Abstract: Method and apparatus for recurrently obtaining systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements, and measurements of the systolic slope of the blood pressure wave in a subject's artery are disclosed. Artifact information in Korotkov sound signals employed in the apparatus are substantially eliminated to avoid errors which otherwise normally are present in such measurements.

Abstract: A belt attached carrier and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed which carrier is adapted for suspension from a user's belt and may be used to carry a pocket knife, a container of mace, or the like. The carrier comprises an elongated tubular member formed from a single square or rectangular sheet of flexible material, which is open at one end and closed at the opposite end. A portion of the tubular member adjacent the open end thereof is formed into a belt-encircling loop for suspending the same from the user's belt with the open end thereof directed downwardly. First releasable fastening means releasably secure first and second portions of the tubular member together to form said loop. A portion of the tubular member adjacent the closed end thereof forms a combination closure flap and support for the article contained in the carrier. Second releasable fastening means releasably holds the closure flap in the closed condition.

Abstract: Coding and decoding method and apparatus are disclosed for implementation of a novel truncated Huffman type code using different length code words. Input signals to be encoded have different probabilities of occurance, and the most frequently occuring signals are assigned the shortest code words. Infrequently occuring input signals are labelled using one of the code words. The set of different length code words employed in the invention include a single binary 1 bit at the least significant bit position of each of the code words. Decoding simply includes means for counting the number of binary 0 bits between the 1 bits of the code word stream.

Abstract: Semiconductor wafer and die handling method and means are disclosed which include use of a rigid substrate and attached compliant elastomer layer. The outer face of the elastomer layer is texturized to reduce the interfacial forces between said layer and semiconductors supported thereon sufficiently to allow for removal of the semiconductors by conventional means. Friction forces between the texturized layer and semiconductors and remaining interfacial forces are sufficiently high to prevent undesired movement of semiconductors relative to the supporting layer during handling. The elastomer layer may be bonded to the substrate, or attached thereto by interfacial forces between smooth abutting substrate and elastomer layer surfaces. Among other things, the compliant elastomer layer may be included in the construction of a shipping container for semiconductor chips, wafers, or the like. Texturization of the elastomer surface may be provided by molding using a mold with a texturized surface.

Abstract: A structural beam square for laying out the web of a structural steel beam, or the like, is disclosed which includes a pair of arms which extend at right angles to each other. The arms have a T-shaped cross section and include coplanar stem members and flanges which extend along the inner edges of the stem members. The flanges support the square on the web of a beam with the stem portions at a raised position above the web, and above the fillet at the intersection of the beam web and beam flange. Gauge members are releasably secured to one arm of the square, which gauge members include gauge plates which are of the same height as the arm flanges. With one arm of the square abutting the beam flange, a line may be scribed across the web along the flange of the other arm. The square is moved along the web, and cross marks are scribed on the web along the gauge plates of the gauge members secured to said other square arm.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer system for use with tissue is shown, which system includes a container of liquid acoustic coupling medium within which focused transducer means are located. Focusing of the transducer means may be effected acoustically, as by use of an acoustic lens, and/or electronically, as by use of a transducer array. The liquid medium container is closed at one end by a rigid acoustically transparent window, or diaphragm, for acoustically coupling to the skin and underlying tissue of the subject under investigation. The material of the liquid acoustic coupling medium is selected so that the velocity of propagation of acoustic waves therein is substantially less than the velocity of the acoustic waves within the tissue under investigation. By using a low speed-of-sound coupling medium a shorter propagation path may be employed than is required by prior art transducer arrangements in which the speed-of-sound in the tissue and coupling fluid is substantially the same.

