Abstract: A filter is provided within a transparent drinking straw. The filter has a dense core region and a less dense outer peripherial region. The filter is retained in place within the straw by frictional forces under static conditions. The frictional forces which maintain the filter in place under static conditions may be overcome by fluid flowing through the straw causing the filter to move within the conduit. The filter may support particulate matter which may be a medication or drug. Accordingly, the device may be used as delivery device for drugs administered by oral ingestion. Movement of the filter from a first to a second position provides a visual indication that a predetemined volume of fluid has passed through the conduit.

Abstract: A method of forming spatially offset storage nodes for deep trench-based DRAMs on a semiconductor substrate. The method involves etching trenches in the surface of the substrate, masking adjacent trenches with a resist material, etching exposed trenches to a depth of about 1 micron. Removing the masking and etching all the trenches to form bulbulous regions in the sidewall of the trenches. The adjacent trenches having vertically spaced bulbulous regions are filled with dielectric material to form high capacitance storage nodes.

Abstract: A putting practice device for practicing the velocity of a putt which has a ramp section and two trough sections. A ball having a predetermined speed will travel up the ramp and fall into the first trough section. If the ball has insufficient velocity to climb a ridge which defines the rear of the trough, it will be momentarily retained in the first trough section and fed to a lateral side of the device. Balls traveling with greater velocity may pass over the ridge and enter a second trough area where they will be momentarily retained and fed to a lateral side of the device.

Abstract: The invention discloses a toy brick game having at least two toy bricks and at least one connector for connecting the above at least two toy bricks together. The toy bricks can be one of a variety of geometrical shapes but have at least three side edges. Each side edge has a notch and two cylindrical stubs formed on the surface defining the notch. The connector can connect two or more toy bricks together by engaging a slit defined in a pole thereof with the cylindrical stub. The engagement is not only easily achieved and strong enough to allow robust models to be constructed, it also allows one toy brick to be able to rotate in two directions with respect to another toy brick connected thereto by the connector thus providing the user interest and pleasure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fast-release as well as a prolonged release type of nifedipine pellets and the process for the preparation thereof. The fast-release type of nifedipine pellets comprises a particulate core which is covered by a nifedipine coating layer. The particulate core comprises water-soluble or water-insoluble excipient(s) and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. The nifedipine coating layer comprises an effective amount of nifedipine dissolved in organic solvent(s). This nifedipine coating layer can further be mixed with a suspension which comprises an adhesive, an emulsifier, and a dispersant. The preferred composition of the fast-release type of nifedipine includes 20-70% of the particulate core, 3-15% of nifedipine, 1-20% of emulsifier, 1-20% of adhesive, and 1-30% of dispersant.

Abstract: A vehicle horn activation system which is triggered by the forward movement of the vehicle operator's head. An array of light sources and photo detectors create a light curtain which is positioned in a location that allows the driver to move his head into the light curtain, thereby interrupting the emitted light. When the light curtain is broken a signal is generated which activates the horn.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing localized control of film, allowing high speed and high resolution continuous digital scanning of the film. The method includes continuously and precisely transporting the film, capturing successive slit images, and storing the images. The apparatus includes the use of a drive system to control the transport of the media being scanned. In a preferred embodiment, a dual capstan drive system under the control of a single motor provides localized tension and location control for the continuous transport of the film to be scanned, the capstans comprising a metal shaft. The preferred embodiment further comprises pinch rollers immediately adjacent to the capstans, the pinch rollers comprising a metal shaft covered with an elastomeric material. As a result of the accurate localized control of the film, high speed scanning is possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the establishment of an immortal shrimp cell line (PMO) derived from Penaeus monodon. This cell line is susceptible to and capable of mass producing virus, which includes, but not limited to, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), Panaeus monodon baculovirus (MBV), infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), and infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). This invention also relates to the method of mass producing virus using PMO as a host.

Abstract: A terminal installed in one terminal slot at a substrate of a CPU connector for receiving a pin of a CPU mounted on the CPU connector, the terminal having three side wings for positioning in the terminal slot in the substrate of the CPU connector to stop terminal against vibration, two supporting arms, and three guide portions for guiding the pin of the CPU into the space defined between the supporting arms, enabling the pin of the CPU to be firmly retained between a raised portion at one supporting arm and a recessed guide face at one guide portion at the other supporting arm.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly has a finned plate, a fan, a plate detachably engaged with the finned plate and provided with a hole defined in the central portion thereof, a shoulder integrally and downwardly formed along the underside of the edge defining the hole and a seat integrally formed on a lower side thereof; and a support member having a disk-like member defining therein a hole to receive the rotor shaft of the fan, a plurality of legs extending outwardly from the disk-like member, each having a bend extending upward from the free end thereof and a contact face formed on the free end of the bend and detachably engaged to the lower side of the plate, at least one support being detachably engaged between the seat of the plate and the finned plate and extending outward from the disk-like member. The support has a stepped structure formed on the free end thereof for the purpose of receiving electrical wires from the fan.

