Abstract: A modular optical fiber ribbon has a repetitive color identifier arrangement for the individual coated fibers defining one or more adjacent modules. Each module is identified by a digital code imprinted or otherwise marked on the top surface of the ribbon so that each individual fiber in the entire ribbon structure is uniquely identified. Each module or portion thereof can be broken out from the ribbon by means of a break-out tool which is sufficiently hard to cut the matrix bonding material which holds the fibers in the ribbon configuration, but which is not hard enough to cut the fiber coating.

Abstract: A method for drawing an element of an object during computer-aided drafting of the object is disclosed. A computer has a view screen displaying a cursor and at least a portion of a drawing field, and also has a cursor manipulator. The cursor is positioned using the cursor manipulator at a first location on the drawing field, a first data point is recorded at the first location, and the first data point is displayed on the view screen. A drawing plane is associated with the first data point and has first and second substantially perpendicular axes, and an origin at the intersection thereof coinciding with the first data point. The cursor is then positioned using the cursor manipulator at a second location on the drawing field relative to the origin of the drawing plane, a second data point is recorded at the second location, and the second data point is displayed on the view screen.

Abstract: A container having an open top and being adapted to be filled with liquid, wherein a vacuum is prevented from being formed within the container when inverted comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, a vent unit adapted to fit within the receptacle comprising a reservoir tube having an upper and lower portion, the reservoir tube having a proximal first end adjacent the top of the container and an open second end projecting sufficiently downwardly in the container, wherein the vent unit has an airway between the outside of the container and a point in the reservoir tube, a reservoir tube having a distal end having an opening, the vent tube projecting downwardly into the upper portion of the vent tube, and an airway extending from outside the container through the vent tube into the vent unit so that when the container is filled with liquid and inverted, the open end of the reservoir tube is above the liquid level in the container and the opening in the vent tube is above the liquid level

Abstract: An energy management and home automation system includes one or more controllers in each facility being managed and one or more energy consuming devices attached to each controller. Each controller responds to digital paging signals from a central command center which establish a schedule of event effecting the operation of each device and the controller schedules each device to be operated pursuant to the programmed schedule. The user of the system, by appropriate communication with the command center, may cause a paging message to be provided at any time changing the pre-programmed schedule. The heating/cooling system is controlled by set-point temperatures. for each of a plurality of different modes of occupancy, whereby the most energy is consumed when the facility is occupied and lesser amounts of energy are consumed when the facility is empty. Intermediate amounts of energy are consumed when the facility is not fully operational because people are asleep or maintenance or cleaning is being done.

Abstract: A nursing bottle's interior remains at atmospheric pressure during use so a baby nursing from it is not forced to suck so hard that air is inadvertently swallowed. The nursing bottle has a container adapted to contain liquid at its bottom and having an air space at its top with a first opening at its top for the reception of a nipple cap, a reservoir located adjacent to the air space at the top of the container, a vertical liquid conduit from the bottom of the container to the bottom of the reservoir, and an air conduit from outside the bottle to a point in the reservoir where an air space exists when the bottle is filled with liquid and inverted. The reservoir has a volume greater than the volume of the liquid conduit and has a shape which slopes downwardly to the point of communication with the conduit so that any liquid in the reservoir drains out of the reservoir when the bottle is in the upright position and is retained in the reservoir when the bottle is in the inverted position.

Abstract: An energy management and home automation system includes one or more controllers in each facility being managed and one or more energy consuming devices attached to each controller. Each controller responds to digital paging signals from a central command center which establish a schedule of event effecting the operation of each device and the controller schedules each device to be operated pursuant to the programmed schedule. The user of the system, by appropriate communication with the command center, may cause a paging message to be provided at any time changing the pre-programmed schedule. The heating/cooling system is controlled by setpoint temperatures for each of a plurality of different modes of occupancy, whereby the most energy is consumed when the facility is occupied and lesser amounts of energy are consumed when the facility is empty. Intermediate amounts of energy are consumed when the facility is not fully operational because people are asleep or maintenance or cleaning is being done.

Abstract: A system for supplying input data establishes the location of data points in a model space represented in a view of a two-dimensional display. In one embodiment, the system has a pointing device (such as a mouse) for establishing the location of a cursor on the display, and also an arrangement for establishing in the model space primary and secondary orientation planes of which one is currently active at any given time. The embodiment also has an arrangement for providing an initial value (called the "start point") of a tentative point in the model space. A dynamic arrangement establishes a current point in a construction plane, parallel to the active plane, in which the tentative point is located, in the location attributable to the position of the cursor on the display of the view.

