Abstract: A flush valve assembly includes a valve body with a first cylindrical tube member and a flush cover member that is coaxially and slidably mounted with respect to the valve body so as to create a valve opening therebetween when the flush cover member is removed from the valve body. A guiding means is provided that includes a second cylindrical tube member secured to the flush cover member and slidably fitted over the first cylindrical tube member. The guiding means further includes at least one alignment tab on the flush cover member that engages a corresponding tab recess defined in the valve body. A secondary float assembly pivotably affixed to the valve body has a flotation cup with a resilient member integral therewith. A pawl member includes retention members in combination with each of a primary finger and a secondary finger that engage an integral tab portion along an outside peripheral surface of the flush cover member during reciprocating movement of the flush cover member.

Abstract: A steel sub-purlin for use in roof construction, the sub-purlin being fabricated using metal roll forming techniques. The sub-purlin has an upper, angled portion, a lower angled portion, a vertical section connecting the upper and lower sections and vertical extensions from said upper and lower angled portions positioned in contact with the vertical section. The ends of sub-purlin are positioned on steel truss caps, the truss caps being used in place of conventional wood nailers.

Abstract: A data acquisition and perusal system and method including a database selection module, a database index generator module and a search module. The database selection module enables selection of a plurality of files for inclusion into at least one selectable database. The database index generator module enables generation of a searchable index of the data contained in the selectable database. The search module enables a search to be performed of the searchable index according to search criteria. The data acquisition and perusal system and method may also allow users to view, acquire, and generate single- or multiple-data sources locally or remotely, and allow users to compile, index, modify, and append the data sources according to default or user defined criteria. The data acquisition and perusal system and method may also selectively acquire and display data contained within remote databases depending upon the user's access permissions to such databases.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety hook (12, 12?) having a wire spring latch (26, 26?). The wire spring latch (26, 26?) is a wire loop pawl. The safety hook (12, 12?) is made of a heavy gauge wire form material, which is preferably bent only to form first and second ends (14, 14?, 16, 16?), a chain link securing end (14, 14?) and a hook opening end (16, 16?), respectively. The wire loop pawl (26, 26?) is preferably a rod of elastically deformable material, bent to form an open loop (28, 28?) and bent-over ends (32, 32?, 34, 34?) about which the pawl (26, 26?) pivots with respect to the body (12, 12?) of the safety hook (10, 10?) when the latch (26, 26?) is deformed and forced away from a distal end (38, 38?) of the hook opening end (16, 16?) of the safety hook (10, 10?). The bent over ends (32, 32?, 34, 34?) of the wire loop pawl (26, 26?) are not coaxial.

Abstract: A method for a computer system includes opening a first file describing a first object in an object environment, determining a reference for a second object, wherein the second object includes a plurality of attributes, receiving a second file describing the second object from a storage system; in response to the reference, and opening the second file describing the second object in the object environment, determining a modified value for an attribute from the plurality of attributes for the second object, and including in the first file the reference for the second object and the modified value for the attribute, wherein the second object is not stored in the first file.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) controller (10) that has a sequencer (16) that provides test algorithm information for multiple memories (44, 46, 48, 50). The sequencer identifies the test algorithm that is to be performed and multiple memory interfaces (32, 34, 36, 38) interpret the output of the sequencer and perform the algorithm on the multiple memories. The multiple memories may be different or the same regarding type, size, data widths, etc. Having multiple memory interfaces provides flexibility to tailor the test algorithm for each memory, but yet keeps the advantage of a single source of identifying the test algorithm. With the memories being non-volatile, timing information with regard to the test algorithm is stored in the memories. This timing information is read prior to performing the test algorithm and is used in performing the test algorithm.

