Abstract: A method of forming metallization patterns on a block of dielectric material wherein the entire surface area of the dielectric block is encased with a conductive material and unwanted conductive metal is ablatively etched from a designated surface area of the dielectric block to form desired metallized circuit patterns.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing a visual indication of receipt of an electronic message by changing the color of at least a portion of a display formed of liquid crystal according to the message received. A first circuit receives an incoming signal, a second circuit identifies the incoming signal by comparing the incoming signal with stored signals, and a third circuit causes a predetermined voltage to be coupled to a predetermined area of the liquid crystal to cause the predetermined area to assume a predetermined color to call attention to the incoming message.

Abstract: A timepiece that has an LCD face that changes color when the time changes between the A.M. and the P.M. to provide a pleasing esthetic appearance to the user. Further, the timepiece may have a manual control such as a button that may be depressed to cause the LCD face to change to any one of several colors as desired by the user.

Abstract: A dual time piece having at least two clock faces thereon with each clock face having indicia thereon that enable the user to determine whether the time displayed by each time piece represents time before noon or time after noon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dielectric ceramic composition comprising a base material represented by the general formula: (x) Al2O3+(y) TiO2, where x and y are percentages of the total weight of the base material, with x being in the range of about 60 to about 96 and y being in the range of about 4 to about 40. Also provided is a first additive material comprising Nb2O5 and a second additive material comprising BaZrO3. In another embodiment the present invention provides a sintered dielectric ceramic composition comprising a base material represented by the general formula: (x) Al2O3+(y) TiO2, where x and y are percentages of the total weight of the base material, with x being in the range of about 60 to about 96 and y being in the range of about 4 to about 40. Also provided is a first additive material comprising Nb2O5 and a second additive material comprising BaZrO3.

Abstract: A method of forming metallization patterns on a block of dielectric material wherein the entire surface area of the dielectric block is encased with a conductive material and unwanted conductive metal is ablatively etched from a designated surface area of the dielectric block to form desired metallized circuit patterns. The invention also comprises a filter and a duplexer formed by the method of the present invention.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting when birds are in a birdhouse with a heat sensor and illuminating a lamp to give a visual indication of the presence of the bird. A second portion of the circuit gives a visual indication when the bird enters or leaves the birdhouse.

Abstract: An improved method of playing a card game with a deck of cards having specialty cards that, when played on a penalty card, either transfer the penalty required by the penalty card to the suceeding player, return the penalty required by the penalty card to the preceding player, or cancel the penalty required by the penalty card.

Abstract: In an automation system for a mixing and dispensing apparatus, different colors of granite granules are placed into different silos. Dampers and proportion gates on the bottom of the silos permit specific proportions of different granite colors to fall and mix on a conveyor. The granite color combination is transported through a bucket elevator to a lazy susan and from the lazy susan into a selected bin. A second combination of granite colors is then mixed by adjusting selected proportion gates and opening and closing selected dampers. The second color combination is transferred through the lazy susan to a second selected bin. Any number of color combinations can be made and transferred to selected bins. The granite color combinations from the several bins are then applied to an asphalt-coated fiberglass mat through a dispensing apparatus on the bottom of the selected bins. The entire process is automated and controlled through logic circuitry.

Abstract: An improved deck of cards having specialty cards that, when played on a penalty card, either transfer the penalty required by the penalty card to the succeeding player, return the penalty required by the penalty card to the preceding player, or cancel the penalty required by the penalty card.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator circuit having an amplifier coupled in series with a feedback circuit and having adjustable voltage means coupled to the phase shifting element means for varying the phase shift of the phase shifting element output signal thereby varying the frequency of oscillation of the oscillator circuit.

Abstract: A phase shift oscillator formed with a surface acoustic wave coupled resonator in series with an amplifier and wherein the coupled resonator has a substantially 180.degree. phase shift occurring between the 3dB points of the frequency response curve of the coupled resonator.

Abstract: A superregenerative detector utilizing a single transistor and having a surface acoustic wave device in the feed back loop coupling the output to the input to cause oscillation wherein the surface acoustic wave device is a low loss delay line formed as a single phase unidirectional transducer on a quartz substrate.