Abstract: An endoskeletal or exoskeletal participatory water play structure comprised of play elements, water carrying conduits with attached water forming devices, associated valves, and issuing water effects, all of which define a three dimensional structure whereupon participants can manipulate valves to cause controllable changes in water effects that issue from the various water forming devices, and thus, alter the embodiment's overall appearance, sound and feel resulting in participant and observer recreational enjoyment.

Abstract: The invention includes a rigid frame that is positioned around the skull to define a multi-dimensional coordinate system. Multiple arms are coupled to the frame, each arm having an attachment assembly movable along a longitudinal axis directed toward the center of the rigid frame assembly. Multiple receptors are either attached to the skull or drilled into the skull for receiving an associated attachment assembly. The receptors provide a mounting base upon which the frame is repeatedly attached and detached from the skull at the same reproducible reference location. Each arm has a multi-station receptacle that receives various attachments used for mounting and attaching the receptors. Special bushings are used to lock the attachment assembly in a preset longitudinal position in relation to the arm. The locked attachment assembly can then be removed from the arm allowing the frame to be removed from the skull while maintaining frame position information.

Abstract: A waterslide play apparatus includes a stairway having a landing every two feet of vertical elevation. The stairway includes a 90 degree turn about half-way between the top and the bottom thereof. A waterslide has an upper end connected to an upper landing at the top of the stairway. The waterslide has a 180 degree bend so that the waterslide is adjacent the stairway for most of its length. Various water forming devices are positioned over the slide for expelling water onto people sliding down the slide. The devices are actuated by valves located on the stairway to permit people ascending the stairs to ride the slide to expel water onto those sliding down the slide.

Abstract: A filtering device including a lower housing engaged on a base and communicated with the base, an upper housing disposed above the lower casing, a tube communicating the base to the upper housing, a motor disposed in the upper housing for drawing the water contained in the base, and a pipe extended into the tube for supplying air into the tube and for forcing the water move upward through the tube when the motor is not energized.

Abstract: A self-timing optic lathe, comprising a turntable for rotating an object disc, an offset code track carried by the turntable and embodying an encoded control signal, a read laser for optically reading the encoded control signal from the code track, a write laser for optically recording an information signal on the object disc, an optical carriage for moving the write laser and the read laser in a radial direction across the turntable relative to the code track, and a timing and control circuit connected to the write laser and the read laser for reading the control signal and in response controlling rotation of the turntable and operation of the write laser to record the information signal independently of the speed of rotation of the turntable.

Abstract: A synchronous progressive-compression type logarithmic amplifier includes one or two channels of amplifier/limiter stages and a corresponding multi-stage synchronous demodulator circuit to provide low noise and/or low power operation as well as other useful operational modes. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes two channels in which the input of a first amplifier stage in each channel forms a logarithmic amplifier input. The synchronous demodulator circuit is realized as a number of multiplier stages each having a first input coupled to the output of a corresponding amplifier stage in the first channel, a second input coupled to the output of a corresponding amplifier stage in the second channel, and a current output. A current summing bus is coupled to the current outputs of each of the multiplier stages, and forms the logarithmic amplifier output.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving a plurality of pallets loaded with building block and being supported in a vertical stack in parallel relation to one another. Uncured molded block is supported on pallets which are serially advanced on a conveyor toward an unloader. Pallets are arranged in a vertical stack for engagement with an unloader spade assembly having a plurality of laterally extending spades one above the other. The spades are constructed to support and lift the pallets when each is positioned under a corresponding pallet and the spade assembly is shifted upwardly. A transfer carriage is mounted on a track above the spade assembly for lateral shifting movement with the spade assembly being suspended therefrom. A pivot shaft is mounted on the transfer carriage for pivoting about a vertical axis and includes a driving end connected to the spade assembly for pivoting the spade assembly about the axis. Rollers are mounted on the transfer carriage.

Abstract: Method for continuously forming concrete blocks or pavers includes a frame for defining a supporting structure with a mold box flexibly mounted thereon, the mold box having internal cavities contoured to define preselected block patterns, wherein a feed device for receiving concrete material is operable for selective positioning over an upper surface of the mold box for investing concrete material into the cavities. First and second sets of vibrators are mounted, respectively, generally at opposite ends of the mold box means and are operable for being selectively driven by associated first and second power drives. The first and second power drives are selectively operable for synchronizing or independently actuated the first and second sets of vibrators, respectively, so that concrete material invested into the cavities of the mold box may be vibrated so that the concrete material is evenly distributed in substantially equal masses throughout the cavities in the mold box.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously forming concrete blocks or pavers comprises a frame for defining a supporting structure with a mold box flexibly mounted thereon, the mold box having internal cavities contoured to define preselected block patterns, wherein a feed device for receiving concrete material is operable for selective positioning over an upper surface of the mold box for investing concrete material into the cavities. First and second sets of vibrators are mounted, respectively, generally at opposite ends of the mold box means and are operable for being selectively driven by associated first and second power drives. The first and second power drives are selectively operable for synchronizing or independently actuated the first and second sets of vibrators, respectively, so that concrete material invested into the cavities of the mold box may be vibrated so that the concrete material is evenly distributed in substantially equal masses throughout the cavities in the mold box.

