Abstract: Rotatable valve assembly includes a mounting mechanism for rotatably mounting the valve in a housing, the mounting mechanism including a shaft having an outside end extending through the housing. A conversion mechanism converts fluid pressure in the housing into torque exerted on the shaft. A release mechanism is located outside the housing for preventing rotation of the shaft and valve when the torque exerted on the shaft is below a selected magnitude. The release mechanism allows the shaft to rotate when the torque exerted on the shaft exceeds a selected magnitude. A seal is provided for sealing the gap between the housing and the valve in the closed position. The seal has a first portion secured to the housing on a first side of the rotational axis of the valve, a second portion secured to the valve on a second side of the rotational axis, a first transitional portion coinciding with the rotational axis, and a second transitional portion coinciding with the rotational axis.

Abstract: A process to bulk separate H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 from a sour gas by first cooling the inlet sour gas, passing the cooled sour gas through a separator and removing a liquid acid gas as a bottoms product in a fractionation tower, and then either pumping or free flowing the liquid acid gas into a disposal well. Potential sulphur deposition problems are controlled by recycling liquid acid gas to the plant inlet.

Abstract: An internally cooled target assembly for use in a magnetron sputtering apparatus is provided. The internally cooled target assembly includes a cooling plate that is configured to promote highly turbulent coolant flow through the target assembly to achieve efficient and uniform target cooling. The volume of coolant required to cool the target assembly is minimized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricant-impregnated porous substrate. The lubricant-impregnated porous substrate may be used to deliver lubricant as needed to gloves or other surface contacting a tacky resin material during molding or forming of the tacky material. In particular, the lubricant-impregnated porous substrate may be used to lubricate gloves during molding and forming of orthopedic casting materials. The lubricant-impregnated porous substrate may be packaged one or more in a container, and the lubricant-impregnated porous substrate may also be packaged as a kit with the orthopedic casting material. The orthopedic casting material preferably comprises a tape or sheet impregnated with a tacky material wrapped around a core, with the core having multiple projections extending radially outward from a central cylinder to hold the sheet away from the surface of the inner cylinder.

Abstract: A locking system is disclosed which comprises a microcomputer controlled lock with multiple level keying, i.e. multiple keys having different functions in the locking system. A key reader, for example punch card or magnetic type, reads key code into the microcomputer. A read/write memory has a predetermined number of assigned key codes stored therein and a read-only memory has a control program stored therein for control of the microcomputer. An electrically controlled actuator for the locking means is coupled with an unlocking output of the microcomputer. The control program comprises a main program and a plurality of subroutines each stored at a different location in the read-only memory. A function table has a number of pointers each of which points to the memory address of one of the subroutines. The number of pointers in the function table is equal to the number of locations in the key code memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting electrolytic production or feeding of a sanitizer such as halogen for treating a water body such as a swimming pool or spa. A microprocessor is responsive to sensors monitoring pH and temperature of the water body to predict demand for sanitizer which varies dependent on pH and temperature and direct a controller which automatically modifies the ON time during an ON/OFF cycle for the sanitizer production system in response to changing demand resulting from changing measurements in temperature and/or pH of the swimming pool water. The controller also modifies an ON/OFF cycle for a circulating pump when demand predicted by the microprocessor exceeds the capability of the sanitizer producer or feeder under an existing ON/OFF pump cycle.

Abstract: A software-based controller implemented on a generic computer hardware platform for dynamically allocating and controlling multiple job streams for anumerically controlling a machine tool. The software-based controller includes a first module for performing a set of first operations corresponding to a first job stream, a second module for performing a set of second operations corresponding to said first job stream, and a third module for performing a set of third operations corresponding to a second job stream. Each of the first, second and third modules are collectively defining a pointer architecture that includes a vertical data system to facilitate communication between operations in the same job stream and a horizontal data system to facilitate communication between operations in different job streams.

Abstract: The invention provides wafer handling apparatus for use with a wafer handling mechanism of the type that supports and transports wafers through and during semiconductor processes. Typically, the wafer has a first surface for semiconductor processing and a second surface having a surface finish with microfeatures therein. The invention utilizes at least three prongs extending from the mechanism and arranged to support the wafer. A stylus tip--preferably made from diamond--resides at a distal end of each prong. Each tip has a point that is smaller than at least some of the microfeatures of the second surface of the wafer such that the interaction of the tips with the microfeatures resists lateral movement of the wafer relative to the tips when the wafer rests on the tips by the force of gravity. This interaction is sufficient to move the wafer without substantial contribution from the coefficient of friction between the tips and the wafer.

Abstract: A guidewire replacement device having an elongated catheter shaft with an inner lumen extending within the catheter shaft, a proximal guidewire port spaced at least 1 cm from the distal end of the catheter which is in fluid communication with the inner lumen and a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter which is also in fluid communication with the inner lumen. The proximal end of an in-place guidewire is inserted through the distal guidewire port and advanced through the inner lumen until the proximal end of the guidewire extends through the proximal guidewire port. The exchange device is advanced over the guidewire until the distal end of the exchange device is seated within the proximal guidewire port in the readily exchangeable dilatation catheter. With the distal end of the exchange device well seated within the proximal guidewire port of the dilatation catheter, the in-place guidewire can be withdrawn from the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for learning current network behavior and predicting future behavior which utilizes a state transition graph. The graph includes nodes which represent network states, and arcs which represent trends in observable network parameters that result in a transition from a current state to another state. For example, a watch service may be instituted on multiple ports of a router, and the observed network traffic on the ports over time may be transformed into a state transition graph that represents network behavior. The network states may be labeled such as "good", or "bad", etc., according to a predetermined performance criteria. Once a state transition graph is constructed, the system may then monitor the current state and current trends of the network parameters in order to predict and display future network states. The system may include an automatic warning signal for alerting a user that the network is headed in the direction of a problematic state.

