Abstract: A tie 24 seals an outer bag 26 and an inner line bag 28 of a container. The inner liner bag 28 is fed into a tubular discharge chute 30 and the tubular end of the outer liner bag is passed over the outside of a chute 30 to extend over an inflatable seal 32. Then two opposed pinch bars 34 on either side of the container, just below the tie 24, are actuated by pneumatic cylinders 36 to move towards each other and to pinch the inner and outer bags 26 and 28 just below the tie. Then a seal 32 is inflated to urge the seal against the inner face of the outer bag. Then the tie 24 is removed and the pinch bars are retracted before moving the chute 30 downwardly by retracting pneumatic cylinders 38 to take the lower end of the outer bag downwardly.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring digital computer software and data from one digital computer to one or more digital computers through a network of electrical connections between the two or more digital computers. An installation agent is established at each target machine and software to be transferred is placed within a software package, wherein the software package includes the software and installation commands for installing the software. The software package package is transferred to each target machine and installed by alerting the installation agent that a software package has arrived and executing commands within the installation agent to send an install message to the software package, wherein the install message causes the software package to execute the installation commands.

Abstract: An electric power steering control for a motor vehicle reduces motor torque ripple and road generated disturbances communicated to the vehicle handwheel while promoting system stability. In deriving an output command torque signal to the EPS motor, the control (1) derives an electric motor speed signal, (2) differentiates the electric motor speed signal, (3) stores a schedule of gain as an increasing function of electric motor torque, (4) modifies the differentiated estimated electric motor speed signal in response to the gain to provide a damping correction value and (5) derives the output command signal responsive to the damping correction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel affinity ligand-matrix conjugates comprising a ligand with the general formula (a) ##STR1## which ligand is attached to a support matrix in position (A), optionally through a spacer arm interposed between the matrix and ligand. The invention furthermore relates to these novel affinity ligand-matrix conjugates and the preparation and use thereof in the purification of proteinaceous materials such as e.g. immunoglobulins, insulins, Factor VII, or human Growth Hormone or analogues, derivatives and fragments thereof and precursors.

Abstract: A hand-held pneumatic impact tool and method of controlling the same for use in fine hand working operations includes a handpiece, a foot-operated flow control valve and a hand operated flow control needle valve. The handpiece includes a housing having a cavity and annular shoulder accommodating a stepped piston dividing the cavity into three chambers. The design provides a means to oscillate a piston without delivering impacts and to oscillate the piston with varying amounts of impact energy.

Abstract: A vehicle power steering system uses an electric motor to drive a pump at a variable speed to provide power steering fluid at a variable flow for power assist to operator steering efforts. The system has a speed control for the electric motor which derives a command speed signal from an input load signal, the speed being switched in a switching region of the power steering fluid pressure signal between a low speed for standby operation and a higher speed to supply the power steering operation demands. The system includes sensor apparatus for providing a power steering load signal and a power steering fluid temperature sensor. The speed control derives the input load signal in the switching region by modifying the power steering load signal in response to the power steering fluid temperature sensor and a motor speed signal to compensate for temperature and speed dependent losses.

Abstract: Providing encapsulated electronic components on a circuit board by providing dams on a circuit board around areas on which respective electronic components will be mounted, mounting the respective electronic components within the dams on the circuit board, and printing encapsulating material through a stencil in order to provide deposits of encapsulating material over the electronic components and within the dams.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for avidin immobilized on an inert support material, e.g. agarose, are disclosed. The compositions have high activity levels of avidin and may further include a bulking agent, e.g., maltose, and a protectant to maintain the stability and integrity of the avidin agarose during lyophilization and terminal sterilization processes. These compositions have applicability in any instance where avidin agarose and/or the avidin/biotin technology are useful. In particular, the present compositions are useful in an enzyme capture system to prepare fibrin monomer useful for fibrin sealants. The fibrin is prepared by subjecting a fibrinogen-containing composition to a biotinylated enzyme to convert the fibrinogen in the composition to a corresponding fibrin monomer. A fibrin monomer/biotinylated enzyme mixture is formed.

Abstract: A non reciprocal optical device for transmitting light in a forward and reverse direction substantially independently of polarization state from a collection of waveguides. The device includes: a first array of spaced apart waveguides having at least a first wave guide and a second waveguide; a second array of spaced apart waveguides including at least a third waveguide; an imaging component for focusing a diverging beam of light disposed between the first array and the second array of waveguides, at least two polarization equalization components for polarization equalization of diverging or converging light, each of the polarization equalization components disposed between a waveguide array and the imaging component; add a plurality of polarization rotation components disposed between each waveguide array. Light from the first waveguide is transmitted to the third waveguide and light from the third waveguide is transmitted to the second waveguide in a polarization independent manner.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor modifies motor commutation events to reduce noise by providing overlapping activation of the switch being deactivated with the switch being newly activated so that three switches are temporarily activated. The newly activated switch is pulse width modulated with a motor torque controlling duty cycle, and the switch being deactivated is pulse width modulated synchronously with the newly activated switch but with a duty cycle decreasing from the torque controlling duty cycle. The decreasing modulation of the switch being deactivated allows a slower current decrease in the phase turning off to reduce or eliminate the disturbances, and thus the noise. The decreasing modulation is preferably exponential in manner, with a time constant varying inversely with motor speed so that the duty cycle reaches a predetermined minimum in a predetermined maximum number of motor electrical degrees.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for avidin or protein having affinity for biotin immobilized on an inert support material, e.g., agarose, are disclosed. The compositions have high activity levels for binding biotin and may include a bulking agent, e.g., maltose, and a protectant to maintain the stability and integrity of the composition during lyophilization and terminal sterilization processes. The compositions have applicability in any instance where avidin agarose and/or the avidin/biotin technology are useful. In particular, the present compositions are useful in an enzyme capture system to prepare fibrin monomers useful for fibrin sealants.

