Abstract: A feature centric method of and system for monitoring the development and release process of a product, monitoring the development and release of a product, where the product is characterized by having a plurality of features is described. The method steps, which the system is configured to carry out, include enumerating features to be included in the product, enumerating tasks, task milestones, and task milestone completions identified to the features; enumerating required task approvals and feature approvals and completed task approvals and feature approvals, and enumerating required associated activities and completed associated activities. The enumeration preferably includes information to show linkages, associations, priorities, milestones, and missed milestones.

Abstract: A physical vapor deposition process for maintaining the wafer below a critical temperature. The rate at which material particles are sputtered from the target and thus deposited on the wafer is controllable in response to power supplied to the target. Maintaining a desired deposition rate maintains the wafer temperature below the critical temperature.

Abstract: An innovative routing method for an integrated circuit design layout. The layout can include design netlists and library cells. A multiple-level global routing can generate topological wire for each net. An area oriented graph-based detail routing on the design can be performed. A post route optimization after the detail routing can be performed to further improve the routing quality. Some methods can be single threaded all or some of the time, and/or multi-threaded some or all of the time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: A driving mechanism includes a motor and a wave gear device. Three sets of torque sensors are attached at intervals of 120° on a diaphragm of a flexible external gear of the wave gear device. In the rotational angle detecting part of the signal processing circuit, signal components that are included in the outputs of the torque sensors, that vary in the form of two cycles of a sine wave per rotation of the wave generator and are synchronous with a rotational angle of the wave generator are extracted and a coordinate transformation is carried out for the obtained three-phase sinusoidal signals to calculate two-phase sinusoidal signals that are 90° out of phase, with the rotational angle of the wave generator being calculated based on these signals. Without providing a rotational angle detector separately, it is possible to detect the rotational angle of the wave generator using the outputs of the torque sensors.

Abstract: A unidirectional handle device for an endoluminal device includes an outer tubular member and an elongate inner member slidably received in the outer tubular member. The unidirectional handle includes a handle member, a needle bearing clutch disposed in the handle member, a control member guide, and shaft rotatable in a single direction disposed within the handle member. The shaft is rotatable in a single direction by its engagement with the needle bearing clutch. The shaft is in rotational engagement with the outer tubular member of the endoluminal device. The outer tubular member is slidable from a distal position to a proximal position when the shaft is rotated in the single direction. The unidirectional handle device provides substantially no backlash of the outer tubular member. In addition, the unidirectional handle device advantageously produces a tension-retaining effect during use.

Abstract: A novelty which has a head and appendages coupled to a body via coupling elements, and includes one or more rotating members so as to add dynamic and aesthetic beauty to any garden, kitchen or other setting.

Abstract: An hour meter having a display that provides a visual indication of a total time an engine has operated and a visual indication of engine operation time remaining in a predetermined service time interval. A plurality of segments on the display are selectively displayed in a first optical state or a second optical state. A display drive displays the segments in the first optical state at a beginning of a predetermined service interval. The drive changes the optical state of a first segment from the first optical state to the second optical state when a given portion of the predetermined service time interval has elapsed. The drive incrementally changes the state of a remainder of the plurality of segments from the first optical state to said second optical state as additional portions of the predetermined service time interval elapse to graphically display the amount of engine operation time remaining in the predetermined service time interval.

Abstract: A modular computer storage system and method is provided for managing and directing data archiving functions. A client component is associated with one or more client devices for generating archival request. A file processor directs one or more storage devices, through one or more media components, which control the actual physical level backup on various storage devices. Each media component creates a library indexing system for locating stored data. A management component coordinates the archival functions between the various client components and the file processor, including setting scheduling policies, aging policies, index pruning policies, drive cleaning policies, configuration information, and keeping track of running and waiting jobs. The management component also keeps the scheduling information for a timetable of backups of the client devices and allocates storage space. The modular computer storage system may also work in conjunction with a Storage Area Network.

