Abstract: A pipettor uses no pistons in order to provide highly automated, precise and accurate pipetting operations. Additionally, a self-aligning pipette tip enables better engagement of such pipette tips by the pipettor. The pipette tips may be automatically engaged and locked into place by the pipettor and may be automatically disengaged to enable highly-automated pipetting processes for industrial and laboratory purposes. Open proximal ends of the pipette tips are engaged by a pipette block, which then forms a temporary seal with the individual pipette tips. Displacement of the pipette block with respect to the pipette tips increased or decreases the effective volume of the pipette tip allowing it to aspirate or expel fluids in a precise, accurate, and predictable way.

Abstract: A device for measuring the flow of a fluid has a primary duct and a bypass arranged in series to the primary duct. The bypass has a first section and a second section. A baffle plate with a hole for the passage of the fluid is arranged in the first section. The second section comprises two parallel secondary ducts. In the first section, a turbulent flow dominates, while the flow in the second section is primarily laminar. If the turbulent effects in the bypass are sufficiently strong, the ratio of the flows in the primary duct and the bypass can be substantially independent of the fluid properties and of the flow rate. By using two parallel secondary ducts in the second section, high flow rates and therefore strongly turbulent effects can be achieved without exceeding the measuring range of the sensor.

Abstract: System for preparing hot beverages in automatic vending machines, of the known type of hot beverage vending machines, and especially for the preparation of coffee, having a distribution chamber (6), a shaft (5) which by one of its ends connects rotatably, a pair of movement transmitting connecting rods (4). The shaft (5) is guided by a first pair of through side guides (8) materialized in the side walls (25) of the assembly body (1) of the whole system, whose pair of grooves (8) has a first horizontal section (9) and a second section (10) inclined with respect to the second production preparation position. A second guiding shaft (11) collaborates in the guiding of the distribution chamber (6) by a second pair of side guides (12) materialized in the side walls (25) of the assembly body (1) of the whole system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flow sensor comprising a substrate with integrated heat source and temperature sensors. Solder bumps are arranged on the heat source and the temperature sensors and the substrate is attached to the outside of a tube using flip chip technology. Preferably, the outside of the tube is structured for being wetted at appropriate positions by the solder. This allows to assemble the sensor easily and accurately.

Abstract: A semiconductor package is provided with an internal package formed in the cavity of the external leadless leadframe package (LLP). The internal package is a leadless leadframe package and provides a substrate for mounting one or more die and passive devices to form the external LLP. By arranging the die and passive components on the internal package, higher chip density and a smaller form factor may be achieved.

Abstract: Combined system of automatic selling of products and services, useful to be included in all types of automatic vending machines, that indludes th inclusion in an automatic machine (1), of module (21) that has service operating equipment, the machine (1) having the corresponding product selection pushbuttons (5) and a service selection push button (4). The services module (21) having a display (7) designating the method of payment for the service designated on display (3) fo the automatic machine when the service is selected, as well as the service operating buttons (12) and service rendering elements (14), the service control circuit (13) being controlled by the main control electronics (8) and connected to the telephone line (15).

Abstract: A percutaneous tissue track closure assembly (2) includes a semipermeable barrier (26) mounted to the distal end of a tubular barrier carrier (20). The barrier is passed down a tissue track (12) and into a blood vessel (18) where the barrier is expanded to close off the blood vessel opening (14). A syringe device is used to drive a hemostatic flowable material (30) through a delivery tube (34) and into the tissue track. The semipermeable barrier permits blood to flow therethrough but prevents passage of the hemostatic flowable material therethrough. The hemostatic material includes a material which swells upon contact with blood, and a blood clotting agent. After an appropriate period of time, the barrier is collapsed and the barrier carrier and delivery tube are removed from the tissue track.

Abstract: A retractable headrest is movable between an extended position for protecting a passenger and a retracted position for improving rearward visibility. In a first embodiment, the headrest is positioned below a stretchable fabric panel which allows a headrest shell to be raised into the extended position by stretching the panel. A second embodiment incorporates an extending cushion that can be moved between the extended and retracted positions by an extending arm. A third embodiment incorporates a support frame that can be folded or bowed by a drive mechanism to move between the retracted and extended positions. A fourth embodiment is a hybrid between the second and third embodiments.

Abstract: Electroluminescent materials and devices which emit non-thermal light in response to an electric field are disclosed. The electroluminescent materials are based upon a multicomponent ceramic oxide host compound and one or more metal oxide dopant compounds which form a solid solution with the ceramic oxide host compound. The dopant is present in the host at an amount in the range from about 0.002 mole % to 0.1 mole %. In the electroluminescent devices, a layer of electroluminescent material is disposed between a transparent conductive oxide layer and a ground plane. An electric field generator is electrically connected to the conductive oxide layer and the ground plane for generating an electric field. The layer of electroluminescent material is coated with at least one barrier layer, and preferably a pair of barrier layers, to inhibit chemical reaction of the electroluminescent material. The electroluminescent devices preferably include a dielectric layer.

Abstract: A luminous element (10) for a lamp is double helix-shaped, with two connection parts (18, 20) situated at one end of said double helix. The diameter (D1, D2) of the double helix increases consistently in the direction of the two connection parts (18, 20) of the luminous element (10). The invention also relates to a lamp with a luminous element of this type, to a method for producing a luminous element of this type and to a device for carrying out the production method.

