Abstract: A switch has multiple movable contacts, such as snap domes, positioned in a stacked relationship with each other. The stacked relationship may be such that the apexes of each dome point in the same orientation, or the apexes may be in an opposite orientation so that they point toward or away from each other. When the switch is initially depressed, one of the contacts forms a first electrical connection. When the switch is further depressed, a second one of the contacts forms a second electrical connection. Alternatively, multiple moveable contacts are positioned on the same plane under a single bubble of a carrier sheet. Multiple actuating elements may depress each of the domes. Adjacent domes may share common conductive traces.

Abstract: A moveable contact body that includes a carrier sheet, a moveable contact, and an adhesive layer on at least a portion of a lower surface of the carrier sheet and an upper surface of the moveable contact. The adhesive layer may be water soluble or viscoelastic. A viscoelastic material may be positioned on an upper surface of the carrier film. At least a periphery of the moveable contact may be a rolled foot. Another embodiment may be a membrane switch including a carrier sheet, a moveable contact and an electrical contact having a central stationary damping conductive pill.

Abstract: An aperture stop device is provided for use in a microscope with at least one adjustable observation parameter. The aperture stop device includes at least one aperture stop (50a, 50b) with an adjustable aperture, that is to say with an adjustable stop opening. The aperture stop (50a, 50b) is adapted to receive an aperture signal representative of an aperture to be adjusted. In addition the aperture stop device includes a control unit (52) for output of the aperture signal to the aperture stop (50a, 50b) in dependence at least on the respectively set value of the observation parameter of the microscope.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a nested XOR role in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a plurality of entries is defined in the directory server. At least one of the plurality of entries possesses a role. An entry is queried to determine its possessed role. A nested XOR role possesses at least two roles. An entry possesses the nested XOR role by possessing only one of the roles within the nested XOR role.

Abstract: A pump assembly and estimation and control system therefor, the pump adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form, the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein against movement in three translational and two rotational degrees of freedom as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller having deformities therein such as blades with surfaces tapered from the leading edges to the trailing edges of bottom and top surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing log per entry in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, the directory server receives a request to operate on an entry in the directory server. The directory server operates on the entry. The information of the operation on the entry is stored in a log attribute of the entry.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a communication device includes an outgoing call alerting agent 196 that (i) detects that a communication device has entered an off-hook state and that a first line appearance has been selected by a user for an outgoing call, (ii) forwards a first call setup message to a third party call controller, the call setup message including a request to reserve the first line appearance for the outgoing call, and (iii) thereafter collects a set of digits dialed by the user for the outgoing call and provides the collected set of digits to the third party call controller.

Abstract: A fluid pressure generating means (10) for a heart assist device having blood pumping means. The pressure generating means (10) includes a housing (11), defining an interior volume (18), and having a substantially rigid first housing portion (12), a substantially rigid second housing portion (14), a flexible third housing portion (16) extending between the first (12) and second (14) housing portions and an inlet/outlet port (15) adapted for fluid communication with the blood pumping means. The pressure generating means (10) also includes a fluid filling the housing and a motor (20) disposed within the housing (11) and connected between the first (12) and second (14) housing portions. Actuation of the motor (20) moves the first (12) and second (14) housing portions relative to one another to generate fluid pressure changes at the inlet/outlet port (15). A related heart assist device and method for the treatment of congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia and like conditions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a nested EXCEPTION role in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a plurality of entries is defined in the directory server. At least one of the plurality of entries possesses a role. An entry is queried to determine its possessed role. A nested EXCEPTION role possesses at least two roles. An entry possesses the nested EXCEPTION role by possessing none of the roles within the nested EXCEPTION role.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a nested AND role in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a plurality of entries is defined in the directory server. At least one of the plurality of entries possesses a role. An entry is queried to determine its possessed role. A nested AND role possesses at least two roles. An entry possesses the nested AND role by possessing all the roles within the nested AND role.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing role based groups in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a role attribute is defined for one or more entries in the directory server. A group of entries in the directory server is defined with a group role. The group role comprises one or more role attributes of one or more entries. The role attribute of the entries are queried to determine which entry possesses the group role. Entries that possess the group role are provided to the client.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing group based roles in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a group of entries is defined in the directory server. One or more of the entries possess a group based role. The group based role points to one or more groups. Entries that belong to a group pointed by the group based role also possess the group based role.

