Abstract: A current sensing device and a residual current detection device are described having a temperature compensation capability so that residual current can be directly measured to a high degree of precision in the background of a high load current. The residual current device comprises a plurality of resistive shunts for connection in respective ones of a plurality of lines through which current can flow to and from a load, and a detector means sensitive to the voltage developed across each of the shunts to detect any imbalance between the currents flowing through the shunts.

Abstract: A residual current detection device comprising a plurality of resistive shunts for connection in respective ones of a plurality of lines though which current can flow to and from a load, and detector means sensitive to the voltage developed across each of the shunts to detect any imbalance between the currents flowing though the shunts.

Abstract: A photovoltaic mounting apparatus for use with a solar panel includes a base element having an elongated upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is structured for engagement with a rooftop by being positioning underneath the shingles of a rooftop and secured thereto through the apertures of the upper portion and/or lower portion of the base element. One or more support elements extend perpendicularly from the lower portion of the base element. A front plate is situated upon the support elements and is parallel to the base element and structured for engagement with the solar panel.

Abstract: A method for searching a database includes receiving a search criteria including a plurality of search elements corresponding to at least some of the record elements of a database. Each of the search elements is capable of returning one or more corresponding search results from the records of the database. The search elements of the search criteria are ordered based upon an expected size of the corresponding search results from the database. The database is searched with one of the search elements, which is expected to provide a first group of the search results, before searching the database with another one of the search elements, which is expected to provide a second, relatively larger sized group of the search results, thereby improving the efficiency of the database search.

Abstract: A method for conducting a financial transaction corresponding to a good or service includes providing a plurality of first credit or debit devices; associating a universal identifier with each of the first credit or debit devices; associating one of the first credit or debit devices with a plurality of second credit or debit cards; employing the one of the first credit or debit devices to initiate the financial transaction; selecting one of the second credit or debit cards based upon the unique identifier and the good or service; and employing the selected one of the second credit or debit cards to conclude the financial transaction.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject for medical conditions includes causing light to impinge on at least one eye of the subject, directing reflected light from such light beam to photosensors, converting the received reflected light to corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a processor. Processing the signals by effecting a comparison between stored information regarding the medical condition and the data provided by the monitoring to determine if an undesired medical condition exists and, if so, communicating such result. The cycle is repeated at predetermined intervals which may be short or prolonged. The method may be employed for a wide variety of medical conditions and preferably is employed with frequent cyclic monitoring for conditions such as miosis, carbon monoxide poisoning, and blood flow related conditions. A related apparatus is provided.

Abstract: An electromagnetic antenna for a non-planar surface includes a flexible printed circuit board having three or four conductive levels. The flexible printed circuit board is adapted to conform to the non-planar surface and includes a plurality of electrical connections between the conductive levels and a plurality of electrical traces on the conductive levels. The electrical connections and the electrical traces form a first helix having a first helical pitch sense from a first node to a second node, and also form a second helix having a second helical pitch sense, which is opposite from the first helical pitch sense, from a third node to a fourth node. The first and second helices are contrawound relative to each other. First and second signal terminals are provided and are electrically connected with at least one of the nodes.

Abstract: A photovoltaic mounting apparatus for use with a solar panel includes a base element having an elongated upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is structured for engagement with a rooftop by being positioning underneath the shingles of a rooftop and secured thereto through the apertures of the upper portion and/or lower portion of the base element. One or more support elements extend perpendicularly from the lower portion of the base element. A front plate is situated upon the support elements and is parallel to the base element and structured for engagement with the solar panel.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a sample holder for a sample and an ionizer for ionizing the sample to form ions. A first element is spaced downstream from the sample holder, a second element is spaced downstream from the first element, and a drift region is downstream of the second element. An electric field is established between the sample holder and the first element at a time subsequent to ionizing the sample in order to extract the ions. A time-dependent and mass-correlated electric field is established between at least one of: (a) the first element and the second element, and (b) the sample holder and the first element. In turn, a detector detects the ions.

Abstract: A solid state code following track relay receives pulsating rail current from a railway code transmitter. The track relay includes first and second inputs structured to receive the rail current. Two Hall effect digital current sensors each have a coil and an output, which responds to current flowing through the coil. The coils of the current sensors are electrically connected in series between the first and second inputs and are structured to receive the rail current. The outputs of the current sensors are structured to turn on and off in response to the rail current. A circuit including dual one-shot multivibrators, which are triggered by positive and negative going edges from the respective current sensors, and a flip-flop, which is set and reset by the outputs of the respective multivibrators, determines that each of the current sensors is functional. Two solid state outputs are structured to follow the rail current.

Abstract: A switch machine electronic controller includes a point detecting circuit having Namur sensors for detecting an indication rod target in first and second point positions, and a lock detecting circuit having Namur sensors for detecting a lock box target in first and second lock positions. A microprocessor processes the signals to provide Normal and Reverse outputs. The Normal output is enabled when the first point and lock detection signals have values within a predetermined ON value range, and the second point and lock detection signals have values within a predetermined OFF value range. The reverse output is enabled when the second point and lock detection signals have values within the ON value range, and the first point and lock detection signals have values within the OFF value range. Both outputs are disabled when any of the signals has a value that corresponds to a shorted, open or indeterminate value range.

