Abstract: An organomimetic device includes a microfluidic device that can be used to culture cells in its microfluidic channels. The organomimetic device can be part of dynamic system that can apply mechanical forces to the cells by modulating the microfluidic device and the flow of fluid through the microfluidic channels. The membrane in the organomimetic device can be modulated mechanically via pneumatic means and/or mechanical means. The organomimetic device can be manufactured by the fabrication of individual components separately, for example, as individual layers that can be subsequently laminated together.

Abstract: In a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) system in which a Serving GPRS Support Node operates a leaky bucket algorithm to control data flow, a packet control unit in the base station is arranged so that on connection of a new mobile, a flow control message in the form of new values of B the maximum bucket capacity and R the leak rate is sent to the Serving GPRS Support Node only when it is known that the new connection is non-bursty. In the Temporary Block Flow queue for the new connection, a threshold is set at a queue length which ensures that at least two Logical Link Layer-Protocol Data Units are received before the threshold is reached. New values of B and R are then sent, the new value of B being related to the maximum data capacity of the newly connected mobile.

Abstract: A packet control unit for a radio telecommunications system such as GPRS has a radio link control/medium access control blocks scheduler which allocates a number of temporary block flow queues to a timeslot for transmission to a mobile system; a fixed allocation table is provided having allocation slots corresponding to RAC blocks, and the RAC blocks scheduler reads the table cyclically and allocates slots according to the reading. Timeslots are requested later during increased demand conditions and are released earlier during decreasing demand conditions than in currently known arrangements.

Abstract: The chips for chip cards are customarily provided on a film strip which consists of a synthetic foil and a conductor track pattern and are connected to the conductor track pattern by way of bonding wires. Automatic mounting is made possible by the use of a film strip with periodically arranged conductor track patterns. For chips which can be driven via contacts as well as in a contactless manner, using a coil, conductor tracks are effectively provided on both sides of the synthetic foil forming the film strip. However, the film strip then becomes very inflexible so that it cannot be suitably handled by conventional automatic apparatus. The invention proposes to provide the metal foils wherefrom the conductor tracks are cut out with additional interruptions which reduce the cross-section of the metal foils at short intervals in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film. The film strip thus becomes more flexible so that it can be handled by conventional automatic apparatus.

Abstract: A packet control unit for a radio telecommunications system such as GPRS has a radio link control/medium access control blocks scheduler which allocates a number of temporary block flow queues to a timeslot for transmission to a mobile system; a fixed allocation table is provided having allocation slots corresponding to RAC blocks, and the RAC blocks scheduler reads the table cyclically and allocates slots according to the reading. Timeslots are requested later during increased demand conditions and are released earlier during decreasing demand conditions than in currently known arrangements.

Abstract: In a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) system in which a Serving GPRS Support Node operates a leaky bucket algorithm to control data flow, a packet control unit in the base station is arranged so that on connection of a new mobile, a flow control message in the form of new values of B the maximum bucket capacity and R the leak rate is sent to the Serving GPRS Support Node only when it is known that the new connection is non-bursty. In the Temporary Block Flow queue for the new connection, a threshold is set at a queue length which ensures that at least two Logical Link Layer-Protocol Data Units are received before the threshold is reached. New values of B and R are then sent, the new value of B being related to the maximum data capacity of the newly connected mobile.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a circuit configuration for the detection of an excess temperature due to a current flow, in which a first resistor arrangement is thermally coupled to a second resistor arrangement, the resistance value of the second resistor arrangement producing a thermistor action. The current to be evaluated is flown through at least the first resistor arrangement. The first resistor arrangement is comprised of at least one SMD resistor, and the second resistor arrangement of at least one SMD resistor that acts as a thermistor. The second resistor arrangement is electrically connected to at least one contact surface of the printed circuit board which is electrically connected to the at least one SMD resistor of the first resistor arrangement.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a laminate containing a metal foil strip and a plastic film strip, in which the two strips have stamped structures repeated at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the strips and are disposed at contiguous points in the laminate, a pre-stamped strip and the second strip being continuously joined together from one end.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a laminate containing a metal foil strip and a plastic film strip, in which the two strips have stamped structures repeated at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the strips and are disposed at contiguous points in the laminate, a pre-stamped strip and the second strip being continuously joined together from one end.

Abstract: A voice transmission system for a protective face mask is provided, comprising a voice transmitter attached to an external portion of the face mask, a radio receiver, and a two-way radio. The voice transmitter is attached to an external portion of the face mask and transmits the voice of a user of the face mask via a short range radio signal. The radio receiver receives the short range radio signal output by the voice transmitter, processes the short range radio signal, and outputs an audio output signal. The two-way radio (i) receives the audio output signal from the radio receiver, amplifies the audio output signal, and transmits the amplified audio output signal to a remotely located receiver, in a transmitting mode, and (ii) receives a broadcast signal from a remotely located transmitter in a receiving mode. A voice actuated switch switches the two way radio between receiving and transmitting modes.

Abstract: A voice transmission system for a conventional gas mask or face mask includes an amplifier body and a remote microphone assembly. The amplifier body encloses an amplifier electronic components assembly, a speaker and one or more batteries, and is designed to be attached with a belt clip to the belt of a user. The microphone assembly is electrically connected by a flexible cord to the amplifier assembly and is designed to be removably coupled to the face mask. The microphone assembly includes a microphone and a microphone adapter. The microphone adapter includes a resilient mounting bracket which can be easily coupled to and uncoupled from the exhalation passage of the mask without penetration or structural modification of the mask such that the microphone is proximate a check valve in the exhalation passage of the mask. The microphone is designed to receive a person's voice through or around the check valve in the exhalation passage of the mask and communicate a signal to the amplifier assembly.

