Abstract: A welder comprises a source of electrical welding current. A housing houses the source and has front and rear walls and a top wall. A control device, for controlling a condition of the welder, is located along the top wall. A rear wheel is attached to the housing and has a portion located both rearward and downward from the housing. This enables the welder to pivot about the rear wheel between an upright position and a lying position. A front wheel and a foot are attached to the housing. In the upright position, the front and rear wheels engage the floor to support the housing above and spaced from the floor. In the lying position, the rear wheel and the foot engage the floor to support the housing above and spaced from the floor.

Abstract: A welder comprises a source of electrical welding current. A housing houses the source and has front and rear walls and a top wall. A control device, for controlling a condition of the welder, is located along the top wall. A rear wheel is attached to the housing and has a portion located both rearward and downward from the housing. This enables the welder to pivot about the rear wheel between an upright position and a lying position. A front wheel and a foot are attached to the housing. In the upright position, the front and rear wheels engage the floor to support the housing above and spaced from the floor. In the lying position, the rear wheel and the foot engage the floor to support the housing above and spaced from the floor.

Abstract: A secure memory device which can be used for multi-application smart cards for secure identification in data transfer, or for component verification in a computer system, without the requirement of an internal microprocessor. The secure memory device features a dual authentication protocol in which the memory and host authenticate each other. The secure memory device also includes an encrypted password feature, as well as using stream encryption to encrypt the data.

Abstract: A rack for holding specimen slides. The rack has a frame with opposed support bars having opposed openings for supporting opposite ends of the specimen slides. The support bars have edges connected to sides of the frame, so that the support bars are resiliently deflectable with respect to the frame. The rack of specimen slides is containable in a slide case for purposes of transportation. The slide case has a base with a first latch portion, and the rack has a second latch portion. As the rack is positioned adjacent the base, the first and second latch portions are placed in juxtaposition to releasably secure the rack in the base. A cover is positionable over the base such that the base and cover fully enclose the rack of specimen slides. As the cover is closed over the base, the cover pushes the specimen slides against the opposed support bars, thereby deflecting the support bars and securing the specimen slides in the slide case.

Abstract: A cover slip for forming a chamber of the type for use with a hybridization reaction or similar molecular search. The cover slip has a surface and two substantially parallel, opposed edges bounding the surface. A spacer has a pair of spacer segments, and each spacer segment extends along substantially a full length of a different one of the opposed edges, thereby forming a chamber between the spacer segments, the cover slip and the substrate. The chamber receives the specimen when the cover slip is placed on the substrate with the spacer sandwiched therebetween. The cover slip has a thickness providing a beam stiffness permitting the cover slip to maintain a substantially constant distance between the surface and the substrate when a liquid is introduced between the cover slip and the substrate. In another embodiment, the spacer extends along the perimeter of the cover slip and has discontinuities forming two channels across the perimeter for introducing the liquid therethough.

Abstract: A cover slip mixing apparatus having a support and a flexible cover slip positioned over and forming a chamber between the support and the cover slip. A device is positioned with respect to the support and cover slip for applying a force on the cover slip and flexing the cover slip toward the support, the flexing cover slip providing a mixing action of a material located in the chamber. A microfluidic device includes a substrate with a fluid path disposed in the substrate. A flexible cover is positioned over the substrate and the fluid path, and a device is positioned with respect to the substrate and the cover. The device is operable to apply forces to the cover and flex the cover to act on fluid in the fluid path.

Abstract: A master-slave switch method for reversing roles between nodes in a network environment when the traditional role reversal functionality as defined by the network specification is not implemented within the node is presented. A data terminal which does not support the traditional master-slave switch functionality, progresses as far as establishing an asynchronous connectionless (ACL) connection. The LAN access point then request a role switch, when the reversal of roles fails, the connection is aborted with device addresses of the participating entities being stored. The LAN access point then initiates the reestablishment of the connection in a master role with the data terminal assuming a slave role after verification of the device address of the LAN access point.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp ballast comprises a resonant load circuit. An IC comprises a driver for a half-bridge arrangement that supplies AC current to the load. The IC includes control circuitry to create a frequency sweep from a pre-heat frequency, through a substantially lower, resonant frequency, to a still lower operating frequency. A pre-heat pin in the IC triggers the control circuitry to re-start a frequency sweep in response to a first signal exceeding a first threshold level. A shut-down pin in the IC associated with an internal shut-down latch shuts down the driver in response to a second signal exceeding a second threshold level. Pre-heat trigger circuitry detects a current spike through switches of the half-bridge switching arrangement when the lamp has not yet started and, in response, supplies the pre-heat pin with a first signal exceeding the first threshold level.

