Abstract: A switch lockout mechanism for a power tool includes a handle housing for gripping by a power tool operator. The handle housing is generally elongated in a direction corresponding to the gripping axis of a power tool operator. A switch is attached to the housing and is actuatable between an “on” position and an “off” position. A locking member is rotatably or pivotally attached to the housing. The locking member is rotatable about an axis that generally extends in the same direction as the handle housing in an elongated direction. The locking member has a first rotatable position wherein the switch is locked in its “off” position, and a second rotatable position wherein the switch is actuated to its “on” position. An actuating member allows a tool operator to move the locking member between its first and second positions.

Abstract: A carrier or case having a first body panel, a spacer panel and a second body panel to which at least one pocket member is coupled. The pocket member forms a pocket having an open end which is adapted to retain an article, such as a saw blade. The spacer panel is disposed between the first and second body panels. The spacer panel and first and second body panels are foldably interconnected in order to allow selective movement of the first and second body panels relative to the spacer panel between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first and second body panels are substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart a predetermined distance defined by the spacer panel and the first body panel covers at least a portion of the pocket member to retain the article in the pocket when the article carrier is placed in the closed position.

Abstract: A tool container (20, 520, 620) has a pair of clamshell housing members (22, 24, 422, 424) hingedly coupled to be moved between opened and closed positions. At least one of the members (22, 24, 422, 424) defines a cavity defined by a base (42, 44, 442, 444) and a wall (58, 60, 62, 64, 458, 460, 462, 464) extending from the base (42, 44, 442, 444), and a two-retaining insert (32, 34, 36, 37, 431, 433) is provided in the cavity. The insert (32, 34, 36, 37, 431, 433) and wall (58, 60, 62, 64, 458, 460, 462, 464) include alternating complementary dovetail tenons (74, 132, 474, 532) and recesses (76, 134, 476, 534) secure a tool-retaining insert in the cavity of the housing member (22, 24, 422, 424).

Abstract: The inventive metric tool estimates the entropy of the source code as a measure of the complexity of the software. The tool considers the dependency of the symbols in the software. The tool constructs a data graph representing the structure of the program. Each symbol is shown as a node in the graph, with the dependencies shown as edges connecting the different nodes. The tool uses information theory to estimate the amount of information, or entropy, needed to describe those dependencies. The entropy provides a measure of the complexity of the program, as the greater the entropy, the more complex the dependencies, and the more complex the program.

Abstract: A switch lockout mechanism for a power tool includes a handle housing for gripping by a power tool operator. The handle housing is generally elongated in a direction corresponding to the gripping axis of a power tool operator. A switch is attached to the housing and is actuatable between an "on" position and an "off" position. A locking member is rotatably or pivotally attached to the housing. The locking member is rotatable about an axis that generally extends in the same direction as the handle housing in an elongated direction. The locking member has a first rotatable position wherein the switch is locked in its "off" position, and a second rotatable position wherein the switch is actuated to its "on" position. An actuating member allows a tool operator to move the locking member between its first and second positions.

Abstract: A container (10) adapted for holding, storing, and dispensing various elongated tool bits (28) or other such tool items includes a base (12) with a hinged cover (18) that is substantially completely enclosed within the base (12) when the hinge cover (18) is pivoted to its fully open position by way of a hinge assembly (36, 38) that is also substantially completely unclosed within the base (12). Provisions are made for substantially preventing or at least minimizing any tendency of the tool items (28) to fall or slide loose from their respective tool item receptacles (24) when the container (10) is tipped or inverted. In addition, the tool item receptacles (24) include a number of flats (60) therein for grippingly and releasingly receiving the tool items (28).

Abstract: The inventive computer system uses a layer of software between the operating system and the hardware that localizes the fail-safe protocols into a single module. The system also uses shared memory allocation functions as the interface with the operating system. The memory allocation function creates data structures to satisfy the requests of the operating system. The system also has a data structure locking mechanism to prevent more than one processor from writing to the data structure at a time. This layer isolates and hides the complexities of the underlying hardware and memory sharing, and presents a simpler view of the hardware as a single system to the operating system that resides above it. Since all of the fail-safe code is in one single module, rather than distributed throughout the operating system, it is easier to test and verify its correct operation, as well as maintain the operating system.

Abstract: A network connection scheme for a direct or an indirect network. The network is implemented in two levels of circuit boards. Every board in the first level crosses all the boards in the second level, with every processor in the first level circuit board coupled to at least two processors that are on two second level circuit boards. This scheme significantly reduces the difficulty in implementing the network.

Abstract: A logic and routing cell for constructing a programmable gate array. The gate array may be constructed by tiling a wafer surface with this single logic and routing cell design. The logic and routing cell includes both the logic cell and the routing circuitry needed to connect that logic cell to all levels of a hierarchical routing system for making connections between the various logic cells.

Abstract: A programmable logic cell array (PLCA) architecture that provides efficient support for demultiplexers or multi-ported register files without sacrificing PLCA functionality or flexibility is disclosed. The architecture of conventional PLCs is modified so that demultiplexers can be implemented in a single PLC operated backwards. Furthermore, read ports and write ports for multi-ported register files can be implemented on a PLCA with individual PLCs serving as either a read port or a write port for a bit slice. In particular, a PLC memory of a PLC is modified such that it can function to pass signals to its inputs from a PLC multiplexer (selector) when the PLC multiplexer (built from a tree of pass transistors) is operated backwards so as to function as a demultiplexer (decoder).