Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of producing such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides devices configured for vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition that is contained in a reservoir and transported to a heating element by a liquid transport element. The liquid transport element may include a porous monolith.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic reed switches are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Mounted above the plane of the reed switches but in close proximity thereto is an electromagnet. Stepping motors are capable of moving the electromagnet so as to overly any one of the reed switches. When the electromagnet is in position over a selected switch, it can be energized to selectively turn the switch on or off. A sensing circuit including a Hall effect transistor travels with the electromagnet and senses if the reed switch below the sensor is on or off.

Abstract: A signal switching system connects a plurality of parallel inputs to a plurality of parallel outputs. The inputs pass through a parallel-to-serial converter, and the resulting serial signal passes through a switching matrix. The output of the switching matrix is converted to parallel form in a serial-to-parallel converter. A flip-flop is disposed in the line between the switching matrix and the serial-to-parallel converter. The flip-flop receives and stores the output of the switching matrix, and transfers that output to the serial-to-parallel converter. The transferring occurs only when the flip-flop changes state, which is also when the switching matrix becomes rearranged. Separate but synchronized clock pulse signals control the rearrangement of the switching matrix and the switching of the flip-flop. The flip-flop isolates the switching matrix from the serial-to-parallel converter, and prevents switching transients from entering the output stream.

Abstract: A system for switching signals travelling between a first set of multicontact ports and a second set of multicontact ports, in which the signals at the contacts of each of the first ports are sampled by a parallel-to-serial multiplexer to form a corresponding single serial multiplexed signal. Each such serial multiplexed signal is applied to a matrix switch of the type having a switching device at each cross-point, and each of the output signals from the matrix switch is supplied to a serial-to-parallel demultiplexer. Each such demultiplexer supplies its reconstructed separate parallel signals to its associated port in the second set of ports. By controlling the conduction status of the switching devices in the matrix, the desired connection of each of the first set of ports to the desired one of the second set of ports is accomplished, with many fewer switching devices than would otherwise be required.

Abstract: A cable system for supplying information contained in a plurality of parallel signals on a first set of plug contacts of a first plug at a modem, to a second set of plug contacts of a second plug at a CPU, a remote terminal or the like, without requiring use of a large, expensive multiwire cable containing a wire for each signal. The cable system comprises a transmission line and two connector plug assemblies connected to opposite ends of the transmission line, one of the plug assemblies being adapted to mate with the plug contacts of the plug at the modem and the other to mate with the plug contacts at the CPU or remote terminal.

Abstract: Parallel signals which are to be converted to serial form by successive time-multiplex sampling are divided into two sets, a low-priority set which change relatively infrequently and hence require resampling at only a relatively low rate, and a high-priority set which can change more rapidly and hence require more prompt sampling upon the occurrence of a change in signal value. The low-priority signals are normally sampled and transmitted sequentially at a suitable relatively low rate, but upon the occurrence of a significant change in any of the set of high-priority signals, the sampling and transmission of the low-priority signals is automativelly interrupted and the high-priority signals are sampled and transmitted instead, after which sampling and transmission reverts to the low-priority signals. The net result is that a smaller transmission channel bandwidth can be used than if all signals were transmitted at a regular rate suitable for the high-priority signals.