Abstract: A voice transmission system for a conventional gas mask or face mask includes a body enclosing a microphone, an amplifier assembly and a speaker. The microphone is mounted within a cavity formed in the body, while the amplifier assembly and speaker are mounted within a main compartment of the body. The microphone, amplifier assembly, speaker and a set of batteries are electrically interconnected. The batteries are enclosed within one or more battery compartments in the body. A mounting assembly having a bracket with threaded, resilient segments is also connected to the body. The resilient segments of the bracket are designed to releasably couple the body to the voice emitter passage of the mask without penetration or structural modification of the mask. The voice transmission system is designed to receive a person's voice from a voice diaphragm located in the voice emitter passage of the mask, amplify the voice, and externally transmit the voice through the speaker.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrically powered food processing apparatus for processing and preparing any type of food, receiving in a housing (1) an electric motor (8) rotating a processing tool located in a working vessel for processing the food material. The electric motor (8) is supplied with cooling air by means of a motor-driven impeller (38) rotatably arranged in the housing (1), and the electric motor (8) and the impeller (38) are disposed in an air duct (4) providing at its one end an air inlet (45) and at its other end an air outlet (46). To obtain a food processor of a construction as compact as possible, yet with a high motor output rating, while at the same time motor noise is reduced, the impeller (38) is driven by an additional electrically powered impeller motor (30) arranged in the housing (1) separate from the electric motor (8), and the impeller motor (30) is not connected to the supply until a predeterminable power input of the electric motor (8) is exceeded.

Abstract: The invention provides a combined microphone and amplifier assembly that is releasably connected to the voice emitter passage of a conventional face mask without requiring any penetration or structural modification of the face mask including the voice emitter passage of the mask. The combined microphone and amplifier assembly includes a body mounting and enclosing within a main compartment an amplifier circuit board and a speaker. The body further includes one or more battery compartments having selectively removable covers which afford ready access to the batteries contained within the compartments. Connected to the body is a mounting bracket that facilitates the quick and easy releasable connection of the combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask without any penetration or structural modification of the mask being required.

Abstract: A voice transmission system for a face mask includes a microphone assembly partially received in and threadedly connected to an emitter passage through the mask to position a microphone on the inside of the mask. An amplifier assembly is threaded onto the outer end of the microphone assembly until spring loaded electrical contactors on the amplifier assembly resiliently engage circumferentially continuous contacts on the microphone assembly to complete an electrical circuit between the microphone and the amplifier assembly.

Abstract: A multiple position rotary switch is disclosed for incorporation into an electrical device. The switch comprises an annular cup that serves as a housing for the switch and which receives a knob for rotation therein. The knob is retained within the cup by a circuit board that is removably secured to the cup. The circuit board includes a first major surface having a switching circuit formed thereon and a second major surface. The circuit board is removably secured to the cup by a plurality of barbed ears which extend from the sidewall of the cup such that the first surface of the board is located between the knob and the second surface of the board. The cup includes an upstanding sidewall and a race against which the knob rotates. The race includes a plurality of protrusions which facilitate the retention of the knob in preselected positions as the knob is rotated. The knob comprises a cylindrical disk having on one surface a handle.

Abstract: A control circuit for adjusting current to a direct current motor that has a free wheeling diode connected in parallel with the armature winding includes a controllable switching element connected in series with the armature winding, a comparator that has a control voltage corresponding to a desired rotational speed of the motor applied to one input of the comparator and an integrating circuit connected to the other input of the comparator. An electronic switch is connected across the integrating circuit, and the output of the comparator controls the controllable switching element and the electronic switch.

Abstract: A radio receiver receives a transmitted high-frequency signal which is mixed within the receiver with a local-oscillator-frequency signal to form an intermediate-frequency signal, which in turn is converted into an audio-frequency signal. A plurality of indicator elements are arranged in a row to form a quasi-analog channel indicator, each indicator element of which is associated with a respective one of the selectable channels. A multi-channel oscillator furnishes the requisite local-oscillator-frequency signals for tuning-in the available channels and furthermore controls the operation of the indicator elements of the quasi-analog channel indicator.

Abstract: A character-bearing disc operable with a printing machine having a central hub with radially extending flexible arm members, each arm member having a character disposed on an outer portion thereof. The arm members are reinforced at the inner ends thereof by means of longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs, the arm members thus having increased strength at their inner ends without sacrifice of the flexibility necessary to proper function of the disc.

Abstract: A unitary character-bearing disc for use with printing machines, the disc having a hub and at least a pair of radial flexible arms, the whole of these arms having their terminal ends lying in a common plane while each second arm has its root integrally formed with the hub in the vicinity of one of the faces thereof, the root of each alternate arm being disposed in the vicinity of the opposite face of the hub, the roots of the radial arms being thereby seen to be disposed in two different planes. Each arm is thicker at the root than at the terminal end thereof. The invention further describes a two-element mould for making the disc as a unitary body. One of the elements of the mould is provided with a first set of radial grooves and a second set of radial grooves, both sets having common center points, the second set of grooves being deeper than the first set, each groove of the second set prolongating inwardly of each second groove of the first set.