Abstract: A mower has a frame that supports a rotary cutting deck. The frame includes a pair of side rails that each extend from a front end in advance of the cutting deck to a rear end substantially behind the cutting deck. The front ends of the side rails support a pair of front caster wheels. The rear ends of the side rails have a raised, upwardly extending arch at which a hydraulic pump/motor assembly is mounted. The pump/motor assembly has an L-shaped configuration with the motor being located towards the bottom of the arch and outboard of the side rail and with the pump extending upwardly and inwardly from the motor to be located inboard of the side rail and within the vertical profile of the arch. The hydraulic motors drive a pair of rear drive wheels to propel the frame over the ground. A cross frame extends between the motors in the pump/motor assemblies to join the assemblies together. The deck is propelled from the frame by a plurality of struts extending between the cross frame and the deck.

Abstract: A thermal cracking process that employs (1) a sinusoidal conduit in the convection section of a thermal cracking furnace, (2) a cross-over conduit, and/or (3) a transfer conduit that contains at least one bend fitting, at least one bend fitting carrying a protective layer comprising a steel carrier and carbide pellets composed of submicron hard particles cemented with a metal binder.

Abstract: A method of reducing solder mask interface attack in a process of fabricating printed circuit boards. The method comprises the steps of providing a printed circuit board with a solder mask applied thereon and treating the printed circuit board with an immersion plating solution, wherein the immersion plating solution is plated onto the printed circuit board with the use of ultrasonics in the plating bath. It has been found that the use of ultrasonics at a frequency of about 40 kHz for the entire plating duration provides beneficial results.

Abstract: Electronic device configuration management systems and methods are disclosed. Configuration information for configuring at least one component of an electronic device is stored in a memory. A determination is made as to whether further configuration information capable of configuring the at least one component is available at the electronic device. Based on the determination, one of the configuration information and the further configuration information is loaded to configure the at least one component. The determination may be made, for example, by accessing compatibility information which is associated with the configuration information. Data structures supporting configuration management functions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wire wrapping device that includes a turntable assembly that is made up of a turntable and a driver adapted to rotate the turntable. Also, a set of payout carriers are mounted on the turntable, each payout carrier adapted to let out wire to be wrapped. A driver is adapted to turn each payout carrier relative to the turn table, the driver being user adjustable to turn each payout carrier by a selectable amount, per each complete rotation of the turntable.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method of selecting a version of a program code from a series of program codes for a program element associated with a hardware element for a circuit board. The invention identifies a compatible program code for a particular hardware element and downloads the compatible program code. A record is associated with the hardware element to identify its compatible program codes. The program codes are stored in a bundle and are associated with a software code. A program loader, associated with each bundle, checks the compatibilities of the hardware element to both the software code and the selected program code. Another record stores compatibility information of the program codes with hardware element versions and is also associated with the bundle. Code downloads are made first to an inactive memory bank and after the codes are verified, the inactive memory bank is made active.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a neurostimulation lead for stimulating neural tissue of a patient, comprises: a lead body of insulative material; a plurality of electrodes; a plurality of terminals; a plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of electrodes are electrically coupled to the plurality of terminals through the plurality of conductors; wherein the plurality of conductors are disposed in a helical manner in a repeating pattern of groups of conductors separated by gaps along a substantial length of the lead body, each gap being larger than an inter-conductor pitch within the groups of conductors; wherein the insulative material is a compliant material permitting elongation of the lead at low stretching forces and the insulative material of the lead body is fused through a substantial volume of the lead body and along a substantial length of the lead body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an implantable stimulation paddle comprises: providing a sheet of conductive material coupled to a first insulative layer; laser removing portions of the conductive material to form a pattern of conductive material, the pattern of conductive material including a plurality of isolated metal traces; providing a second insulative layer over the pattern of conductive material so that the pattern of conductive material is interposed between the first and second insulative layers; and exposing portions of the metal traces to form electrodes on the paddle for delivering electrical stimulation.

Abstract: A polyurethane material is provided that reduces or eliminates the need for use of polycarbonates and improves biostability of the polyurethane material while maintaining preferred physical properties. This polyurethane material is comprised of a hard block segment, such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), a phenol-based silicone soft segment and preferably includes a chain extender, such as butanediol. This polyurethane material is particularly useful for medical implantation applications, especially with respect to coatings for lead and assemblies.

