Abstract: A cross-car suspension system with MacPherson strut replaces the lower control arms, coil springs, and anti-roll bar assembly in the prior art with a simple composite beam. By carefully designing the shape of the beam, the material system and the pivot locations, the ride and roll stiffness and camber and toe characteristics of the original prior art suspension system can be preserved while significantly reducing weight.

Abstract: A rear wheel suspension system replaces the lower control arms, upper control arms, coil springs, and anti-roll bar assembly in the prior art with a simple composite member. By carefully designing the shape of the beam, the material system and the pivot locations, the ride and roll rates and camber and toe characteristics of the original prior art suspension system can be preserved.

Abstract: A bubble trap for an extracorporeal blood handling or other fluid handling system has a chamber (10) constructed from a top section (20) and bottom section (30). There is a fluid inlet (50), gas vent port (70) for purging gas that has separated from the fluid in the chamber, and a fluid outlet (50). There are two balls (64) and (74), which act as check valves to prevent fluid flowing out the vent port, and gas escaping through the fluid outlet. The chamber geometry prevents entrapment of either ball in the corner as blood level rises or falls. Squeeze bulbs (66) and (76), and shutoff valves (68) and (78), provide for unseating the check balls.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a fiber reinforced suspension member having an integral pivot opening. The suspension member includes a first portion, a second portion and a central portion disposed in between the first portion and the second portion. The suspension member in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is formed of fibers that extend longitudinally from the first portion to the central portion and curve around the central portion such that an opening is defined in the central portion. The fibers forming the suspension member typically comprise an upper fiber layer and a lower fiber layer. The upper fiber layer and the lower fiber layer interface in the first portion and the second portion and are separated in the central portion. The upper layer fiber and the lower layer fiber are reinforced around the opening by stitching reinforcing fibers through the thickness of the suspension member.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a fiber reinforced suspension member having an integral pivot opening. The suspension member includes a first portion, a second portion and a central portion disposed in between the first portion and the second portion. The suspension member in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is formed of fibers that extend longitudinally from the first portion to the central portion and curve around the central portion such that an opening is defined in the central portion. The fibers forming the suspension member typically comprise an upper fiber layer and a lower fiber layer. The upper fiber layer and the lower fiber layer interface in the first portion and the second portion and are separated in the central portion. The upper layer fiber and the lower layer fiber are reinforced around the opening by stitching reinforcing fibers through the thickness of the suspension member.

Abstract: A multi-factor rate analysis system and method for analyzing service plan rates, service providers, and savings other information is provided. Rate information may be based on one or more of historical and other user specific usage information and preferences, current rate information for one or more services as well as other information. This information may be used to identify one or more rate plans that are advantageous to a user, enable the user to select from the identified plans, facilitate the ability of the user to switch from one rate plan to another and provide other benefits and advantages.

Abstract: A system and method for the automated delivery of gifts uses a computer system to obtain user and sender data and provides for the sending of health care products as gifts.

Abstract: An electronic component with shielding is described. The component has a semiconductor chip with a semiconductor substrate. Disposed in a region of a rear side of the semiconductor substrate is an electrically conductive buried layer. The buried layer is connected via a ground lead, disposed within the semiconductor substrate, to a contact area and an external ground potential. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing an electronic component of this type.

Abstract: Premixes of a polyol suitable for polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam preparation and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane require no stabilizer to inhibit reaction between the fluorocarbon and the polyol. These premixes are useful for polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam preparation.

Abstract: A rear wheel suspension system replaces the lower control arms, coil springs, and anti-roll bar assembly in the prior art with a simple composite beam. By carefully designing the shape of the beam, the material system and the pivot locations, the ride and roll rates and camber and toe characteristics of the original prior art suspension system can be preserved.

Abstract: A memory device can include a radiation hardened, static random access memory (SRAM) cell having a first inverter pair including a first PFET and a first NFET coupled in series drain to drain by a resistor whose resistance can be an order of magnitude (i.e., ten times) larger than the source to drain resistance of the first PFET, a second inverter pair including a second PFET and a second NFET coupled in series drain to drain by a resistor whose resistance can be an order of magnitude larger than the source to drain resistance of the second PFET, the first or second PFET can include a P+ drain difflusion in an NWELL where a portion of the gate can overlie the P+ drain diffusion, a first pass gate PFET coupled to the gate of the first PFET, the gate of the first NFET, and the P+ drain diffusion of the second PFET, and a second pass gate PFET coupled to the gate of the second PFET, the gate of the second NFET, and the P+ drain diffusion of the first PFET.

