Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for measuring the physical strength and ability of a solid sample, to resist breakdown into fines after repeated cycles of hydration and regeneration of temperatures in excess of 100° C. The test samples are evaluated using an accelerated degradation apparatus that subjects the sample to a predetermined number of timed cycles of wetting/drying under heat and vacuum, and the weight-percent of any fines produced by the degradation of the sample are measured and recorded after a prescribed number of cycles. Specific values are used for predicting potential useful service life, in years of samples from different commercial manufacturers of the same class of product; the resulting data can be used by manufacturers for more effective quality control of production batches.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for measuring the physical strength and ability of a solid sample, to resist breakdown into fines after repeated cycles of hydration and regeneration of temperatures in excess of 100° C. The test samples are evaluated using an accelerated degradation apparatus that subjects the sample to a predetermined number of timed cycles of wetting/drying under heat and vacuum, and the weight-percent of any fines produced by the degradation of the sample are measured and recorded after a prescribed number of cycles. Specific values are used for predicting potential useful service life, in years of samples from different commercial manufacturers of the same class of product; the resulting data can be used by manufacturers for more effective quality control of production batches.

Abstract: In a pastillation machine, an improved distribution system is provided. The distribution system comprises: a distribution bar having a bore extending therethrough, a series of holes located on an inlet surface of the bar, a series of slots located on an outlet surface of the bar, and a diffuser located in the bore of the bar, the diffuser being spaced between the inlet surface and the outlet surface. The series of holes of the distribution system aligns with flowable substance outlets of the pastillation machine. The pastillation machine can be used to form various hot liquid mixtures, including elemental sulphur and sulphur based fertilizers containing swelling clay matrix, and macronutrients (N, P, K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn etc.).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for measuring the physical strength and ability of a solid sample, to resist breakdown into fines after repeated cycles of hydration and regeneration of temperatures in excess of 100° C. The test samples are evaluated using an accelerated degradation apparatus that subjects the sample to a predetermined number of timed cycles of wetting/drying under heat and vacuum, and the weight-percent of any fines produced by the degradation of the sample are measured and recorded after a prescribed number of cycles. Specific values are used for predicting potential useful service life, in years of samples from different commercial manufacturers of the same class of product; the resulting data can be used by manufacturers for more effective quality control of production batches.

Abstract: In a pastillation machine, an improved distribution system is provided. The distribution system comprises: a distribution bar having a bore extending therethrough, a series of holes located on an inlet surface of the bar, a series of slots located on an outlet surface of the bar, and a diffuser located in the bore of the bar, the diffuser being spaced between the inlet surface and the outlet surface. The series of holes of the distribution system aligns with flowable substance outlets of the pastillation machine. The pastillation machine can be used to form various hot liquid mixtures, including elemental sulphur and sulphur based fertilizers containing swelling clay matrix, and macronutrients (N, P, K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn etc.).

Abstract: An integrated accessory for a host device includes a media decoder, a battery coupled to the media decoder operationally to provide power to the media decoder, and a connector to couple the accessory to a host device. Within the integrated accessory, the battery is coupled to the connector so as to allow the battery operationally to provide power to the host device, in addition to the media decoder. In one embodiment, the battery, the media decoder and the connector are integrated within a housing that is configured to be removably coupled to the host device. The host device may be a portable device (e.g., a notebook computer, PDA, a mobile phone, a wristwatch, a camera, etc.).

Abstract: A programming language processor performs link-time and run-time error checking of a program written in C, C++, or a combination of both. The link-time error checking diagnoses violations of the C++ One Definition Rule, and its equivalent in C. As the program runs, the run-time error checking examines accesses to computer memory to determine that the addresses accessed contain values of che type expected by the program. To add instrumentation to a C or C++ program, pre-expressions, post-expressions and clone-expressions are used to annotate an abstract syntax tree, the annotated tree is then canonicalized into a more traditional syntax tree before a back-end generates code for the program.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for securing material. In particular, the invention is basically an S-shaped device comprised of three substantially planar members and two substantially U-shaped connections used in conjunction with a toolbox mounted in a pickup truck. The exact configuration of the device can be modified to fit different types of toolboxes or other vertical supports, for example, inserting an L-shaped section for form fitting toolboxes. The device provides a tie point for securing cargo with ropes or similar restraining material. The device itself is secured by closing the lid of the toolbox and is essentially reversible in application due to its S-shape. Furthermore, the device can be used without restraining material to secure cargo with handles or loops. In this manner, the cargo, such as grocery bags, are secured and transported by looping the cargo handle over the tie point.

