Abstract: Systems and methods for disseminating information in a manner that increases the reach of the information. In one embodiment, a plurality of relatively small advertisements are positioned in an advertising layout. This layout is published concurrently in a number of magazines which are preferably directed to people having similar interests and demographics. A replica of the layout is also provided on a web page. The advertisements in the layout comprise selectable objects that are linked to additional information relating to the respective advertisements.

Abstract: A digital driver circuit and method for driving a liquid-crystal device or other electro-optical display device. Drive performance of the electro-optical device is improved while keeping power consumption low. The digital driver circuit receives a digital image signal as an input and generates an analog drive signal. A series selection circuit selects one series from plural series of standard multi-ramp waves having voltages that change in steps with the passage of time depending on the value of a low-order bit of the digital image signal. A time selection circuit selects, on a time axis, a voltage that changes in steps in at least the selected series of standbard multi-ramp waves depending on the value of a high-order bit of the digital image signal.

Abstract: A medical/dental device is provided which includes a body having a hollow sleeve and a head at an end of the sleeve. The head defines an upwardly opening chamber which receives a chuck. The chuck includes a bur tube which removably receives a medical/dental tool of the latch-shaft type and a push button actuator to release the shaft from the bur tube. The bur tube includes a flexible arm which extends above the bur tube's upper surface and an inwardly extending finger positioned to engage the groove of the shaft. A resilient member (preferably a leaf spring) is received in a transverse slot formed in the top of the bur tube body and is retained in place by a retainer key. The shoulder of the latch-type bur abuts the bottom of the spring to reduce axial play of the bur and to allow for use of non-standard burs in the bur tube.

Abstract: A dental tray of the present invention includes a body made from a generally fluid impervious material (preferably a closed cell foam) having a bottom and side walls to define an arched channel sized and shaped to fit over a patient's teeth. A deformable, arched gasket is fixed to the body along an upper edge of the body wall. The gasket extends inwardly from the tray body wall and defines an arched slot. The gasket inner edge contacts and seals against the patient's gums and teeth when the tray is applied to the patient's teeth to substantially prevent compounds from leaking from the sides or back of the tray during use of the tray. Preferably, two identical trays are connected together by a connector. The connector is adhered to the base of the trays, generally at a front of the trays. The connector is folded over upon itself when the two trays are inserted in a patient's mouth and define a handle. The handle extends through the patient's lips from a position generally between the patient's teeth.

Abstract: A dental handpiece for rotatably driving a dental tool includes a sheath housing a chuck which releasably holds the dental tool to the handpiece and a push button in operative contact with the chuck to operate the chuck to move the chuck between a looked and unlocked position. The push button is in the form of a ring which slides in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the sheath. The chuck includes a bur tube rotatably received in the sheath, a tilt plate which extends through side openings in the bur tube, and a tilt plate pusher which is received in the sheath and through which the bur tube extends. The tilt plate pusher has a side hole through which an arm of the tilt plate extends, such that movement of the tilt plate pusher will pivot the tilt plate. A head of the tilt plate pusher is in operative contact with the push button, such that when the push button is pressed, the tilt plate pusher will be moved forwardly to move the tilt plate from a locked to an unlocked position.

Abstract: A medical/dental device is provided which includes a body having a hollow sleeve and a head at an end of the sleeve. The head defines an upwardly opening chamber which receives a chuck. The chuck includes a bur tube which removably receives a medical/dental tool of the latch-shaft type and a push button actuator to release the shaft from the bur tube. The bur tube includes a flexible arm which extends above the bur tube's upper surface and has an inwardly extending finger positioned to engage the groove of the shaft. The push button includes a downwardly extending pedestal which engages the arm to move the arm from a first position in which the groove and the finger create an interference fit to prevent the shaft from being removed from the head to a second position in which the finger is disengaged from the groove to allow removal of the shaft.

Abstract: A system is provided for managing code resources for use by client applications in a computer, wherein the computer has internal memory storing at least one client application. The apparatus comprises a resource set catalog stored in the internal memory. The resource set catalog identifies a plurality of function sets of functions by respective function set IDs. Further, the resource set catalog includes set records which characterize the functions within the respective sets. A dispatch engine, in the internal memory, linked with a client application, supplies a particular function set ID in response to a call by the client application of a particular function which is a member of a corresponding function set identified by the particular function set ID. A lookup engine in the internal memory, coupled with the resource set catalog and the dispatch engine, is responsive to the particular function set ID to look up a set record for a corresponding function set in the resource set catalog.

Abstract: A chuck mechanism for holding rotating tools in gear driven or turbine driven medical/dental devices. The chuck includes a bur tube which releasably receives a shaft of a dental tool, a tilt plate which extends through the bur tube and which has a hole through which the tool extends, and a tilt plate pusher which is moveable axially with respect to the bur tube. The tilt plate is moveable between a first, unlocked, position in which the edges of the tilt plate hole are spaced slightly from the dental tool shaft so that the shaft may be freely moved axially relative to the tilt plate, and a second, locked, position in which the tilt plate edges contact the shaft to prevent axial and rotational movement of the shaft relative to the tilt plate. The tilt plate is preferably spring biased to its locked position, and the tilt plate pusher is preferably operated by a push button to move the tilt plate to its open position.