Abstract: A coping apparatus facilitating a coped or straight cut through molding by using a stylus to trace the molding being cut to guide the cutter with adjustability for wall-to-ceiling, wall-to-floor, wall-to-wall, and/or backcut angles is presented. The apparatus includes a rotatable holder assembly, a rotatable cutter assembly, a rotatable platform, and a base element. The rotatable holder assembly includes a two-axis positioning system and allows for adjustment to left or right, straight or coped cuts and wall-to-wall angles. The rotatable cutter assembly is attached to the two-axis positioning system and allows adjustment to the left or right, straight, or cope cuts and backcut angle and further includes a motor driven spiral cutter, a cutter holder, and at least one stylus. The rotatable platform allows adjustment to the wall-to-floor or wall-to-wall angle and is movable so as to rotate or swivel about a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the holder and cutter assemblies.

Abstract: A clip-like device applicable to foods which are generally eaten by hand while grasping an extension therefrom is presented. The food clip includes first and second arms and a hinge. The first and second arms are generally planar and elongated elements forming a handle region and a grasping region. The hinge is disposed between and attached to the first and second arms. The hinge is comprised of a compressible and/or deformable yet resilient block-shaped element. The sides of the hinge are shaped so that the grasping region is normally closed and open when a force is applied to the handle region so as to deform the hinge. The grasping region presses against, nearly surrounds, and supports the extension from a food item when the first and second arms are closed. Food items could include, but are not limited to, meats, fish, foul, vegetables, prepared items, such as french fries and hotdogs, and other consumables eaten using a hand or a utensil.

Abstract: A self-powered video display device provides an automated point of purchase advertising display that includes a readily programmable and re-programmable operating system. The display device is updated through the connection of a memory card or handheld computer and the transfer of video and other files over the connection.

Abstract: A micromechanical device including an improved sensing element and improved bending elements is described. Sensing elements include multi-layered structures which are thinner, lighter, and flatter than structures presently known within the related arts. Bending elements include structures which separately respond to illumination by an infrared source so as to twist a sensing element. Micromechanical pixels may be arranged to form two-dimensional arrays of infrared sensitive pixels. Arrays of micromechanical pixels are applicable to imaging devices for use within the fields of security and surveillance, firefighting, automotive safety, and industrial monitoring.

Abstract: A double dam reverse pressure face seal assembly for use in the turbomachine having a tunnel extending through the machine for high pressure air passage therein during normal machine operating has a mating ring positioned annularly respecting the tunnel for flow of lubricating oil generally outwardly through passageways in the ring and a sealing member biased against an interface surface of the mating ring, the sealing member including a first dam presenting a first contact face to the interface surface of the mating ring, a second dam integral with an outboard of the first dam, presenting a second contact face to the interface surface of the mating ring and a channel between the first and second dams for annularly downward flow of oil leaking inwardly past the second dam towards a channel exit.

Abstract: A chalcogenide glass composition composed of arsenic (As), selenium (Se), sulfur (S), and antimony (Sb) is presented. The composition includes arsenic in the range from 25% to 45% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, selenium in the range from 40% to 65% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, sulfur in the range from 2% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, and antimony in the range from 0% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. The variability of constituents on a weight basis is greater than the related arts, thus facilitating a broader range of design options. The glass composition is preferred to have a thermal expansion coefficient of about 23.6×10?6/° C., a temperature coefficient of refractive index less than about 1×10?6/° C., a glass transition temperature less than 200 degrees Celsius, and/or a glass softening temperature less than 250 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A method for reducing the noise equivalent temperature difference associated with imaging devices having a detection array including micro-cantilevers and a charged-coupled device or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor imager is presented. The method includes calculating horizontal and vertical pixel ratios based upon the number of receptor pixels and micro-cantilever pixels, defining composite pseudo-pixels comprised of at least two receptor pixels, capturing at least one frame of an image, calculating the composite intensity for each composite pseudo-pixel based on the intensities of the receptor pixels therein, and reconstructing each frame so that receptor pixels within each composite pseudo-pixel are displayed with the appropriate composite intensity. While the present method lowers pixel resolution, the composite pseudo-pixels maintain image resolution within the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A self-powered video display device provides an automated point of purchase advertising display that includes a motion sensing feature, a power management function to manage power usage depending on sensed motion, and a readily programmable and re-programmable operating system. The display device is updated through the connection of a memory card or handheld computer and the transfer of video files over the connection.