Abstract: An applicator article and method are disclosed for inserting a substance into a body cavity. The applicator article and method are especially useful for inserting a catamenial tampon into a woman's vagina. The applicator article includes a tubular member formed from at least one layer of paper which has an exterior surface. The tubular member is capable of holding the substance which is to be inserted. An exterior surface coating of the tubular member includes a compostable coating composed of at least 85 percent by weight of a polymeric material, at least 10 percent by weight of additives, and up to about 5 percent by weight of a residual monomer. In one embodiment, a plurality of layers form the exterior surface coating. In one embodiment, the exterior surface coating has a thickness varying in dimension from the insertion end to the opposite external base end.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip is fabricated as several circuit modules that are synchronized with a clock signal, by the following steps. Initially, a hardware description language is used to describe a functional behavior for a first module on the chip which generates an intermodule signal, and describe a functional behavior for a second module on the chip which processes the intermodule signal. Thereafter, a slow circuit embodiment of the first module is synthesized with port timing constraints which permit the intermodule signal to be generated in twice the cycle time T.sub.CY of the clock signal, and a slow circuit embodiment of the second module is synthesized with port timing constraints which permit the intermodule signal to be processed in twice the cycle time of the clock. Then, a timing analysis program is run on the slow circuit embodiment of the first and second modules to thereby obtain a first delay .DELTA..sub.1 in which the intermodule signal is actually generated, and obtain a second delay .

Abstract: A brushless DC motor has a permanent magnet rotor comprising p magnetic poles and a stator having an integer multiple of 6*p*n slots containing windings, n being a positive, non-zero integer, and the poles and slots being skewed by one slot pitch with respect to each other. The windings in the slots are electrically connected in two separate groups of three-phase windings with each group having three phase terminals, the windings of each group being distributed in phase belts occupying alternate sectors of 30 electrical degrees and the windings of the first group alternating with the windings of the second group. Since the trapezoidal back EMF voltage curve has a wider top it exhibits less droop, compared with an equivalent three-phase brushless DC motor of the prior art, over the 60 electrical degree period centered on maximum back EMF in which torque producing current is applied.

Abstract: A vehicle power steering system uses an electric motor to drive a pump at a variable speed to provide power steering fluid at a variable flow for power assist to operator steering efforts. The system has a speed control for the electric motor which derives a command speed signal from a power steering load signal, senses motor speed and controls electric power to the motor in response thereto to vary the speed of the electric motor in the direction of the command speed signal. In a switching region of the power steering fluid pressure signal, the speed control switches between a low speed for standby operation and a higher speed to supply the power steering operation demands. The speed control modifies the switch-point load value in response to the power steering fluid temperature sensor to compensate for temperature dependent losses. Separate switch-points are preferably provided for increasing and decreasing power steering load to provide hysteresis; and both switch-points are preferably compensated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for polishing a semiconductor wafer using a polishing pad. Circumferential rings of alternating compressibility of hard and soft/sponge-like material are located in the polishing pad. The concentric rings may also be located off-center from the geometric center of the polishing pad.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for avidin immobilized on an inert support material, e.g., agarose, are disclosed. The compositions have high activity levels of avidin and may further include a bulking agent, e.g., maltose, and a protectant to maintain the stability and integrity of the avidin agarose during lyophilization and terminal sterilization processes. A dry composition, and wet compositions such as a gel, slurry or suspension having avidin immobilized on an inert support material are disclosed. The dry composition has at least 1000 biotin binding units of activity, and the wet compositions have at least 50 units of binding activity. These compositions have applicability in any instance where avidin agarose and/or the avidin/biotin technology are useful. In particular, the present compositions are useful in an enzyme capture system to prepare fibrin monomer useful for fibrin sealants.

Abstract: A memory management system and method of managing a memory system are disclosed. The memory management system includes a plurality of physical storage media and a memory manager for generating virtual storage devices or "stores," with one or more first storage devices each having a corresponding first mapping plug-in, or device driver, associated with the plurality of physical storage media. Each first device driver scans its corresponding first storage device to determine its partitioning format and generates one or more second virtual storage devices from a partition map stored in the partitioning plug-in, or partition manager, associated with the corresponding first storage device, each second virtual storage device having one or more second partitioning formats, a second partition manager and second device driver. The first and second partition managers are independent of the first and second device drivers.

Abstract: An optical filter, comprising a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide and means for expanding light from the first optical waveguide into a beam, and at least one optical flat inserted partially into the beam so that a fraction of the light passes through each optical flat and a means for focussing the light into the second optical waveguide. In its simplest form the device has a Mach-Zehnder (sinusoidal) transmission characteristic. The filter can be tuned both in wavelength and extinction either mechanically or electrically. More complex (non-sinusoidal) characteristic can also be obtained.

Abstract: A tampon applicator is disclosed which includes first and second telescopically assembled members. The first member is designed to house an absorbent tampon. The first member has first and second spaced apart ends and is formed from at least two separate and distinct layers. An insertion tip is integrally formed on the first end of the first member and extends outwardly therefrom. The insertion tip is constructed from at least one of the two distinct layers and has a thickness which is less than that of the first member. The second member is telescopically mounted in the second end of the first member and is adapted to expel the tampon through the insertion tip as it is pushed into the first member.