Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture comprising a high performance interface for sending data to a remote device and receiving data from a remote device via a data communications device coupled to a processor. In performing these functions, the high performance interface supports asynchronous input/output operations. Moreover, the high performance interface transfers the data directly to and from the address space of a calling program, thereby eliminating use of intermediate buffers. In those instances where the calling program has not invoked the high performance interface, data can be stored in the address space of the operating system until the high performance interface is invoked by the calling computer program. Further, status can be returned to a remote device using back-channel capabilities.

Abstract: A backup proximity sensor for a vehicle includes a first passive infrared sensor (PIR) and a second PIR vertically mounted with respect to one another on a pivotal support member. The first PIR and second PIR are angularly directed such that the respective fields of view converge, establishing a detection zone in a region behind a vehicle. A drive motor and scanning gear box are coupled to the pivotal support member and pivotally drive the first and second PIR in an oscillatory fashion about a predetermined arc. This establishes relative motion between the PIRs and a stationary warm body in the field of view of the two sensors, allowing the stationary body to be detected. A detection circuit receives output signals from the first PIR and second PIR and generates an output signal indicative of a warm body being detected by both the first and second PIRs. This eliminates false alarms generated by warm bodies outside the region of the desired detection zone.

Abstract: A parking manager manages calls to be parked and parking resources on one or more parking platforms, and can be used in a system that combines the functionalities of call parking and intelligent call routing. The parking manager provides management of parking resources and complete control of the call throughout the entire duration of the call. The parking manager makes a common pool of parking resources available to all customers, and thus increases the availability of parking resources at call center ACDs and other customer premise equipment.

Abstract: This invention is drawn to a brush which cleans dust and debris from refrigeration coils in conventional coolers. When the door is opened, a cable draws a brush upwardly across the face of the condenser coil and removes dust from the coil. The brush is attached to a jointed arm which controls the positioning of the brush and keeps the brush contiguous the coil. A method of operating the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A furnace includes an enclosure and a hearth plate within the enclosure for supporting combustible material. The furnace further includes a first heater element adjacent the hearth plate for initial combustion of the combustible material, a filter disposed above the hearth plate for filtering uncombusted products of combustion of the combustible material, and a second heater element adjacent the filter for final combustion of the uncombusted products of combustion filtered by the filter. A filter bypass path has an inlet located in a lower portion of the enclosure and an outlet located between the filter and the second heater.

Abstract: A method for defeating illegal receivers sensitive to the edges of synchronization signals in a scrambled video signal is provided. The scrambled video signal includes synchronization signals having levels which prevent a standard receiver from detecting the synchronization signals by using the levels of the synchronization signals. The synchronization signals also have one or more pulses with level transitions above or below a signal detection threshold level of the standard television receiver which prevent the illegal receivers from detecting the synchronization signals by using the edges of the synchronization signals.

Abstract: A container apparatus convertible from a shipping container having two or more adjacent trays into one or more display trays for the display of articles therewithin. The apparatus includes at least two trays and a tray cover. Each of the two trays includes a front panel, a back panel, two side panels and a bottom panel. Upon articulation, the height of the two side panels is greater than the height of at least one of the front and back panels. The tray cover includes two end panels, with at least one end panel having at least one tab member for positioning between the articles and at least one of the front and back panels, respectively, to secure the tray cover within each of the at least two trays.

Abstract: Microstructures are ion milled in an existing layer by a process including forming a metal mask then milling in the presence of a reactive gas which combines with the metal to form a surface that mills at a lower rate than the metal alone. The metal mask is formed through wet etching, with a wet etch stop film preventing the existing layer from being attacked by the wet etchant. In a preferred embodiment, cobalt-zirconium-tantalum (CZT) is milled to form top poles for tape write heads. A gold. (Au) wet etch stop film is first applied to the CZT layer. Next, a titanium (Ti) layer is deposited. A photoresist mask is formed and the Ti is wet etched, producing a metal mask. Milling with nitrogen (N.sub.2) in the presence of argon (Ar) ions causes the exposed layer of Ti to form titanium nitride (TiN), which mills at a slower rate than Ti.

Abstract: An improved, spin-on, bead-lock filter which is particularly adapted for use as a high-pressure oil filter in a diesel engine is provided which comprises a housing containing a filter medium and having an inwardly deformed periphery, and a cover assembly including a cover plate and a retainer plate having mutually spaced apart outer edges for forming a recess that receives the inwardly deformed portion of the housing. A gasket is seated in the recess so that both a mechanical connection and a seal is formed between the cover assembly and the housing when the periphery of the housing is inwardly deformed pursuant to a bead rolling step in conformance with the assembly method of the invention.