Abstract: In cellular communication systems, hand-offs are performed to maintain links as subscriber units (110) and beams move relative to each other. The hand-off determination procedure (500) is performed in overlap regions (240, 340). Candidate beams are identified and hand-off types are determined based on the satellite (120) associated with the candidate beam. Thresholds are established and changed to optimize a hand-off request determination procedure (500). Two hand-off types are considered. An inter-satellite hand-off is requested (514) when the current beam and the candidate beam are on different satellites (120). An intra-satellite hand-off is requested (510) when the current beam and the candidate beam are on the same satellite (120). Thresholds are dynamically changed and algorithms are used to minimize the number of inter-satellite hand-offs.

Abstract: Apparatus and computer implemented method for process modeling using both a web server and a workflow server in process definition. During buildtime, a process definition in the language of some workflow process modeler is fed to transform f(p), which provides a translate process definition into a hypertext markup language (HTML) representation of the workflow process. A user utilizing the facilities of an HTTP server may operate a web browser to request that HTTP server provide the HTML process definition to enable the user to create, or read and modify, the process definition as desired. The result is then fed through an inverse transform f'(p) to a workflow server in the language of that server, for invocation and execution during runtime of the programs defined during buildtime.

Abstract: Azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane are provided. The compositions of the invention are useful in the preparation of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and as aerosol propellants.

Abstract: Azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group n-pentane, iso-pentane, cyclopentane, n-hexane and iso-hexane are provided. The compositions of the invention are useful in the preparation of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to foam compositions which are expanded with hydrohalocarbon blowing agents in the presence of catalysts which result in a decreased amount of decomposition of the hydrohalocarbon blowing agents to haloalkenes during the polymerization. Thus, the present invention provides compositions comprising polyisocyanate, polyol, hydrohalocarbon blowing agent, surfactant, and at least one catalyst for polymerization of the polyisocyanate and polyol wherein the catalyst is less volatile than N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine or the catalyst is a tertiary amine having at least one isocyanate-reactive functionality selected from the group consisting of --OH and --NH-- and the catalyst results in a decreased amount of decomposition of the hydrohalocarbon blowing agents to haloalkenes during polymerization of the polyisocyanate and the polyol and especially during use of the foam samples at a temperature of at least about 54.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media console of a personal computer system that includes a drive housing that can be moved within a base member between an open position and a closed position. A direct access storage device (e.g., floppy disk drive) is disposed within the drive housing and has an opening for receiving a removable storage medium. The open position is characterized in that the opening in the direct access storage device is accessible to a user while the closed position is characterized in that the opening in the direct access storage device is not accessible to the user.The drive housing pivots on pins which are disposed at opposite ends of a back portion of the drive housing. The pins fit within grooves which are located at each end of the base member. A spring coupled to the base member and the drive housing biases the drive housing toward the open position. A latch for latching the drive housing in the closed position is coupled to the base member and the drive housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a personal computer system that includes a media console coupled to a system unit with a multi-conductor cable. The media console contains a direct access storage device (e.g., floppy disk drive) having an opening for receiving a removable storage medium. The system unit is separate from the media console and includes a microprocessor coupled to a first bus, a non-volatile storage device coupled to the first bus and a power supply for supplying power to the the system. The multi-conductor cable has one end coupled to the media console and another end coupled to the system unit for electrically connecting devices in the media console to devices in the system unit.

Abstract: Azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane are provided. The compositions of the invention are useful in the preparation of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and as aerosol propellants.

Abstract: A subscriber unit (26) communicates with a satellite communication system (10) that projects cells. The satellites (12) and cells move relative to the earth. During every other TDMA frame, a subscriber unit (26) measures the signal strength of all candidate hand-off beams. The signal strength of the current beam is compared to the signal strength of the candidate hand-off beams. When the signal strength of the current beam is not the strongest, a counter is incremented (108). A hand-off is requested to the beam with the greatest signal level when the counter exceeds a predetermined threshold. Accordingly, only after the current antenna beam has not been the strongest beam for a certain period of time, is a hand-off requested. A different counter threshold is used for candidate hand-off beams from other satellites (12).