Abstract: An improved tablet for a digitizer including a stylus and a tablet for digitizi An 5 Vt pV:stylus position on the tablet as a function of the stylus current distribution over the tablet includes a first resistive coating on the face of the tablet for conducting stylus current to a plurality of current sensors about the periphery of the tablet; and one or more additional resistive coatings covering the first resistive coating and connected electrically in parallel with the first resistive coating for providing an additional wearing layer to protect and prolong the life of the first reactive coating, the additional resistive coatings having resistance values higher than the first resistive coating.

Abstract: A highly reliable bulk chemical refill system for high purity chemicals is provided. The system employs at least one metallic level sensor in a refillable ampule. The refillable ampule of the present invention comprises a metallic level sensor for sensing a high level or full level in the ampule. The metallic level sensor transmits this signal to a control unit that automatically stops the refilling process. Additionally the refillable ampule includes a low level sensor that either provides an automatic signal for starting the refilling process or an audible or visual alarm to alert an operator that the container is empty and requires refilling. At the same time, the low level sensor sends a signal to the processing equipment indicating the empty state of the ampule.

Abstract: A portable transmitter produces an emergency signal including a personal identification number and an auxiliary code. The auxiliary code may be a test bit which, when set, indicates that the emergency signal was activated in a test mode and that an emergency condition did not exist. Activation of the test mode is accomplished by the same systems required to activate the emergency signal to provide full testing. The transmitter is part of a security system including a plurality of portable transmitters and fixed receivers. The transceivers issue either an alarm activating signal or a test signal depending on the test bit in the auxiliary code. A successful test is discernible to the user from the vicinity of the transceiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning dust and particulate from automated mail processing equipment having a conveyer disposed along a plurality of processing stations is provided. The cleaning system includes at least one air nozzle disposed at each station and at least one vacuum port disposed at each station and spaced apart from the air nozzle. A vacuum for creating a vacuum at the vacuum port and an air source for directing air through the air nozzle is provided. A sequencer for allowing air to sequentially pass through the air nozzle at each station while a vacuum is created at the same station is provided. A controller in communication with the sequencer is provided for relaying sequencing information to the sequencer.

Abstract: A scanner can read machine-readable code on an object. A scanner has a scanning device, a data device, and a registration device. The scanning device can repetitively scan the code and provide a scan signal repetitively corresponding to at least fragments of the code. The data device is coupled to the scanning device and responds to its scan signal for repetitively storing it. The registration device is coupled to the data device for reconstructing the code from at least two of the fragments of the code by relatively shifting the code fragments until they are in registration.

Abstract: A variable length crank arm in a windshield wiper system provides a depressed park position for an associated wiper blade when the direction of rotation of a drive motor is reversed. The crank arm relies on an eccentric driver to vary its length between a first length and a longer second length. When the eccentric driver is rotated in a first direction to wipe the windshield, a spring loaded pin keeps the eccentric driver rotatably fixed to an output arm with the crank arm consequently at the first length. The spring loaded pin also engages a cam slot in a cam plate, the cam plate rotating freely with the output arm and the eccentric driver in the first direction. To move the blade to the depressed park position, the direction of rotation of the drive motor is reversed. This causes the cam plate to become rotatably stopped, with the now stationary cam slot forcing the pin out of engagement with the output arm.

Abstract: An extensible and retractable telescoping tube positions test devices that inspect large stationary objects. The tube has three dimensional adjustment capabilities and is vertically suspended from a frame. The tube sections are independently supported with each section comprising U-shaped housing secured to a thicker support plate. Guide mechanisms preferably mounted only to the thicker plates guide each tube section parallel to a reference axis with improved accuracy so that the position of the remote end of the telescoping tube is precisely known.

Abstract: A system for managing resolvers of test answers to maintain consistent and efficient scoring of test answers. Collaborative scoring allows two test resolvers to score the same test answer and resolves potential discrepancies in the scores provided by the resolvers. Quality items monitor a test resolver's scoring performance against a known standard. The system transmits a quality-control test item, having a known score, to a test resolver. After receiving a score from the resolver, the system compares the known score with the resolver's score and can generate a quality profile for the resolver.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter is disclosed which incorporates a longitudinally collapsible shaft section including a longitudinally collapsible guide wire lumen. The longitudinally collapsible shaft section may also include a longitudinally collapsible inflation lumen. The longitudinally collapsible shaft section may take the form of a polymer-encased braid, a polymer bellow, or a helical tube. A longitudinally rigid member may be connected to the distal end of the longitudinally collapsible shaft section in order to facilitate extension and contraction of the collapsible section. Methods of using such a catheter system are also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to spatially localize NMR Spectroscopic signals that are acquired at minimum time post excitation, a saturation selective spectroscopic imaging technique combines the use of saturation regions to define a region of interest; and RF pulse to generate a free induction decay (FID) signal; and phase encoding steps to spatially localize the signal within the non-saturated region.

