Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes flip chips or other semiconductor devices that are mounted on printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards are stacked to increase the circuit density of the semiconductor structure. The printed circuit boards include cavities or openings to accommodate the flip chips or semiconductor devices and thus reduce the overall size of the semiconductor structure. The flip chips or semiconductor devices from adjacent printed circuit boards may extend into the cavities or openings or simply occupy the cavities or openings from the same printed circuit board.

Abstract: A vibration weld fixture assembly provides a three-piece component joined together with two separate welding operations. The vibration weld fixture assembly includes fixed upper and lower tools that support first and second component pieces, respectively. A center tool, movable relative to the upper and lower tools, moves a third component piece into engagement with one of the first or second component pieces for a first vibration weld operation. The center tool then moves the third component piece into engagement with the other of the first or second component pieces for a second vibration weld operation. A linear actuator assembly moves the center tool back and forth between the upper and lower tools.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (300) having a settable service state includes a sensor fusion module (306) to provide context data to the wireless communication device (300). The wireless communication device also receives a context parameter. In a method (800) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wireless communication device (300) is operable to set a service state based upon the context data and the context parameter (806).

Abstract: A flow switch for use in tankless water heaters. The present invention is an activation flow switch for tankless water heaters. More specifically, the flow switch is comprised of polypropylene balls through which is inserted a magnet. The balls have a specific gravity less than water and are therefore buoyant. When flow through the water pipe commences, the flow switch raises in the flow switch cylinder thereby bringing the magnet into operative connection with a relay switch. The relay switch, once activated, signals to the water heater that hot water is required which in turn activates the heating elements of the water heater. Once the flow in the pipe subsides, the flow switch returns to its inactive position, thereby deactivating the water heater.

Abstract: A device comprising a circuit, a lead having a first end connected to the circuit and having a second end, and a deformable structure connected to the second end of the lead. The invention may be embodied on a circuit board, so that the circuit board includes a substrate and a deformable structure connected to said substrate. Also disclosed is a device comprising a circuit having an active side and a non-active side, a package enclosing the active side of the circuit and not enclosing a portion of the non-active side of the circuit, and a lead having a first end connected to the active side of the circuit via a lead-over-chip connection, and having a second end extending from the package. Also disclosed is a device comprising a circuit and a lead formed from a flexible conductor, with the lead having a first end connected to the circuit.

Abstract: A cleaning formulation for removing materials from a surface (e.g., an optical surface, a metal surface and the like), the cleaning formulation comprising from about 0.5 to about 60 weight percent of a compound derived from urea and a phosphorus-containing acid, together with a carrier therefor. A method for removing fouling materials from a surface is also described. The cleaning formulation may be used to remove materials, inter alia, from optical radiation surfaces, optical lens surfaces (e.g., a contact lens) and the like.

Abstract: A method of controlling connection of a transformer of an electric vehicle, such as a train locomotive, to an alternating voltage supply carried by a trolley wire, the object being to reduce the transformer inrush current on connection of the transformer to the supply. Movement of a pantograph of the vehicle is judiciously controlled from its lowered position to a raised position so that as the pantograph approaches the trolley wire an arc bridges the air gap between them to consistently connect the electrical transformer of the vehicle to the trolley wire when the voltage present on the wire is at or near its peak. The vehicle's power system is controlled such that if the power supply to the trolley wire is lost while the pantograph is raised, the transformer is first isolated from the pantograph and then after the power supply is restored, the pantograph is lowered, re-connected to the transformer and re-raised to reestablish the connection with the trolley wire in the above judiciously controlled manner.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes flip chips or other semiconductor devices that are mounted on printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards are stacked to increase the circuit density of the semiconductor structure. The printed circuit boards include cavities or openings to accommodate the flip chips or semiconductor devices and thus reduce the overall size of the semiconductor structure. The flip chips or semiconductor devices from adjacent printed circuit boards may extend into the cavities or openings or simply occupy the cavities or openings from the same printed circuit board.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes flip chips or other semiconductor devices that are mounted on printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards are stacked to increase the circuit density of the semiconductor structure. The printed circuit boards include cavities or openings to accommodate the flip chips or semiconductor devices and thus reduce the overall size of the semiconductor structure. The flip chips or semiconductor devices from adjacent printed circuit boards may extend into the cavities or openings or simply occupy the cavities or openings from the same printed circuit board.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an elongated wash tank and an elongated rinse tank each having a plurality of conduits disposed adjacent to the bottom thereof. Conduits in the washing tank are connected to a Wye. One inlet branch of the Wye is supplied with air at a pressure of at least 15 psi and the second inlet branch of the Wye is connected to a recirculating pump having an output of at least 30 psi. A mixture of pressurized air and water is discharged from apertures in the elongated conduits and forms vortices in a bath of water held in the tank. Window blinds are suspended in the tank in contact with the vortices. The elongated conduits in the rinse tank are supplied with air at a pressure of greater than 15 psi. Air is discharged from the elongated conduits in the rinse tank through vertically directed openings. After the blinds are washed in the wash tank they are inserted in the rinse tank and thereafter removed and air dried.

Abstract: A control instrument for a system for generating acoustic output which includes a processor for receiving user input signals and control the acoustic output in response to the user input signals. The control instrument includes an instrument body, and at least one sensor element carried by the instrument body. The sensor element generates user input signals upon tactile actuation of the sensor element by a user. The user input signals indicate the location of contact and amount of force applied to the sensor element by the user. A music synthesis system and a sound processing system each including the control instrument are also provided.

Abstract: A new trash receptacle for permitting easy removal therefrom of a filled trash bag. The inventive device includes outer and inner portions each having a base and a side wall. The inner and outer portions are spaced apart to define an air space therebetween. The inner base of the inner portion has a plurality of apertures therethrough into the air space between the inner and outer bases to permit air flow from the air space into the interior space of the trash receptacle to help relieve the vacuum formed when a trash bag is removed from the interior space.

Abstract: Window blinds are cleaned by suspending a blind in a tank containing a bath of water. Pressurized air and water are discharged from openings in elongated conduits into the bath so as to form vortices contacting the blind. After the blind is washed, it is rinsed and dried.

Abstract: A particulate carrier for an agent comprising a solid core of a polysaccharide and a proteinaceous material and an organometallic polymer bonded to the core is provided. The agent has a biological activity, such as immunogenicity, and may comprise the proteinaceous material or be a separate component of the core. Polysaccharide cores include dextran, starch, cellulose and derivatives thereof and the organometallic polymer includes silicones including substituted silicones. The particulate carriers are useful for delivering agents to the immune system of a subject by mucosal or parenteral administration to produce immune responses, including antibody responses.

Abstract: Described here are a novel means and device for noninvasively quantifying important blood constituents. Total hemoglobin, arterial oxygen content, hematocrit, and other parameters can all be determined quickly and easily without the need for skin puncture or lengthy laboratory analysis. The invention described here concerns the simultaneous measurement of volume changes and changes in the mass of either oxyhemoglobin, total hemoglobin, or reduced hemoglobin. The data obtained by these measurements is used to quantify the parameters of interest.