Abstract: An inflator assembly (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a pressure vessel (14) with a storage chamber (18) containing a combustible mixture of gases. An ignitable material (122), when burning, increases the pressure of the mixture of gases by igniting the mixture of gases. The mixture of gases is released to exit the storage chamber (18) at a first flow rate and subsequently at a second, greater flow rate. A first gas outlet opening (172) is provided in the pressure vessel (14) when the inflator assembly (10) is actuated, and a second gas outlet opening (186) is subsequently provided in the pressure vessel (14) at a predetermined time. A diffuser (176) directs gas from the gas outlet openings (172) and (186) into the inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12).

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby systems having bidirectional and/or multiplicatively driven data paths are statically scheduled for simulation. The method flattens the netlist to convert bidirectional data flow paths into unidirectional, multiplicatively driven data paths. All drivers connected to multiplicatively driven data paths (or nets) are isolated from the net using a bus resolution block. The bus resolution block implements a resolution function which permits the system to be statically scheduled for simulation. Simulation speed is increased substantially thereby.

Abstract: A lighting control console has a base and a top. The top includes a control panel having control members on one side operably connected to control circuits on an opposite side. The circuits are covered by a removable insulation member. The top is connected to the base and is movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the top and base are in nested contact. In the open position, the top is raised relative to the base. A storage compartment is provided in the base. The storage compartment and circuits can be accessed when the top is in the open position. When the top is in the closed position, the insulation member insulates the circuits from the storage compartment. A handle is provided on the console and is suitable for hand gripping so that the control console can be carried.

Abstract: A circuit and method for detecting multiple matches or hits in a content addressable memory (CAM) are disclosed. The circuit includes a logarithmic index generator or encoder, and a converter which provides a unary signal to an attached random access memory (RAM) in order to protect the RAM from simultaneous multiple addressing attempts. The circuit also includes a plurality of inverters for inverting the unary signal, and generates a signal indicating the presence of multiple matches in the content addressable memory when corresponding digits of the inverted unary signal and an address signal are both asserted. The circuitry for generating the multiple match signal includes a plurality of AND gates coupled to output lines of the CAM, a plurality of line transistors, and a pull-up transistor coupled to a multiple match or hit line.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring hemodynamic parameters includes a sound velocity sensor coupled to at least one of an arterial or venous portion of a blood system. An indicator medium is injected into the blood system upstream of the sensor to dilute the bloodstream, and the sensor detects the dilution through changes in measured sound velocity. The changes are recorded and used to determine hemodynamic parameters.

Abstract: Open frame shelving includes upright posts including corner posts and center posts, single-depth and double-depth shelves, horizontal shelf supports and backstops. The corner posts have open, box-like, transverse cross sections with rectangular vertically spaced slots in the end walls thereof and with tapered, vertically spaced slots in the spaced inner walls thereof. Each shelf support has tabs at the opposite ends thereof projecting perpendicular to the axis and engageable in the tapered slots of the corner posts. Backstops extend parallel to the shelf supports and have tabs at their opposite ends engageable in the rectangular slots in the corner posts or in similar slots in the center posts. Single-depth shelves are supported between a shelf support and a backstop, and double-depth shelves are supported between two shelf supports, and may be provided with a reinforcing bar extending between the shelf supports.

Abstract: A dock leveler is mounted in a pit formed in the floor of the loading dock area of a factory, warehouse or similar facility. The loading dock includes an overhead door adjacent the dock leveler. The dock leveler is retractable so that, when it is not in use, it can be stored fully within the facility inboard of the overhead door. To prevent vehicles from inadvertently falling off the end of the stored dock leveler, the dock leveler includes a raisable barrier. When raised, the barrier is located between the end of the dock leveler and the overhead door. In addition to preventing vehicles from accidentally running off the end of the dock leveler, the barrier also protects the overhead door from accidental collisions with such vehicles. When the dock leveler is in use, the barrier folds away to a position below the extendible ramp. Alternatively, the dock leveler can be non-retractable and the barrier can be raised and lowered in from of the ramp.

Abstract: An infrared line-scanning imager includes a scanner having an optical system, infrared linear photoconductive detector providing an analog image signal, cooler, and conversion electronics for converting the image signal from the detector to digital electrical and digitally-encoded optical formats, all on a moving scanning platform of the scanner. The digitally-encoded optical format of the image signal takes the form of an encoded light beam which is beamed off of the moving scanning platform to a receiver on the stationary portion of the scanner. From the scanner, the image signal is transmitted in the optical format over a fiber optic cable to a reformatting, processing, analysis, and display portion of the imager. This latter portion of the imager allows the image signal to be converted once again to digital electronic format for processing, pattern recognition, image enhancement, storage, delayed display and comparison, and display in near-real time if desired.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) stores belt webbing (16) which is used as a restraint for a vehicle occupant. The retractor (10) includes a rotatable webbing storage spool (14) and two springs (50, 52) for biasing rotation of the spool (14). A rotatable ratchet wheel (54) is connected between the springs (50, 52) to permit the spring force from one spring (50) to be blocked from acting on the spool (14) when the ratchet wheel (54) is prevented from rotating. A movable pawl (56) selectively engages the ratchet wheel (54) to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel (54) in a belt retraction direction (A). The pawl (56) is both pivotable and movable transversely relative to a pawl axis (90). An actuator (60) selectively pivots the pawl (56) towards engagement with the ratchet wheel (54).

