Abstract: A screen for a vibrating material sorting apparatus of the type used to sort material in mining operations and the like has a plurality of rows and columns of trapezoidal apertures formed through it. The apertures are oriented so that the narrowest end first encounters material moving down the screen. The apertures are further tapered in cross section, and flare outwardly from the top surface of the screen to the bottom surface. In addition, each of the apertures slopes at an angle which is selected to be the same as the degree of incline of the screen when it is mounted in a vibrating material sorting apparatus.

Abstract: A pair of rigid, spaced apart arms (30,31)extend outwardly to one side from the upper end of an upright, tiltable frame 20 and a pair of spaced apart wheels 40 extend outwardly to the one side from the lower end of the upright frame for transportably supporting the frame on a flat surface. A rigid lever arm 50 and rest 60 affixed to the frame extend from the other side of the upright frame. The spacing between the arms and wheel supports is predetermined to allow the arms to be engaged underneath the upper rim adjacent the widest diameter of a standard, hot, sealed, 55 gallon drum filled with cooked food products and liquid by raising the lower arm and moving the arms into position under the rim until a restraining strap contacts the drum cylindrical wall.

Abstract: An adjustable chair for supporting a human body including a base having a first body supporting element and a second body supporting element disposed in angular, telescoping, and diverging relation relative to one another and being telescopingly and divergingly adjustable from a first position encompassing a first seating area, a first seating height, and a first back support height, and a second position encompassing a second larger seating area, a second higher seating height, and a second higher back support height.

Abstract: Scan code generation for portable personal computers (PCs) using a matrix keyboard operates to produce keyboard output scan codes corresponding to IBM.RTM. compatible PC/AT scan codes. Key numbers are assigned to one or the other of two classes (simple and complex). Two classes of scan code translation tables (simple and complex) are stored in memory, either ROM or internal RAM memory. Whenever a simple key is operated, the simple table is accessed. The complex scan code table is addressed, in accordance with a set of seven edit rules, utilized in conjunction with the state of operation of multiple keys on the keyboard, to determine the appropriate translation. All of the logic needed to generate the necessary scan codes is collapsed into a structured table-driven mechanism.

Abstract: A system is employed for providing two different levels of protection for cryptographic devices transmitting digital information. The system is independent of the cryptographic algorithm used and works with any keyed cryptographic algorithm. High grade encryption is used for data transmitted from the transmitter device and employs an encryption key of "Y" bits. This information is decrypted at the receiver by a decryption circuit also having a "Y" key size. At the receiver, return information is encrypted by an encryption key having "X" bits, where X=Y-Z, with Z being a variable. The low grade information encrypted at the receiver is supplied back to the transmitter, which incorporates a decryption circuit having an "X" key size for decrypting the lower grade information.

Abstract: A method and system for testing a digital counter of mn bits comprises dividing the counter into m segments, each of n bits. For test purposes, the counter then is further divided into first and second m segment groups. Multiplex gates are used between the segments and are controlled by sensing the condition of the most significant bits of the most significant one of the m segments for applying clock pulses to verify specific connections between various bits of the counter for the first four cycles of clock pulses applied during the test mode. After these four cycles, gating circuits coupled with the most significant bits of the most significant one of the m segments are used to automatically switch the remainder of the test connections to the second group to verify all of the remaining connections in the counter, with full testing of the counter being accomplished in 2.sup.n +2 cycles of clock pulses.

Abstract: A device for use in evacuating fluid from a tubular refrigerant line comprises an elongated hollow tubular frame, which has a line seating extension attached to an open end of the frame and spaced from the end for engaging a refrigerant line in a position centered at right angles to the central axis of the elongated tubular frame. A reciprocating hollow inner tube is mounted for movement within the hollow frame and it has a piercing point on one end for movement into and out of engagement with a refrigerant line seated in the line seating extension. A resilient seal surrounds the piercing point for movement with it; and a cam mounted on the frame is used to move the inner tube to cause the piercing point to engage and pierce a refrigerant line located in the line seating extension.

Abstract: In a multi-station machine (10) each station (23,24,25,26) is configured to receive through a gate (90) of a drum encircling holder (50) a sealed 55 gallon drum (200) full of hot cooked food which is supported about its periphery at its midpoint (203) between its two central ribs (201,204) on a plurality of vertical padded (58) stanchions (55,71,84,91) affixed to the drum encircling holder. The holder is rotatably supported (52,81) at its sides in a support frame (40). A variety of pulley drives (110,130,150,160) connect to a central drive (100,105) to rotate each holder (and drum) independently of all others, or in linked fashion, as desired. Cold water (306,307) is sprayed (300) on each rotating drum from individual overhead sprayers (302,303,304) for each station.

Abstract: A solar steam generator has a hollow steam rotor mounted for rotation in a closed compartment located within a larger housing. The rotor is made of heat conductive material and is supplied with water or other working fluid through an inlet at its central hub. A plurality of steam jet outlets are located around the periphery of the rotor; and they are oriented to cause the rotor to spin as the water or working fluid inside is heated to a boiling temperature. To cause the fluid in the rotor to boil, Fresnel lenses, located in an open end of the housing, focus heat from the sun onto the rotor and the chamber in which it is located. Steam and fluid which exit from the nozzles is recovered in the sealed chamber and is returned through a condenser-reservoir, from which it is supplied back to the water inlet of the rotor.

