Abstract: An opto-coupler and a process for fabricating an opto-coupler are disclosed. The opto-coupler includes at least one light-emitting diode and a photodiode for galvanically isolating electric circuits. The optical components are mounted in a yielding material, such as silicone rubber, in a housing. The interior walls are coated with a pigmented yielding coating which includes TiO2 to enhance light reflection inside the housing and increase the current transfer efficiency of the device. The opto-coupler has a high dielectric breakdown voltage and is immune to radiation. The device can be employed in space applications.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring charges deposited on resistive and/or pixilated electrodes are described. The system includes a Time-of-Flight (TOF) detector with precise timing information provided by a discriminator implemented as a combination of a leading edge discriminator and a constant fraction discriminator. The discriminator initiates acquisition of the peak amplitude for accurate TOF measurements substantially independent of the signal amplitude at the input of the discriminator. The disclosed charge detection electronics has applications for space-based experiments.

Abstract: Described are films capable of being coated with a conductive coating at temperatures equal to or greater than 240° C., said film comprising a biaxially-oriented polyester film that is produced from a polyester having a melting point of 260° C. or greater.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for dynamically determining a primary adapter in a heterogeneous N-way adapter configuration. Each of the adapters generates information about itself and exchanges the information with all other adapters. First a decision-making adapter is identified. Then the decision-making adapter compares the adapter-generated information of all the adapters and makes a decision determining the primary adapter. The decision-making adapter communicates the decision to all other adapters. The determined primary adapter assumes a role as the primary adapter and the other adapters assume a role as a secondary adapter.

Abstract: A sheet retaining device such as a folder or a binder that incorporates a corner lock for preventing papers from dislodging therefrom. The sheet retaining device has a front cover and a back cover. Each of the covers has a top edge, a bottom edge, an outer edge, and an inner edge. A first primary flap is connected to the back cover along the outer edge and the bottom edge thereof to form a pocket that is adapted to receive one or more pieces of sheet material. A secondary flap is connected to the back cover along the inner edge and the top edge thereof to form a corner lock adapted to retain corner of sheet material retained in the sleeves. Accordingly, when a piece of sheet material is retained in the pocket, the secondary flap acts as a corner lock on the free corner of the sheet material, tending to retain this free corner and the sheet material in the pocket, even if the sheet retaining device is turned upside down or sideways.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing distributed (SCSI) devices using enhanced adapter reservations. A plurality of adapters is provided. Each adapter implements a plurality of logical devices with each logical device respectively coupled to a port of the distributed SCSI devices. The adapters manage reservations for the plurality of logical devices selectively using a no reservation state, an implicit reservation state, and an explicit reservation state. The adapters arbitrarily assign one adapter for managing each of the plurality of logical devices.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method maintain data coherency between paired I/O adapters by commingling primary and backup data within the respective write caches of the I/O adapters. Such commingling allows the data to be dynamically allocated in a common pool without regard to dedicated primary and backup regions. As such, primary and backup data may be maintained within the cache of a secondary adapter at a different relative location(s) than is the corresponding data stored in the cache of the primary adapter. In any case, however, the same data is updated in both respective write caches such that data coherence is maintained.

Abstract: A passive clearance control system for a gas turbine engine component. The system provides a blade shroud that is isolated from the component case and can move radially to maintain blade clearance. A plurality of vane sectors define a stator ring including a blade shroud. The stator ring and the control ring are coupled together and mounted within the component by a plurality of radial extending mounting members.

Abstract: In a binder such as a window binder having two opaque thermoplastic sheets sandwiching therebetween front and rear panels, a spine panel, and an outer clear panel forming a window over the spine panel and the front and rear panels, the spine has a depression or slot for receiving a spine label without substantial friction that would inhibit the insertion and removal of the spine label. The spine panel may either be sandwiched between the two opaque sheets, or it may be disposed on the outside of both of the opaque sheets, and the slot may be either open or closed at the side that faces the label printing. When disposed on the outside of the opaque sheets, the spine panel may be colored to provide a colored spine for an otherwise white or differently colored window binder.

Abstract: A blade cartridge for a wet shaving device and razor assembly incorporating the blade cartridge comprises a handle including a cartridge end having first and second arms spaced from one another. Each of the arms includes first and second projections. A razor cartridge includes a housing including first and second side portions, and a frame extending between the first and second side portions. At least one blade is supported by the frame and extends generally between the first and second side portions. Each of the first and second side portions has an outwardly facing surface defining an opening for pivotably receiving an associated first projection of the razor handle, and a curved channel for slidably receiving an associated second projection of the razor handle to permit pivoting of the cartridge relative to the handle.