Abstract: A ladder-type cable tray system comprising a first cable tray section and a second cable tray section. Each cable tray section includes first and second rails extending lengthwise of the section at opposite sides of the section and a plurality of rungs extending between the rails at intervals spaced lengthwise of the section. Each of the first and second rails has a tubular portion forming a hollow beam extending the length of the rail. The tubular portion has open ends at opposite ends of the rail and a rung-supporting portion integrally formed as one piece with the tubular portion and depending therefrom. The system further comprises fasteners for securing the rungs to the rung-supporting portions of the first and second rails in a position wherein the rungs span the rung-supporting portions, and a plurality of splices for connecting the first and second cable tray sections end to end.

Abstract: A method to simplify the use of a plurality of identical processors connected in parallel. The method contains the steps of: (a) obtaining a computer system having a CPU and a plurality of identical processors connected in parallel, the processors are also connected to the CPU; (b) obtaining first and second clocks of different oscillation frequencies, wherein the first clock having a slower oscillation frequency than the second clock; (c) connecting the first clock to only one of the plurality of processors and connecting the second clock to the rest of the plurality of processors; and (d) instructing the CPU to check only the processor connected to the first clock, which is connected to the slower clock, for a ready signal, and instructing the CPU to proceed to next step if a ready signal is received from the processor connected to said first clock.

Abstract: An electrical power feed assembly (12) for supplying high current to an electrothermal gun has first and second electrical connectors (38) and (42) with associated contact portions (40) and (44) for engaging and plastically deforming first and second side contacts (20,22) on a cartridge (14) to provide firing while maintaining the electrical contact without any arcing. The first connector (38) has a curved contact portion (40) that provides an interference fit to plastically deform the first contact (20) and establish the electrical contact as the cartridge (14) is inserted into the gun. The second connector (42) has a pair of curved knife edges (48) that engage and plastically deform the second contact (22) of the cartridge to establish and maintain the electrical contact under spring action of the second connector and by operation of a cam mechanism (50) of a breech block (26) of the gun.

Abstract: A distributed data processing network includes multiple memory card databases at terminal nodes of the network. The network is programmed to automatically perform routine communications operations such as conveying identification information between the terminal nodes and interior nodes. The network is implemented in a hospital environment and the databases include information on patients and hospital personnel. Using the automatic communications facilities of the network patient information from the database is displayed at a nurse station when the patient initiates a nurse-call or automatically when medication, also recorded on the card, is due. In addition, the system may be used to locate hospital personnel and equipment, to audit the use of controlled substances and to automatically assemble emergency response teams.

Abstract: A water softening system using resin beads of two or more ranges of mesh sizes with the quantities of each range of resin sizes being in a predetermined proportion to each other.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating the performance of a computer program, or software performance evaluation tool. The system comprises an analyzer module for analyzing a binary image of said program and making modifications necessary to measure performance; a kernel for measuring and storing runtime performance information; and a post processor for processing said runtime performance information, correlating it with static information, and displaying resulting information to a user. The analyzer determines boundaries of a plurality of regions and routines within the binary image and inserts breakpoints at the boundaries. The analyzer also examines the binary image of a computer program instruction by instruction in order to instrument and bind the binary image to the kernel module, and uses an abstraction of a target computer in order to instrument the computer program.

Abstract: A gasketed membrane electrode assembly for electrochemical fuel cells employs gasketing material at the periphery of the ion exchange membrane, rather than the membrane itself, as a gasket. The gasketing material may be formed from an elastomeric material suitable for cold bonding or bonding by heat and pressure. A nonhydrophilic thermoplastic elastomer is the preferred gasketing material. The gasketed membrane electrode assembly provides a seal between the electrically conductive separator plates that is more effective and economical than assemblies employing the membrane itself as the gasketing material. In an alternative embodiment, a gasketed membrane assembly for use in the humidification portion of a fuel cell employs gasketing material at the periphery of a water permeable membrane.

Abstract: An agent supervising system is used in a telephone call management and distribution system having a plurality of telephone stations assigned to a plurality of agents. The agent supervising system displays agent activities using distinctive color highlighting and text or icon depictions corresponding to agent identification, location and status information on a map representation and in a directory listing graphically represented on a display at the supervisor's station. The agent supervising system also interacts with an agent locating system for locating agents and displaying the agents on the map representation on the supervisor's display. The prediction of pending abandonment of queued calls and color alarms indicating such pending loss of calls are also provided and the potential financial impact of pending loss of calls are determined and displayed.