Abstract: The invention relates to an electrolysis bath for electrodepositing silver-tin alloys that, in addition to water serving as a solvent with a pH value of less than 1.5, contains a water-soluble silver compound, a water-soluble tin compound and an organic complexing agent. In order to obtain a stable electrolysis bath that enables the homogenous deposition of a compact tin-silver alloy with any type of composition, an aliphatic complexing agent having a sulfide group and an amino group is used as a complexing agent, whereby the functional groups are bound to different carbon atoms.

Abstract: A catheter se comprising a catheter and a package for storing of the catheter before use and for collecting or discharging urine, wherein an elongated part of the package forms a tube and wherein the catheter has a proximal part to be inserted into the urethra, a distal part in the form of a tubular section having an inner diameter at least as large as the inner diameter of the part of the proximal part of the catheter and a sealing part separating the proximal part of the catheter and the tubular distal part. The inventive shape of the catheter combined with the shape of the package prevents a blocking of the free flow of urine from the urethra into the package.

Abstract: A method for transmitting radio signals and a receiver for receiving radio signals are described which are used to present a radio station which is transmitted on multiple frequencies with the data on the frequency that has the best signal quality. Via received radio signals the receiver is provided a list of all the frequencies on which radio stations are transmitted, the receiver checking each frequency to determine whether the frequency belongs to the radio station selected by the user and whether the signal quality is better than that which is used for the presentation of the radio station. Test symbols having pilots and useful data signals are used to determine the signal quality. An identification number for the radio station is determined from the useful data signals of the test symbols before the signal quality is checked and a channel estimate is made via the pilots. The test symbols are modulated with coherent QPSK. A test symbol is recognized in the data flow by a different protective interval.

Abstract: A multi-carrier transceiver, such as a DMT-based ADSL transceiver, has separate processing paths for different information types, such as voice, data, video, etc. Each processing path can include separate scrambling, interleaving, bit loading or tone ordering, and constellation encoding. In this manner, specific bit loading or tone ordering can be performed for each of the different information types, such that transmission carriers are selected for optimal bit rates and error rates.

Abstract: An improved maximum likelihood detector with a trellis having three or more dimensions is disclosed. Trellis dimensions include a state dimension and a sample dimension found in a conventional Viterbi trellis. The additional dimensions are added to the trellis for adaptation to additional parameters that are responsive to channel variations such as pulse shape, amplitude, timing, media velocity and media tension. A set of rules govern most likely paths moving along the additional dimensions. In the preferred embodiment, a most likely path may transition up to a predetermined maximum number of unit lengths along each additional dimension per unit length movement in the sample dimension. Once a path has changed values in any given additional dimension then it must dwell at that value for a minimum number of samples.

Abstract: A method for frame and frequency synchronization of an OFDM signal and a signal for transmitting an OFDM signal is described, the purpose of which is to impress a pilot phase profile that is then used at the receiving end for frame and frequency synchronization on pilots which are already contained in the OFDM signal for channel estimation. This has the advantage that no additional transmission capacity has to be used for the synchronization. The method according to the present invention is initiated by a rough time synchronization unit connected upline, which searches for the beginning of the guard interval in the OFDM signal. The comparison between a stored pilot phase profile and the received subcarrier symbol is performed using a cross-correlation, whose result is then evaluated to determine the frame and frequency synchronization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing tearable sheets, wherewith each sheet obtains a perfectly smooth tear edge when torn-off. The method comprises the steps of: punching each sheet transversely of the fibres of said sheet from a first side of the sheet to an extend corresponding to a firs portion of the thickness of the sheet; and punching each sheet transversely of the fibres of said sheet from a second side of the sheet to an extent corresponding to a second portion of the thickness of said sheet; wherein the sum of said first thickness portion and said second thickness portion is smaller than the thickness of the sheet, and wherein the second punching operation is performed parallel with the first punching operation but displaced in a plane parallel with said first and said second sides of the sheet, said displacement being adapted for tear-off purposes.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique for power cutback of DSL transceivers (e.g., modems) using public switched telephone network (PSTN) signaling. For example, one or more dual-tone/multiple frequency (DTMF) signals generated by a touch-tone telephone, or other device, can cause a DSL transceiver to reduce the power of upstream data communications. A user of a DSL modem can cause the modem to transmit upstream data while listening to the microphone of a telephone coupled to the same twisted-pair line. Data transmission power can be adjusted by use of one or more buttons on the telephone. The DSL transceiver, in response to one or more predetermined DTMF signals, can adjust transmission power. Thus, the power cutback of the DSL transceiver can be controlled using PSTN signaling.

Abstract: A circuit and a method of operation for detecting a bit sequence from an analog waveform representing the bit sequence and at least one other parameter associated with the analog waveform are disclosed. Detection includes digitizing the analog waveform and at least one other parameter using at least one analog to digital converter. The resulting digital numbers are synchronized in time by a plurality of registers so that the outputs of the registers always change simultaneously. The outputs of the registers are concatenated to form an address. The address is input into a read-only memory that looks up a most likely bit detected that has been predetermined for that address and stored in the read-only memory. The bits read from the read-only memory by the addresses are output periodically to form the bit sequence.