Abstract: Goggles and eyeglasses worn in winter weather conditions are subject to fogging. A method of preventing condensation from forming on goggles and on eyeglasses worn under goggles is provided. The method involves using a fan to exhaust air from the air space between the goggles and a user's face. Continuous operation of the fan is designed to be inaudible and effective to prevent fogging. The method can involve use of a goggle ventilation design which improves wearer comfort. The goggle can also clear fogging which has occurred while the fan is not in operation.

Abstract: A sputter-deposited wear-resistant protective coating for magnetic-recording alloy thin films is disclosed. The protective coating includes a protective layer and an interfacial adhesion layer. The protective layer is preferably titanium diboride or amorphous nitrided carbon, and the interfacial adhesion layer is preferably titanium, but can alternatively be other metals, such as zirconium or hafnium, which share characteristics similar to titanium. More broadly, the protective layer may be a nitride, carbide, or boride, or mixture thereof, of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, or tungsten, and the interfacial adhesion layer may be the corresponding metal of the protective layer compound.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes vibration areas where vibration sensitive components of an electrical circuit design fabricated on the printed circuit board are mechanically isolated from supporting circuitry. The present invention provides a printed circuit board with areas having an increased natural resonant frequency of vibration for the circuit board area where the vibration sensitive circuit is located. The printed circuit board comprises a number of slots, holes or other openings around the vibration sensitive circuitry. In addition, one or more circuit board conductive paths are provided for maintaining electrical conductivity between the isolated circuit and the supporting circuits.

Abstract: A guide wire, and a method for the manufacture thereof, having a core and a plastic jacket enclosing the core. The plastic jacket comprises a proximal portion formed of a first plastic material and a distal jacket portion formed of a second plastic material. The distal end of the proximal jacket portion and the proximal end of the distal jacket portion substantially abut each other and are of substantially equal outer diameters so as to form a smooth transition between the proximal and the distal jacket portions. According to another aspect, there is provided a guide wire with a selectively formable metallic core and a plastic jacket encasing the formable core. The plastic jacket has a distal portion with a hydrophilic coating and a proximal portion without a hydrophilic coating. According to another aspect, there is provided a guide wire having a formable metallic core and a plastic jacket encasing the formable core. The plastic jacket has a distal portion that is more radiopaque than a proximal portion.

Abstract: A self-generating node network (or directed graph) which represents the structure and contents of structured data. The node network creates itself from a root node by querying the structured data for structural-type elements and data-type elements. In response to the query, the root node builds one of two types of nodes: a list node and a data node. Data nodes are built in response to queries indicating data-type elements, and they store pointer tags to pieces of data in the structured data. List nodes are built in response to queries indicating structural-type elements. List nodes can build and contain further list nodes and data nodes, and they store a list of the nodes that they contain. Communication within the node network is carried out only between directly adjacent nodes, that is, between a parent node and a child node. Commands issued to the network, such as commands to write out the node network, are issued to the network via the root node.

Abstract: A personal communications system enables the operator to simultaneously transmit voice and data communication to a remote site. The personal communications system is equipped with two telephone line interfaces to allow connection between two remote sites. The connection between the first remote site and the local site may operate in a voice over data communications mode to simultaneously send compressed voice and data. The connection between the local site and a second site is a voice only connection allowing the first remote site to talk to the second remote site without breaking the data communication connection between the first site and the local site. The second remote site may be a public telephone network. The communication between the first remote site and the second remote site through the local site may also be a data communication connection, or it may also be a voice over data communication connection.

Abstract: An aerosol composition for producing a surface having an abrasive grit adhered thereto, which composition can be dispensed from a suitable aerosol container, said composition comprising abrasive grit, a binder solution which is suitable for affixing said grit onto the surface comprising a polymeric resin and an organic solvent which dissolves said resin, the resin being capable of adhering to said surface and to said grit, and a liquid propellant. The present invention also provides an aerosol means for producing a surface having an abrasive grit adhered thereto comprising an aerosol dispensing means and having contained therein the aforementioned aerosol composition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for counting irregularly-shaped articles. A pair of light sources are provided at a sensing plane through which articles to be counted are adapted to pass. Each of the light sources emits a light beam that is at an angle to the other light beam, such as an angle of about 90.degree.. Corresponding solar cells are positioned opposite the respective light sources to receive the light signals as the articles pass through the sensing plane. The light sources are alternately operated and the outputs from the respective light detectors are used to calculate an equivalent volume for the article for comparison with a predetermined article volume range to decide whether to count the article. The method and apparatus permit accurate counts of irregularly shaped articles and are substantially independent of the orientation of the article at the sensing plane.

Abstract: A method for identifying any one of a plurality of utterances using a programmed digital computing system, each utterance having an audible form representable by a sequence of speech elements each having a respective position in the sequence. In the computing system, a digital representation corresponding to each of the plurality of utterances is stored a designation respective identifying is assigned to each utterance.

Abstract: A composite refractory material is prepared by combining boron carbide with furan resin to form a mixture containing about 8 wt. % furan resin. The mixture is formed into a pellet which is placed into a grit pack comprising an oxide of an element such as yttrium to form a sinterable body. The sinterable body is sintered under vacuum with microwave energy at a temperature no greater than 2000.degree. C. to form a composite refractory material.