Abstract: A high-frequency, e.g., microwave, filter (100, 300, 400) is made, e.g., stamped or etched, from a single sheet (110, 310, 410) of electrically conductive material, e.g., a metal plate or a printed circuit board. The sheet defines a frame (112, 312, 412-413), one or more resonant filter elements (114, 311-315, 411-415) inside of the frame, one or more supports (116, 316-317, 416) connecting each resonant filter element to the frame, and a flange (118, 318, 418) on one of the resonant filter elements. The flange serves as an electrical contact to the filter; another flange (317, 417) on another element, or the frame itself, serves as a second contact. An electrically conductive housing (104, 304, 404) encapsulates both faces of the sheet.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a polymer-clay nanocomposite material comprising a melt-processible matrix polymer and a layered clay material having low quartz content. This invention is also directed to a process for preparing a polymer-clay nanocomposites, and articles or products produced from nanocomposite materials.

Abstract: The specification describes of multilevel printed circuit boards and a process for their manufacture in which capacitors and other passive components are buried between levels of the multilevel board. The capacitor in the multilevel structure is designed so that access is conveniently provided to connect from the parallel plate electrodes of the interlevel capacitor to the board surface or to another board level using plated through hole interconnects.

Abstract: A resonant capacitive coupler (124) couples signals across a gap (126) between signal transmission lines (112, 118) of two printed wiring boards (100, 102). The coupler has a conductive contact member (202 or 302) that is either positioned in close proximity to one of the transmission lines (112) or is connected to the one transmission line via a dielectric (204 or 304), and forms a capacitor therewith. The coupler further has a conductive interconnect member (200 or 300) that is connected to the contact member, and also to the other transmission line (108) either directly (FIG. 3) or via a second conductive contact member (202) (FIG. 2). The conductive interconnect member is dimensioned to have an inductive impedance at the frequency of the signals that equals, and hence cancels out, the capacitive impedance of the one or two capacitors formed by the one or two contact members.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antenna structure for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, in particular for mobile telecommunication using the GSM Standard. The antenna structure allows for decoupling between the transmission path and reception path. The antenna structure has two preferably perpendicular couplings with two separate ports, for example for the connection of a transmitting device and a receiving device. Furthermore, the impedances of the two couplings can advantageously be matched, independently of one another, to the transmitting device and receiving device and/or the frequency bands of the signals to be transmitted or received.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel multilayer formed articles including, but not limited to containers such as bottles, tubes, pipes, preforms and films (including oriented films such as biaxially oriented) comprising a melt processible resin having dispersed therein a platelet filler. The multilayer formed articles have improved barrier while maintaining excellent clarity. More particularly, the multilayer structures of the present invention display haze values of less than about 2% and carrier resins which are substantially free from platelet particles having a diameter greater than about 15 microns.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable connector assembly comprising two connectors each of which is comprised of a rigid inorganic body which is coated with an organic layer into which grooves are formed which are adapted to restrain the ends of two fiber optic cables. One connector is adapted to fit over the other when inverted to form the assembly with one or more fiber optic cables restrained between them.

Abstract: A device for sealing puncture wounds in blood vessels is open at one end and closed at the other end. The tube closure is generally flat and pivotable, and the tube region near the closed end is expandable. The device is initially contained in a sleeve, which is inserted through a cannula, so that the closed end is within the vessel to be sealed. After the cannula is removed, the closure is pivoted and the device withdrawn to a point where the closure abuts the puncture wound. After the sleeve is removed, the expandable region is expanded, so that the blood vessel wall around the puncture is sandwiched between the closure and the expanded region. The device prevents blood from seeping out of the punctured vessel during the healing process.

Abstract: A Behind The Ear, In The Ear, All in The Ear, In The Canal, or Completely In The Canal hearing aid which is made resistant to electromagnetic interference produced by cellular telephones in the 800 MHz to 2500 MHz frequency range. The resultant hearing aid will allow hearing impaired people to take advantage of cellular telephones and other recently-developed personal communication devices while also using their hearing aids.

Abstract: The specification describes of multilevel printed circuit boards and a process for their manufacture in which capacitors and other passive components are buried between levels of the multilevel board. The capacitor in the multilevel structure is designed so that access is conveniently provided to connect from the parallel plate electrodes of the interlevel capacitor to the board surface or to another board level using plated through hole interconnects.