Abstract: A suitcase has first rollers mounted thereon to at least partially support the suitcase when in an upright position and to enable rolling movement of the suitcase across a surface. The first end of an arm is pivotally mounted to a rigid body portion of the suitcase. Second rollers are mounted about adjacent to the second end of the arm to enable rolling movement of the suitcase across the surface. A first link is pivotally mounted to the rigid body portion, and a second link is pivotally mounted to the first link and the arm. The arm is alternately retractable to a retracted position about adjacent to a rear panel of the suitcase, and deployable to a deployed position spaced outwardly from the rear panel. The first and second rollers cooperate to fully support the suitcase when the second rollers are deployed and the suitcase is in a rolling position. A push/pull handle is mounted on the suitcase to enable a user to roll the suitcase across the surface.

Abstract: A passive detection system for a levitated vehicle includes track circuits. Each track circuit includes a detection loop having a cable with a first end, a length and a second end. The track circuit also includes a transmitter electrically connected to the first end of the cable and adapted to source a current to the detection loop, and a receiver electrically connected to the second end of the cable and adapted to sense the current from the detection loop. An inductor core includes two openings adapted to receive the length of the cable and two openings adapted to avoid the first and second ends of the cable. The inductor core is adapted to change the sensed current of the receiver, in order to detect a presence of the levitated vehicle at the detection loop. A member is adapted to support the inductor core from the vehicle.

Abstract: A defibrillator, which selectively delivers a defibrillation pulse to a patient, includes electrodes adapted for placement on the patient, a monitoring circuit for providing an electrocardiogram (ECG) of the patient, and a defibrillation pulse generator having an energy store for delivering a defibrillation pulse. A switch in electrical communication with the ECG monitoring circuit and the defibrillation pulse generator selectively electrically connects the monitoring circuit and the defibrillation pulse generator to the electrodes. A microprocessor is in electrical communication with the monitoring circuit, the defibrillation pulse generator, and the switch. The microprocessor causes the switch to electrically connect the monitoring circuit to the electrodes in order to provide the ECG of the patient. The microprocessor also determines a scaling exponent for the patient from the ECG thereof.

Abstract: An electromagnetic antenna includes a multiply connected surface, such as a toroidal surface; first and second insulated conductors; and first and second signal terminals. The first insulated conductor extends around and over the surface with a first pitch or winding sense from a first node to a second node. The second insulated conductor also extends around and over the surface with a second pitch or winding sense, which is opposite from the first pitch or winding sense, from a third node to a fourth node. The first and second insulated conductors are contrawound relative to each other around and over the surface. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the nodes is open. In other embodiments of the invention, the signal terminals are structured for connection to a cooperative antenna structure.

Abstract: A container has a wall member; a front panel; and a rear panel generally parallel to and spaced apart from the front panel. The front and rear panels are connected about their peripheries to the wall member which extends between the front and rear panels to define a volume. The rear panel, the front panel and the wall member is a unitary, blow molded member including a generally rigid shell, and a plurality of flexible membranes each of which has a periphery and a surface. The periphery of the flexible membranes is bonded to the generally rigid shell. The surfaces of the flexible membranes are separated from the generally rigid shell to form a plurality of unbonded areas between the surfaces of the flexible membranes and the generally rigid shell. Air is contained within the unbonded areas, thereby forming a plurality of air pockets between the flexible membranes and the generally rigid shell.

Abstract: A method of transesophageal magnetic resonance analysis of a patient, such as an animal or human, includes providing a loopless antenna formed from a flexible coaxial cable having an extended center conductor at the distal end thereof. A distal portion of the loopless antenna is secured within a Levin-type gastric tube. The gastric tube which receives the loopless antenna is inserted in the esophagus of the patient. A tuning, matching and decoupling circuit for the loopless antenna is employed external to the patient. The tuning, matching and decoupling circuit is electrically connected to a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The magnetic resonance imaging scanner is employed to display an image of the aorta of the patient.

Abstract: A method of point detection is for use with a railway switch machine including a housing, a point detector bar positionable in a normal point position and a reverse point position, and a slide lock bar positionable in a normal locked position and a reverse locked position. The method includes providing point detecting sensors in the housing adjacent the point detector bar; detecting with the point detecting sensors the position of the point detector bar; generating by the point detecting sensors a point detection signal representative of the position of the point detector bar; and delivering the point detection signal to a processing device for determining if the point detector bar is in the normal point position, the reverse point position, or in neither the normal point position nor the reverse point position.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus for a reversible motor of a railway switch machine includes a conditional power source having an output voltage. A motor control circuit includes inputs for inputting the voltage from the power source, inputs for inputting a normal signal and a reverse signal, two output terminals for electrical connection to two input terminals of the reversible motor, and a relay logic circuit including a pair of double pole, double throw relays. The contacts of these relays: (a) output the voltage to the two output terminals in response to the normal signal, (b) output an inverted polarity of the voltage to the two output terminals in response to the reverse signal, and (c) short the two output terminals in response to absence of both of the normal and reverse signals.