Abstract: An ink jet printer with a body defining a paper path and a carriage operable to reciprocate across the paper path. An ink supply receptacle on the body is spaced apart from the carriage, and an ink conduit extends between the ink supply receptacle and the carriage. A suction apparatus on the carriage has an expandable chamber with an inlet connected to the conduit, and moves between a collapsed position and an expanded position, such that ink may be drawn from an ink supply connected to the receptacle to displace at least some of the air from the tube. The chamber may be spring biased to the expanded position, and constrained to the collapsed position during shipping, so that removal of the constraint after installation of ink supplies will draw ink into the conduit to displace air. The suction apparatus may also be installed in a position on the carriage later to be occupied by the print head.

Abstract: A system and method for interprocess communication between concurrently executing, cooperating sequential processes in a digital computer system uses a shared memory queue as a mechanism for message passing and process synchronization. Data to be transferred from a sending process to a receiving process is stored in a queue entry which is visible in the virtual address space of the first process. The queue entry is added to a queue by the sending process directing the processor to execute an enqueue instruction. The receiving process removes the queue entry from the queue by directing the processor to execute a dequeue instruction. The receiving process then has direct access and visibility to the contents of the queue entry without having to copy the data into its virtual address space. Instead of sending data in a queue entry, a sending process may send an event indicator and no data.

Abstract: An ink-jet writing system having a pen and a detachable ink reservoir. The pen includes a dual capillarity ink accumulator wherein a balance is provided such that the pen nozzles will neither drool ink nor suck up air when the pen is decoupled from the reservoir. A high capillarity member and a low capillarity member of the accumulator respond to changes in volume of a gas bubble within the pen to absorb or expel ink when operational and ambient atmospheric pressure changes occur.

