Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to inhibitors of MHC-I downmodulation, and methods of treating or preventing an HIV infection by administering the inhibitors to a patient in need of treatment thereof.

Abstract: A rack for storing, moving and displaying rolled flooring materials, such as carpet, carpet remnants and pad, having a frame with a plurality of frame members configured to hold flooring materials in either a vertical or horizontal configuration. The frame has an upper section with a stinger receiving mechanism configured to receive a stinger pole attached to a forklift. The stinger receiving mechanism can comprise a shaped portion of the frame or a shaped member or a tubular member attached to the frame for lifting the frame and its contents. The bottom section of the frame can comprise a prong receiving mechanism configured for receiving the prongs of a forklift. The rack can also include one or more movement guides for moving the rack with the stinger and/or one or more roll support members attached to the frame for displaying rolls of material.

Abstract: A rack for storing, moving and displaying rolled flooring materials, such as carpet, carpet remnants and pad, having a frame with a plurality of frame members configured to hold flooring materials in either a vertical or horizontal configuration. The frame has an upper section with a stinger receiving mechanism configured to receive a stinger pole attached to a forklift. The stinger receiving mechanism can comprise a shaped portion of the frame or a shaped member or a tubular member attached to the frame for lifting the frame and its contents. The bottom section of the frame can comprise a prong receiving mechanism configured for receiving the prongs of a forklift. The rack can also include one or more movement guides for moving the rack with the stinger and/or one or more roll support members attached to the frame for displaying rolls of material.

Abstract: A circuit that produces a gate drive voltage for a MOS transistor switch includes an input that receives a supply voltage, a regulated voltage generating circuit that produces a regulated voltage, and a voltage storage element. A first switch connects the voltage storage element to sample one of the supply voltage and the regulated voltage during a first of first and second non-overlapping time intervals. The second switch connects the voltage storage element to increase the sampled voltage by another of the supply voltage and the regulated voltage to the gate drive voltage during the second non-overlapping time interval. A third switch connects the voltage storage element to provide the gate drive voltage to the MOS transistor switch during the second non-overlapping time interval. The regulated voltage generating circuit produces the regulated voltage such that a high level of the gate drive voltage exceeds the supply voltage yet is maintained less than a breakdown voltage of the MOS transistor switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an asymmetric digital subscriber loop modem system. A modem at a central office transmits information to a modem at a remote terminal on a down-stream signal having a predetermined bandwidth and the modem at the remote terminal transmits information to the modem at the central office on an up-stream signal having a bandwidth lower than the predetermined bandwidth of the down-stream signal. Digital samples of the up-stream signal in the central office modem are produced. Digital samples representative of an estimated echo signal in the central office modem are also produced. The digital samples of the up-stream signal and the digital samples representative of an estimated echo signal are both fed to a subtractor at the same rate. In a preferred embodiment, the up-stream signal is oversampled (i.e., is sampled at a rate greater than the Nyquist sampling rate) in producing the digital samples thereof. Samples of the down-stream signal are fed to an echo cancellation filter.

Abstract: A differential switch accepts a binary control signal and its complement (which may be skewed with respect to the control signal) and latches both signals simultaneously. The latched output signals drive the control terminals of a differential switch pair which connects one of two terminals to a third terminal, depending upon the state of the control terminals. The differential switch may optionally include an inverter which complements the binary control signal, thus eliminating the need for external inversion of the control signal. The switch is particularly applicable for use in a digital to analog converter.

Abstract: Gain linearity problems caused by impact ionization in a active MOS device are avoided by connecting an MOS shield device in series with the active MOS device so that the overall supply voltage is split across two devices, keeping both devices in a region of operation well below where impact ionization becomes a significant problem. The gate of the MOS shield device is maintained at a voltage proportional to its drain voltage, thereby keeping the device in the saturation mode and avoiding an abrupt mode change associated with prior art shield circuits.

