Abstract: A machine vision image acquisition system is provided with a housing or enclosure that protects the acquisition system components from an industrial environment. The machine vision image acquisition system has a focusing mechanism that can be actuated externally to the housing. The focusing mechanism uses a gear drive to transmit externally actuated focus adjustments to the optical components of the acquisition system.

Abstract: A non-shortening catheter balloon having a longitudinal axis and an inflatable balloon able to be affixed to a catheter shaft is provided. The balloon has an uninflated length which remains relatively unchanged upon inflation and is formed of least two helically oriented wrapped passes of balloon materials at a balanced force angle. Methods of making this balloon are also provided.

Abstract: A catheter balloon with integral non-distending regions having a plurality of layers which wind around the balloon material and overlap to form an angle of between 45 and 90 degrees relative to each other upon inflation, and methods of making the non-distending regions are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stretchable material suitable for use in an inflatable medical device. The stretchable material has at least one reinforcing polymer layer with a top and bottom side forming a porous matrix which is imbibed with a sealing material to infiltrate and substantially seal spaces of the porous matrix and extend beyond the reinforcing polymer layer to form a surface coating.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for efficiently correcting and/or normalizing individual pixel outputs in a sensor array, or another set of image data exhibiting fixed pattern noise, by classing various correction factors into a fixed set of classes and identifying each of the pixels in the array based upon its class. Most classes are used to define specific correction conditions (typically discrete gain/offset values), while some classes are set aside for certain bad pixel conditions. Pixels falling within a certain set of predefined gain/offset ranges that are largely similar, but possibly discrete for each other within an acceptable value range, are assigned to a given class during manufacture and this information is stored within a table in the camera's processor.

Abstract: A catheter provided with an adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen, located proximal of a therapeutic device or agent positioned at the distal end of the catheter. The length of the adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen is controlled by the physician, allowing the benefits of both over-the-wire and rapid exchange systems to be provided in one catheter. The adjustable length is provided with a thin-walled tube that corrugates under axial compression. The tube may optionally be pre-corrugated or may be allowed to corrugate non-uniformly under the axial compression. The catheter length may change by, for example, over 100% of its original length between full axial compression and full axial extension.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for image acquisition utilize a charge coupled device having a photosensitive region that responds to an applied transfer signal by transferring charge accumulated on the collection sites to the corresponding readout sites. The non-photosensitive region responds to a read signal, applied independently of the transfer signal, by outputting (e.g., to the host camera or image acquisition system) charges on the readout sites. The methods and apparatus take advantage of the inherent storage capability of the non-photosensitive sites by using them to hold image information pending application of the readout signal, thereby, conserving host resources.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for attaching an RFID tag to a disc drive housing. An RFID tag attaches to a tag housing that includes a post extending outwardly from the tag housing. A post hole in the disc drive housing receives the post. The post is removably retained in the post hole with resilient material. The RFID tag is spaced away from the disc drive housing. Useful for recording completion of production processes in a clean room environment.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for attaching an RFID tag to a disc drive housing. An RFID tag attaches to a tag housing that includes a post extending outwardly from the tag housing. A post hole in the disc drive housing receives the post. The post is removably retained in the post hole with resilient material. The RFID tag is spaced away from the disc drive housing. Useful for recording completion of production processes in a clean room environment.

Abstract: A method and system for logical multicasting on an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”) switch. There is a logical replication of cells on the same physical port of the ATM switch. A block of consecutive CIs is used by the controller in the switch to create new cells. The CIs are used to control the flow through the switch and for updating the VPI and VCI.

Abstract: A surface mount technology compatible electromagnetic interference (EMI) gasket assembly includes an electrically conductive gasket material, a solderable electrically conductive support layer, and an adhesive or other mechanical assembly for affixing the electrically conductive gasket material to the support layer.