Abstract: Thermodynamically metastable skutterudite crystalline-structured compounds are disclosed having preselected stoichiometric compositions and superior and optimizable thermoelectric properties. The compounds are formed at low nucleation temperatures and satisfy the formula:M.sub.1-x M'.sub.4-y Co.sub.y M".sub.12wherein:M=any metal, metalloid, or mixture thereof, except for La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Eu when x=0, and M'=Fe, Ru, or Os, and M"=Sb, P, or As;M'=Fe, Ru, Os, Rh, or mixture thereof;M"Sb, As, P, Bi, Ge.sub.0.5-w Se.sub.0.5+w, wherein w=0 to 0.5 or mixture thereof;x=0 to 1;y=0 to 4; andwherein M' and/or M" are doped or undoped. These compounds generally have the crystalline structure of a skutterudite, wherein the crystalline structure is cubic with 34 atoms in the unit-cell in the space group Im3. The M".sub.12 atoms occupy unit-cell sites 24(g), the M'.sub.4-y atoms form a cubic sublattice occupying unit-cell sites 8(c), and the M.sub.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for changing the sequential execution of instructions in a pipelined instruction processor by using a microcode controlled redirect controller. The execution of a redirect instruction by the pipelined instruction processor provides a number of microcode bits including a target address to the redirect controller, a predetermined combination of the microcode bits then causes the redirect controller to redirect the execution sequence of the instructions from the next sequential instruction to a target instruction.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) immediate early proteins ICP47 or IE12, nucleic acid sequences coding for ICP47 and IE12, and homologous proteins and nucleic acid sequences, to inhibit presentation of viral and cellular antigens associated with major histocompatibility class I (MHC class I) proteins to CD8+T lymphocytes. This inhibition effectively increases infective persistence, which can improve the utility of viral gene therapy vectors. This invention also relates to a method of inhibiting recognition of a cell by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, comprising introducing into the cell an isolated protein of ICP47 of HSV type 1 or IE12 of HSV type 2. In addition, this invention pertains to vector elements, vectors, polypeptides and polypeptide fragments that can be utilized for these purposes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing microcode paging during instruction execution in an instruction processor. In a preferred embodiment an instruction processor is provided that includes both a microcode ROM and a microcode RAM. The microcode ROM stores the current release of the microcode for the computer system, and the microcode RAM stores microcode patch instructions. During instruction execution, the present invention selects between the output of the microcode ROM and the microcode RAM, depending on whether the instruction requires a patch microcode instruction. If the desired microcode patch instruction is not stored in the microcode RAM, the instruction processor is temporarily interrupted and the desired microcode patch instruction or a group of microcode patch instructions are written, or paged, into the microcode RAM.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for rapidly modifying the user base registers of an instruction processor. In accordance with the present invention, a load base register user instruction may request an operand from a cache memory, wherein the requested operand may provide a new L field and a new bank descriptor index field. An unconditional compare may be made between the new L,BDI fields and the prior L,BDI fields, regardless of whether the requested operand providing the new L,BDI fields actually resides in a corresponding operand cache. In parallel therewith, the operand cache may determine whether or not the requested operand that provided the new L,BDI fields actually resides in the cache memory. A selector block may then determine if the new L,BDI fields match the previous L,BDI fields, and if the requested operand that provided the new L,BDI fields actually resides in the cache memory. If so, a fast load base register algorithm may be used to load the base register.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making m-chlorobenzotrifluoride. Benzotrifluoride is reacted with chlorine gas in the presence of about 0.1 to about 5 mole % (based on benzotrifluoride) of a metal chloride which can be FeCl.sub.3, SbCl.sub.3, or AlCl.sub.3 and about 0.025 to about 5.0 mole % (based on benzotrifluoride) of a catalyst having the formula ##STR1## where Z is halogen, alkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.6, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.6, or fluoroalkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.6, n is 0 to 5, and the molar ratio of metal chloride to cocatalyst is about 0.5 to about 4.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) immediate early protein ICP47, nucleic acid sequences coding for ICP47, and homologous proteins and nucleic acid sequences, to inhibit presentation of viral and cellular antigens associated with major histocompatibility class I (MHC class I) proteins to CD8+ T lymphocytes; this inhibition effectively increases infective persistence, which can, for example, improve the utility of viral gene therapy vectors. This invention also pertains to a method for the treatment of herpesvirus infections, wherein expression and/or activity of the ICP47 protein or its homologue is inhibited in order to increase immune recognition of herpesvirus-infected cells and other cells. This invention also pertains to a method for identifying drugs that interfere with the expression or function of ICP47 and its homologues, and which are useful in treating herpesvirus infections, and also pertains to the drugs so identified.

Abstract: A new inflatable liner for an aircraft or other protective helmet is disclosed. The liner includes a multiplicity of separate inflatable cells adjacently arranged in the general shape of a cap or of the inside of a helmet. Each inflatable cell includes a separate inflation tube. The inflation tubes extend out the back or side of the liner to one or more collector tubes. A valve controls a supply of inflatable fluid, typically pressurized air, to the collector tube. The inflation tubes may be grouped so that adjacent inflatable cells are differentially pressurized to provide impact energy absorption and so that inflatable cells on the sides of the helmet liner are more highly pressurized than cells on the top of the helmet liner to hold the helmet liner, and an accompanying helmet, more securely on a person's head.

Abstract: Apparatus to actively assist neuromotor disabled to have better leg functional control/use. This system serves as a strength enhancer, support device, and attenuator of spastic motions. The disclosed orthosis is worn on the outside of the leg (or legs) and serves as an active/dynamic brace to prevent leg spasms and other untoward leg motion. It is made of lightweight material such as fiberglass or aluminum and is actuated by pneumatic gas sources which are small, portable, and carried with the device. The device is totally self contained and has no external connection. The system has applicability to patients such as: stroke (cerebral vascular accident), TBI (traumatic brain injury), Muscular Dystrophy, and some spinal cord injured.