Abstract: A spring-biased nipper has a pair of handles connected for pivoting movement toward and away from each other. A helical spring has first and second cylindrical ends and a relatively wide central portion which tapers toward each end. One end of the spring is threadably received in a bore formed on an inner side of one of the handles. An unthreaded bore on the opposite handle receives the other end of the spring. The spring biases the nipper handles away from one another when a user's grasp on the handles relaxes. In a second embodiment, one end of the spring is glued into an unthreaded bore formed in one of the handles.

Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier comprises a transconductance amplifier having a nonlinear resistive feedback element. The feedback element includes a pair of resistors and a pair of diodes, one of which conducts (depending upon the voltage polarity) only when the voltage across the diode exceeds the diode on-voltage. This includes additional resistance in the feedback element thereby changing the amplifier gain. The largest value of the resistive feedback element is substantially equal to or less than the output resistance of the transconductance amplifier. The feedback element is both symmetrical and nonlinear. A shunt amplifier is driven by circuit which produces a control signal that varies with a signal current. Increasing signal current increases the DC current shunted from the amplifier input thus decreasing pulse edge distortion and increasing dynamic range. A capacitor AC couples the current input to the amplifier.

Abstract: An optical receiver circuit for an incoming optical signal having a variable power level includes an optical detector for receiving the optical signal and generating a current therefrom which varies with the optical signal power level. The current so generated is applied to a transimpedance amplifier. An automatic gain control (AGC) drive circuit is connected around the amplifier thereby increasing its dynamic range. The AGC drive circuit drives a FET which has one side thereof connected to the transimpedance amplifier for shunting current from the input thereof. A negative feedback circuit comprising an amplifier is connected across the FET, which comprises the resistive feedback element, thus reducing the FET resistance by a factor of 1+T, where T is the feedback circuit loop gain.

Abstract: A high-impedance FET circuit in which the anode of a diode is electrically connected to the first side of the FET and the diode's cathode is connected to the FET gate. The diode biases the FET to reduce second side current when the second side is at a positive potential relative to the diode cathode. Such circuits placed back-to-back accommodate signals of both polarities and are used as a high impedance element in a low-pass filter implemented in an integrated circuit. An equivalent symmetrical circuit implemented with two enhancement FETs is also disclosed.

Abstract: A binarily weighted FET attenuator implemented in integrated form. The resistance of the vertical branches to the horizontal branches is at a ratio of 2:1. Each vertical branch includes a FET switch for switching between ground and a summing amplifier and each horizontal branch includes a FET permanently biased to conduct. Thus, variations in the value of r.sub.on, the resistance of each FET when conducting, due to fabrication process and temperature are compensated for due to the presence of FETs in both the vertical and horizontal legs of the attenuator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal which incorporates a pair of quadrature couplers. In demodulating an RF signal, an LO signal and the RF signal are each phase shifted -90 degrees by the couplers. The RF and LO signals are mixed as are the phase-shifted RF and LO signals. Each mixed signal is low-pass filtered and the filtered signals are added thereby producing an intermediate frequency signal.

Abstract: An oscilloscope includes a digitizing camera mounted thereon for recording waveforms on the oscilloscope screen. The digitized signals representing the waveforms are stored in the computer. In the calibration process a plurality of baselines substantially equidistant from one another are scanned on the screen and thereafter a plurality of sine waves are scanned. The phase differences between each sine wave and an associated ideal sine wave are determined and are used to create a map which associates each point on a waveform of interest appearing on the oscillosope screen with a time value that corrects for nonlinearities in the horizontal axis which are injected by the optics, nonlinear voltages, etc. Another map is created utilizing the baseline scan which corrects for such nonlinearities in the vertical axis.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal matrix display drive waveform scheme and circuit are disclosed which produce a resultant waveform at each pixel defined by the intersections of row and column electrodes that varies among three levels during each strobe interval. In a matrix of N rows and M columns, the rows are serially strobed with a strobe waveform that varies through three levels to provide select and non-select strobe signals. During each strobe interval, the column driver circuitry generates three-level and three-phase, time-variant drive waveforms. The circuit can provide up (write) and down (erase) pulses selectively to each pixel of the display using standard twisted-nematic type liquid crystal display drivers. A complex waveform generator provides three-level, three-phase control signals to the supply voltage inputs of the drivers.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a plurality of keys thereon, each of which is capable of three different switching actions for entry of data or commands into a word processor, typewriter, computer or the like. Each key includes a first inclined surface for generating a first switching action responsive to finger contraction, a second inclined surface for generating a second switching action responsive to finger extension, and a horizontal surface for actuating a third switching action responsive to finger depression. Each key is connected to a respective switch. Each switch includes a carriage operating horizontally against spring-loaded horizontal plugs. The carriage houses a spring-loaded vertical stem attached to the respective key.

Abstract: A perforating gun apparatus includes an elongated radially resilient carrier with a plurality of capsule type shaped charges attached to the carrier in a circumferentially phased pattern. The carrier is capable of passing downward through restricted diameter openings and subsequently expanding so as to hold the shaped charges with a near zero standoff from the well bore which is to be perforated.