Abstract: A thin nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Abstract: A fireproof container with heat activated panel is presented. The invention includes a fireproof container and panel, compression pins, and heat sensitive pin. Fireproof panel is disposed adjacent to vent holes located along the fireproof container and separated there from so as to allow airflow into the container. Compression pins are disposed between and attached to both container and panel so as to apply a mechanical load onto the panel directed towards the container. Heat sensitive pin is disposed between and attached to both container and panel so as to oppose the mechanical load applied by the compression pins when the temperature of the surrounding environment is below a threshold temperature. Heat sensitive pin yields to the mechanical load when the surrounding environment exceeds the threshold temperature, thereby enabling contact between panel and container so as to interrupt airflow into the enclosure.

Abstract: A non-mechanical gimbal system is presented. The gimbal system includes a gimbal housing, including hemispherical and annular caps, rotatable sphere, and at least two curvilinear actuators. The hemispherical cap is attached to the annular cap in a removable fashion so as to surround the rotatable sphere. The curvilinear actuators are disposed between the rotatable sphere and gimbal housing. Curvilinear actuators rotate the rotatable sphere, via shear induced motion, with respect to the interior surface of the gimbal housing. The present invention has immediate applicability within security devices, games, toys, weapons (including guidance systems and aiming), and communication systems.

Abstract: An isolator mount with shock and vibration applications is presented. Specifically, the invention is comprised of an energy dissipating material disposed between deflectable elements. The invention is capable of damping small disturbance excitations and mitigating large shocks. The invention transfers mechanical energy to the dissipating materials via device structure and matrix. Materials dissipate shock and vibration either as heat or magnet energy. The invention includes a semi-passive mode for harsh environments and an active mode for benign environments. A snap-together modular embodiment with quasi-static adjustability enables two or more isolators to address a wide variety of conditions and to respond to changing conditions.

Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Abstract: An isolator mount capable of dissipating shocks and vibrations is presented. The present invention includes a mount which is load bearing and capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains, at least two damping layers composed of an energy damping viscoelastic polymer, and at least two constraining layers composed of an energy damping alloy. Each layer of energy damping viscoelastic polymer is separately disposed and bonded to the exterior of the mount. One constraining layer is bonded to and substantially covers each damping layer. Damping and constraining layers minimize the stiffness change to the mount.

Abstract: A power control circuit is presented. The circuit includes a pair of parallel optocoupler/logic stages and a pair of parallel voltage-to-current driver stages electrically coupled to a halfbridge stage in the order described. An input signal is communicated to the optocoupler/logic stage and processed therein to produce two distinctly separate but complimentary waveforms. Complimentary waveforms are communicated to the voltage-to-current driver stage to drive a paired arrangement of JFET switches. Thereafter, the JFET switches communicate with the halfbridge stage to control function of BJT switches. BJT switches are sequenced to produce a high power output. The present invention has immediate applicability to power conditioning, control, and distribution systems, as well as other applications which include or rely on silicon power transistors.

Abstract: A passive isolator mount capable of dissipating shocks and vibrations as either heat or magnetic energy is presented. The passive isolator includes a pair of L-shaped or C-shaped brackets capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains, energy dissipating layers disposed along each bracket, and a bond layer. The energy dissipating layers are composed of a rare earth element or alloy, a ferromagnetic shape alloy, a magnetic shape memory alloy, a magnetostrictive alloy, a magneto-mechanical alloy, a super-elastic alloy, or a combination thereof. The bond layer is disposed between and adheres one energy dissipating layer along a first bracket to an energy dissipating layer along a second bracket so that the resultant passive isolator is C-shaped. Energy dissipating and bond layers completely bisect the passive isolator either widthwise through the thickness of the L-shaped brackets or lengthwise through the thickness of the C-shaped brackets.

Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Abstract: A reusable carrier with expandable, disposable insert is disclosed including an apron having at least one pocket and a disposable container therein. The disposable container includes a front wall and a back wall each having an outwardly disposed clip to secure the disposable container within a pocket of the apron, a pair of extendable side walls between and attached to both front and back walls, and an extendable bottom wall attached to front, back, and side walls to form a leakproof receptacle. In one alternate embodiment, a second disposable container is attached to the front wall of the disposable container. Alternate embodiments further comprise a stiffener attached to at least one of the side and bottom walls within the disposable container to prevent collapse of the container during use. In yet other alternate embodiments, a plurality of ribs are provided within the disposable container along both front and back walls to prevent splashing and spillage.