Abstract: Within the United States, telephony signaling is transported in-band to the telephony voice sample by “robbing” single bit locations within the stream. When transporting such digital signals transparently over digital subscriber line (DSL) channels, the signaling bits require the 64 kbit/sec channel be open while no call is connected in order to signal the line state. Described herein is a framer and a technique that allows a reduced number of bits to pass through the DSL link while in the on-hook condition in order to signal the line state without wasting DSL bandwidth.

Abstract: A circuit and a method of operation for detecting a bit sequence from an analog waveform representing the bit sequence and at least one other parameter associated with the analog waveform are disclosed. Detection includes digitizing the analog waveform and at least one other parameter using at least one analog to digital converter. The resulting digital numbers are synchronized in time by a plurality of registers so that the outputs of the registers always change simultaneously. The outputs of the registers are concatenated to form an address. The address is input into a read-only memory that looks up a most likely bit detected that has been predetermined for that address and stored in the read-only memory. The bits read from the read-only memory by the addresses are output periodically to form the bit sequence.

Abstract: A multi-carrier transceiver, such as a DMT-based ADSL transceiver, has separate processing paths for different information types, such as voice, data, video, etc. Each processing path can include separate scrambling, interleaving, bit loading or tone ordering, and constellation encoding. In this manner, specific bit loading or tone ordering can be performed for each of the different information types, such that transmission carriers are selected for optimal bit rates and error rates.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique for power cutback of DSL transceivers (e.g., modems) using public switched telephone network (PSTN) signaling. For example, one or more dual-tone/multiple frequency (DTMF) signals generated by a touch-tone telephone, or other device, can cause a DSL transceiver to reduce the power of upstream data communications. A user of a DSL modem can cause the modem to transmit upstream data while listening to the microphone of a telephone coupled to the same twisted-pair line. Data transmission power can be adjusted by use of one or more buttons on the telephone. The DSL transceiver, in response to one or more predetermined DTMF signals, can adjust transmission power. Thus, the power cutback of the DSL transceiver can be controlled using PSTN signaling.

Abstract: It is difficult to read data from curved helical data tracks in a helical scan tape drive. Curved helical tracks can be caused by improper tape tension, tape damage, tape path misalignment, tape head offset between different head systems, and debris. The present invention solves the problem of recovering data from curved helical tracks by providing a table of different curve offset signals. Each curve offset signal represents a curve track profile of a typical curved track. The position of the helical read head reading a curved data track is controlled as a function of one of the curve offset signals such that the read head is positioned properly with respect to the helical data track to provide a proper read back signal. The curve offset signals are selected one at a time to control the position of the helical read head until the helical read head provides a proper read back signal.

Abstract: A flowline system is disclosed installed within a bottom founded offshore platform having a plurality of conductor guides which are vertically aligned within a wellbay interior and structurally connected to a jacket of the platform. A conductor is supported by the jacket in the wellbay at the conductor guides. A plurality of flowlines are each connected to a remote well and run, together, within the conductor which provides lateral support to the flowlines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of constructing recombinant Bacillus strains encoding a polypeptide of interest, in which method a DNA construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest is introduced into a recipient Bacillus cell by conjugation from a donor cell.

Abstract: A digital modulator is disclosed for handling primary and auxiliary frames of binary information as part of a two channel communication system. The modulator includes a primary frame-to-vector mapper for generating primary symbol vectors in accordance with quadrature amplitude and phase shift keying (QAM), and an auxiliary frame-to-vector mapper for generating auxiliary vectors in the In-Phase and Quadrature (I-Q) signal space. For those auxiliary vectors having endpoints lying within a given first area, the endpoints are mapped into a second area that represents an optimum auxiliary signal content given a primary symbol constellation in the I-Q plane. A mapped auxiliary vector is then added to an associated primary symbol vector. A carrier is then modulated in accordance with the sum vector.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system for translationless videoconferencing interoperability between an analog modem based node and an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) node having a videoconferencing engine coupled to the ISDN node, the videoconferencing engine generating videoconferencing data according to an analog modem protocol. Further the system has a modem emulator coupled to the videoconferencing engine, the modem emulator configured to model said data as analog modem data interpretable by the analog modem based node.

Abstract: Apparatus and computer implemented method for process modeling using both a web server and a workflow server in process definition. During buildtime, a process definition in the language of some workflow process modeler is fed to transform f(p), which provides a translate process definition into a hypertext markup language (HTML) representation of the workflow process. A user utilizing the facilities of an HTTP server may operate a web browser to request that HTTP server provide the HTML process definition to enable the user to create, or read and modify, the process definition as desired. The result is then fed through an inverse transform f'(p) to a workflow server in the language of that server, for invocation and execution during runtime of the programs defined during buildtime.

Abstract: This invention relates to an enzyme which exhibits cellulase activity and is producible by a strain of Bacillus sp., NCIMB 40250, or a related Bacillus sp. strain, or a derivative of said cellulase. This invention also relates to an enzyme which comprises a core region derived from an endoglucanase combined with a cellulose-binding domain derived from another cellulase, or which comprises a core region derived from another cellulase combined with a cellulose-binding domain derived from an endoglucanase.