Abstract: An apparatus and method easily and quickly produce multiple holes in a dough layer. An apparatus according to the invention includes a top portion, a number of pins supported by the top portion in a fixed pattern, and a base portion having a number of holes arranged in a fixed pattern corresponding to the pins of the top portion. Structure, such as a hinge, is provided to lower the top portion toward the base portion and to guide the pins through a dough layer placed between the top portion and base portion and into the holes. A number of openings in the dough layer are thus produced. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-stick coating composition comprising fluorocarbon resins and from 5 to 25% by weight of refractory fibers. The composition preferably additionally includes a liquid medium in which the fibers are dispersed and the fluorocarbon is dispersed. The composition is then applied, the liquid medium driven off and the fluorocarbon resin cured.

Abstract: The invention provides a cover for an over-lapping conveyor belt joint. The cover prevents gaps between the belts at the joint and draws the bolt heads into a recess on the underside of the joint, thereby reducing belt jump as the bolt heads pass over the rollers. The invention may also protect the leading edge of the upper belt. The invention is well suited to use on agricultural swath pick-ups such as those used on combines.

Abstract: A system for detecting a patient's susceptibility to arrhythmias and cardiac tissue abnormality is disclosed. The system consists of a computer, a display software loaded onto the computer that generates graphical user interfaces (GUIs), an electronic interface, and a plurality of electrodes. The electronics interface is in electronic communication with the computer, and further in electronic communication with the electrodes that are placed by self-adhesion at predetermined locations on a test subject. According to one aspect of the invention, the system enables a user, typically a medical professional, to initiate, with minimal input, certain diagnostic test involving observing a series of QRS complexes that are both biased with a subpacing current and unbiased. The QRS complexes are then compared and analyzed by the system to detect a patient's susceptibility to arrhythmias and cardiac tissue abnormality.

Abstract: A security system includes a control center, a controller installed in a car, a plurality of base stations installed in gas stations and houses, and a releaser. When a car owner finds that his/her car has been stolen, he/she can make a telephone call to the control center. The control center is guided to call the controller through a pager network and command the controller to enter into a searching mode to transmit a searching signal to search for a base station. After a base station receives and confirms the searching signal, the base station transmits a control signal to activate the controller to stop supplying gas and electricity to the car whereby the car is locked and located. In addition, each base station is integrated with a home security and remote control system to enhance its capability.

Abstract: The present invention is a light based detection system for providing a low cost, very fast and very accurate measurements of lead positions and heights for integrated circuit board components. The alignment detections systems of the present invention are preferably located on a component placement head. The detector is a linear or rectangular array of pixels. The light path between the light source and the detector array is directed by the optical components across one or more leads in a plane that is neither parallel to nor perpendicular to the seating plane of the component. The light path is directed across the relevant leads without substantial interference from the body of the component or the other leads not being measured. A digital processor analyzes the measurements of the light sensitive detector to determine positions and/or coplanarity of the leads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aloe vera gel extracting apparatus, which consists of a body, a transmission system, a peeling device and a driving mechanism, characterizing in that transmission system comprises an upper and a lower part, with the upper part of the system connected to the body through the belt sheave axle at the right end and the belt sheave axle at the left end connected to the hanger trestle in synchronons vertical movement with it, and the lower part of the system connected to the body at both ends through the sheave axles respectively. The peeling device consists of an edge cutting blade and a peeling blade, wherein the edge cutting blade is set in the slot between the two groups of belt, the upper peeling blade is connected to the hanger trestle and the lower peeling blade is connected direct to the body. The device of the present invention is capable of producing complete bars of aloe vera gel. It is simple-structured, convenient for use and efficient in operation.

Abstract: An electrode system includes a release liner separating a pair of electrodes. The release liner includes a first portion having electrically conductive and non-stick characteristics and a second portion having electrically non-conductive and non-stick characteristics. An electrically conductive portion of the electrode is disposed over the first portion while an adhesive only, electrically non-conductive portion of the electrode is disposed over the second portion. The release liner includes a pair of electrically non-conductive sheets and an electrically conductive sheet interposed between the non-conductive sheets. The non-conductive sheets include an aperture to expose a portion of the conductive sheet for providing electrical conductivity between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery of the fabric softening ability of fatty amines and dimethyl fatty amine oxides for washer based applications. These amine softeners are combined with other ingredients to form the softening compositions. The softeners will contain a second compound selected from the group consisting of acidic compositions, nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants, and other ingredients can be added to enhance the character of the fabric softener. Solid cast fabric softeners within the invention include compositions having between 5 and 95 percent by weight citric acid. Citric acid has adventageous properties. These solid citric acid containing fabric softeners will include a cationic surfactant such as a quarternary ammonium salt. Other solid cast fabric softener compositions in the invention have a reducing agent for reducing any remaining hypochlorite bleach. This reducing agent is combined with a fabric softening compound in the composition.

