Abstract: A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises an endoscope and a display to display image content captured by the endoscope. The endoscope system also comprises one or more sensors located in a headrest and configured to detect an input at the headrest. The endoscope system also comprises a control module configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the one or more sensors. The one or more sensor signals indicate movement of the headrest with respect to a support on which the headrest is mounted or pressure applied to the headrest. The control module is also configured to adjust the image content displayed by the display in response to the one or more sensor signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically modified yeasts that can use lactate as a carbon source to produce a fermentation product. In one aspect, the yeasts can consume glucose and lactate simultaneously to produce ethanol. In one aspect, the genetically modified yeast is transformed to include a monocarboxylic/monocarboxylate transporter. In one aspect, the yeast can include one or more heterologous genes encoding lactate dehydrogenase (cytochrome) (EC 1.1.2.3 and/or 1.1.2.4).

Abstract: A backpack provides a protective utility vestment including a panel of armor material fully stored beneath the openable cover an anterior chamber within the backpack, obscuring its existence. A pair of hand-graspable pull-tabs connected to opposite lateral sides of the vestment allow rapid deployment of the vestment over the user's head and into position on the user's chest. The pull-tabs can be obscured on the shoulder supports of the backpack until used. Decoy bands on the shoulder supports can further enhance the obscuring effect. The pull-tabs can secure to the hip support pads to further secure the vestment on the user's chest. A bottom deployed utility caddy can be stowed within a hidden medial compartment.

Abstract: A backpack (11) provides a protective utility vestment including a panel of armor material fully stored beneath the openable cover (22) an anterior chamber within the backpack, obscuring its existence. A pair of hand-graspable pull-tabs (31) connected to opposite lateral sides of the vestment allow rapid deployment of the vestment over the user's head and into position on the user's chest. The pull-tabs can be obscured on the shoulder supports (14,15) of the backpack until used. Decoy bands (43) on the shoulder supports can further enhance the obscuring effect. The pull-tabs can secure to the hip support pads (16,17) to further secure the vestment on the user's chest. A bottom deployed utility caddy can be stowed within a hidden medial compartment.

Abstract: A backpack (11) provides a protective utility vestment including a panel of armor material fully stored beneath the openable cover (22) an anterior chamber within the backpack, obscuring its existence. A pair of hand-graspable pull-tabs (31) connected to opposite lateral sides of the vestment allow rapid deployment of the vestment over the user's head and into position on the user's chest. The pull-tabs can be obscured on the shoulder supports (14,15) of the backpack until used. Decoy bands (43) on the shoulder supports can further enhance the obscuring effect. The pull-tabs can secure to the hip support pads (16,17) to further secure the vestment on the user's chest. A bottom deployed utility caddy can be stowed within a hidden medial compartment.

Abstract: A belt-attachable caddy for carrying a retractable and fast-deploying grappling hook houses a slotted receptacle for a removable plate mounting a take-up reel around which a cable secured to an eyelet on the hook is wound. The hook has a plurality of tines foldable around a central shaft that can quickly be individually set into a deployed position or a retracted position with no more than two turns of a capping head. The speed and ease of operation of the deploying and locking mechanism are due in part to the concavely machined undersurface of the head which mirrors the path end of the tines hinged to the side of the shaft. The same locking maneuver and adjustment of the head apply coincidently to the deployed and retracted tines.

Abstract: A belt-attachable caddy for carrying a retractable and fast-deploying grappling hook houses a slotted receptacle for a removable plate mounting a take-up reel around which a cable secured to an eyelet on the hook is wound. The hook has a plurality of tines foldable around a central shaft that can quickly be individually set into a deployed position or a retracted position with no more than two turns of a capping head. The speed and ease of operation of the deploying and locking mechanism are due in part to the concavely machined undersurface of the head which mirrors the path end of the tines hinged to the side of the shaft. The same locking maneuver and adjustment of the head apply coincidently to the deployed and retracted tines.

Abstract: A retractable and fast-deploying grappling hook has a plurality of tines foldable around a central shaft that can quickly be individually set into a deployed position or a retracted position with no more than two turns of a capping head. The speed and ease of operation of the deploying and locking mechanism are due in part to the concavely machined undersurface of the head which mirrors the path end of the tines hinged to the side of the shaft. The same locking maneuver and adjustment of the head apply coincidentally to the deployed and retracted tines. A belt-attachable caddy houses a slotted receptacle for a removable plate mounting a take-up reel around which a cable secured to an eyelet at the proximal end of the shaft can be wound.

