Abstract: A method and apparatus for pre-qualifying lines with respect to estimating the insertion loss of the line is presented. End-to-end insertion loss at high frequencies is estimated from measurements made at low frequencies through the voice switch at the central office of a telephone company. An AC voltage waveform is applied to the telephone line being tested. Real and imaginary components of the resultant waveform are measured. These measurements are captured and used to estimate the insertion loss of the telephone line at frequencies in the range of 40 kHz to 300 kHz.

Abstract: The present invention comprises syntactic organic fiber-reinforced polymer composites that are useful in “plastic wood” applications, including extruded wood replacements similar to those that are sold in commerce today, and also several novel applications, based on organic fibers with better chemical or thermo-oxidative stability than lignocellulosics. These novel materials involve blends of rigid hollow beads, at least one reinforcing fiber, and at least one polymer. This patent application also relates to a particularly desirable method to form these blends, based on use of a counter-rotating, non-intermeshing extruder (such as those produced by NFM Welding Engineers of Massillon, Ohio) to gently disperse the hollow rigid beads into a polymer melt with minimal breakage, followed by combination with organic fibers per se, or a polymer melt that contains organic fibers.

Abstract: The invention is a means to vibrate and/or rhythmically deform various devices for massage and/or sexual stimulation, and the devices themselves, comprising at least two, and normally three elements: (1) one or more hydraulically driven oscillators within a massage and/or sexual stimulation device; (2) a hydraulic actuator to move hydraulic fluid into and out of the device (1) (3) optionally, a flexible hose or hoses connected at one end to the sexual stimulation device or devices and at the other end to the hydraulic actuator. The particular devices actuated by the present invention include various massage and/or sexual stimulation devices, including muscle massagers, dildos, and penis rings (with or without attachment to secondary anal stimulators), sexually stimulating underwear, and two-ended dildos intended to anchor on one end (the wearer's end) in the wearer's vagina and optionally also in the wearer's anus, for example.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for estimating the insertion loss of a telephone line. A complex waveform is applied to each wire of the telephone line being tested. Real and imaginary components of the resultant waveform are measured at a plurality of frequencies. Insertion loss of the line is estimated from a series of single-ended voltage measurements made at a plurality of frequencies. These measurements are captured and used to estimate the insertion loss of the telephone line.

Abstract: A millable, vulcanizable elastomeric composition comprising two fluoroelastomer phases, phase 1 and phase 2, wherein fluoroelastomer phase 1 is present as crosslinked fluoroelastomer particles, and where fluoroelastomer phase 2 remains flowable until a final stage vulcanization occurs, and where fluoroelastomer phase 1 is present at between 5-85% by weight of the final composition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pre-qualifying lines with respect to estimating the insertion loss of the line is presented. End-to-end insertion loss at high frequencies is estimated from measurements made at low frequencies through the voice switch at the central office of a telephone company. An AC voltage waveform is applied to the telephone line being tested. Real and imaginary components of the resultant waveform are measured. These measurements are captured and used to estimate the insertion loss of the telephone line at frequencies in the range of 40 kHz to 300 kHz.

Abstract: A moldable, extrudable, thermally crosslinkable composition of matter containing 50-99% by weight fluoropolymers, in which 50-95% of the polymer content of the blend is an FKM fluoroelastomer and 5-50% of the polymer content of the blend is one or more thermoplastic PVDF polymers or copolymers containing at least 70% by weight vinylidene fluoride monomer units, and the crosslinked articles derived from processing and curing the subject composition of matter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to managing defunct processes. A parent process that does not collect exit information associated with a child process may leave a defunct child process. A defunct child process is identified. The parent process of the defunct child process is modified. The parent process can be modified by changing an existing thread or instantiating a new thread to collect exit information associated with the child process. Collecting exit information causes the removal of the defunct child process.

Abstract: A moldable, extrudable, thermally crosslinkable composition of matter containing 50-99% by weight fluoropolymers, in which 50-95% of the polymer content of the blend is an FKM fluoroelastomer and 5-50% of the polymer content of the blend is one or more thermoplastic PVDF polymers or copolymers containing at least 70% by weight vinylidene fluoride monomer units, and the crosslinked articles derived from processing and curing the subject composition of matter.