Abstract: A process for applying a decorative design to a hard surface is provided which utilizes a template with holes of a predetermined design cut by a water jet to give a feathered boundary to the holes. The feathered boundary enables a hard surface when painted to have the realistic appearance of a brick and mortar interface.

Abstract: A wire retaining apparatus is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment this wire retaining apparatus is used in the construction of a child's activity toy generically referred to as a bead maze. The wire retaining apparatus includes a plug and a receptacle. The apparatus is designed to secure an elongate rigid wire having an L-shaped terminus. The L-shaped terminus of the wire engages an L-shaped channel in the plug. The plug has one or more prongs extending from the side thereof. The plug and the wire engage a receptacle formed in a base or other suitable support structure. The receptacle includes one or more slots to receive the prongs. A shoulder on each prong engages a shoulder formed in each slot of the plug in the receptacle. A foot extends from the plug and engages a step in the bottom of the receptacle. The foot is formed from resilient material and tends to urge the plug upward into locking engagement and into a generally coplanar relationship with the support structure.

Abstract: A method of determining the winners of, for example, a game of skill in conjunction with a football or baseball game without the input of all the scores is provided. By the use of statistical sampling a small fraction of the remote players upload their scores to a central station via a telephone line, for example. Then, when the tentative winners are determined from this small statistical sample, the mass communications link of the system downloads the statistical curve to all of the players and only those players who are equal or better than the winning score telephone. Thus, time and money are saved for the telephone up-link. Furthermore, overcrowding of the telephone system is avoided by a proper delay given the individual remote sources.

Abstract: Semiconductor apparatus comprises a split-gate semiconductor device (1) which has a first layer (3) of a first undoped semiconductor material (e.g. GaAs) and a second layer (4) of a second semiconductor material (e.g. AlGaAs) which is doped through at least part of its thickness. The second material has a higher energy band gap than the first material, and the layers form a heterojunction so that electrons from the second layer collect in the first layer to form a two-dimensional electron gas. Drain and source contacts (7,6) are provided on the second layers, and a gate electrode (8) is so configured that on application of a sufficiently large negative bias to the gate electrode a constriction is formed in the first layer through which only a one-dimensional electron gas can pass between the source and drain contacts. The apparatus also includes a bias supply (17) for applying a bias voltage between the source and drain contacts. The source/drain bias is made equal to or greater than E.sub.f /e where E.sub.

Abstract: An on-line slurry ash monitoring system for evaluating the composition of coal slurries in coal preparation plants. A coal slurry is introduced into a sample reservoir where it is removed and passed through a closed loop slurry transport system which causes the sample to be directed through a sensor and recirculated back to the reservoir. In order to enhance sensor accuracy, a sample is exposed to vacuum pressure conditions which removes gas bubbles and dissolved gases from the sample. The sensor is preferably a radiation absorption type in which characteristic absorptions of coal particles, ash and iron are evaluated by associated electronics to provide an output of slurry composition.

Abstract: A twisted flat cable positioning tray includes a cable tray having a slide for covering and securing a multisection flat cable having one section of the cable twisted 180 degrees to accurately position the twisted cable for termination to a connector in a connector press.

Abstract: A motor and manual actuated switch includes a motor control circuit for controlling the motor to rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to actuate a mechanical switch between the open circuit and short circuit states. The control circuit includes a capacitor coupled in series with the motor winding to form a series circuit and a control switch for connecting a source of d.c. power across said serial circuit when in a first position and a short circuit across said series circuit when in a second position. When the control switch is moved to the first position, the capacitor charges, causing a current to flow through the motor winding during the charge time, thereby causing rotation in one direction. When the control switch is moved to the second position, the capacitor discharges through the winding, thereby causing opposite current flow and shaft rotation.

Abstract: A method of determining the winners of, for example, a game of skill in conjunction with a football or baseball game without the input of all the scores is provided. By the use of statistical sampling a small fraction of the remote players upload their scores to a central station via a telephone line, for example. Then, when the tentative winners are determined from this small statistical sample, the mass communications link of the system downloads the statistical curve to all of the players and only those players who are equal or better than the winning score telephone. Thus, time and money are saved for the telphone up-link. Furthermore, overcrowding of the telephone system is avoided by a proper delay given the individual remote sources.

Abstract: An automation and energy management system includes an automation panel box which may be positioned adjacent to a circuit breaker panel box. The automation panel box includes one or more circuit breaker control modules, one or more device control modules and a power module for providing power to the control modules. The circuit breaker control module provides signals to operate motorized circuit breakers, so as to turn on or off the power to a device being managed and the device control module provides signals to control individual appliances. Each of the two control modules is capable of controlling up to eight different circuit breakers or eight different individual devices and each includes a manual override button for each breaker or device controlled, which override button can be manually pressed by a person desiring to override the automation and energy management control.