Abstract: An electronic anti-shoplifting system monitors articles of merchandise in a sales outlet to deter shoplifting. The system is provided with transponder tags connected to the articles of merchandise. A tag exciter is positioned at an exit leading from the sales outlet and generates an RF surveillance excitation signal. If a customer carries an article through the exit without removal authorization due to failure to pay for the article, the transponder tag is activated, being powered by the RF surveillance excitation signal as the customer passes the tag exciter. The activated transponder tag generates an RF surveillance response signal that triggers an alarm. If the customer has removal authorization as the result of paying for the article, the transponder tag is reprogrammed to modify the operational data stored therein.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically determining an optimum gas injection rate for a gas-lifted oil well. The optimum gas-lift slope for the oil well is initially provided and stored in the memory of a programmable logic controller. A lift gas is injected into the well at an initial gas injection rate to displace a liquid at an initial liquid production rate from the well. The initial liquid production rate and initial gas injection rate are stored in the memory. Thereafter, the lift gas is injected into the well at a first incremental gas injection rate differing from the initial gas injection rate by a first incremental value. Additional liquid is displaced from the well at a first incremental liquid production rate and the first incremental liquid production rate and first incremental gas injection rate are stored in the memory. The first incremental slope is determined from the stored data points and compared to the optimum gas-lift slope.

Abstract: A wireless modem employs a radio frequency (RF) transponder system components to remotely access the memory of an electrical or electro-mechanical device by providing an exciter/reader/writer (ERW) circuit free of electrical contact with the electrical or electro-mechanical device and a transponder including a transmit/receive antenna, a reading circuit, a programming circuit, and a transponder memory. The transponder memory is directly connected to the device memory. The ERW circuit initially generates an RF excitation signal powering the transponder. In response to the RF excitation signal, the transponder generates a RF response signal using the reading circuit that is transmitted back to the EWR circuit. The RF response signal includes data from the device memory. The RF response signal is received by the ERW circuit, which in turn generates an RF write signal that is transmitted to the transponder.

Abstract: An encryption method and stored value system comprising a host computer, a reader/writer that communicates with the host computer, and an RF transponder that communicates with the reader/writer. The transponder comprises a transponder chip having a memory with a plurality of memory sections, which encryption method protects data stored in the memory. The method provides a secure way to increase and decrease the value stored the transponder and to selectively write and data to and from the transponder.

Abstract: A hinge is provided for an orthopedic brace having an adjustable range of rotation. The hinge includes an outer member and an inner member that are rotatably connected in parallel alignment to one another. The peripheral edge of the outer member has a plurality of rotation limiting notches formed therein and the peripheral edge of the inner member has a rotation limiting face formed therein that is selectively alignable with one of the rotation limiting notches. Each of the peripheral edges also has a locking notch formed therein that is selectively alignable with the other. A rotation limiting stop is provided at the peripheral edge of the inner and outer members that is selectively positionable in one of the rotation limiting notches to define an adjustable range of rotation during a rotation mode of hinge operation. Rotation of the inner member is limited when the rotation limiting face engages the rotation limiting stop positioned in the selected notch.

Abstract: A disk brake assembly for a trailer includes a rotor, inner and outer brake pads, a mounting bracket, upper and lower pad retention assemblies, a caliper assembly and a clamping arm. The rotor is a disk having the inner and outer brake pads positioned on opposite sides thereof. The mounting bracket, in cooperation with the upper and lower pad retention assemblies, maintains the position of the inner and outer brake pads relative to the rotor. The mounting bracket has a body with an upper arm and a lower arm extending therefrom. The upper arm has a downwardly-facing guide surface and the lower arm has an upwardly-facing guide surface. Each pad retention assembly includes an engagement sleeve, a clamping arm coupling and a pair of "U"-shaped spring sections connecting the engagement sleeve and clamping arm coupling. The upper engagement sleeve is mounted on the guide surface of the upper arm and the lower engagement sleeve is mounted on the guide surface of the lower arm.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for an orthopedic knee brace that pivotally couples a first rotation member and a second rotation member. The hinge assembly includes a pad assembly, a hinge, and first and second adjustment members enabling adjustment of the normal force applied by the hinge assembly to the knee joint for the effective treatment of osteoarthritis. The hinge includes an end of the first rotation member, an end of the second rotation member, first and second hinge plates positioned on opposite sides of the ends, and first and second hinge fasteners. The first and second hinge fasteners each has a bore therethrough that is internally threaded. The first hinge fastener rotatably connects the end of the first rotation member to the first and second hinge plates and the second hinge fastener rotatably connects the end of the second rotation member to the first and second hinge plates.

Abstract: A method of forming an orthotic member conforming to a contour of a body is provided, wherein a flat member having a substantially two-dimensional shape and constructed from a pliable material is bent into a substantially three-dimensional shape approximating the contour of the body. The pliable material is then converted to a non-pliable material by heat treating the pliable material under controlled conditions of temperature and time, thereby forming the desired orthotic member contoured to the body. The contoured orthotic member is further provided with a coating covering the non-pliable material, wherein the coating material has cushioning properties.

Abstract: A hinge is provided for an orthopedic brace that pivotally couples the ends of upper and lower arms of the brace. The hinge includes a pair of hinge plates, each having a rigid support member enclosed within an inner covering and an outer covering that integrally form a continuous unitary covering providing the hinge plate with a smooth, friction-reduced surface. The ends of the upper and lower arms are positioned between the hinge plates and the plates and ends are interconnected such that the ends of the upper and lower arms rotatably engage the friction-reduced surfaces of the hinge plates.