Abstract: A therapeutic massage mask comprises an elongated resilient plastic pouch having a length and width which is greater than the thickness thereof. The pouch is filled with a plurality of spherical balls made of a thermal transfer material, such as hard plastic, ceramic, or hollow spheres filled with BLUE ICE.RTM. material. The pouch is placed in a freezer to lower the temperature of the balls located within it. Subsequently, the pouch then may be applied to overlie a portion of the human body and a gentle rolling action on the side of the pouch opposite the body causes the balls to transfer a massaging action to the portion of the body underlying the pouch. At the same time, the balls function to cool the underlying body portion, thereby serving a dual function.

Abstract: A hair styling system for use with a forced air electric hair dryer constitutes a coupler having a tubular section for receiving the end of an electric hair dryer. This section supports a smaller axially aligned concentric tubular section, with the two sections attached to one another by angularly disposed spacers. Apertures between the spacers permit air to flow over the outside of the smaller tubular section of the coupler. The unattached end of the smaller tubular section extends beyond the larger section and is tapered inwardly toward its central axis. Additional parts of the system include elongated hollow tubular bodies which are closed at one end and open at the other. The open end has an outwardly flared nozzle receiving flange for fitting over the tapered nozzle from the smaller tubular section of the coupler. The tubular bodies have spaced apertures through them at predetermined intervals along their length and about their periphery.

Abstract: A dynamic arbitration system for controlling the data transfer between primary and secondary buses in a personal computer has master and target components on both buses. Primary and secondary bus arbiters are included in a bridge circuit, and initially operate independently of one another in a concurrent arbitration mode of operation. This avoids primary bus interruption for secondary-to-secondary transfers and optimizes the primary bus bandwidth. Whenever a secondary-to-primary bus data transfer cycle is detected, the bridge circuit switches the primary and secondary bus arbiters to an interlocked mode of operation. The interlocked arbitration mode of operation is maintained until the next secondary-to-secondary cycle is detected; whereupon the bridge circuit causes the primary and secondary bus arbiters to be switched back to the concurrent arbitration mode of operation.

Abstract: A composition for reducing snoring and reducing allergy and sinus symptoms uses natural enzymes and herbs. The enzymes include protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase combined with acerola and yellowdock in a natural fiber base, preferably made of beet plant fiber. The formula preferably is administered in capsules or tablets, with doses administered according to the weight of the user.

Abstract: A multi-purpose keyboard controller includes a matrix keyboard control circuit, a serial keyboard control circuit, a PC/AT port control circuit, and an external interface for RTC control. These control circuits are coupled in parallel with the interface logic of the computer system and use the built-in SMI interrupt mechanism of the computer system for reading and writing the keyboard or capturing keypress events. Software BIOS setup is employed to select one of the keyboard control circuits for utilization with the particular personal computer with which the system is employed. The interrupt scheme used by the keyboard interface uses SMI interrupts to the processor and SMI based software routines to read and write the values to and from the keyboard, thereby eliminating the need for dedicating a special hardware interrupt level; so that the system remains compatible with the DOS PC/AT Port 60/64h software interface.

Abstract: A method for improving the setup time of an integrated circuit tester when a device under test is to be tested includes maintaining the voltage settings for supply voltage (Vdd), voltage input low level (VIL), voltage output low level (VOL), voltage input high level (VIH), and voltage output high level (VOH) in a DRAM memory in the tester. Consequently, the tester data base keeps the image of the last hardware setup, which was used to operate a test sequence on a device under test (DUT). To reduce the time for effecting an integrated circuit test on a new test, the software code for the new test compares the various voltage settings for the new test with the stored voltage settings for the last hardware setup. No hardware operating changes are made whenever the compared voltage settings agree; and only voltage settings which are incorrect are changed in the hardware in a sequential comparison of the various voltages. This software check and comparison takes place in micro-seconds or nanoseconds.

Abstract: A shared keyboard and system ROM uses a single ROM for both the keyboard and the system operating system information (BIOS). The shared ROM is never simultaneously used for both of these functions. At initial boot-up, the system processor executes from the shared ROM to copy the system BIOS information to the system Random Access Memory DRAM. Once this copying has been completed, the shared ROM then is used by the keyboard subsystem. Different address ranges are employed in the shared ROM for the keyboard information and for the system BIOS.

Abstract: A transportation system is adapted for transporting and removing roll on/roll off containers from a trailer surface. A tractor having a fifth wheel is used to tow the trailer. The tractor carries a supplemental platform, which is placed over the fifth wheel area to permit transfer of a container from the trailer onto the platform of the towing tractor for transportation of the container to a delivery site. The container and tractor also include mating members to permit raising one end of the container relative to the other to facilitate dumping of the contents from the container while it is carried on the supplemental platform on the tractor. A specific form of container, particularly suitable for use in the transportation system, is a double walled, insulated container for carrying hot mix asphalt.

Abstract: A method and system for programming vROM programmable memories using antifuses fabricated from undoped amorphous silicon as a high resistance link or layer between two metal layers. Whenever a programming voltage higher than a normal operating voltage is applied across the link between the two metal layers, the resistance of the link is reduced by transforming the insulating amorphous silicon into conducting polysilicon. This causes a closed or conductive link to be formed between the two metal layers. In the programming of the vROM, current is actively pumped to the link; and a current measurement or check is made prior to the application of the programming voltage to determine whether the link already has been programmed. Immediately following the application of the programming voltage, the current through the link again is checked to determine proper programming of the link.

Abstract: A flotation device designed to support a person in a partially submerged position in a body of water includes a long narrow flexible main body member made of buoyant closed cell foam material. A first cylindrical float section, made of the same material, is attached to one end of the main body member. A second cylindrical section, also made of the same buoyant material, has a slot in it and slides over the second end of the main body member to frictionally engage the main body member to locate the second float section at various positions between the first and second ends of the main body member.