Abstract: A device for reducing the effects of leakage current within electronic devices is disclosed. In one form, a high voltage driver includes a high voltage source coupled to at least one high voltage transistor and a leakage offset module coupled to at least a portion of one of the high voltage transistors. The leakage offset module includes a diode connected MOS device operable to generate an offset voltage and an MOS shunting device coupled in a parallel with the diode connected MOS device. During operation, the diode connected MOS device generates an offset voltage based on a sub-threshold leakage associated with using the high voltage source and the MOS shorting device is operable to short the diode connected MOS device when sub-threshold leakage current is relatively low.

Abstract: Methods of improving memory and learning in humans and animals by vagus nerve stimulation are provided. These methods comprise selecting an appropriate human or animal subject and applying to the subject's vagus nerve an electrical stimulation signal having parameter values effective in modulating the electrical activity of the vagus nerve in a manner so as to modulate the activity of preselected portions of the brain.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a data input signal with a single ended sense amplifier. The single ended sense amplifier includes a transmission gate circuit and a control circuit coupled between a feedback inverter circuit and an output signal that is fed back to the feedback inverter circuit. An inverter circuit is coupled between an enable signal and the transmission gate and control circuits. During pre-charge operation, the input to the feedback inverter circuit is driven to a first state. The feedback inverter correspondingly drives the input signal to a sensing inverter to a state that is complementary to the input to the feedback inverter circuit, thereby assisting the pre-charge mode and substantially reducing time delay due to the input signal contending with the feedback inverter circuit. One advantage of the present invention is that sense amplifiers can be sized for faster sensing than would other-wise be feasible due to the excessive contention during the pre-charge mode.

Abstract: A stress test circuit and method for static random access memory (“SRAM”) cells of an SRAM device are disclosed. The stress test component has a resistance element and a switch component to electrically couple the resistance element between a bit line and complementary bit line of an SRAM cell storing a digital value. Stress test component is activated to electrically couple the resistance element to the bit line and complementary bit line. An electrical path is created causing a voltage on an SRAM circuit path maintaining the digital value to be pulled in one direction by a stress current. The electrical path causes another voltage on another SRAM circuit path maintaining a complementary digital value to be pulled in an opposite direction by the stress current. The SRAM cell is then read to determine whether the digital value has changed state.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) controller (10) that has a sequencer (16) that provides test algorithm information for multiple memories (44, 46, 48, 50). The sequencer identifies the test algorithm that is to be performed and multiple memory interfaces (32, 34, 36, 38) interpret the output of the sequencer and perform the algorithm on the multiple memories. The multiple memories may be different or the same regarding type, size, data widths, etc. Having multiple memory interfaces provides flexibility to tailor the test algorithm for each memory, but yet keeps the advantage of a single source of identifying the test algorithm. With the memories being non-volatile, timing information with regard to the test algorithm is stored in the memories. This timing information is read prior to performing the test algorithm and is used in performing the test algorithm.

Abstract: Symbol synchronization in a continuous phase modulation receiver is achieved by calculating an arctangent function of a digital sample of the output of a quadrature demodulator. This signal is sampled by integration techniques or filtered to produce signals that represent a complex value whose phase changes at a rate which is half of the symbol rate. The complex value may be squared and rotated by an angle which is related to the symbol phase. The integrated sample or an arctangent function of the filtered sample is used as a controlling input for a numerically controlled oscillator which regulates the digital sampling.

Abstract: Methods of improving memory and learning in humans and animals by vagus nerve stimulation are provided. These methods comprise selecting an appropriate human or animal subject and applying to the subject's vagus nerve an electrical stimulation signal having parameter values effective in modulating the electrical activity of the vagus nerve in a manner so as to modulate the activity of preselected portions of the brain.

Abstract: Methods of treating persistent impairment of consciousness in humans and animals by vagus nerve stimulation are provided. These methods comprise selecting an appropriate human or animal subject and applying to the subject's vagus nerve an electrical stimulation signal having parameter values effective in modulating the electrical activity of the vagus nerve in a manner so as to modulate the activity of preselected portions of the brain.