Abstract: Distillation method and apparatus for separation of alcohol from an alcohol-water mixture are disclosed which include use of a fluid-tight vacuum tank within which a surface condenser is located adjacent the tank bottom. The condenser has a vapor inlet above the condenser, and a condenser outlet which communicates with a first pump having a pump discharge outside the tank. A second pump is provided for removal of mixture from the bottom of the tank. In operation, an alcohol-water mixture is fed into the tank to completely fill the same while air is vented therefrom. The vent is closed, and mixture then is pumped from the tank and condenser to empty the condenser and to lower the level of mixture in the tank beneath the vapor inlet to the condenser. With the removal of mixture, a vacuum is created whereupon alcohol rapidly evaporates from the mixture surface to rapidly reduce the temperature of remaining mixture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for distillation of liquids such as sea water, brackish water, waste water, or the like, which also may be used for cooling purposes, are disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum tank, or vessel, into which liquid to be distilled, such as saline water, is fed to partially fill the tank. If desired, heating means may be included for heating the liquid adjacent the surface thereof to promote evaporation thereof. Vapor from the region above the liquid surface is fed to vapor condensing means adjacent the bottom of the tank for condensing the same. A condensate discharge tube extends downwardly from the condensing means for discharge of condensate therefrom. Means including a pressure head of condensate within the condensate discharge tube maintains a subatmospheric pressure within the tank to promote evaporation of liquid contained therein.

Abstract: Method and means for converting organic materials, such as garbage, sewage sludge, wood and agricultural products, and the like, to fuels are disclosed which include pre-drying the organic feed material and feeding the same to a reactor for the pyrolysis thereof. Pyrolytic off-gases are fed to a condenser where a condensable fraction comprising, generally, oil and water is removed. The gas phase from the condenser is scrubbed by means of a scrubber, passed through an activated charcoal filter, and burned to supply heat for at least partially drying the reactor feed material.First gravity separating means separates the liquid phase from the condenser into oil and water fractions. Similarly, second gravity separating means, to which scrubber liquid is supplied, separates the scrubber liquid into oil and water fractions. The water fraction from the second gravity separating means is supplied as scrubbing liquid for scrubbing the gas phase.

Abstract: A portable bottle storage device for storing bottles of wine, or the like, is disclosed which includes a main member comprising a sheet of plastic, cloth, or like material, and supporting means for hanging the sheet in a generally vertically extending plane. The supporting means includes an elongated rod to which the main member is secured, and a handle member in the form of a hook attached to the rod intermediate the opposite ends thereof. The hook opens toward the rear of the device, and is used for hanging the device from a closet pole, or the like. Elongated side members, which also may comprise sheets of plastic, cloth, or like material, are attached along parallel spaced lines to opposite sides of the main member to form vertically disposed and generally horizontally extending bottle-receiving pockets along opposite sides of the main member.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying moisture-containing material by use of a vacuum tank as disclosed. The tank is partially filled with cold liquid, such as water, and the material to be dried is supported in the tank above the liquid surface. Surface condensing means are located inside the tank adjacent the tank bottom in the cold liquid which condensing means has a combined vapor inlet-liquid overflow conduit through which vapor which evaporates from the material to be dried enters and through which liquid in the tank may overflow. Condensate and liquid overflow are removed from the condensing means as by pumping means. Air is evacuated from the tank as by first filling the tank with liquid while venting air therefrom, then pumping liquid from the tank through said condensing means. Moisture which rapidly evaporates from the material to be dried is condensed at the surface of the cold liquid and in said condensing means, for removal thereof by pumping through the outlet therefrom.

Abstract: A deadbolt lock mechanism of the single cylinder type is disclosed having a latch bolt which is movable between extended and retracted positions by a cylinder lock at one side thereof or by rotation of a thumbturn at the other side. With the latch bolt in the retracted position, the thumbturn is axially movable between operative and inoperative positions. In the operative axial position of the thumbturn, the thumbturn is operatively coupled to the latch bolt for operation thereof. In the inoperative axial position of the thumbturn, the thumbturn not only is operatively uncoupled from the latch bolt but also is prevented from rotation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pulsed ultrasonic imaging of a section of the interior of an object from reflections by internal discontinuities of recurrent transmitted pulses of ultrasonic energy, are provided. There is included a transducer array comprising a plurality of adjacent transducer elements for converting echo signals received from discontinuities within the object to equivalent electrical signals. Range gated signal processing means are provided for processing electrical signals from the transducer array reflected from discontinuities within any one of a plurality of range zones within the section to be imaged to provided range gated signals representative of segments of lines within the section to be imaged. The signal processing means includes electronic receiver beam focusing and scanning means for focusing the transducer array at the range zone at which the signals are range gated and for scanning the same.