Abstract: An anisotropic interposer pad (10) disposed between a first surface (11) and a second surface (12) in an electrical interface wherein the interface surfaces (11, 12) are non-compatible metals. The interposer pad (10) is a plastic layer (20) and a plurality of spaced-apart electrically conducting particles (21) are disposed in a random pattern throughout the plastic layer (20). The particles (21) extend between the first side (22) of the plastic layer (20) and the second side (23) of the plastic layer (20). There is no lateral contact between any of the particles (21). The particles (21) are electrically conductive in a direction oriented between the first side (22) and the second side (23) of the plastic layer (20). The particles (21) act as an electrical connection between the first surface (11) and the second surface (12).

Abstract: In a composite brake disc such as a carbon composite brake disc having reinforcement provided by layers of carbon fibre material, the drive region is provided with additional reinforcement to that of the friction region by laying or otherwise providing additional fibre reinforcement material substantially uniformly in the drive region.

Abstract: A system and method for removing a queue entry containing message data from a queue shared by communicating, sequential processes includes dequeue (DEQ) and dequeue or wait (DEQW) instructions. The dequeue instruction removes a queue entry from the head of the shared queue, thereby providing access to the message data contained in the queue entry to the dequeuing process. The dequeue or wait instruction removes a queue entry from the shared queue if there is one, otherwise it suspends the execution of the dequeuing process until an entry is enqueued to the queue. If an event is selected by the dequeuing process, the dequeuing process is suspended until notification of the event is detected in the shared queue. Execution of the dequeue and dequeue or wait instructions include blocking access to the queue by other processes, updating queue linkages, deactivating processes waiting on entries or events being made to the queue, monitoring interrupts, and validating the appropriate queue data structures.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electronic docking connector for edge mounting an electronic device, such as a daughter board, to a mother board. The connector comprises a pair of housing members assembled to define an elongated slot planarly aligned with the edge of the mother board. Mounted therein is a pair of opposed force applying, resilient spring members operatively mounted for receiving and applying a compressive force against the electronic device. A flexible film member, containing electrical circuitry thereon, is also mounted within said housing members for electrically interconnecting corresponding circuitry on the mother board, and the electronic device. As an alternative, a dielectric insert is disposed between each spring member and its corresponding flexible film to reduce or eliminate cross talk therein.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a mechanical, robotically operated burn-in socket testing apparatus for integrated circuit "chips", where such chips, as known in the art, are typically planar electronic devices. The apparatus, operationally mounted to a planar electronic board, such as a mother board, comprises a first frame member for mounting to the mother board, where the first frame member includes electrical means for engaging chip leads and applying electrical current thereto during the burn-in testing. A second frame member is disposed in sliding engagement with the first frame member, where the second frame member is movable from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for continuously checking a CMOS SRAM memory system. Each memory cell has a bistable circuit for retaining the state of the cell, along with a totally redundant bistable circuit. Added circuitry provides continuous comparing of the binary state of the bistable circuit and the redundant bistable circuit within the memory cell. This testing is performed at a low level within the memory cell eliminating the power dissipation and size requirements associated with additional drivers. An error line is shared amongst a number of memory cells. By continuously monitoring in this manner, the time of failure as well as the fact of failure can be determined.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for continuous parity checking within a CMOS SRAM memory system. Each cell has added circuitry which permits continuous reading of the binary state of the cell. The states of each cell are combined to produce a parity determination for a given data array. By continuously monitoring parity in this manner, the time of failure as well as the fact of failure can be determined.

Abstract: A docking station (10) slidably receives a device (12) to provide make, break or tap functions, respectively, in a circuit interface. The circuit interface includes a pair of connector housings (17, 18) provided with flexible (or compressible) electrical connectors (19, 20), respectively. A camming member (28, 29; 31, 32; 44) separates the connector housings (17, 18) as the device (12) is slidably inserted into the docking station (10), thereby assuring a substantially zero insertion force on the circuit interface. Preferably, the circuit interface is between the flexible electrical connectors (19, 20), a printed circuit board (13), and a flexible etched circuit (15). The flexible etched circuit (15) is provided with a stiffener (24) resiliently biased by springs (27).