Abstract: In an electrochemical fuel cell, a sufficient quantity of catalyst, effective for promoting the reaction of reactant supplied to an electrode, is disposed within the volume of the electrode so that a reactant introduced at a first major surface of the electrode is substantially completely reacted upon contacting the second major surface. Crossover of reactant from one electrode to the other electrode through the electrolyte in an electrochemical fuel cell is thereby reduced.

Abstract: A dedicated debugging facility for tracing hardware and software faults in a distributed digital system. An event data capture circuit is integrated into each processing node in a distributed multinode system for capturing event data within each node under software control. The captured event data is stored in one of a plurality of variable-length trace data buffers in the node processor memory space for analysis or transfer. These dedicated trace data acquisition circuits provide continuously available trace data for the hardware and software functions within each node. Each variable-length trace data entry is stored in the trace data buffers according to a format of this invention that permits collection and assembly of trace data entries from throughout the distributed multinode system to debug local hardware or software and to debug internodal interconnection hardware and software.

Abstract: A memory controller reads data from a memory bank of synchronous RAM during a small and variable data valid window, by compensating for delays in receiving the data caused by memory loading, chip and card manufacturing process variations, and the like. The memory controller includes a system clock driver to supply the memory bank with a clock reference signal. A sampling clock provides an assortment of sampling clock signals duplicative of the system clock signal, with various delays. A command driver initiates Read operations in the memory bank by relaying Read command signals to the memory bank. In response to the level of memory loading, such as the number of memory modules present in the memory bank, a clock selector directs a selected one of the sampling clock signals to a delay module, which replicates any delay the system clock driver may have.

Abstract: A self-inflating seat cushion is shown with airtight hollow body 32 comprising flexible material and resilient structure member 30 comprising foam. Hollow, resilient structure member 30, made of flat portions of material, can lie on the inside or attach to the outside of airtight hollow body 32. During inflating, resilient structure member 30 expands moving airtight hollow body 32 into an arching configuration with high volume relative to its dimensions. A proportionate volume of air flows into the chamber. During use, the chamber flattens and deforms, airtight hollow body 32's volume diminishes, its internal pressure increases proportionately, and the seat cushions and supports weight.

Abstract: An inflating system for use in supports, mattresses, cushions, and the like is shown. In their erect configurations, the supports have opposed, end portions interconnected to a tubular, longitudinal portion to form an airtight chamber. The longitudinal portion comprises flexible material. Transverse, vertical cross-sections of the longitudinal portion have a high surface area relative to their corresponding rectangles. These are the rectangles with equal perimeter and equal width, where width is the maximum dimension. This geometric efficiency causes the cushions to be highly supporting when stretching of the support material is limited.The supports are inflated by moving the stiffened end portions from a horizontal configuration to a vertical one. This causes air to be drawn into the airtight chamber through a valve. The air is then trapped to form an air cushion.Various embodiments are shown. Pulling and attaching mechanisms can facilitate erecting and inflating.

Abstract: An annular sealing apparatus comprised of at least a pair of axially stacked thin diaphragm members is provided. Each of diaphragm members includes a planar array of radially extending fingers separated by gaps. The fingers have a logarithmic curvature as they extend from their innermost end to their outermost end. The fingers also have a constant thickness along their length and also have a foot integral with their innermost end. This foot is wider than the fingers and thereby provides a larger wear surface. The pair of diaphragm members are disposed so that the fingers of each block the gaps of the other.