Abstract: A treat-discharging roll toy is formed as a hollow body having at least two openings into its interior cavity, and having at least two deflector members, of functionally solid geometric form, that project from the inner surface of the body at locations proximate the openings. The toy is loaded with animal treats, such as artificial bones or other hard formed objects (normally edible), which are randomly discharged as the toy is rolled; the deflector structures orient the treats and promote movement toward the openings.

Abstract: A timer initialization circuit is used to stabilize a timing signal of a system timed using a core oscillator. The timer initialization circuit includes a circuit which disables the core oscillator during a power-down mode and re-enables the core oscillator upon termination of the power-down mode. The timer initialization circuit also includes a circuit which stores an indication of an oscillation frequency at which the circuit operates immediately preceding the power-down mode.

Abstract: An RC oscillator includes an RC network for forming a time constant equal to the RC product. However, this RC time constant is not used in the manner of a typical RC network to set the frequency of oscillation. Instead, the RC oscillator disclosed herein includes a separate oscillator, such as a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), and uses the RC time constant to compare with the oscillator-generated period and to adjust the frequency of the overall RC oscillator circuit in accordance with the comparison. The RC oscillator is self-calibrating.

Abstract: A component detector circuit operates to detect the presence or absence of a circuit component, such as an external component. A resistor detecting circuit includes a biasing circuit connected to the resistor. The biasing circuit generating a bias current. The resistor detecting circuit also includes a bias current threshold detector connected to the biasing circuit and a circuit connected to the bias current threshold detector which generates a signal indicative that the bias current is lower than threshold. A capacitor detecting circuit includes a circuit connected to a resistor and configured to be connected to a capacitor which establishes a time constant proportional to an RC product of the resistor and capacitor.

Abstract: A heater system for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprises a number of heat exchange elements arranged in a stack. Flow of engine coolant through each of the heat exchange elements is individually controlled by valve means having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet and which includes a valve member which can progessively open the flow of coolant to the heat exchange elements by uncovering staggered supply orifices. The heat exchange elements are in parallel with a bypass passage which allows flow from the coolant inlet to the coolant outlet through a bypass orifice. The bypass orifice becomes progressively blocked as the valve member uncovers the supply orifices.

Abstract: Tissue signatures are obtained from first and second order statistics of an image texture to discriminate between different normal tissues and to detect abnormal conditions. These signatures described intrinsic backscatter properties of the tissue imaged and are used as the basis of an automatic tissue characterization algorithm. A device for on-line classifying of the texture of an image measures a total of four first and second order statistical properties of echo signals of a region of interest (ROI) selected by an operator, the echo signals being contained in an image memory. These can be used to obtain the tissue signatures, to detect low contrast lesions by machine, and to produce parametric images.

Abstract: Tissue signatures are obtained from first and second order statistics of an image texture to discriminate between different normal tissues and to detect abnormal conditions. These signatures describe intrinsic backscatter properties of the tissue imaged, and are used as the basis of an automatic tissue characterization algorithm. A device for on-line classifying of the texture of an image measures a total of four first and second order statistical properties of echo signals of a region of interest (ROI) selected by an operator, the echo signals being contained in an image memory. These can be used to obtain the tissue signatures, to detect low contrast lesions by machine, and to produce parametric images.