Abstract: An orthopaedic implant is forged from a metallic body consisting of a cobalt-chromium alloy. The forged implant is descaled by blasting the implant with a particulate blasting agent at a momentum which is sufficient to remove scale formed on the implant during the forging step but insufficient to otherwise cause major structural surface deformation to the implant. The descaled implant is electro-chemical polished by submersing the implant in an acid bath having a temperature of between approximately 80.degree. F. and 90.degree. F. The acid bath includes approximately 45% sulfuric acid and 50% phosphoric acid. Direct current electrical power ranging between approximately 10 volts D.C. and 13 volts D.C. is applied to the implant. The polished implant is ultrasonically cleaned. The implant is inspected with a fluorescent penetrant to determine whether surface defects exist in the implant.

Abstract: A vacuum system comprises, as an integral assembly, a vacuum pump with drive motor, a purge valve, a roughing valve and an electronic control module. A cryogenic vacuum pump and a turbomolecular vacuum pump are disclosed. The control module has a programmed processor for controlling the motor and valves and is user programmable for establishing specific control sequences. The integral electronic control module is removable from the assembly and is connected to the other devices through a common connector assembly. In the turbomolecular pump system proper introduction of a purge gas through the purge valve is detected by detecting the current load on the pump drive or by detecting foreline pressure. To test the purge gas status, the purge valve may be closed and then opened as drive current or pressure is monitored. After power failure, the controller will continue normal drive of the turbomolecular pump so long as the speed of the pump has remained above a threshold value.

Abstract: A two stage input buffer substantially reduces propagation delay by triggering only off of the rising edge of the external clock signal, eliminating a pulse generator, and setting the pulse width via feedback through a fixed delay. An unbalanced driver reduces capacitance on the N-channel transistor. In a memory application, such as in a synchronous dynamic random access memory, access time is improved, margin is advantageously added to the hold time requirement, and driver fan out capabilities are improved.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of high yields of .delta.-lactones and 5-hydroxy fatty acids from unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid is disclosed. The .delta.-lactones may be produced by reacting one or more .DELTA..sup.9 to .DELTA..sup.15 unsaturated fatty acids in the presence of an acid catalyst and at a temperature between about 20 to 70.degree. C. Moreover, yields of the .delta.-lactones may be increased even further by reaction in the presence of dipolar, non-participating, non-aqueous solvents. The unsaturated fatty acids may be free or esterified with glycerol or other aliphatic alcohols, and the .delta.-lactones may be produced by reacting mono-, di- or triglycerides of the unsaturated fatty acids with the same catalysts. Because the .delta.-lactones may be produced from the triglycerides of unsaturated fatty acids, the instant process may be practiced using naturally occurring plant oils directly, without the need for any preliminary steps of saponification or steam splitting.

Abstract: A radiation curable coating composition for superconducting wires including at least one (meth)acrylate terminated urethane oligomer, at least one adhesion promoter, at least one (meth)acrylate functionalized diluent and at least one free radical photoinitiator. The coating composition is able to withstand repeated thermal cycling from the ambient temperature to the critical temperature of the superconducting wire and, because the composition is radiation cured, the superconducting wire is not heated, thus avoiding degrading the superconducting wire.

Abstract: A memory system configured to provide thermal regulation of a plurality of memory devices is disclosed. The memory system comprises a memory device coupled to a bus. Additionally, the memory system also comprises a controller coupled to the bus. The controller determines an operating temperature of the memory device. Based on the operating temperature of the memory device, the controller is further operable to manipulate the operation of the memory system.

Abstract: A back-up proximity sensor for a vehicle is formed with an array of sensor pairs. Each sensor pair includes a lower passive infrared sensor (PIR) having a first field of view and an upper PIR having a second field of view. Each lower PIR and upper PIR is vertically mounted with respect to one another. The lower PIR and upper PIR of each sensor pair are angularly directed such that the respective fields of view intersect, thereby establishing a detection zone in a region behind a vehicle. The sensor pairs are arranged in a substantially adjacent, semicircular configuration to provide a continuous area of coverage behind a vehicle. A detection circuit receives output signals from each sensor pair and generates an output signal indicative of a warm body being detected by both the upper and lower sensors in a selected sensor pair, eliminating false alarms generated by warm bodies outside the region of the desired detection zone.

Abstract: An optical sensor containing polarizing optical components measures fluorescence anisotropy of fluorescent dyes. The measurement involves the detection of vertical and horizontal components of fluorescent light. Using Glan-Taylor and Wollaston calcite polarizers, both vertical and horizontal components are collected by separate optical fibers and measured simultaneously using a two-channel photon counter. One application of this sensor is the measurement of molecular orientation during polymer processing. Two sensor head designs are described, one of which fits into the 1/2 inch instrumentation port in polymer processing machines. To carry out process monitoring, a fluorescent dye is mixed with a polymer resin at approximately 10 ppm by weight concentration. Dyes which have geometrical asymmetry in their molecular structure or are covalently bonded to the polymer molecule are usually used. The anisotropy measurement yields information about the orientation of the dye molecule in an oriented medium.