Abstract: A method of spelling assessment includes identifying misspelled words; describing error patterns; analyzing, for a given spelling error, whether the target word is a base word or is derived or inflected; and assessing the student's phonological awareness, visual orthographic memory, orthographic knowledge, and morphological awareness skills based thereon. An embodiment of the method comprises aligning the student's misspelling with the corresponding letters in the correctly spelled target word. An apparatus implements the method.

Abstract: A method and device for conveying reams of paper, whereby a ream is conveyed by at least two conveyors arranged in series and connected to each other at a transfer station; and wherein at least a first of the two conveyors is an endless conveyor having at least one ream pusher and traveling at a first speed to feed a ream to the transfer station, where the ream is accelerated to a second speed greater than the first speed to detach itself from the pusher by a distance at least equal to the length of the pusher before leaving the first conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel hub having a cylindrical main body and a radial flange, with radial ribs extending between the outboard side of the radial flange and the outboard end of the main body.

Abstract: A jewelry gemstone setting includes an anchor gemstone and a touch gemstone that is held in place with no metal from the setting visible between the gemstones. The anchor gemstone is held in place using a conventional setting arrangement such as channel walls or prongs. The gemstones are positioned in the setting with the upper pavilion of the anchor gemstone overlapping and contacting the crown of the touch gemstone so that the contact between the gemstones holds the touch gemstone in place.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes at least one polarizer located interior or internally of substrates of the display. In certain embodiments, the polarizer may be spin-coated onto the interior of one of the substrates, preferably the passive substrate of the display. Such a polarizer may also be located interior of color filters on the copassive substrate. Thus, light being transmitted through the display proceeds through the front polarizer prior to being de-polarized by the color filters. The result is improved contrast ratios in the display due to the minimization of the de-polarizing of color filters. In certain embodiments, the internal polarizer(s) may be photo-patternable by way of ultraviolet photo-imaging.

Abstract: A jewelry ring has an inner band and an outer band rotatable about the inner band. The outer band has diametrically opposed decorative and counterbalance portions, the decorative portion including a decorative feature, such as a gemstone, and the counterbalance portion weighing more than the decorative portion, such that the decorative feature tends to rotate to face up regardless of the orientation of the wearer's hand.

Abstract: A normally white twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal display (LCD) outputs improved viewing characteristics which are defined by high contrast ratios and/or reduced inversion. The display includes a pair of negative tilted retarders located on opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer, each of the tilted retarders including a tilt or incline angle which varies throughout the thickness of the layer. Additionally, one or two negative uniaxial or biaxial retarders are provided. As a result of the particular orientations, alignments, and retardation values described in the different embodiments herein, the display exhibits improved contrast and reduced inversion, often in the same viewing areas. Contrast ratio in the positive vertical viewing zone is especially improved.

Abstract: A toy scanner is disclosed capable of scanning printed price indicators and audibly and visually displaying the scanned price. The price indicators are printed in carbon ink and the toy scanner includes a conductive rubber strip located on the reading face of the scanner for reading the carbon ink printed price indicators. The scanned price is visually displayed on an LCD display. The scanned price is audibly displayed by a voice synthesizer and loud speaker combination which “talks” the scanned price. A mute switch is included for turning off the talk feature. The scanner also includes a random number generator for generating a random price, which is also audibly and visually displayed, upon activation of a random price activation switch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for measuring blood pressure. Both include a first sensor for detecting an instantaneous pulse rate, an inflatable cuff, and a second sensor to monitoring the pressure within the cuff. The cuff sensor adapted to detect oscillometric complexes associated with a patient's pulse. Both the apparatus and the method provide for detecting arrhythmia from the patient's instantaneous pulse rate. A characteristic of the oscillometric complexes is measured, and match determination means provided for determining whether at least two adjacent oscillometric complexes are equivalent. A first set matching criteria are used under normal conditions. A second set of matching criteria are used when arrhythmia are detected. A controller is provided for controlling the pressure within the cuff. At the outset of a blood pressure measurement the cuff is inflated to a pressure greater than the patient's systolic pressure.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes at least one polarizer located interior or internally of substrates-of the display. In certain embodiments, the polarizer may be spin-coated onto the interior of one of the substrates, preferably the passive substrate of the display. Such a polarizer may also be located interior of color filters on the copassive substrate. Thus, light being transmitted through the display proceeds through the front polarizer prior to being de-polarized by the color filters. The result is improved contrast ratios in the display due to the minimization of the de-polarizing of color filters. In certain embodiments, the internal polarizer(s) may be photo-patternable by way of ultraviolet photo-imaging.

Abstract: A geometric construction device forms circles or arcs with a marking instrument and simultaneously measures angles. The device includes a radius arm and a rotatable member. The radius arm includes a means for receiving the marking instrument and a disc having a pivot point and being rotatable about the pivot point. The disc is used to attach the rotatable member to the radius arm. The rotatable member in combination with the radius arm forms a 360° protractor. The rotatable member has a plurality of radius holes in it for receiving the marking instrument. These radius holes may be used to form circles or arcs with the radius being less than or equal to the radius of the disc. The 360° protractor is capable of measuring degrees between 0° and 360° while circles or arcs are being formed.