Abstract: A passive clearance control system for a gas turbine engine component. The system provides a blade shroud that is isolated from the component case and can move radially to maintain blade clearance. A plurality of vane sectors define a stator ring including a blade shroud. The stator ring and the control ring are coupled together and mounted within the component by a plurality of radial extending mounting members.

Abstract: A method of mixing viscous fluids is disclosed. The method comprises rotating a mixing apparatus (20) in a container (42) of fluid (44). The mixing apparatus comprises a cage (21) located at the end of the shaft (22). The cage (21) comprises a central circular disc (24) with an outer edge (43) and top (38) and bottom (40) sides. A number of vanes (26) extending from each side of the disc (24), the vanes (26) spacedly located near the outer edge of the plate. The free ends of the vanes (26) are connected by a hoop (38,40) to maintain their spaced relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus which uses channel counters in combination with channel count read instructions as a means of providing information that data in a given channel is valid or has not been previously read. The counter may also, in the situation of the channel being defined as blocking, be used to prevent the unintentional overwriting of data in a register used by the channel or, alternatively, prevent further communications with the device assigned to that channel when a given count occurs. Intelligent external devices may also use channel count read instructions sent to the counting mechanism for reading from and writing to the channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus which places computer program instructions into instruction channels in accordance with predefined criteria such that at least some external event instructions are placed in a special “blocking channel.” The number of instructions, in a channel, is monitored in channel specific counters. When a computer processor is awaiting a response from an external entity event (in other words, is blocked from proceeding with the operation the PU is attempting), as signified by the blocking counter being at a predetermined value, the entire PU or at least processor auxiliary components that would be idle, such as math logic, while awaiting an external event response, are deactivated to save power until an awaited external event response is received.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and analyzing data from a tennis match and converting the data into a representation of the player's performances and tendencies. The system includes means for capturing data related to a player's performance during a tennis match. In one particular embodiment, the means for capturing data includes a video camera, structured to capture one or more tennis players on the court during a match. In another embodiment the data is captured manually. The system further includes a means for analyzing and manipulating the captured data to determine performance and tendency characteristics. The manipulated data can then be provided in certain predetermined graphical, statistical or descriptive formats which demonstrate the player's tendencies with respect to the locations that he or she hits the ball for different types of shots and the results in each location for each type of shot.

Abstract: In a binder such as a window binder having two opaque thermoplastic sheets sandwiching therebetween front and rear panels, a spine panel, and an outer clear panel forming a window over the spine panel and the front and rear panels, the spine has a depression or slot for receiving a spine label without substantial friction that would inhibit the insertion and removal of the spine label. The spine panel may either be sandwiched between the two opaque sheets, or it may be disposed on the outside of both of the opaque sheets, and the slot may be either open or closed at the side that faces the label printing. When disposed on the outside of the opaque sheets, the spine panel may be colored to provide a colored spine for an otherwise white or differently colored window binder.

Abstract: In a binder such as a window binder having two opaque thermoplastic sheets sandwiching therebetween front and rear panels and a spine panel and an outer clear thermoplastic panel forming a window over at least the spine, the outer surface of the spine panel has a depression formed in it such that the spine is thicker or otherwise raised near its vertical edges, and thinner or otherwise depressed between the raised portions. The opaque sheet covering the outward face of the spine panel is sufficiently flexible so as to deflect inwardly into the depression in the spine panel. The deflection of the thermoplastic sheet into the spine depression allows a spine label to be inserted into the pocket between the thermoplastic sheet with relatively little force.

Abstract: A data collection unit used with bulk vending machines by means of creating, monitoring, storing, and transmitting, in digital format, the frequency of the switching of electrical switches though the ratcheting mechanism of a bulk vending machine. The device provides more accurate counts of mechanism rotations which permit the determination of accurate coin collection, vending material distributed, and frequency of use. The data collected is stored and available for secure download and transmission without the necessity of intervening elements which can create deliberate or accidental data reporting errors. The device accurately counts the rotations of the coin mechanism in a bulk vending machine and stores the data in a secure manner so that the number of rotations and the corresponding coin collection counts cannot be easily manipulated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling the correct architectural sequencing of fetched instructions prior to allowing the instructions to complete in the processor pipeline to reduce the occurrence of pipeline breaks. A branch processing unit (BPU) is designed to perform sequence checks for the addresses of all instructions fetched into the pipeline (i.e., both in-line and branch instructions) by the instruction fetch unit (IFU). A first instruction is fetched. The address of the next instruction in the architectural sequence is computed and stored within the BPU. The next instruction is fetched and its address is compared to the next instruction address stored in BPU to determine if it is the correct address. If the next instruction address matches that of the architectural sequence, the instruction is permitted to “live” (i.e., continue through to completion). When the address does not match, the instruction is killed (i.e., not allowed to complete) and a new instruction is fetched by the IFU.