Abstract: A retractable and fast-deploying grappling hook has a plurality of tines foldable around a central shaft that can quickly be individually set into a deployed position or a retracted position with no more than two turns of a capping head. The speed and ease of operation of the deploying and locking mechanism are due in part to the concavely machined undersurface of the head which mirrors the path end of the tines hinged to the side of the shaft. The same locking maneuver and adjustment of the head apply coincidentally to the deployed and retracted tines. A belt-attachable caddy houses a slotted receptacle for a removable plate mounting a take-up reel around which a cable secured to an eyelet at the proximal end of the shaft can be wound.

Abstract: Synchronizing multiple-phase data converters by exchanging terminal count pulses via a bidirectional link. Multiple-phase data converters such as analog to digital converters (ADCs) or digital to analog converters (DACs) are synchronized to operate at the same phase by exchanging terminal count (TC) pulses and capturing counter state, representing a time offset from TC. Time offset and the symmetrical delay introduced by the link are used to solve for the delay introduced by the link and the off-set between devices. The offset information is used to align the devices. The process may be repeated to correct for drift.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a numerically controlled oscillator. The numerically controlled oscillator comprises: a phase accumulator for receiving an input digital word; and a phase to amplitude converter that is operatively coupled to the phase accumulator to receive a first phase signal and a second phase signal, the phase to amplitude converter calculating a sine value and a cosine value of each of the first and second phase signals, the phase to amplitude converter generating a summation of (i) a product of the sine value of the first phase signal and the cosine value of the second phase signal and (ii) a product of the sine value of the second phase signal and the cosine value of the first phase signal.

Abstract: The invention is an enhancement for fractional-N based RF frequency synthesis to allow phase locked loops to switch output frequency more rapidly. An integrated fractional-N controller automatically sweeps from its current frequency to a new frequency when a new frequency is requested. Upon initialization, the fractional-N controller receives a value representing the desired sweep rate. This value is stored and used for all subsequent frequency changes. The automatic swept frequency feature accommodates new frequencies greater or less than the current frequency.

Abstract: Synchronizing multiple-phase data converters by exchanging terminal count pulses via a bidirectional link. Multiple-phase data converters such as analog to digital converters (ADCs) or digital to analog converters (DACs) are synchronized to operate at the same phase by exchanging terminal count (TC) pulses and capturing counter state, representing a time offset from TC. Time offset and the symmetrical delay introduced by the link are used to solve for the delay introduced by the link and the off-set between devices. The offset information is used to align the devices. The process may be repeated to correct for drift.

Abstract: A multi-modulus prescaler with a terminal count request input, which when set causes the prescaler to produce an output pulse with edges synchronous with the input clock. The prescaler is driven by a control circuit which produces a terminal count request output which enables the prescaler to generate a terminal count output pulse whose active edge, irrespective of the divide ratio, is always a fixed number of input clock cycles before or after the end of the prescaler control cycle.

Abstract: A system for reducing structure spurs in multiple modulator fractional-N dividers caused by certain fractional divisors inducing an insufficiently random modulation pattern. The system sums with a first summer a fractional divisor value with an addend that changes periodically. Offset of the fractional divisor value caused by the summed addends is compensated by first subtracting the offset from the fractional divisor value with a second summer. Underflow or overflow of the fractional divisor value is accommodated by incrementing or decrementing an integer divisor value with a third summer connected in series with an integer divisor input of the multiple modulator divider.

Abstract: A fractional-N type frequency synthesizer includes a frequency divider having a selectable integer divide number which is periodically temporarily altered to provide an average rational divide number for the frequency divider. A number of modulator circuits coupled in cascade fashion provide a zero sum modulation signal which varies the value of the frequency divider divisor value such that the net change in divisor value due to the modulation signal is zero thereby reducing phase noise resulting from the temporary altering of the integer divisor value close to the frequency synthesizer carrier frequency.

Abstract: The deliberate use of multiple, seemingly redundant, varactor diodes to reduce noise in applications where a single varactor diode would otherwise be adequate.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and a method for determining and correcting frequency offset for use in a frequency synthesizer to provide external control and DC frequency modulation of the synthesizer output frequency. The technique provides DCFM capability by unlocking a phase-lock loop (PLL) which provides the synthesizer reference frequency and making the PLL oscillator (VCO) tune line available for external inputs. Utilizing a frequency counting circuit, the exact output frequency of the VCO is determined. The desired VCO frequency is compared with the actual VCO frequency to derive an error signal proportional to any offset in the VCO frequency resulting from unlocking the PLL. The error signal is then utilized to compensate (the synthesizer output signal) for any frequency change as a result of unlocking the PLL.