Abstract: An ophthalmologic surgical work station has a microscope and a foot switch corresponding thereto. The microscope is connected to the foot switch via a console. The microscope and the foot switch are coarsely prepositioned and a change of the relative position between the microscope and the foot switch with respect to each other is only possible via a fine positioning.

Abstract: A device for communicating electric signals across the skin layer (1) of a patient, wherein the device includes: an electrically conductive core (2) capable of forming an EMF flux loop; first (3) and second (4) coils, which are in EMF communication with said electrical conductive core (2) and wherein the first coil (3) is positioned externally to the patient and surrounds at least a first portion of the electrically conductive core (2); and the second coil (4) is implanted beneath or in the skin layer and surrounds at least a second portion of the electrically conductive core.

Abstract: A medication injector apparatus such as an injection pen. The injection pen includes a resettable, cartridge plunger drive assembly including an axially floating nut, a cartridge plunger engaging screw, and a drive clutch movable with the nut and which when rotated causes the screw to screw through the nut. When a cartridge assembly is mounted to the pen base, the floating nut and drive clutch are shifted proximally such that the drive clutch is in torque transmitting engagement with a rotatable drive member of the pen, such that rotation of that drive member results in drive screw advancement through the nut in the distal direction. When the cartridge assembly is not mounted to the pen base, the floating nut and drive clutch are biased distally to disengage the drive clutch from torque transmitting engagement with the rotatable drive member and to thereby allow the drive screw to be reset proximally through the nut to a position more retracted within the pen base.

Abstract: The present invention provides formulations and methods useful in the control of ectoparasites on a domestic animal, using a formulation comprising Indoxacarb and a veterinarily acceptable carrier that is applied topically to 10% or less of the total surface area of a domestic animal. Other embodiments include these formulations also including one or more additional pesticides such as fipronil.

Abstract: A system that includes an imaging device for effectively positioning a probe for testing a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: Adapter module securable to a socket frame, integrated circuit module assembly and method for securing a heat dissipation device in direct thermal communication with an integrated circuit module. The socket frame is positioned over a substrate having a land grid array and the frame is secured to the substrate. The frame defines a well for selectively receiving the integrated circuit module in electronic communication with the land grid array. The adapter module is secured to the frame and extends outside the perimeter of the frame. The adapter provides a feature outside the perimeter of the frame for fastening the heat dissipation device. Furthermore, the adapter body is secured to the frame without adding holes through the substrate, such as by extending under the frame to be secured between the frame and substrate, or by extending over the frame to be secured between the frame and fasteners.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method are provided for arbitrating access to a shared resource. The data processing apparatus includes a plurality of requester elements sharing access to the shared resource, and arbitration circuitry which is responsive to requests asserted by one or more of the requester elements for access to the shared resource, to perform a priority determination operation to select one of the asserted requests as a winning request. Each of the asserted requests has a priority level associated therewith, and the apparatus further comprises relative priority ordering circuitry for attributing relative priorities to the plurality of requester elements. The arbitration circuitry is responsive to the asserted requests to perform the priority determination operation in order to select as the winning request the request asserted by the requester element with the highest relative priority whose asserted request has a priority level not exceeded by any other asserted request.

Abstract: An improved chuck with lift pins within a probe station. The chuck assembly may have an outer periphery and an upper surface. The lift pins may be positioned within the periphery of the chuck assembly and may be capable of relative vertical movement with respect to the upper surface of the chuck assembly.