Abstract: An automated sphygmomanometer which utilizes quality algorithms to stop any further analysis at various points during a blood pressure determination because of corrupted data. If the data is so corrupted that giving blood pressure numbers is inappropriate, this is recognized and the determination stopped. The quality algorithms make a decision to get more data with the hope of improving the blood pressure estimation. The request for data occurs both before and/or after a curve fitting process, if such a process is utilized. Some information is also provided to the cuff pressure control function about which pressure levels would be best for gathering the additional data. The quality algorithms are also used to make a decision as to whether it is appropriate to publish the blood pressure values obtained. Control parameters (weights) may be set within the blood pressure algorithm to help with other aspects of the NIBP algorithm and improve the quality of the final published numbers.

Abstract: This invention is related to an active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) or an X-ray imaging device having a high aperture ratio, and method of making same. The imager or display has an increased aperture ratio because electrodes are formed over dual insulating layers so as to overlap portions of the array address lines and/or TFTs. Both the manufacturability and capacitive crosstalk of the device are improved due to the use of a photo-imageable organic insulating layer between the pixel electrodes and the address lines. An intermediate inorganic insulating layer is provided between the photo-imageable organic insulating layer and the overlapped TFTs in order to prevent the organic insulating layer from directly contacting semiconductor material in the TFTs thereby reducing potential voltage swings.

Abstract: A water heating unit uses a voltage transformer type heating unit to heat water. The water flows from a water reservoir to a wound transformer where the water passes through metal tubing that is also the secondary winding of the transformer. The secondary winding is shorted and an erect-magnetic field induces a current in the transformer generating heat that heats the water flowing through the metal tubing. The turns of the primary winding of the heating unit can be separated with spacer material and a cooling fan can be included adjacent to the heating unit for forcing air in between the turns of the primary winding to remove excess heat.

Abstract: Jewelry and a method of setting gemstones in the jewelry include an anchor gemstone and a touch gemstone that is held in place with no metal from the setting visible between the gemstones. The anchor gemstone is held in place using a conventional setting arrangement such as channel walls or prongs. The gemstones are positioned in the setting with the upper pavilion of the anchor gemstone overlapping and contacting the crown of the touch gemstone so that the contact between the gemstones holds the touch gemstone in place.

Abstract: A signal enhancing and artifact reducing blood pressure cuff for use during the non-invasive measurement of blood pressure. The non-invasive blood pressure cuff has an inflatable bladder and a semi-rigid insert disposed over an outer side of the inflatable bladder for enhancing a blood pressure signal by reducing blood pressure signal attenuation. The semi-rigid insert also acts to reduce the effects of external artifact on the inflatable bladder of the blood pressure cuff. The blood pressure cuff has the insert disposed over the outer side of the inflatable bladder to substantially cover the inflatable bladder when the cuff is wrapped around the limb of the subject. An optional damping device made of an impact absorbing material may be disposed over the outer side of the insert to further reduce the effects of external artifacts. A pocket may be formed over the outer side of the cuff to hold the insert.

Abstract: A plastic bottle for spraying liquid has a liquid chamber defined by a sidewall. The sidewall terminates in a neck having a neck opening. A tube integrally formed alongside the sidewall leads from the bottom of the liquid chamber up to a nozzle. A top end of the tube is inclined away from the neck, and a squeeze bulb is in liquid communication with the tube. By squeezing the squeeze bulb, liquid is drawn from the liquid chamber, through the tube, and out through a nozzle attached to the top end of the tube.

Abstract: A toy convertible between a doll walker and an activity play board includes a base having at least one wheel, and activity components and a seat formed in a first main surface of the base. A pair of bosses project laterally from the sides of the base, and a pair of wheeled legs attach to the base by engaging the bosses in boss cavities and with a fastener. By selecting the appropriate boss cavities, the base can be either horizontally oriented or inclined relative to the horizontal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for applying torque to rotatable mechanical fasteners having variously sized outer circumferences, the device comprising a flat wrench plate with a central opening therein. The central opening includes notches of various sizes, and each notch is sized and shaped to fit around and engage a different sized nut or bolt. Between each pair of adjacent notches is a protrusion directed towards the center of the central opening. The flat wrench plate is mounted within and at one end of a short, hollow handle. Preferably, the wrench plate is generally circular and the hollow handle is a cylinder sized to fit easily within a user's hand so that the user can easily grip and rotate the handle. In one embodiment, a clear cover plate having an aperture therein is mounted within the cylindrical handle at the end opposite the wrench plate. In a different embodiment, another wrench plate with different sized notches is mounted in the handle opposite the first wrench plate.

Abstract: A hot water beverage maker uses a voltage transformer type heating unit to heat water flowing to the filtering vessel. The water flows from a water reservoir to a wound transformer where the water passes through metal tubing that is also the secondary winding of the transformer. The secondary winding is shorted. The water to be heated then flows to the filtering vessel that may contain coffee or tea. The water flows through the filtering vessel to a carafe for serving.