Abstract: A millable, vulcanizable elastomeric composition comprising two fluoroelastomer phases, phase 1 and phase 2, wherein fluoroelastomer phase 1 is present as crosslinked fluoroelastomer particles, and where fluoroelastomer phase 2 remains flowable until a final stage vulcanization occurs, and where fluoroelastomer phase 1 is present at between 5-85% by weight of the final composition.

Abstract: A method detects a fault in a subscriber line having two wires with separate input impedances. The method includes driving the subscriber line from one end with an alternating voltage, making one-ended electrical measurements on the driven liner and determining from the measurements a quantity proportional to the phase difference of the two input impedances. The method also includes identifying a fault in response to the phase difference having a signature associated with presence of a fault in the line.

Abstract: A method and automatic test system for determining qualification of a twisted pair transmission line to propagate data signals. The method includes measuring phase imbalance in the twisted pair transmission line. The phase imbalance is determined by resistance imbalance in the twisted pair transmission line. The resistance imbalance is determined by applying a common mode voltage to the twisted pair transmission line; and, determining phase imbalance in the twisted pair in response to the applied common mode voltage. The method includes applying a common mode voltage to the twisted pair transmission line; determining phase imbalance if the twisted pair in response to the applied common mode voltage; detecting a peak in the determined phase imbalance; determining a frequency of the detected peak; determining line qualification in accordance with the determined frequency.

Abstract: A method and automatic test system for determining qualification of a twisted pair transmission line to propagate data signals. The method includes measuring phase imbalance in the twisted pair transmission line. The phase imbalance is determined by resistance imbalance in the twisted pair transmission line. The resistance imbalance is determined by applying a common mode voltage to the twisted pair transmission line; and, determining phase imbalance if the twisted pair in response to the applied common mode voltage. The method includes applying a common mode voltage to the twisted pair transmission line; determining phase imbalance if the twisted pair in response to the applied common mode voltage; detecting a peak in the determined phase imbalance; determining a frequency of the detected peak; determining line qualification in accordance with the determined frequency.

Abstract: A computer program or a computer process is provided by replacing a native computer instruction with a trapping computer instruction which is the size of the native computer instruction and which, when executed, causes a trap to the kernel. A trap handler in the kernel determines that the inserted trapping computer instruction caused the trap and transfers control to a user trap handler. The user trap handler maps the trap site to a patch of computer instructions. When the trapping computer instruction is executed, the trap handler transfers control from the kernel to the user trap handler which in turn transfers control to the patch. Native computer instructions in sufficient proximity to corresponding patches of computer instructions may be replaced with branching computer instructions of the size of the native computer instruction and which transfer control to those corresponding patches.

Abstract: The invention consists of improved foodware with a ceramic food contacting surface, which includes cookware, cooking utensils, food serving devices, and utensils for eating food. Such ceramic-coated foodware leaches fewer ionic contaminants into food than prior art foodware. Improved toughness of ceramic coatings on foodware can be achieved via primer or topcoat layers of the tough ceramics aluminum and/or chromium nitride. Ceramic coated foodware based on a plasma-sprayed aluminum alloy substrate is also disclosed, wherein the outermost layer of the plasma spray consists of chromium or a high-chromium alloy, which serves as a substrate for application of the various PVD and CVD coatings of this invention. Ceramic foodware with improved scratch resistance and thermomechanical fatigue resistance is also disclosed, based on a wholly ceramic design, using silicon carbide, or aluminum nitride fired ceramics to form an item of foodware, with a polished food-contact surface.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products are disclosed that create an "agent LWP" in a target process. Creation of the agent LWP allows a controlling process to control execution of computer instructions within the target process without co-opting an existing LWP in the target process. The invention thus provides a mechanism that does not unintentionally change the state of the target process because existing partially-completed system calls do not need to be aborted and reissued.