Abstract: An apparatus for storing and monitoring a plurality of articles, including at least one cabinet or carrier having a plurality of receptacles in which the articles are stored. In one application, the apparatus is utilized to maintain a library of magnetic tapes or other storage media associated with a data processing center. Each of the articles is identified by a respective code or volser number, and requests for the articles are received by the system in the form of requests for a particular volser number. In a preferred embodiment, the articles may be randomly stored in any of the receptacles in any of a plurality of carriers. The system includes a polling and searching system operable to identify the carrier in which a requested article is currently stored, and a display system operable to display the carrier's location. A host computer controls the operation of the system, but no central data base is maintained of the coded articles.

Abstract: Male and female radio frequency cable connectors 64 and 13 have corresponding circumferential grooves 80 and 44 which are aligned and face each other when the connectors 64 and 13 are in a connected state so as to form a channel. The connectors 64 and 13 are held together by a canted-coil spring 11 residing in the channel formed by the two aligned and facing circumferential grooves 80 and 44. Deformation of the canted-coil spring 11 residing in the channel allows the male and female counterpart RF cable connectors 64 and 13 to resist separation as well as provide a primary electrical contact between the two connectors. If a substantial tensile force is placed on the cables 12 and 85, the spring 11 will deform sufficiently to allow separation of the two connectors 64 and 13.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed wherein error detection codes are used for detecting and handling hardware errors in a memory table. Before each address and associated data are entered into the memory table, an error detection code is generated for both the address and the data. The address, data, and corresponding error codes are stored in the same entry line in the memory table. When the table receives an input address from a CPU, the input address is compared to all of the addresses stored within the memory table. If any stored address matches the input address, the matched address is outputted along with its associated data and its corresponding error codes. The matched address and its associated data are each processed with its corresponding error code to determine whether the outputted address and data are identical to the address and data used to generate the error codes.

Abstract: A structured logic array is divided into hierarchical levels. At a highest level (the chip level), blocks are interconnected by a system of chip busses. A block interface couples each block to the chip bus system to allow the blocks to communicate with each other. At a lower level, each block includes sectors, each sector being coupled to a block bus system by a sector interface. The block bus system interconnects the sectors in each block to allow the sectors to communicate with each other. The block bus system is also coupled to the block interface to allow signals to be transferred between the block bus system and the chip bus system. At a lowest level, each sector includes a plurality of logic elements. The logic elements are interconnected by a sector bus system. The sector bus system is coupled to the sector interface to allow for the transfer of signals between the sector bus system and the block bus system.

Abstract: A method, and device utilized to practice it, for the resolution of tissue by radio frequency sparking. The device of the present invention having a distal end which is insertable within and along the lumen of a tubular body member and manipulated there through to desired position where the device will be operated. The device comprises an elongated flexible hollow tube having a distal end, a proximal end, and a diameter smaller than the diameter of the tubular, body member into which the device is being inserted; passage means within the tube; a plurality of electrodes adjacent the distal end of the device; and means for selectively supplying radio frequency electrical current to at least one of said electrodes.

Abstract: An "innerless" balloon catheter controls fluid flow past the guide wire at the distal end of the catheter by a combination of flow resistance and a pressure responsive valve. The catheter includes a shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The shaft has a lumen therethrough with the lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon interior for inflating and deflating the balloon via the shaft lumen. The catheter further includes a lumen extension through the balloon, with the lumen extension being in fluid communication with the shaft lumen. A guide wire extends through the shaft lumen and the lumen extension and out the distal end of the balloon. The resistance to fluid flow past the guide wire in the lumen extension is substantially greater than the resistance to fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the balloon interior.

Abstract: A circuit card assembly thermal core includes a composite material that includes particles of diamond and a conductive metal such as aluminum, copper, nickel and beryllium and which may be made by pressure infiltration casting. The diamond particles are 110 to 160 microns in size and 10 to 80 percent by volume, and preferably 140 to 160 microns in size and 40 to 60 percent by volume. The composite material has both a high thermal conductivity and low density which may be matched with the coefficient of thermal expansion of other materials with which used.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for preventing actuation of an air bag restraining device (25) of a vehicle includes a weight sensor (36), a distance sensor (42), and a seat belt payout sensor (66). A controller (22) is operatively connected to the sensors (36, 42, 66) and to the air bag restraining device (25). The controller (22) prevents actuation of the air bag when the sensors ( 36, 42, 66 ) sense a rearward facing child seat (46) on the occupant seat (40) by sensing a weight of an object less than a predetermined amount, a distance to an object on the seat (40) less than a predetermined amount, and a seat belt payout of greater than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An assembly transfers heat from the heat generating components of a circuit board to a surrounding housing. A removable heat transferring member is inserted into the interior of the housing. The removable heat transferring member is thermally coupled to the heat generating components, physically coupled to the circuit board, and thermally coupled to the housing. The coupling between the removable heat transferring member and the housing is such that the member, and thus the heat generating components and circuit board, can be easily removed from and reinserted into the housing. A portion of the housing is configured as a heat sink to dissipate heat.