Abstract: A modular portable stage and floor system uses a small number of standardized modular components to construct a temporary or permanent platform that is easily adaptable to a wide variety of platform designs. The modular standardized components include a series of modular vertical and horizontal supports and a light-weight modular deck panel. The modular vertical and horizontal supports can be detachably coupled together in a slidably interlocked manner using a universal connector mechanism in to a support frame structure for supporting a plurality of modular deck panels. By using a small number of modular supports and a universal connector mechanism that is similar for all structural interconnections required to build the support frame structure, the modular portable stage and floor system is strong and stable, yet easily transported, assembled and disassembled.

Abstract: A wearable computing device includes computing-device component modules and flexible circuitry passing into the modules. The modules can include a top module portion and a bottom module portion, the flexible circuitry passing between the top and bottom portions. Wireless communication, e.g. by radio frequency, with a peripheral and/or a local area network is also contemplated.

Abstract: Defibrillator electrodes having an identification element and a circuit which indicates to an AED the weight range of the patient being rescued. When the AED detects the presence of pediatric electrodes, it may select a different set of voice prompts that are specifically suited to a pediatric patient and/or it may select a pediatric dosage of electricity for the therapeutic shock.

Abstract: A rotor position encoder is provided for an electrical machine having a rotor and a stator, the encoder including a coded disc having teeth of widths that vary in a repeating sequence and being arranged to rotate with the rotor past a sensor which outputs a signal corresponding to the coded sequence. By comparing the coded signal with an internally generated signal the position of the rotor can be determined at a first resolution level. In addition, a counter is enabled as each tooth is sensed and provides a second output signal at a higher resolution level indicative of the rotor position between successive teeth. For a multi-phase machine, a value representative of the rotor position relative to each phase is combined with the value representative of the incremental position common to all phases. High resolution rotor position encoding with simplified logic is thus provided.

Abstract: A computing device unit includes an upper casing, at least one integrated chip module electrically mounted on an interior side of the upper casing, a lower casing selectively engageable with the upper casing, and a flexible circuity ribbon extending through the upper casing and the lower casing, and being electrically connected to the at least one chip module within the lower and upper casing. Related devices and methods provide similar advantages.

Abstract: A switched reluctance machine has a stator or rotor lamination with pole arcs that are wider than necessary to fulfill the starting requirement of producing torque in the required direction at every rotor angle. On this lamination, preferably the rotor lamination, the surface is continuously graded over the entire pole pitch so that the first derivative of air gap length with angle is continuous. This allows control of the harmonics in the torque/angle curve and enables the production of smooth torque as the rotor rotates.

Abstract: An automatic process for use in point-of-sale credit card or debit card systems for taking corrective action based on information returned from the banking system and/or the point-of-sale system. The automatic process replaces the human clerk as the interface in control of action by the point-of-sale device enabling unattended operation. The automatic process includes the maintenance of a hot list for denying use of repeatedly rejected cards, stopping the automatic operation if the banking system denies point-of-sale device access, and allows for local proprietary cards to be used independent of the banking system.

Abstract: A rotor position transducer for an electronically commutated electric motor has a vane mounted to rotate with the rotor and a pair of sensors, according to one embodiment. One sensor has an output coincident with positions of zero torque. The other sensor produces signals slightly in advance. Overlapping portions of the signals denote regions of different levels of torque. The second sensor output can also be used in high-speed, single-pulse control of the motor. Method embodiments and other apparatus embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: The acoustic tower of the present invention is a portable, acoustic tower that has both a performance position and a storage position. In the storage position, a canopy panel lies substantially parallel proximate an upper panel, both of which are hingedly secured to a cross tube assembly that is supported by a lift tube. The upper panel lies substantially parallel to a lower panel that is fixedly secured to a lower panel assembly having side supports and a center shaft which substantially contains the lift tube. To raise the acoustic tower to the performance position, the canopy panel is raised to one of a plurality of preset angles and maintained in position through use of ratchet and pawl assemblies of the cross tube assembly. With the canopy panel at the desired angle, the upper panel and canopy panel are raised vertically by telescopically elevating the lift tube within the center shaft. The lift tube is elevated by virtue of a winch assembly that is connected to the lift tube by a length of webbing.