Abstract: A control system for a regenerative thermal oxidizer in which contaminated air is first passed through a hot heat-exchange bed and into a communicating high temperature oxidation (combustion) chamber, and then through a relatively cool second heat exchange bed. The apparatus includes a number of internally insulated, ceramic filled heat recovery columns topped by an internally insulated combustion chamber. Contaminated air is directed into heat exchange media in one of said columns, and oxidation is completed as the flow passes through the combustion chamber. From the combustion chamber, the now clean air flows through another column containing heat exchange media, thereby storing heat in the media for use in a subsequent inlet cycle when the flow control valves reverse. The resulting clean air is directed via an outlet valve through an outlet manifold and released to atmosphere or is recirculated back to the oxidizer inlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a deflectable catheter-based system for assisting in the delivery of therapeutic agents, cellular materials and the like to one or more sites in a target body tissue. The system provides for one or more injections to a predetermined needle insertion depth with a single core needle that can be advanced and retracted from the tip of the catheter. The catheter assembly includes a handle subassembly having a mechanism for setting and limiting the depth of insertion of the needle, a slide for moving the injection needle between retracted and extended positions, a return spring for biasing the needle to the retracted position, and a modified pulley mechanism for compensating for catheter shaft compression when the catheter is deflected.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon catheter has a radiopaque marker thereon at a known distance from a distal end of the catheter. An elongated flexible guide wire has a plurality of longitudinally spaced radiopaque markers on a distal portion thereof, with adjacent markers on the guide wire being longitudinally spaced at a distance equal to the known distance between the distal end of the catheter and its radiopaque marker. The guide wire is advanced through an artery until one of its markers is positioned at a desired location relative to a stenosis. Subsequently, the balloon catheter is advanced over the guide wire until the radiopaque marker of the catheter is in a predetermined position relationship to the radiopaque marker of the guide wire which has aligned on the stenosis.

Abstract: A method for implanting an end portion of a graft within the body of a patient during a bypass grafting procedure is disclosed. The body has a circulatory system which includes a femoral artery and an aorta. The method includes the steps of (i) making an incision in the body of the patient so as to expose the femoral artery and an inguinal ligament, (ii) advancing an endoscope between the femoral artery and the inguinal ligament until a distal end of the endoscope is positioned at a working site within the body, (iii) advancing the end portion of the graft between the femoral artery and the inguinal ligament to the working site, wherein said end portion advancing step includes the step of advancing the end portion of the graft through the endoscope, and (iv) forming an anastomosis between the end portion of the graft and the aorta at the working site.

Abstract: An improved force-measurement system utilizes active magnetostrictive sensors for generating a signal representative of a force, such as the weight of a person or thing on a seat within a motor vehicle, or the force applied to the horn sensor switch on a vehicle steering wheel. The active magnetostrictive sensor includes an excitation coil and a detection coil.

Abstract: An electric device has a plurality of cells in which in an acid electrolyte a lanthanide and zinc form a redox couple that provide a current, and in which at least two of the cells are separated by a bipolar electrode that comprises a glassy carbon or a Magneli phase titanium suboxide.

Abstract: An ablation device includes a cannula having a distal end and a lumen, an array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, each of the electrodes having a first configuration when inside the lumen, and a second configuration when unconfined outside the lumen, the electrodes having respective distal ends that point at least partially towards a distal direction when deployed, and an operative electrode secured to the distal end of the cannula. In one embodiment, the operative electrode has a shape that is different from the array of electrodes. In another embodiment, the operative electrode is not retractable within the lumen.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes a parallel sampled multi stage decimated digital loop filter for clock and data recovery function. In particular, the present invention provides multiple sampling clocks, with these clocks having sampling clock phases separated in time. These clocks are used in conjunction with multiple data detectors and phase detectors to efficiently process received analog signals in a decimated loop filter system.

Abstract: A stowable antenna system for a security system is providing which includes an electronic radiating element in the form of a furlable flexible sheet, a power supply to power the electronic radiating element and a housing to receive and store the radiating element in a furled condition. The radiating element may be extended to an unfurled condition for use in the security system. One or more risers may extend from the housing for supporting the radiating element in the unfurled condition. The electronic radiating element may be received in the housing and stored in the housing in a rolled up, windowshade configuration.

Abstract: A multi-mode wireless device having a transceiver including a multi-mode transmitter and a multi-mode receiver. The transmitter can include a multi-mode transmit baseband portion configured to support all of the transmit modes. Similarly, the receiver can include a multi-mode baseband portion that is configured to support all of the receive modes. The transmitter can also include a frequency conversion stage that can convert the output from the transmit baseband portion to the desired transmit frequency. Multiple power amplifiers in parallel, each configured to support one or more of the operating modes, can selectively amplify the transmit signals. The receiver can include multiple low noise amplifiers (LNAs) in parallel, each configured to selectively amplify the received signals of one or more of the operating modes. The output of the LNAs can be coupled to a frequency conversion stage that downconverts the received signals and provides them to the baseband portion.