Abstract: A method for the geometric transcoding of a compressed data file containing a digital signal of dimension N coded by means of a coding method including at least one step of spectral breakdown into frequency subbands of the digital signal (S). The method includes the steps of extracting symbols associated with the coefficients of the frequency sub-bands of the digital signal and applying a geometric transformation to the symbols. The method further includes the steps of updating N indicator or indicators representing a normal or reversed order of the symbols respectively in N direction or directions of the digital signal and reconstituting the digital signal coded by reversal of the extracting step.

Abstract: A bolster for use in construction having a plurality of leg members arranged in generally parallel spaced relationship to each other, a beam integrally formed with the plurality of leg members and extending transversely across the leg members, a first plate affixed to one side of the plurality of leg members and a second plate affixed to an opposite side of the plurality of leg members. Each of the plates has a generally flat bottom surface. A clip is provided on the plates for fixedly attaching the plates to respective feet of the leg members.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I) and (Ia) in the form of racemates, mixtures of diastereomers or in essentially enantiomerically pure form, (I), (Ia), where R is hydrogen, C1-C8alkyl, C5-C12cycloakyl, phenyl or phenyl substituted by from 1 to 3 C1-C4alky or C1-C4alkoxy groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4 and R1 are identical or different substituents selected from the group consisting of C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4fluoroalkyl and C1-C4alkoxy; X1 and X2 are each, independently of one another, secondary phosphino; T is C6-C20arylene or C3-C16heteroarylene; and X2 is bound in the ortho position relative to the T-cyclopentadienyl bond.

Abstract: Bone screw (10a) having a hollow, tubular shaft (12a) consisting of metal, such as titanium, the shaft having a head (14a) at one end and a self-tapping external thread (18a) at the other end. The head (14a) has a hexagonal recess (16a) for inserting a turning tool. An electrically insulated metallic end-piece (20a) which tapers in the direction of the end in the form of a cone or pointed arch, is inserted the other end of the shaft (12a). A receiving coil (30a) is located in the hollow shaft (12a), the terminals (36a, 38a) of the coil being electrically coupled to the shaft (12a) and to the end-piece (20a). The space between the end-piece (20a) and the end of the shaft (12a) as well as the interior of the shaft (12a) are filled with a biocompatible insulating compound (26a), such as an epoxy resin. A low-frequency electric voltage can be induced in the receiving coil by an external primary coil which is coupled to an oscillation generator.

Abstract: A rectifier circuit matched for power factor correction. A first diode (D1), a second diode (D2), a third diode (D3) and a fourth diode (D4) are in a bridge arrangement. A first pole (10) and a second pole (12) of the bridge arrangement are connected to a source (U) which has at least one AC voltage component. An inductance (L1) is arranged in series with the third pole (14) or the fourth pole (16) of the bridge arrangement. A capacitance (C1) is connected between the first pole (10) and the second pole (12), and two of the four diodes (D1, D2, D3, D4) are in the form of fast diodes.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the systemic delivery of fentanyl or a fentanyl congener (e.g., sufentanil) to treat pain. In the present invention, a drug formulation comprising fentanyl or a fentanyl congener is stored within a drug delivery device (e.g., contained in a reservoir or impregnated within a matrix within the controlled drug delivery device). The drug formulation comprises an amount of drug sufficient for treatment and is stable at body temperatures (i.e., no unacceptable degradation) for the entire pre-selected treatment period. The drug delivery devices store the drug formulation safely (e.g., without dose dumping), provide sufficient protection from bodily processes to prevent unacceptable degradation of the formulation, and release the drug formulation in a controlled fashion at a therapeutically effective rate to treat pain.

Abstract: A friction device (10), applied to roll-up curtains and the like, includes a tubular roller (1), on which the curtain (2) rolls up, and which is rotatably carried on a horizontal axis. The friction device (10) includes a threaded shaft (9), situated axially inside the roller (1) and connected to the roller (1) by interposition of an angular speed reducer group (4). A body (11), mounted sliding axially inside the roller (1), is screw-coupled with the threaded shaft (9), so as to translate axially due to the shaft (9) rotation during unrolling or rolling up of the curtain (2) on the roller (1). One or more elastic members (12), subjected to pressure or counter-thrust, are compressed, on opposite ends, between abutment means (13) and a surface of the body (11), to determine a friction effect, which varies as a function of the rotation direction of the roller (1).

Abstract: The ultrasonic probe (1) is provided for a stereoscopic image forming system, which relates to a raster-like recording of data and its electronic processing. The probe includes groups (12) of sound transducers (11), which are arranged inside an elastomeric envelope (10) on a cylindrical carrier, rotatable around a longitudinal axis. The carrier is made up of at least two segments (3, 4). The segments are tiltable relative to one another through a tilting angle, and what is more about a tilting axis, which lies transversely to the longitudinal axis and preferably eccentrically to it. There is a stable positional state, in which the segments adopt a position with alignment in the direction of the longitudinal axis under the influence of a dynamic and/or static resetting force.

Abstract: A bolster for use in construction having a plurality of leg members arranged in generally parallel spaced relationship, a beam integrally formed with the plurality of leg members and extending transversely across the plurality of leg members, and a plate affixed to the bottom of the plurality of leg members and having a generally flat bottom surface. The plate has at least one clip formed on a top surface thereof for fixedly receiving a foot associated with at least one of the leg members.

Abstract: Winding assemblies of electrical machines, such as electric motors, are provided which include a connector scheme having at least one conduit that is electrically coupled via a wave soldered connection directly to at least two windings which are not axially adjacent. The conduit can include a common connector and/or a phase connector. The connector scheme can additionally or alternatively include a power connector that is electrically coupled via wave soldering directly to a single winding, and adapted to be electrically coupled to a power source. The winding assemblies of the invention can additionally provide a number of constructions which allow for minimally sized air gaps.