Abstract: A method of enhancing photographic images of low optical density is disclosed which includes use of a luminescent system, the components of which system include, at least, photoluminescent material and a source of photons for exciting the same to luminescence. A photoluminescent replica of the low optical density photographic image is produced which replica is exposed to photons required for luminescence of the photoluminescent image replica which luminescence is recorded, or photographed, for an amount of time necessary to achieve enhancement of the photographic film image. The image enhancement method may be used for the enhancement of photographic images produced by photographic processes including, for example, those which involve the use of different radiant energy sensitive material such as silver halide as used in `conventional` photography, photoconductive material as used in electrophotography, organic compounds as used in diazo photographic processes, and the like.

Abstract: A deadbolt lock mechanism of the single cylinder type is disclosed having a latch bolt which is movable between extended and retracted positions by means of a lock cylinder at one side thereof. A thumbturn, together with manually movable coupling control means for controlling the coupling between the thumbturn and latch bolt are located at the other side of the mechanism. In the bolt retracted position, the coupling control means is movable between coupling enabling and disabling positions to condition the coupling for operation of the latch bolt by the thumbturn in the enabling position thereof, and for disabling such latch bolt operation by the thumbturn in the disabling position. Consequently, the latch bolt is operable by the lock cylinder in any position of the thumbturn and coupling control means, whereas the thumbturn is enabled for operation of the latch bolt only when the coupling control means has been moved into enabling position.

Abstract: A case for holding an open magazine, or the like, is disclosed comprising a base and cover pivotally attached thereto. The base includes a horizontal flat bottom member of adequate size to support a magazine with the magazine opened to the desired pages. The bottom member is formed with upwardly extending front, rear and opposite side walls, at least the front and opposite side walls of which are of sufficiently low height to avoid interfering with turning and viewing of the magazine pages. A cover is pivotally attached to the case and is movable between open and closed positions. The cover is of a larger size than the base and includes a projecting portion which extends outwardly beyond the base in the closed cover position. The cover includes a flat top member formed with downwardly extending front and opposite side flanges of greater height than the front and opposite walls of the base.

Abstract: A post card is disclosed which includes a rectangular-shaped base member conforming in shape and size to requirements of the United Postal Service, and an opaque cover member of substantially smaller size than the base member attached to the base member. At least a portion of the information to be transmitted by use of the post card is carried in full view at one face of the base member. Another portion of the information is carried on one of the facing surfaces of the base and cover members for normally hiding such portion from view. At least a portion of the cover member, or a portion of the base member underlying the cover member, is removable by the recipient of the post card to expose to view such normally-hidden message portion. The portion of the message to be hidden may be imprinted before the cover member is attached to the base member.

Abstract: A disposable portable mask for emergency use in a contaminated atmosphere is disclosed, which mask comprises a sponge of adequate size to cover a user's mouth and nostrils. The sponge is impregnated with water or an aqueous solution of an acidic salt, or weak alkali salt, for adsorption of toxic acidic gases passed therethrough. Perfume may be included in the sponge to mask any disagreeable odors of the sponge or liquid materials employed. The liquid-containing sponge is compressed and sealed within a fluid-tight container of plastic, or the like, to prevent evaporation of the liquid from the sponge. The overall package is of small size for ease in carrying in a person's pocket, handbag, or the like, so as to have a mask available for ready use at all times with a minimum of inconvenience. For use in case of an emergency, the mask is removed from the container and placed over the person's mouth and nostrils for adsorbing toxic gases breathed therethrough, preventing inhalation thereof.

Abstract: Halogen transfer laser method and means are disclosed employing a dilute mixture of molecular halogen vapor in high pressure noble gas. Noble gas atoms and molecules are excited by use of electrons to high energy metastable and/or excimer states. Collisional and/or radiative transfer of electronic excitation from the excited noble gas atoms and molecules to the lasing halogen molecules takes place for excitation of halogen molecules to upper ionic states in sufficient number to establish a population inversion in the electronic energy levels thereof for lasing. In addition to halogens, halogen-bearing compounds which dissociate and appropriately recombine to provide diatomic halogen for lasing also may be used. The laser is tunable over an electromagnetic energy range which includes ultraviolet radiation. Operation at high peak power levels with high efficiency is possible.