Abstract: A method and system for the wireless interrogation of a body immersed in a circulatory bath or a tank for heating. More specifically, the system may include a probe having multiple sensors for gauging a core temperature associated with the immersed body in combination with one or more wireless connections leading to a controller (on a circulator or a user interface) such that the user can determine temperature information (e.g., core temperature) of the body being immersed.

Abstract: A system and method for using a circuit for providing power from one or more battery packs charged by a AC-mains-provided electrical connection and which supply power to a hi-power, non-portable audio amplifier. The system includes a power supply sized to satisfy long time-basis average demands, a battery pack and with a controller which buffers or back-ends a power supply which is not otherwise capable of satisfying the variable load peak demands that an audio source imposes on the amplifier, while still maintaining a substantially constant battery charge over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A system and method for using a circuit for providing power from multiple sources for a variable audio amplifier. The system includes a battery, a power supply and a controller which provides a power supply for the variable load demands of the amplifier, while still maintaining a substantially constant battery charge over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A coupon dispensing module for use in conjunction with a vending machine includes a selection mechanism adapted to interrogate a database to determine whether a desired coupon corresponds to the desired product, a printing mechanism adapted to print the desired coupon, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the desired coupon upon the receipt of an actuating signal, and a control circuit coupled to the vending machine, the control circuit operating to interrogate the database to determine whether the desired coupon is available, operate the printing mechanism based on requirements of the desired coupon, and provide the actuating signal to the dispensing mechanism.

Abstract: A bobbin assembly is provided that is suitable for dispensing webbed material using a power driven coupling in a toilet seat assembly having a housing with wall portions. The bobbin assembly comprises an extruded thermoplastic hollow tube having a plurality of splines disposed longitudinally therein and an end cap assembly adapted for connection to the wall portion. The splines are constructed and arranged in mating inter-engagement with the power driven coupling. The end coupling is spring biased toward the hollow tube to mate with the hollow tube. The bobbin assembly allows for identical supply and take-up bobbins.

Abstract: A toilet seat assembly for mounting to the toilet bowl can be assembled and disassembled by aligning vanous components of the assembly at predetermined angles with respect to one another. The toilet seat assembly includes a housing defining a cavity for receiving a sleeve dispensing apparatus and a pair of mounting forks. The housing is rotatable between a predetermined assembly angle position where the housing can be installed or removed from the pair of mounting forks and positions beyond the assembly angle where the housing is securely seated within the pair of mounting forks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toilet seat assembly that can be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools by aligning various components of the assembly at a predetermined angle with respect to one another. Another aspect of the invention includes a system composed of a plurality of toilet seat assemblies that communicate information onto and receive information from a computer network that can include the Internet in one embodiment. Another aspect of the invention includes a kit for serviceing the assembly of the invention that includes a plurality of rolls of plastic sleeves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating a control signal for compensating a temperature controlled crystal oscillator system for changes in an ambient temperature. The method includes the steps of providing a set of second-order coefficients relating ambient temperature to frequency drift over at least a portion of an operating temperature range of the temperature controlled crystal oscillator system and calculating a control signal for compensating the temperature controlled crystal oscillator system for the frequency drift due to the ambient temperature based upon the set of second-order coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toilet seat assembly that can be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools by aligning various components of the assembly at a predetermined angle with respect to one another. Another aspect of the invention includes a system composed of a plurality of toilet seat assemblies that communicate information onto and receive information from a computer network that can include the Internet in one embodiment. Another aspect of the invention includes a kit for servicing the assembly of the invention that includes a plurality of rolls of plastic sleeves.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toilet seat assembly that can be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools by aligning various components of the assembly at a predetermined angle with respect to one another. Another aspect of the invention includes a system composed of a plurality of toilet seat assemblies that communicate information onto and receive information from a computer network that can include the Internet in one embodiment. Another aspect of the invention includes a kit for servicing the assembly of the invention that includes a plurality of rolls of plastic sleeves.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toilet seat assembly that can be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools by aligning various components of the assembly at a predetermined angle with respect to one another. Another aspect of the invention includes a system composed of a plurality of toilet seat assemblies that communicate information onto and receive information from a computer network that can include the Internet in one embodiment. Another aspect of the invention includes a kit for servicing the assembly of the invention that includes a plurality of rolls of plastic sleeves.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toilet seat assembly that can be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools by aligning various components of the assembly at a predetermined angle with respect to one another. Another aspect of the invention includes a system composed of a plurality of toilet seat assemblies that communicate information onto and receive information from a computer network that can include the Internet in one embodiment. Another aspect of the invention includes a kit for servicing the assembly of the invention that includes a plurality of rolls of plastic sleeves.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (10) having a sacrificial mass-loading layer (16). Material is removed from the mass-loading layer (16) to raise a resonator frequency to a desired target. The sacrificial layer (16) is of a dense material, such as silver or gold, but is of such a relative thin layer that it can be used on high frequency aluminum electrodes (14) of a resonator (10) without increasing adverse spurious frequency problems. It is not necessary that the mass-loading layer (16) be conductive. In addition, the silver or gold sacrificial layer (16) can be removed by ion milling at practical and economical rates, unlike aluminum or aluminum oxide. Preferably, a diffusion barrier (18) is interposed between the electrodes (14) and the mass-loading layer (16).