Abstract: A method of treating estrogen deficiencies in menopausal women by the oral administration of an estrogen alone followed by an estrogen progestogen combination and then a placebo.

Abstract: An intergrated circuit package with plastic or glass reinforcement of leads to increase lead rigidity, to improve lead alignment and positional stability, and to prevent bent leads. The invention is particularly applicable to surface mount packages. For plastic packages, plastic between the leads is formed during molding of the plastic package. For metal packages, the plastic is molded as a separate operation. For ceramic packages with lead frames, glass may be formed as a separate operation or may be formed at the same time as a glass seal for the ceramic package. Reinforcement can optionally be thicker than the leads for increased rigidity. Optional extended lead lengths enable plastic or glass to be formed on either side of the soldered foot area of each lead. No changes to test fixtures or to pick and place equipment are required.

Abstract: A system for resetting a cache in a first device connected by a multilinelink to a memory in a second device. A transceiver in the first element connects to one end of each of the link lines and a transceiver in the second device connects to the other end. The transmitter in the first device transceiver is disabled in response to a failure of the transceiver to receive messages from the second device. The transmitter in the first device transceiver also selectively sends a reset sequence to the receiver in the second device. A detector detects when all of the receivers in the second device have either received a reset sequence or have detected that a transmitter in the first device is disabled. The detector sets a latch in response, representing that data in the second device cache is invalid. Optionally, the second device has responders which send responses over the link lines indicating receipt of a reset sequence.

Abstract: A support head for a monopod mount is disclosed which is especially useful for attachment to outdoor sporting goods such as firearms, spotting scopes, binoculars, bows and cameras. The head is formed from a base portion which attaches to the sporting good and a support leg mounting portion which pivotally attaches to the base portion. Preferably, the support leg mounting portion is provided with a quick release for the support leg and is mounted to the base portion so that it can be frictionally affixed in the desired orientation.

Abstract: A behind the ear, in the ear, all in the ear, in the canal, or completely in the canal hearing aid which is made resistant to electromagnetic interference produced by cellular telephones in the 800 MHz to 1000 MHz frequency range. The resultant hearing aid will allow hearing impaired people to take advantage of cellular telephones and other recently-developed personal communication devices while also using their hearing aids.

Abstract: Subcutaneous implant for preventing conception for at least one year in women comprising an amount effect to prevent conception without suppressing intermontly bleeding of a steroid compound of formula I or formula II and a physiologically-tolerable pharmaceutical carrier.

Abstract: A basketball-hoop lock has a hoop restriction with a pin-lockable vertical hook on one end and at least one horizontal hook on an opposite end. The vertical hook can be positioned vertically on a portion of a rim of a basketball hoop when an opposite end of the hoop restriction is hooked horizontally on one or more opposing portions of the basketball rim. Positioning a lock pin, a padlock rod or a suitable line through one or more orifices in the vertical hook locks all hooks on the hoop restriction.

Abstract: A self-drilling fastener for use with medium density wood panels, such as oriented strand board (OSB), having a head and first and second shank portions where the first shank portion includes threads for mating engagement with an OSB panel and the second shank portion substantially is formed as a taper shank flat drill which forms the drilling end of the fastener, the taper shank flat drill having conical shaped tapered portions, a triangular drill tip and a pair of wing portions formed on opposite sides of the flat drill forming helical cutting edges.

Abstract: A computer and method that can be used in digital computers to calculate the inverse I of a number D. The inverse is approximated by I2 after the application of a complementary correction Cjl to an approximation I1 obtained by linear approximation on the basis of a first value Io which in turn is obtained on the basis of an inverse table. The correction value Cjl is obtained from pre-established data CBl and Hj that are memorized in tables of reduced dimensions.

Abstract: A memory including several modules with each module receiving at the input requests coming from a processor and furnishing at the output the responses to these requests. The requests are transmitted to the input of each module via an input shift register. The responses coming from a module are transmitted to the input of a processor via an output shift register. The number of stages of the input shift register is different for each of the modules and the total number of stages for the input and output shift registers associated with one of the modules is constant and independent of the module in question.