Abstract: Entry of a pet into a barrier region is deterred by emitting beams of compressional wave pulses from plural above ground sites in the region. The pet wears a collar with at least one transducer for converting the compressional wave beams into electrical signals. In response to pulses of the compressional wave energy being transduced, (1) an aural sound in a frequency range which can be heard by the pet is derived by a second transducer on the collar and (2) an electric shock is selectively applied to the pet by electrodes on the collar.

Abstract: Movement of an animal into a barrier region is inhibited by fitting on the animal a collar carrying a housing including battery powered circuitry for transmitting a magnetic induction wave. A compressional wave emitter in the region responds to the magnetic induction wave to emit a compressional wave that the animal senses and which inhibits its movement into the region.

Abstract: A portable personal air ionizer includes a dielectric housing small and lightweight enough to be hand carried. The housing contains a circuit for deriving a negative voltage having sufficient value to ionize air molecules, electrodes having pointed ends connected to the high voltage and a ground plane electrode. The negative ions collect airborne particulates which fall by gravity to a collecting pad beneath a stand for fully supporting the housing. Three electrodes are on each of two sheet metal strips, each having an elongated base mounted on a dielectric board. Each electrode is formed as a triangle extending upwardly from the base. The housing includes a central region having an interior wall spaced from an exterior wall. The interior wall forms a well where the circuit is located, surrounded and held in place by a potting compound. An edge of the dielectric board abuts against a dielectric wall between the ground plane electrode and the pointed electrodes.

Abstract: An electronic wristwatch having an LCD for time of day, day of month and month of year, as well as four key switches, includes a photodiode for detecting skin damaging ultraviolet, tanning radiation. The photodiode, a microcomputer, key switches, display and a battery are electrically connected to each other so that in response to activation of the key switches the microcomputer stores signals indicative of the time functions, intensity of the skin damaging ultraviolet radiation instantaneously incident on the photodiode at the time one of the key switches is activated, skin type of a subject wearing the watch, subject sun protection factor, and elapsed time from the time one of the key switches is activated, and the remaining time the subject skin can be safely exposed to the skin damaging radiation. The remaining time indication is derived independently of accumulated radiation incident on the photodiode which need not be pointed at the radiation source except when the one key is activated.

Abstract: The number of calories consumed by subject performing an exercise routine is approximated with a computer having a predetermined cycle time during which the distance travelled by the subject is determined. Indications of the subject weight, sex and age are entered into a memory of the computer to cause the computer to compute and store an indication of the number of calories the subject burns in traversing a predetermined distance during the computer cycle time. The calories consumed by the subject during the cycle time are calculated from the stored indication and the distance travelled during the cycle time. The indications of calculated consumed calories are accumulated over several consecutive cycle times. To determine distance travelled, signals from a pedometer are combined in the computer with a subject's stored stride length signal.

Abstract: Pests, such as fleas and ticks, are repelled from domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, by attaching an ultrasonic compressional wave energy source to the animal in such a position that a beam of the compressional wave energy is directed downwardly toward a surface on which the animal is located. Energy in the beam is reflected from the surface back to the animal. The energy has sufficient intensity, as reflected back to and incident on the animal, to repel the pests. The energy is pulsed on and off at a relatively low duty cycle at a rate above a predetermined minimum, such that during each pulse the envelope amplitude varies.

Abstract: The physical condition of a bicycle rider is tested by monitoring the heart beat of the rider and the distance traversed during testing. A portable electronic instrument housing includes a digital computer responsive to signals indicative of the heart beat and travel distance, numerical quantities associated with physiological parameters of the rider, and a clock source to derive signals indicative of different physical activities of the rider. The distance signal is derived by mounting a permanent magnet in a reflector carried by wheel spokes of the bicycle. A first reed switch responds to flux from the permanent magnet to derive a pulse for each wheel revolution. A pulse for each revolution of the bicycle sprocket assembly, derived by a second permanent magnet-reed switch combination, is coupled to the computer and combined with the clock source to derive a signal indicative of number of sprocket assembly turns per unit length of time.

Abstract: The physical condition of a subject is tested by a transducer mounted on the subject which derives a first signal indicative of heart activity.