Abstract: A resonant fluorescent lamp ballast includes an IC driver for a half-bridge arrangement that supplies AC current to a lamp. The IC creates a frequency sweep from a pre-heat frequency, through a resonant frequency, to a still lower operating frequency. A pre-heat pin in the IC triggers a re-start or the frequency sweep when a first signal exceeds a first threshold level. A shut-down pin in the IC associated with an internal shut-down latch shuts down the driver when a second signal exceeds a second threshold level. Pre-heat trigger circuitry detects a current spike through half-bridge switches when the lamp has not yet started, supplying the pre-heat pin with a first signal exceeding the first threshold level. End-of-life circuitry provides to the shut-down pin a second signal exceeding the second threshold level if lamp current fails to reach a substantial portion of its normal level within a predetermined time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of mounting an antenna in a portable information device (PID) are provided. The PID includes a housing having an elongated slot formed therein. A circuit board is disposed with the housing. An elongated antenna housing including a first end and a second end is received in the elongated slot. A conductive contact member is positioned within the elongated antenna housing, and an antenna member is positioned within the elongated antenna housing. The antenna member is electrically connected with the conductive contact member. A conductive connection clip is attached to the housing for providing an electrical connection between the conductive contact member and the circuit board. The conductive connection clip includes a first end portion and a second end portion.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided with a fine wire platinum firing tip. The platinum tip is preformed in a rivet before being welded to the center electrode during manufacture of the spark plug.

Abstract: An improved method for packaging utilizes the two-spaced clippers for simultaneously attaching the first and second U-shaped metal clips to gathered packaging material. Prior to attachment of the clips, the tail end of the packaging material is wrapped around a movable sleeve or post which is extended to effect tight packing of the contents of packaging material. The movable post is then released after attachment of the clips. With the invention, it is possible to form a loop or handle using the same material that is used for packaging of a product. Additionally, the construction and method reduces the likelihood of the operator developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Abstract: An improved cutting mechanism for cutting plastic netting includes a punch which is movable, toward and away from a heated anvil knife edge.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing for a spark plug (82) having a center electrode (80) and a side wire electrode (62) with a sphere of platinum (34, 68) mechanically retained in a cylindrical hole (34, 66) by an annular rib (40, 70) formed by a staking operation. Thereafter a force is applied that flattens the sphere (34, 66) to produce a disc (48, 72) which substantially covers the annular rib (40, 70) from exposure to the corrosive effects of gases in a combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing electrodes for a spark plug (82) whereby a set gap "g" between the tip (12) of a center electrode (80) and a side electrode (62) is substantially uneffected by the exposure to combustive gases in an engine. The center 34 of the tip of the center electrode (80) and center of the side wire (62) are located by a mark. A first sphere (36) of platinum is placed in a fixture and the center (34) on the tip of the center electrode (80) aligned over the first sphere (36). Pressure is applied to the center electrode (80) while electrical current is applied thereto. Thermal energy created at the junction of the axial center (34) and first sphere (36) causes the inconel material in the center electrode (80) to flow and surround the sphere of platinum (36). The side electrode (62) is attached to the metal shell (60) and a second sphere (36') of platinum is similarly metalurgically bonded thereto. The center electrode (80) is placed in a ceramic insulator (30) and retained in a metal shell (60).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode (20) for a spark plug (32) wherein a platinum cup member or (54) cap is attached to a tip (12) that extends from an extruded inconel body (10). The inconel body (10) is sequentially extruded from a cylindrical blank to produce a tip (12) on a first end (12) and a cup shaped (16) opening that extends from a second end (14) toward the first end (12). A copper core (18) is inserted into the cup (16) and the cylindrical blank (10) thereafter extruded to a substantially final length for the resulting center wire (20). In order to assure a uniform thickness, a source of platinum (38) is roller into a thin strip and a (44) disc is punched therefrom. The disc (44) is formed into a cap member (54) which has the shape of a cup . The resulting cap member (54) and center wire (20) are placed in a fixture and the cap member (54) is moved toward the center wire (20) until the cap member surrounds the tip (12).