Abstract: The present invention relates to a scheduling unit adapted to aggregate data units from a plurality of input ports to a common output port according to a service sequence. The service sequence identifies which particular input port must be served for a particular service slot.

Abstract: A single lever control assembly that limits motion due to the inherent design of the assembly. In other words, no additional components are required to limit the motion of the single lever control assembly. The assembly includes two U-shaped members each having a base and parallel legs extending from the base, a lever connected to one of the U-shaped members and a pivot block interconnecting the parallel legs for allowing the U-shaped members to rotate relative to one another. The assembly has at least one of the parallel legs having a projection that engages one of the parallel legs of the other U-shaped member. In general, the single lever control assembly is a type of modified universal joint whose movement is limited by a projection.

Abstract: A laser transmitter comprising a laser diode (1) and a monitoring photodiode (2) adapted to receive a small part (LS1) of a light signal (LS) of the laser diode and to derive therefrom an output current (SC). The transmitter further comprises regulation means (4) adapted for receiving the output current and for sending a signal (CS) to a current driver (5) in order to regulate the input current (IC) of the laser diode (1) as a function of this output current (SC). The transmitter also comprises a register (6) adapted to store data to be used by the regulation means (4) or to be read by a serial interface, and pattern detection means (7) adapted to scan all the traffic and thus all the packets of the upstream flow to the laser diode (1) to check whether pre-determined bit-patterns are present.

Abstract: A single lever control assembly is disclosed that limits motion due to the inherent design of the assembly. In other words, no additional components are required to limit the motion of the single lever control assembly. The assembly includes two U-shaped members each having a base and parallel legs extending from the base, a lever connected to one of the U-shaped members and a pivot block interconnecting the parallel legs for allowing the U-shaped members to rotate relative to one another. The assembly has at least one of the parallel legs having a projection that engages one of the parallel legs of the other U-shaped member. In general, the single lever control assembly is a type of modified universal joint whose movement is limited by a projection.

Abstract: The top and bottom parts of a one-piece cover of a PCMCIA card are snapped together to form lap-joint seams which are welded together with a laser, under argon gas. Only a few small tack welds are required to substantially increases the mechanical strength and moisture resistance and to eliminate the risk of accidentally opening the card. The operation can be done at a high rate with minimal cost. Also, an internal frame may be made much narrower to allow more card area, while still meeting structural requirements for PCMCIA cards. The weld penetrates fully through the first layer of the seam and only partially through a second layer. During welding a fixture holds the seams in reasonably precise position and tightly closed so the seams are much tighter after welding than when the card is only snap closed. The precise positioning of the seams also allows the size of the weld to be minimized which reduces the risk of burn through which may damage electronic components enclosed within the card during welding.

Abstract: A cartridge having top and bottom metal covers which enclose a circuit board, the metal of the covers forming a seam which is welded at locations therealong to bond the two covers together. The covers may form a snap-fit, lap, or butting seam where the welds are applied. The cartridge is particularly useful in PCMCIA applications.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling the level of liquid in a closed cainer includes a block for mounting at an upper end of the container, a lower level electrode for extending from the block vertically into the container, an upper level electrode for extending from the block vertically into the container and shorter than the lower level electrode, a valve for venting gas from the container, and a motor for driving the valve. Electric circuitry is responsive to liquid in the container rising to a free end of the upper level electrode to activate the motor to close the valve to increase gas pressure in the container to force lowering of the level of the liquid, and further electrical circuitry is responsive to the liquid in the container dropping below a free end of the lower level electrode to activate the motor to open the valve to vent the container and reduce gas pressure therein to permit rising of the liquid level.

Abstract: The present invention features an improvement in the construction and manufacturing of small peripheral cartridges which plug into exterior slots of computer systems such as PCMCIA cards. The metal cover of a snap-together PCMCIA card is typically tack welded at its seams An inexpensive and highly accurate welding technique is presented for performing this welding operation. The inventive welding technique may be used without risk of damage to highly sensitive electronic components. The lap joint seam formed using the techniques exhibits the strength and stiffness characteristics that allow the size of welded seams to be minimized thereby also reducing the risk of burn-through or other damage to the cards during manufacturing.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for transmitting information recorded on information storage from a central server via a high data rate digital telecommunications network to subscribers connected to the network. The telecommunications network is capable of two-way communication. The central server includes a central communication interface connected to the network, a magazine containing a very large number of disks, disk players, a controller for transfer of the disks between the magazine and the disk players, a central computer, a memory for storing information relating to the locations of the disks, and a multiplexer. Each of the subscriber stations includes a communication interface connected to the network, a computing terminal, a demultiplexer, a data rate expansion circuit, a digital-to-analog converter, and a transducer for converting analog signals into humanly perceptible signals.

Abstract: A furnace for combustible fuels that incorporates a main igniter and an auxiliary back-up igniter for igniting the fuel. When power is applied to the main igniter, a sensor detects whether or not current flows through the main igniter. If there is current flow through the main igniter, the back-up igniter is isolated from the input power. If there is an absence of current flow through the main igniter, the power is switched to the auxiliary back-up igniter. A warning device is provided to alert a user when the power has been switched to the back-up igniter indicating that the main igniter is inoperable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing a game is described. Players select a defined number of consonant and vowel cards. Each player selects, in turn, a question card where the question card incorporates a letter which forms part of the answer to the question and a score. The player whose turn it is attempts to answer the question using his or her cards by laying the completed word out on a playing surface, whereupon if the player successfully answers the question, he or she receives the number of points shown on the question card. Alternatively, the score allocated corresponds to the number of cards used. Variations on the game include having blocked cards which may not be used as the originating point for new words unless there are two or less words on the table. The winning player is the one who accumulates a fixed winning score or the one who gets that largest score at the time that all consonant and vowel cards are exhausted.

Abstract: A seal for communicating high vacuum onto rotating machinery such as a ceifuge. The seal comprises an outer pipe defining a volume to be evacuated, an inner pipe connected on one end to a vacuum source with the other end disposed within an end of the outer pipe such that an annular space is defined between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. Fluid is disposed in at least a portion of the annular space. The fluid is also disposed in a reservoir provided with cooling coils which lower the temperature of the fluid and thereby lower the vapor pressure of the fluid. The lower the vapor pressure of the fluid, the higher the level of vacuum which can be produced and transmitted.

Abstract: An interface between the CPU and a motor for actuating a zero displacement alve as disclosed. First and second switches each having a normally closed pole sense the closed position of the valve when the normally closed pole of the first switch is open and the open condition of the valve when the normally closed pole of the second switch is open. A motor starter completes a power circuit to the motor when energized and a logic chip having a starter input is responsive to the switch positions and a starter input of a select polarity for energizing the motor starter when the normally closed pole of one of the switches is open and the other is closed and the motor actuator state is changed to an appropriate polarity.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for water content determination of soil-water mixtures and of other materials through the use of microwave energy to rapidly dry the material being tested, drying and water content determination being controlled in a preferred embodiment by a computer interfaced with a microprocessor of a digital microwave oven. The invention preferably includes a digital microwave oven mechanically interfaced with a precision digital balance, the oven and balance being operatively interfaced with the computer. As drying in the microwave oven progresses, the computer monitors weigth loss of the test sample as indicated by the balance and controls microwave power levels according to program instructions. The invention is thereby capable of providing rapid, precise and repeatable water content determinations of suitable samples.