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (12) is embedded within an electrically insulating substrate assembly (36), such as a multilayer printed circuit board. Electrical conductors (22,24) extend from electrodes of the resonator (12) through holes (32) in upper and lower layers (26,29) of the substrate assembly (36) and connect to electrical traces (34). The lower layer (29) has a pocket which forms a cavity (38) within the substrate assembly (36) adapted to contain the piezoelectric resonator (12). The conductors (22,24) support the resonator (12) such that the resonator (12) does not contact the assembly (36). As the resonator is substantially larger than associated electrical components, embedding it within a substrate eliminates the size penalty that is normally required to mount a large piezoelectric resonator.

Abstract: A resonator (104) including a piezoelectric plate (102) with an electrode (108) having a random pattern (100) along a portion of an edge of the electrode (108). The random pattern (100) dampens or destructively interferes with undesirable and inharmonic vibrational modes. For example, a rectangular AT-cut quartz resonator, which vibrates in a thickness-shear mode may also possess undesirable flexure and face-shear modes. These modes not only present undesirable spurious frequencies, they also change over temperature, disturbing a frequency-ternperature response of the resonator. The random pattern (100) causes diffuse and/or specular scattering to reduce these undesirable modes, providing a more uniform frequency-temperature response which is beneficial in temperature compensated crystal oscillator applications.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (100) with an attenuated spurious response. The resonator (100) includes a piezoelectric crystal plate (102) having opposite surfaces (104, 106), electrodeS (108, 114) positioned in overlying relationship on each of the opposite surfaces (104, 106), the electrodes (108, 114) being substantially coextensive and opposite, and providing a primary frequency mode of operation and spurious modes upon suitable energization, and the electrodes (108, 114) having a grid-like structure (124) to provide a substantially uniform distribution of electrical charges over an electroded region (126).

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (10) with an attenuated spurious response. The resonator (10) includes a piezoelectric crystal plate (12) having opposite surfaces (14, 16), an electrode (18, 24) positioned and overlying relationship on each of the opposite surfaces (14, 16), the electrodes (18, 24) being substantially coextensive and opposite, and providing a primary frequency mode of operation and spurious modes upon suitable energization, and a number of mass loading structures (34) on at least one of the surfaces (14, 16) substantially surrounding at least one of the electrodes (18, 24).

Abstract: A method of compliantly mounting piezoelectric device with a substrate. First, outer portions of a piezoelectric element are selectively metallized. Next, one layer of aluminum is selectively dispensed on the piezoelectric element. Third, an uncured conductive compliant material is placed and aligned on a substrate. Fourth, the piezoelectric element is placed and aligned on the conductive compliant material, such that upon curing the conductive compliant material forms a compliant mount connecting the outer metallized portions of the piezoelectric element with the substrate.