Abstract: A method of reducing solder mask interface attack in a process of fabricating printed circuit boards. The method comprises the steps of providing a printed circuit board with a solder mask applied thereon and treating the printed circuit board with an immersion plating solution, wherein the immersion plating solution is plated onto the printed circuit board with the use of ultrasonics in the plating bath. It has been found that the use of ultrasonics at a frequency of about 40 kHz for the entire plating duration provides beneficial results.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ribbon cable, comprising providing a set of insulated wires and aligning said insulated wires in a predetermined arrangement. The insulated wires are warmed sufficiently for said insulation to be become soft and adhesive, are pressed together so that they adhere to one another and allowed to cool, to form a ribbon cable.

Abstract: A wire wrapping device that includes a turntable assembly that is made up of a turntable and a driver adapted to rotate the turntable. Also, a set of payout carriers are mounted on the turntable, each payout carrier adapted to let out wire to be wrapped. A driver is adapted to turn each payout carrier relative to the turn table, the driver being user adjustable to turn each payout carrier by a selectable amount, per each complete rotation of the turntable.

Abstract: A storage rack formed form two or more multi bin storage subcomponents. In various embodiments, each storage subcomponent is made by cutting and creasing a large sheet, and the folding the large sheet along the creases. In one embodiment, each of the storage subcomponents are made from paperboard. In one embodiment, four subcomponents are interlocked and include a base adapted for rotation.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method of electronically tracking a history of engineering change orders (ECOs) associated with a manufactured device. The device has at least one electronic component thereon. The method comprises, generally, storing in an electronic storage device associated with the device, the history of ECOs and updating the history of ECOs when a new ECO is associated with the device to indicate whether the new ECO was implemented on the device. The system utilizes the method and has an electronic storage device associated with the device and a data element stored therein. The contents thereof indicate the history of ECOs for the device and allow modification thereto to indicate whether a new ECO was implemented thereon. An ECO history enables a determination to be made of compatibilities between hardware and software elements and between hardware and firmware elements.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ribbon cable, comprising providing a set of insulated wires and aligning said insulated wires in a predetermined arrangement. The insulated wires are warmed sufficiently for said insulation to be become soft and adhesive, are pressed together so that they adhere to one another and allowed to cool, to form a ribbon cable.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method of selecting a version of a program code from a series of program codes for a program element associated with a hardware element for a circuit board. The invention identifies a compatible program code for a particular hardware element and downloads the compatible program code. A record is associated with the hardware element to identify its compatible program codes. The program codes are stored in a bundle and are associated with a software code. A program loader, associated with each bundle, checks the compatibilities of the hardware element to both the software code and the selected program code. Another record stores compatibility information of the program codes with hardware element versions and is also associated with the bundle. Code downloads are made first to an inactive memory bank and after the codes are verified, the inactive memory bank is made active.

Abstract: A composition and method for promoting improved adhesion between a thermoplastic resinous substrate and polyurethane foam is provided. In one aspect of this invention, the composition comprises a thermoplastic mixture of at least one polyphenylene ether and at least one poly(alkenylaromatic) compound; and at least one primary amine-containing material or secondary amine-containing material.

Abstract: A composition and method for promoting improved adhesion between a thermoplastic resinous substrate and polyurethane foam is provided. In one aspect of this invention, the composition comprises a thermoplastic mixture of at least one polyphenylene ether and at least one poly(alkenylaromatic) compound; and at least one primary amine-containing material or secondary amine-containing material.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter 102 receives a data stream at a first over-sampling rate and quantizes a second data stream derived from that stream at a second, higher oversampling rate for reducing out-of-band quantization noise in an analog output of the digital to analog converter.

Abstract: A composition and method for promoting improved adhesion between a thermoplastic resinous substrate and polyurethane foam is provided. In one aspect of this invention, the composition comprises a thermoplastic mixture of at least one polyphenylene ether and at least one poly(alkenylaromatic) compound; and at least one primary amine-containing material or secondary amine-containing material.