Abstract: An RF identification system for generating data indicative of an item that is tagged, and one bit of variable data representative of an external stimulus. An ID code reader is provided and an RF identification tag is coupled to the item that is to be monitored and the ID code reader queries the tag. The tag comprises two RF transponder chips that store a data relating to the item, and an excitation coil coupled thereto. A switch is coupled to the chips and excitation coil, and a capacitor is coupled across the switch. A sensor is coupled to the switch for generating one bit of variable data representative of an external stimulus, such as the pressure in a tire. The ID code reader comprises an exciter and RF excitation coil, and a receiver and an RF receiver coil. The receiver includes phase detection circuitry for detecting a state of the switch by detecting the phase shift between signals received from each of the transponder chips. When the switch is shorted, the effect of the capacitor is nullified.

Abstract: An RF transponder system is provided that is capable of detecting and correcting data transmission errors. The RF transponder system includes an exciter that generates an RF excitation signal and a transponder that receives the RF excitation signal and is powered thereby. The transponder generates and transmits a RF response signal including a plurality of data sets each containing a common message. At least one of the data sets is encoded in a manner different from the remaining data sets. The RF response signal is received by a reader that decodes the encoded data sets. Corresponding bits of each of the data sets are compared for purposes of error detection. If a majority of corresponding bits from each of the data sets match, a valid bit is defined thereby. Bits that are not in the majority are discarded. An invalid bit is defined where less than a majority of corresponding bits match a selected bit of a selected data set.

Abstract: An adjustable headrest for a spa tub includes a housing defining a first recess for receiving a pillow for supporting the head of an occupant. A spa tub defines a second recess for slidingly receiving the housing. A positioning device, coupled to the housing and the recess of the spa tub, allows adjustment of the height of the housing relative to the spa tub. A front surface of the housing and the pillow lie flush with adjacent surfaces of the spa tub. The adjustable headrest further includes a water jet, mounted on the housing below the pillow, for directing water (but preferably not air to reduce splashing) under pressure towards the neck of the occupant. The direction of the water leaving the water jet can be adjusted.

Abstract: A method of determining the corrected oil decline for an oil-producing reservoir is provided. The values of a plurality of variables are determined including the total processing rate for the reservoir at an initial time denoting the beginning of an elapsed production time period, the total processing rate for the reservoir at a first selected time after the initial time, the oil processing rate for the reservoir at the initial time, the cumulative quantity of total fluids produced from the reservoir between the initial time and the first selected time, the oil processing rate for a given oil saturation level of the reservoir at the first selected time, and the ratio of non-oil fluids to oil for all fluids produced from the reservoir at the first selected time. The values of these variables are then employed in a system of equations to calculate the corrected oil processing rate at the first selected time.

Abstract: A flying toy is provided having a substantially planar, flexibly deformable body with a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge. A plurality of protuberances are disposed on the top surface of the body spaced a radial distance apart relative to the body. The protuberances have a hollow configuration defining a concavity open to the bottom surface of the body. The protuberances and body are integrally formed from a sheet of a substantially continuous flexibly deformable material. The configuration of the flying toy provides it with aerodynamic properties when thrown with a rotational motion in a planar orientation.

Abstract: An RF transponder transmits information on the distance traveled by a wheeled vehicle in response to an interrogation signal from an exciter/receiver. A rotation sensor, preferably an odometer/shaft encoder combination that is mounted on a vehicle wheel, provides to the transponder a signal which indicates the distance traveled by the vehicle; the transponder is also preferably mounted to the wheel's rotational hub. The transponder preferably includes a memory with a reprogrammable portion that stores the sensor information, and a non-reprogrammable portion that stores an identification code, all of which is read out in response to an interrogation signal. Driving distances can be obtained automatically without having to read the vehicle's dash board odometer.

Abstract: A hinge is provided for an orthopedic brace having an adjustable range of rotation. The hinge includes an outer member and an inner member that are rotatably connected in parallel alignment to one another. The peripheral edge of the outer member has a plurality of rotation limiting notches formed therein and the peripheral edge of the inner member has a rotation limiting face formed therein that is selectively alignable with one of the rotation limiting notches. Each of the peripheral edges also has a locking notch formed therein that is selectively alignable with the other. A rotation limiting stop is provided at the peripheral edge of the inner and outer members that is selectively positionable in one of the rotation limiting notches to define an adjustable range of rotation during a rotational mode of hinge operation. Rotation of the inner member is limited when the rotation limiting face engages the rotation limiting stop positioned in the selected notch.

Abstract: A mixing system for introducing ozone into water of a hydrotherapy spa includes filter for filtering water from said hydrotherapy spa. A pump draws water from said hydrotherapy spa through said filter. A first injector includes a first input for receiving filtered water from said filter, a second input for receiving ozone, and an output for providing a first mixture of ozone in solution with said filtered water and ozone not in solution with said filtered water. A recapturing unit, coupled to said output of said first injector, separates said ozone not in solution with said filtered water from said first mixture. A second injector, having a first input coupled to said recapturing unit, a second input coupled to said filter, and an output, provides a second mixture of said ozone not in solution with said filtered water and said filtered water at said output of said second injector means.

Abstract: A pad is provided for therapeutically treating bodily injuries or ailments by positioning the pad on an affected part of the body and circulating a nonambient temperature treatment fluid through the pad. The pad has a bladder that is a symmetrical planar member configured in sections conformable to the contours of the body, thereby facilitating heat exchange between the pad and the patient. Included are a relatively wide main section and extension section that are fluid-communicatively joined with one another at the axis of symmetry across a relatively narrow connective section. The extension section is oblong-shaped, having a longitudinal axis aligned substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry and substantially parallel to the forward and rearward edges of the planar member.