Abstract: A dithered Coriolis acceleration sensor system has a proof mass that is free of feedback in the accelerometer servo loop at the dither frequency by totally notching out all feedback torque at this frequency. The proof mass relative motion is then a direct measure of the rate because there is no feedback torque to alter the proof mass response to the acceleration. The feedback modulation system according to the invention captures the Coriolis-sensor output such that the phase and gain of the signal generated from the sensor are of no concern in maintaining good scale factor.

Abstract: A full color active matrix electroluminescent display includes an active matrix of pixel electrodes, a broad spectrum electroluminescent phosphor stack placed atop the active matrix of pixel electrodes and a transparent electrode placed atop the electroluminescent phosphor stack. A liquid crystal color shutter device is placed atop the transparent electrode for selectively filtering light from the electroluminescent phosphor stack selectively permitting the transmission of red, green or blue colored light in response to commands from a synchronizing circuit that synchronizes the operation of the shutter with the illumination of selected pixels in the active matrix display. Performance is further enhanced by the use of a double notch filter for the white light emitting broad spectrum electroluminescent phosphor so as to provide it with a uniform response at all waves lengths of interest.

Abstract: Featured is a device controller in a system having a multiplicity of such controllers and a conveying system and method for controlling a multiplicity of devices using such controllers. Each controller includes a plurality of bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, where at least one output controls the device, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs. Specifically, the applications program includes instructions and criteria for communicating information between and among controllers; instructions and criteria for processing information received by a controller; and instructions and criteria for modifying the operation of a device responsive to the communicated information. For a conveying system having a multiplicity of conveying sections, a controller is provided for each section.

Abstract: Light emitting devices are combined with non-imaging optical elements to create a backlighting system for liquid-crystal displays (LCDs). A pair of optically isolated sub-systems, or sections a night vision imaging system (NVIS) (14) and a daylight system (12) are combined to provide optimum display legibility in ambient illuminations ranging from bright sunlight to total darkness. The sub-systems utilize non-imaging optics based upon total internal reflection (TIR) and light reflection, both coupled to a light emitting source, such as fluorescent tubes (34) and other linearly shaped light sources. Light reflectors (32) are shaped to concentrate light onto non-imaging optics lens (30) so as to compensate for non-linear characteristics of the TIR lenses.

Abstract: A guillotine surgical cutter. The cutter includes an inner sleeve that moves within the inner channel of an outer sleeve. The distal end of the outer sleeve may have a plurality of outer ports. The inner sleeve may also have an inner channel and one or more openings that are in fluid communication with the outer ports of the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve can be connected to a diaphragm and a disk spring. The diaphragm may be adjacent to a drive chamber that is coupled to a source of pressurized air by a control valve. Actuation of the control valve pressurizes the drive chamber and moves the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve. The cutter may include a snap spring that is attached to the disk spring and which provides an additional acceleration of the inner sleeve. The springs return the inner sleeve back to the original position when the control valve is switched to reduce the pressure of the drive chamber.

Abstract: An improved guidewire for advancing a catheter within a body lumen which as a high strength proximal core section, a flexible distal core section preferably formed of pseudoelastic alloy and a connecting element to provide a torque transmitting coupling between the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section. The ends of the core sections are secured within the inner lumen of the connecting element by means of a hardened mass of bonding material. The wall of the connecting element is provided with an opening to facilitate the introduction of the hardenable bonding material in the pourable state into the inner lumen of the connecting element. Preferably at least one of the ends of the core sections are configured, e.g. enlarged in at least one dimension compared to an adjacent part of the core section, to develop a mechanical interlock within the mass of hardened material.

Abstract: Cellular antenna systems are provided for airship-type support at a position in the stratosphere. A single antenna system (20) may provide cellular communication for earth-based users located anywhere within a circle 400 miles in diameter (10). By use of array assemblies (21a) each providing 12 side-by-side beam positions per quadrant, with higher and lower elevation beams (32a', 36a') at each beam position, coverage can be provided for 96 cells arranged side-by-side in inner and outer annular bands (10). A turnstile-type antenna (26) provides coverage for a 97th central circular cell. By allocation of available groups of cellular frequencies in repetitive patterns around the outer annular band (1-6, FIG. 1), with frequency reuse in offset positions around the inner annular band, 16 times frequency reuse is provided while maintaining acceptable co-channel interference levels.

Abstract: A method for installing a stent in a vessel utilizes a single balloon catheter for both low pressure predilation at a relatively small diameter to open the lesion sufficiently to allow insertion and deployment of the stent across the lesion and for subsequent high pressure embedding of the stent in the vessel wall. The same balloon catheter may also be employed to insert and deploy the stent. The balloons utilized in the method have a stepped compliance curve which allows for predilation at a low pressure and predetermined diameter and for high pressure embedding at a substantially larger diameter. The balloons may be provided with a configuration in which only a portion of the balloon has a stepped compliance curve while a further portion has a generally linear compliance profile. With such balloons high pressure treatment of the vessel wall areas not reinforced by the stent can be avoided despite the occurence of longitudinal shrinkage of the stent during expansion thereof.

Abstract: A process for identifying a single item from a family of items presents a user with a feature screen having a series of groupings. Each grouping represents a feature having a set of alternatives from which to select. Selected alternatives are used as a selection criteria in a search operation. Results of the search operation is a revised feature screen indicating alternatives that remain available to the user for further selection and searching. The feature screen and search process, therefore, presents the user with a guided nonhierarchical parametric search to identify matching items based upon user specified criteria and priorities. Also disclosed is an adaptation of the claimed method and system appropriate in an Internet environment.