Abstract: A sample-and-hold amplifier in which the held signal is represented as a voltage across a capacitor, but all other signals are represented as currents. At a summing node, the input current and a feedback current are summed to produce a difference current. In the tracking mode, this difference current flows through a closed hold switch onto the input of an integrator. The integrator accumulates the difference current onto the hold capacitor, where it becomes the hold voltage. This hold voltage is converted into a feedback current by a first transconductance amplifier, to provide the negative feedback to the summing node. The hold voltage, which need not equal the input signal, is also applied to the input of a second transconductance amplifier, which provides an output current. The ratio of the two transconductance gains determines the gain accuracy and linearity of the current output.

Abstract: A propeller is presented which comprises a one piece blade that spirals out from an angular solid hub portion in smooth transition as a continuous screw spiral (or helix). Throughout its length, the spiral screw portion has an open center, (i.e., axial void) which when rotating is filled totally by water both inside the center void and in all spaces between the spiral blades. The spirals of the spiral screw portion are angled so that the pitch angle has a concave face or pushing surface which results in water trapped within the center and between the pitch faces being forced to pulse and thus be thrown back with great force from the end of the spiral screw.

Abstract: Gain linearity problems caused by impact ionization in a active MOS device are avoided by connecting an MOS shield device in series with the active MOS device so that the overall supply voltage is split across two devices, keeping both devices in a region of operation well below where impact ionization becomes a significant problem. The gate of the MOS shield device is maintained at a voltage proportional to its drain voltage, thereby keeping the device in the saturation mode and avoiding an abrupt mode change associated with prior art shield circuits.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to shoot both arrows and slugs. A crossbow has a longitudinal groove for guiding a feather of an arrow being shot by the crossbow. An attachment may be added to the crossbow to enable the crossbow to shoot slugs. When the attachment is used two longitudinal grooves cooperate to form a bore to guide the slugs.

Abstract: A pipelined multi-stage ADC in which residue signals are passed between stages as currents. All sample-and-hold circuits are designed to be current-in/current-out structures; all but one also provide a voltage output. A voltage representation of the analog signal is provided as input to the flash converter within the quantization loop of each stage, allowing implementation of a conventional voltage comparator architecture in the flash converter. An extra comparator is added to the flash converter and an extra segment is included in the DAC of each stage. Inputs above full scale and below zero can be converted and generate output codes. Whenever the input goes above full scale or below zero, an out-of-range bit is set and the digital outputs are set to all ones or all zeroes, respectively. The combination of out-of-range bit and digital codes tell whether overranging or underranging occurred.

Abstract: A reference voltage distribution system for use on an integrated circuit to distribute, from a reference voltage input, to remote locations on the chip, precise images of the reference voltage. The system comprises (1) a reference buffer located proximate a reference input connection and (2) a plurality of remote generator blocks, one located at each of the remotely-located sub-blocks or circuits requiring an image of the reference voltage. The reference buffer generates from the reference voltage a number of precision currents, each proportional to the reference voltage. These precision currents are routed to the remote generator blocks. Each remote generator block converts its precision current into a precision reference voltage for local use. These latter reference voltages may be the same as or different from the reference voltage supplied to chip itself.

Abstract: A cascoded current mirror device is disclosed that is capable of producing an output current that is a direct function of an input current received by that device. The cascoded current mirror includes at least two portions connected together in a cascode manner. Provision is also made for feedback connection between those portions. This feedback connection can, for example, be a buffering connection. Voltage signals are generated by this device that can be used to drive and control additional output stages. Each such additional output stage is capable of producing an additional output current.

Abstract: Stabilizing apparatus for preventing derailment of moving railway cars is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of interconnected elongated members that overlie and are secured to a string of coupled cars. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated members are automatically connected at their ends by interengageable coupling members. The elongated members include cables that act as vibration dampers to prevent swaying and rolling motion of the cars on uneven track. The coupling members are specially configured to prevent a chain-reaction derailment of all the cars if one car derails.

Abstract: A differential switch accepts a binary control signal and its complement (which may be skewed with respect to the control signal) and latches both signals simultaneously. The latched output signals drive the control terminals of a differential switch pair which connects one of two terminals to a third terminal, depending upon the state of the control terminals. The differential switch may optionally include an inverter which complements the binary control signal, thus eliminating the need for external inversion of the control signal. The switch is particularly applicable for use in a digital to analog converter.