Abstract: An objection location system for locating and communicating with personnel or objects within a facility. Remote badges are coupled to respective objects or personnel to be located. The badges include transmission means for transmitting identification information associated with their respective objects or personnel. Operational parameters are stored in the badges and are monitored for controlling the operation of the badges. The badge may be in the form of a wristband.

Abstract: High temperature ceramic nut of aluminum oxide for use in coupling a flared tube to a flare fitting.

Abstract: Described is a thin-film battery, especially a thin-film microbattery, and a method for making same having application as a backup or primary integrated power source for electronic devices. The battery includes a novel electrolyte which is electrochemically stable and does not react with the lithium anode and a novel vanadium oxide cathode Configured as a microbattery, the battery can be fabricated directly onto a semiconductor chip, onto the semiconductor die or onto any portion of the chip carrier. The battery can be fabricated to any specified size or shape to meet the requirements of a particular application. The battery is fabricated of solid state materials and is capable of operation between -15.degree. C. and 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A racetrack surface composition including a synthetic polymer component, a hydrocarbon oil fluid between 25.degree.-90.degree. F., and a particulate material such as sand. The synthetic polymer component is preferably either an elastomer, or an elastomer in combination with non-elastomeric polymer; or generally a mixture of oil soluble and oil dispersible polymer which together with the oil form a binder for the particulates. The racetrack composition readily forms a pad and the cushion portion does not clump or compact but maintains its granular, rakeable quality even at track temperatures above about 130.degree. F. The composition is not adversely affected by wet weather. The invention further includes the addition of carbon black to the racetrack composition in order to improve weatherability. In the event that the racetrack composition is not readily rakeable, the invention teaches the post addition of a rakeability promoter to improve rakeability.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement is disclosed that performs one or all of the functions selected from the group comprising (1) establishing a threshold level for detecting and encoding selected parameters of RF signals; (2) establishes a threshold level that corresponds to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and which is used for detecting and encoding selected parameters of RF signals; and (3) determining the tangent angle of the received RF signals which is further used for measuring the frequency of the RF signal. The circuit arrangement comprises a microwave correlator including a power divider, a delay line, a quadrature coupler, and two multipliers. The circuit arrangement further comprises an RF amplifier, a bandpass filter, low pass filters, analog-to-digital converters, and preferably a PROM.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of an antenna array and the spacings of the antennas in the array using radio waves from one or more sources having known positions and an inertial system, the antenna array comprising at least two antennas. The method comprises the steps of placing the antenna array in one or more specified orientations relative to a reference coordinate system, measuring the phase of each radio wave received by each of the antennas in the antenna array from the one or more radio-wave sources for each orientation of the antenna array, and then determining the errors in the array orientation coordinates using the measured phases. The method also includes determining the errors in the spacings of the antennas in the array and determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of the reference coordinate system, in both cases using the measured phases.

Abstract: A system for monitoring ferromagnetic materials in proximity to a sensing region, which is particularly applicable to traffic monitoring and controlling. A magnetic probe generates a signal in response to magnetic flux changes caused by a vehicle moving through a sensing area. A processor analyzes the signal to determine the duration of the signal and correlates that duration to a vehicle velocity. A checking system periodically sends a checking signal to the magnetic probe and monitors the return signal to verify that the probe is operative and also analyzes the return signal to determine whether a stationary vehicles is in the sensing area.

Abstract: A hybrid fiber optic transceiver is described which includes a transmitter for converting electrical data signals to corresponding light energy, a receiver for converting optical data signals back to electrical data signals and a clock recovery mechanism to maintain the electrical data signals outputs from the receiver in their proper order. The transceiver includes an optical splitter or coupler that allows light signals to be transmitted and received over a single fiber. The opto-electrical hybrid circuitry of the transceiver and the fiber optic coupler are enclosed in a small light weight package which is hermetically sealed.

Abstract: An automatic inventory retrieval system collects inventory and status information regarding the presence or absence of plug-in master and slave units in the slots of various shelves in a telecommunications terminal, such as a network element, by having independent masters in each shelf polling associated slaves at a relatively frequent polling rate and collecting information for storage until reception of a relatively infrequent master polling signal provided from a network control unit to all of the shelves. Communication between the control and the various shelves is provided over a balanced serial link interface comprising differential pairs, whereas communications internal to the shelves and the network control may be by means of single-ended signals. Redundancy in the network element is accommodated with a single serial link between the central control and the shelves by use of time-division multiplexing.

Abstract: A steerable catheter is disclosed which can treat luminal surfaces such as those occurring in the vascular tree, pulmonary tree, gastrointestinal tract, urological organs, etc. with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) or other optical diffusing treatments. The catheter, which may include an inflatable balloon portion, has a light diffusing tip which can be deflected allowing the catheter to be steered precisely. The light diffusing tip on the steerable catheter is able to gain access to and enter virtually any sub-branch of the luminal system being treated. Since this catheter does not require a guidewire lumen for insertion, the profile is reduced. A low profile device allows treatment light to be delivered to the walls of the most distal, small diameter lumen.

Abstract: Method for providing a blood flow velocity display of blood flow in a blood vessel in an ultrasound imaging system by converting spectral Doppler mode data using estimates of blood flow angle and blood flow velocity.