Abstract: A camless automated thread cutting system for an electronic lockstitch pattern tacking sewing machine having a sewing needle driven by a main shaft and having a knife mechanism in proximity with the needle for cutting thread at the end of a pattern sewing cycle. The cutting system comprises a pneumatic cylinder for mechanically engaging the knife mechanism through a mechanical linkage in the machine, a solenoid-actuated air valve in fluid communication with the pneumatic cylinder, a programmable logic controller (PLC), and a pair of independently adjustable discs mounted on the main shaft of the sewing machine and operatively coupled to a proximity sensor which supplies an electrical signal to the PLC. The PLC is responsive to a machine signal indicative of the end of a sewing cycle and to the proximity sensor signal for generating a control signal for actuation of the valve so as to initiate and subsequently terminate a knife movement sequence at the end of the sewing cycle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system wake-up vector points to a native OS wake-up routine. As the native OS awakens from sleep it passes the wake-up message to the appropriate device drivers. A hardware device whose security context to be restored hooks the appropriate driver in order to intercept and handle the wake-up message. In a second embodiment, a system wake-up vector is redirected to a device specific S3 wake-up subroutine that handles a resume from S3 prior to allowing the call of the native OS wake-up vector. This S3 wake-up subroutine challenges a user for authentication credentials or retrieves them from a hardware device. The supplied credentials are used directly or to decrypt an unlock key from an encrypted key in memory. The unlock key would then be used to unlock the hardware device or fed to the native OS for processing by a device driver capable of unlocking the hardware device.

Abstract: A cutting system for a sewing machine is disclosed. The cutting system may include a pattern cam that does not have a stopping lug or a stopping groove. The pattern cam may have two faces having substantially equal circumferences. The cutting system may comprise a pneumatically actuated, computer-controlled means for activating and positioning the moveable cutting blade which cuts both the upper needle and lower bobbin threads of a sewing machine. The pattern cam may have a stopping signal device to achieve existing timings of the sewing machine's hook and to determine the home position of the pattern's first stitch. Microprocessor-based signals may be used to count programmed stitches and pulses while reading the signals from the cam to send signals to control a manifold which opens solenoids in a series of synchronized controlled air flow forces to activate and position the moveable cutting blade which cuts both the upper needle and lower bobbin threads of sewing machine.

Abstract: A mulching deck particularly designed to handle tall, thick grasses and weeds (dry or wet), and a kit for converting an existing mowing deck into such a mulching deck. The deck features the combination of a closed discharge chute in a multi-bladed rotary mower having a plurality of stationary cutting blades positioned within the rotary blade housing. Deflectors may be provided in the housing for helping to redirect the clippings back into the path of the rotary and stationary blades for further comminution.