Abstract: Methods of modulating brain neural plasticity, improving memory and learning, improving recovery from traumatic brain injury, preventing epilepsy, treating memory disorders and chronic memory impairment, and treating persistent impairment of consciousness in humans and animals by vagus nerve stimulation are provided. These methods comprise selecting an appropriate human or animal subject and applying to the subject's vagus nerve an electrical stimulation signal having parameter values effective in modulating the electrical activity of the vagus nerve in a manner so as to modulate the activity of preselected portions of the brain.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing end products such as wound dressings, surgical dressing, fixation wafers for prostheses, ostomy wafers, shoe inner-soles, and other laminated and contoured devices using a contouring and laminating station, a delaminating station, a driving station and a cutting station. A first outer layer having a backing film protected by a support layer is attached to a subject layer having predetermined malleable properties on one surface of the adhesive material. A second outer layer is attached on an opposing surface of the subject layer. As the layers are attached, the subject layer is contoured at the contouring and laminating station to produce a first intermediate product. The support layer is removed to produce a second intermediate product at a delaminating station. The second intermediate product is driven by the driving station to the cutting station to be cut into the end products.

Abstract: Methods of modulating brain neural plasticity, improving memory and learning, improving recovery from traumatic brain injury, preventing epilepsy, treating memory disorders and chronic memory impairment, and treating persistent impairment of consciousness in humans and animals by vagus nerve stimulation are provided. These methods comprise selecting an appropriate human or animal subject and applying to the subject's vagus nerve an electrical stimulation signal having parameter values effective in modulating the electrical activity of the vagus nerve in a manner so as to modulate the activity of preselected portions of the brain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for making precise velocity measurements of a spacecraft using a two-way noncoherent Doppler tracking system. The received uplink and transmitted downlink frequencies on-board the spacecraft are compared with the resulting information being included in the downlink signal and used to cancel spacecraft oscillator drift rate effects in the two-way Doppler measurement made by the ground station. The information can also be used to characterize the drift rate of the spacecraft oscillator, thus permitting periods of accurate one-way Doppler tracking by the ground station. To improve accuracy, the times at which the measurements comprising the information would have been observed on the ground are inferred from the measurement of a signal generated by the spacecraft, e.g., the telemetry frame start times, made by the ground station.

Abstract: A wet filter which will not foul washing facilities and plumbing systems, and which will not introduce harmful substances into the environment. The filtering element, which mayk be a resilient, open cell foam material or a woven fabric, is coated with a mixture of oil and a tackifying agent. The oil is preferably a vegetable oil, and the tackifying agent is preferably a dimer acid. The oil and acid are mixed in a volatile carrier, such as ninety-nine percent pure isopropyl alcohol. Preferred proportions are fifty percent dimer acid and ten percent vegetable oil, by volume. The filter is saturated in the mixture. The alcohol is permitted to evaporate, thereby leaving the foam filter thinly yet fully coated with oil and acid. The filter may be washed in water and detergent for renewal. Preferably, a biodegradable detergent mixed with an alkaline substance such as soda ash is employed in washing the filter.

Abstract: An improved baghouse which is adapted to remove particulate matter from an air flow. The baghouse has three main chambers being the plenum, the receiving chamber, and a hopper. The three chambers are separated from each other using tubesheets having multiple holes therein. Filtering bags are connected to the upper and lower tubesheets. Attachment of the bag to the upper tubesheet is accomplished using a thimble that is preferably assembled with the bag and then delivered to the site ready for easy insertion into the hole of the tubesheet. A strap to sandwich the bag to the upper thimble. At the lower end, there are attached thimbles on the tubesheet and the bags are secured to those thimbles using clamps. Through the use of beads on the thimbles and bags, shaped clamps and straps, the bag is secured to both thimbles such that slippage and leakage are eliminated; further the shaped bottom clamps prevent relative motion between the bag and the top of the bottom thimble so that excess bag wear is avoided.