Abstract: The invention is a pressure swing adsorption system. The pressure swing adsorption system has a plurality of primary adsorbent beds and at least one secondary adsorbent bed. The feed gas stream is flowed to a primary adsorbent bed loaded with an adsorbent that will preferentially adsorb certain components in the feed gas. Non-preferentially adsorbed components flow from the adsorbent bed during this time. Upon saturation of the adsorbent with the adsorbed components, the flow of feed gas is ceased. The adsorbent is fully loaded with the preferentially adsorbed component and there is feed gas in the void space between the adsorbent particles. This primary adsorbent bed undergoes regeneration by partial depressurization through the secondary adsorbent bed followed by a complete depressurization to a final lower pressure. There can be two or more primary adsorbent beds and there will be at least one secondary adsorbent bed.

Abstract: A natural gas feed stream containing significant quantities of nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide can be increased to a content of greater than 95 percent by volume of natural gas, and preferably greater than about 98 percent, by passing the natural gas feed stream sequentially through three adsorbent beds that are cycled through seven phases comprising: an adsorption phase to adsorb a first gas, a first depressurization phase to remove feed gas from the voids in the adsorbent bed, a recycle phase to remove a second gas from the adsorbent by the passage of a second depressurization gas therethrough and to produce a recycle gas, a second depressurization phase to reduce the adsorbent bed pressure to about ambient and to produce the second depressurization gas, an evacuation phase where the pressure in the adsorbent is further reduced and an enriched primary gas product stream recovered, a pressurization phase where the pressure in the adsorbent bed is increased using secondary product gas from a bed in an adsorpti

Abstract: The present invention is an improved adhesive sheet (also known as a "bond ply," "bond film," or "prepreg") material suitable for bonding together electric circuit boards and other electrical components. The adhesive sheet of the present invention comprises a combination of a porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a ceramic filler, and a thermoset resin imbibed within the porous PTFE structure. By employing a fill of less than about 60% by weight of resin, the adhesive sheet has exceptionally good performance characteristics while being vastly easier to process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thin adhesive composite films formed from fluoropolymers imbibed with adhesives and containing a filler at least within the infra-structure of the polymer to provide the film with a high dielectric constant. The films of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in a capacitor or in applications requiring high capacitive properties.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, has an absorbent and a substantially non-absorbent resilient layer adjacent to the absorbent. The absorbent is sufficiently stiff to resist twisting of the absorbent article during use. The resilient layer is sufficiently resilient to resist bunching during use. As a result, the absorbent article resists both twisting and bunching. The absorbent article has zones which vary in caliper, stiffness and absorbency. A central absorbent zone is thickest in caliper, more absorbent than the other zones and is stiffer than the other zones. An adjacent zone is less thick in caliper, less absorbent and less stiff. A peripheral zone, located near the outer side edges, is least thick in caliper, least absorbent and least stiff.

Abstract: An electrically conductive adhesive is described that is made of a porous substrate having numerous passages extending through it. The walls of the substrate defining the passages are plated with a conductive metal. This provides a continuous plating from one side of the porous substrate to the other. The remaining passage volume is substantially filled with an adhesive resin. The adhesive can be used to electrically connect two metal surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thin adhesive composite films formed from fluoropolymers imbibed with adhesives and containing a filler at least within the infra-structure of the polymer to provide the film with a high dielectric constant. The films of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in a capacitor or in applications requiring high capacitive properties.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for concurrently acquiring video data from multiple video data sources. The invention comprises an asynchronous interface that collects pixel data from multiple video data sources. A packet manager collects the pixel data and generates a packet data signal that represents the pixel data collected from the multiple video data sources. The packet manager transmits the packet data signal to a pixel buffer memory that includes an address generator that separates out the pixel data associated with each of the video data sources and that stores the pixel data in a video memory in a manner suitable for video display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluoropolymeric substrate that is formed from at least one layer of porous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a void volume of at least 50% and containing 15 to at most 40% by weight adhesive that is evenly distributed within the substrate to allow exterior surfaces of said substrate to be free of adhesive after bonding while forming a discontinuous internal layer of adhesive interrupted by the skeletal structure of the substrate.