Abstract: A unique actuator (130) and user interface preferably located on one side of a communication device enables one-handed operation of the device, such as a radiotelephone or other portable communication device. In particular, a multifunction rocker switch (302) may rotate around or slide along a particular axis to scroll up and down through functions, while the rocker switch could move in an orthogonal direction to select a function. Alternatively, three keys (124-128) could be employed in place of the multifunction rocker switch. Among other functions, the actuator will preferably provide the user access to menu features (604) to perform the confirmation or selection operation in most menu features and access to the name directory (610) to place calls when reviewing a number and to terminate a call when completed.

Abstract: A process for dry etching a passivation layer (42) of a semiconductor device is performed such that a low radio frequency (RF) power step is used when an underlying bond pad (22) is initially exposed and a high RF power step is used after the initial exposure. The process virtually eliminates or reduces the likelihood of bond pad (22) staining, particularly when a polyimide die coat layer (72) is subsequently formed over the semiconductor device (50).

Abstract: An improvement is provided for a compound bow having upper and lower limbs, upper and lower draw pulleys eccentrically mounted respectively on axles mounted on free outer ends of the upper and lower limbs, and a cable system reeved about the pulleys. The improvement comprises each of the fixed ends of the cables being divided into two discreet end segments. The end segments having loops which attach to separate bosses on either side of the respective pulley. Preferably the bosses are provided on attachment brackets mounted on the pulley axle, one on each side of the pulley, with the bosses spaced apart from the axle so that the end segments can be removed from the bosses without removing the axle.

Abstract: An improvement is provided for a compound bow having upper and lower limbs, upper and lower draw pulleys mounted respectively on free outer ends of the upper and lower limbs, a cable system reeved about the pulleys, and a yoke assembly for mounting an end of the cable to the free outer end. The improvement comprises the yoke assembly having a body with two outer mounting fixtures and the cable mounted to the body. Two cable segments affix the limb free outer end on opposite sides of the pulley and to the mounting fixtures. An adjusting mechanism associated with each mounting fixture allows the tension in each cable segment to be separately adjusted.

Abstract: A radio based communication system comprises a base station (1) and one or more remote stations (2) each incorporating a radio transmitter and receiver to support communication between the base station and each remote station on a down link and between each remote station and the base station on an up link. Each link comprises a plurality of frames of fixed length divided into a fixed number of slots. The base station includes a base control which transmits control data in a general control slot (GC) in each frame of the down link so as to identify to each remote station a down-setup slot (DSU) in each frame of the down link in which the base station (1) is to announce the transmission of data for it and identify at least one down-transfer slot (DTR) in the frame of the down link in which the data is to be transmitted. The control data further identifies an acknowledgement slot (ACK) in each frame of the down link and an up-setup slot (USU) divided into sub-slots (1/4) in each frame of the up link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cold lidding open-top containers with roll-stock elastomeric film by holding a web of the film in air-tight relation across the bottom of a lidding chamber and about its periphery, evacuating the lidding chamber to stretch the web thereinto, inserting the top of the container into the lidding chamber, and releasing the stretched web over the top of the container whereby the inherent restorative characteristic of the web causes it to quickly contract, i.e. "snap" onto the periphery of the container to form a dynamic seal. The removal of the lidded container from the apparatus causes the container to be moved against a tripper plate to ready the apparatus for lidding the next container. The minimum recovery factor of the stretched film web should be about 85% of its original size.

Abstract: A method for cold lidding open-top containers with roll-stock elastomeric film by holding a web of the film in air-tight relation across the bottom of a lidding chamber and about its periphery, evacuating the lidding chamber to stretch the web thereinto, inserting the top of the container into the lidding chamber, and releasing the stretched web over the top of the container whereby the inherent restorative characteristic of the web causes it to quickly contract, i.e. "snap" onto the periphery of the container to form a dynamic seal. The removal of the lidded container from the apparatus causes the container to be moved against a tripper plate to ready the apparatus for lidding the next container. The minimum recovery factor of the stretched film web sould be about 85%.