plurality of NPN bipolar transistors. The transistors form an amplifier that generates a voltage that is proportional to absolute temperature.

Abstract: A telephone and voice mail (voice processing) system is implemented using only a single processing means for controlling operations of both the telephone system and the voice mail system. The single processing means communicates with a hard disk, which stores programs for running the various operations of the system, voice prompts and all voice mail messages. The single processing means is coupled to signal processing circuitry, which emulates analog electronics that would be used for filters, tone decoder, generators, etc. The single processing means and signal processing circuitry are coupled to central office lines and station lines by a digital cross-point matrix, which can connect any voice path to another voice path. The system integrates call processing and voice processing into one system controlled by one set of software and a single processing means.