Abstract: An accurate, yet ultra low power fuse electronics is presented in which two methods are used to reduce power consumption in the fuze electronics. First, the fuze uses low power 3.3 volt logic chips ("LV" series or equivalent CMOS logic chips) along with switches that have low input capacitance and low quiescent current. Second, a circuit design is used which, while still accomplishing the objects of the invention, drastically reduces the number of electronic elements required. When a projectile is fired from a weapon, a fire control system transmits a signal to a data conditioner located on the projectile. The data conditioner demodulates and filters the signal, producing a burst time data word which is transmitted to a microcontroller. The data conditioner is comprised of passive components, therefore no supply power is required. The microcontroller decodes the data word and also uses the data word to correct any error in the high and low speed fuze oscillators.

Abstract: A toilet bowl for non-contact use by a person in a crouching position. The toilet bowl includes a back portion; a pair of side walls extending from the back portion and converging towards a truncated front wall. The front and side walls each include an outer surface and an inner lip converging towards an inverted substantially V-shaped rim. The rim in conjunction with the back portion defines the upper opening of the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A recreational board which adapted to be ridden by a user has a thermoplastic upper portion with an outer surface and an inner surface, a thermoplastic lower portion including a plurality of flanges, is bonded together by joining the plurality of flanges to the inner surface of the upper portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and mechanism for eliminating acceleration-dependent errors and loop interaction effects in gain-stabilized, closed-loop, interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes. Such method and mechanism include enabling the modulation gain accumulator and disabling the rate accumulator on every occurrence of ramp flyback if the gyroscope is operating below a certain velocity threshold and enabling the modulation gain accumulator and disabling the rate accumulator on one out of every N occurrences of ramp flyback if the gyroscope is operating above a certain velocity threshold. Such method and mechanism also includes use of proportional circuitry to scale the magnitude of the bias modulation component to be a percentage of the serrodyne ramp voltage and the DC component to be zero volts.

Abstract: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein that can form complexes with proteinase inhibitors such as .alpha..sub.1 -antichymotrypsin. The invention is characterized in that the measurement of the ratio of free PSA to PSA bound to proteinase inhibitors (free PSA:PSA-proteinase inhibitor complex) is useful in the diagnosis of patients with prostate cancer.

Abstract: An improved method and architecture for mapping data between fixed structure datasets defined by different computer formats. The method employs a simple intuitive mapping template which operates from an embedded knowledge of the structure rules for the data being exchanged. The mapping template is flexible and allows the details of the data manipulation required for translation to be expressed by a layperson, and without the requirement that they define the entire message structure in every detail. It is also possible for the mapping template(s) themselves to be transmitted along with the datasets to facilitate conversion between data formats.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for firing a firearm. A trigger is pulled which causes a hammer to rotate away from an electrical power source. After the hammer passes its maximum position, it is released by the trigger releases it, thereby causing the hammer to strike the electrical power source. The force from the hammer causes electrical energy to flow from the electrical power source to an electrically activated primer, thereby igniting the primer.

Abstract: A system for testing a data transmission link between first and second terminal devices such as modems. The first terminal device transmits a test data sequence which it is received at an output access (20) of the second terminal device. That device also has an input access (21), first and second clocks which set the timing of data at the input and output accesses, and a loop-back circuit for connecting the output access to the input access to retransmit a received test sequence back to the first terminal device. Since different modems often operate at different data rates, the input and output clock rates may differ. However, during loop-back operation the clocks must be synchronized in order to avoid loss of data.

Abstract: This invention relates to a geogrid structure which is comprised of two or more layers of rigidly bonded flexible mesh structures. The mesh openings of each layer, without superimposing, overlay mesh openings of other layers, resulting in a geogrid structure which consists of small and large sized mesh openings. The smaller sized mesh openings are designed to reduce vertical migration of the smaller aggregate particles into the subgrade and to reduce pumping of the subgrade material into the aggregate layer. The rigid bonding of multiple layers of mesh structure provides a mechanism for transmission of tensile stress which is less dependent upon interlocking of aggregate particles. Furthermore, by bonding multiple layers of mesh structure, the number of tensile elements per unit area is increased, and as a result, the interaction of the geogrid with the fill material is enhanced.