Abstract: An erasable circuit provides a nonvolatile memory for holding key codes in at least two memory locations. At least one of these locations is a master key code address. "Master key" here means a key that can command a lock to store a key code or to erase a stored key code. An input device makes electrical connection to an electronic key--such as a ROM key--to receive from the key an electronic code that is in essence unique to that key. The lock also has provision for comparing such a received code with the contents of each of the address locations, and it responds to the comparison by performing a lock-management function. Such functions include opening or closing a lock, changing the state of a key switch, rejecting a key, and validating or invalidating a key--particularly including a master key--by physically changing the contents of the nonvolatile memory. Perceptible signals identify the lock-management function for human users.

Abstract: An imaging system for detecting the contents of a turbid medium, such as water or air, which is at least partially transmissive of light. The system includes a light source for producing a series of discrete fan-shaped pulse beams which are substantially uniform in intensity or have been peaked at the edges of the fan to illuminate sections of the medium, a streak tube with a large photocathode for collecting the maximum amount of light from weak returns, a field-limiting slit disposed in front of the photocathode for removing multiply scattered light, a large aperture optical element for collecting and focusing the reflected portions of the pulse beam on the field-limiting slit and the photocathode, and an array of detectors. A volume display of the medium is generated by translating the transmitter and receiver normal to the longitudinal axis of the pulse beam to illuminate adjacent sections of the medium, and combining the sections to provide a volume display.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display preferably eighteen lines of forty characters each, is mounted in a case. The temperature of the display medium is held within operating limits for the display--notwithstanding ambient temperature and humidity variations over generally normal ranges for at least the temperate zones, and even if the display unit receives direct sunlight. The unit works outdoors, at temperatures to at least 46.degree. C. (115.degree. F.) as well as in buildings with no temperature control. This is accomplished by use of a shading hood, and a window (preferably unperforated polycarbonate, curved, upward-and-outward-concave, and cylindrical-segment) that reflects to a viewer only light from the hood underside. No ventilating fan, plenum or other ventilating opening is needed. A circuit-board-mounted temperature sensor controls the contrast-adjusting voltage of the display--using data in a digital-memory "look up" table. A heater is preferably provided, also temperature-controlled.

Abstract: Supplemental apparatus for a hand-held power drill that uses the rotational movement of the drill for both rotating a drill bit and advancing the drill bit into the work piece. In one form the illustrated apparatus comprises a separate attachment that includes a base for releasibly attaching to a hand drill. The base supports a moveable support unit for releasibly holding a selected drill bit in a position to be advanced into the work piece to drill a desired hole. A transmission mechanism on the base is connected to the support unit and transmits rotation from the chuck of the drill so as to both (1) rotate the drill bit, and (2) move the drill bit forwardly relative to the base into the work piece. The power drill connects to the attachment from the side so that it is disposed generally at right angles to the drill bit.

Abstract: A rotatable drive mechanism for producing linear motion of an object includes driving and driven members, one of which is elongated, and which act cooperatively through frictional engagement to produce longitudinal motion of the driven member. It also includes a magnetic coupling having at least first and second magnetizable members with mutually facing flat annular surfaces, a set of balls disposed in a generally annular arrangement between those flat surfaces, and magnetic means attracting the magnetizable members to each other. Respective ends of the magnetic coupling are fixedly secured to the driven member and to the object, respectively. Since the elements of the magnetic coupling, in and of themselves, would permit relative rotation of parts, which is undesired, provision is also made for restraining the undesired rotation of any part of the magnetic coupling.

Abstract: A compact hand-holdable implement or key for controlling an electronic lock mechanism is disclosed. The implement is sized and configured for easy, convenient and comfortable gripping, aligning with a mating receptacle of the lock mechanism, and bringing into and out of desired engagement with the receptacle. The illustrated implement includes a memory chip. It has an elongated handle with a front-to-rear axis and electrical implement contacts at its front end connected to the memory chip. The user grips the handle with the user's thumb and at least one finger generally aligned with the handle axis for clear visibility of the front end and the receptacle. This also allows for easy and comfortable combined movement which both aligns the implement with the receptacle and moves it forwardly into the receptacle.

Abstract: The device permits swing, shift, tilt and rise-and-fall movements between a lens and a motion-picture camera to manipulate focal relations and image shapes. Preferably the device rests on rails (called "iris rods") of a balance plate or base--secured under the camera--or some other track, similarly mounted. If so, the device has a first intermediary element preferably mounted to slide fore-and-aft on the track relative to the camera; and other intermediary elements mounted in a sequence preferably from the first element for translation and rotation relative to that element--ending in a lens-board mount for mounting a lens. Also in balance-plate mounting the device preferably includes a bellows whose front end joins the lens-board mount and whose rear end holds an adapter to engage the camera lens port. Preferably the device has a yoke (preferably flat and rearward-extending) for, e.g.

Abstract: External grooving on a catheter traps microorganisms nurtured by mucus in a patient's body. The grooving also traps contaminating debris, originating outside the body, that migrates into the body along the catheter exterior. Energy, which may be a propagating vibration or electrical energy or a radioactive material, is carried to the groove (or grooves), from a source outside the body. This function is performed by a fiber embedded or held in the catheter, or by a liquid column (e. g., in an annular lumen) in the catheter, or in other ways. The energy disables microorganisms and disintegrates debris trapped at the groove. The groove depth, interface geometry, and in the case of vibrational energy the vibration frequency too, are selected to minimize projection of energy into the patient's tissues. Suction may be applied as through an auxiliary lumen (or, in some drain catheters, intermittently through the primary drain lumen itself), to remove resulting detritus at the grooving.

Abstract: The gas enclosure of this laser includes a reservoir but no gas exhaust port--or valve leading to such a port or to ambient. Preferably the enclosure is sealed by an essentially permanent-type seal such as a glassblown seal, and connects with no pump, or valve leading to a pump. System life, in intermittent use or low-repetition-rate continuous use, is over a year without gas replenishment. Opposed metal coatings on the exterior of a discharge capillary tube form preionization electrodes, each extending nearly the entire capillary-tube length. These electrodes are energized to establish a transverse discharge inside the capillary tube, with good uniformity of initial ion density along the capillary tube. The electrodes couple to this discharge capacitively, through the capillary-tube wall, thereby isolating electrode materials against chemical reaction with corrosive gases in the system.

Abstract: This is a specialized hand-held and battery-powered unit for field testing of backflow valves. It displays and prints a permanent record of simultaneous source- and discharge-port pressure values and their difference. To reduce operator distraction and confusion during backflow tests the source and discharge values are automatically equalized, bringing the difference to zero, whenever the actually sensed pressures are within a threshold differential such as 0.2 pounds per square inch. Preferably two pressure sensors are provided for connection to source and discharge ports respectively, yielding independent analog electrical signals representing the pressures; and two independent analog-to-digital converters respond to the two sensor signals respectively. Digital input signals from the converters pass to a microprocessor--which controls a digital display to show the three values continuously.

Abstract: A drum is rotatably mounted next to a tool. Resin-preimpregnated filament tows are independently fed to the drum, through several collimating guides positioned along the drum. The drum operates reciprocally: when it rotates in one direction, segments of the tows are gathered or wound up onto the drum and preheated; upon counterrotation in the outer direction the gathered segments are unwound and forcibly compacted against the tool, or against previously laid filaments. In the gathering part of the operating cycle the drum does not translate with respect to the tool, but rather spins in place at a dwell point. In the depositing part of the cycle, however, the drum effectively rolls along the tool (or filament-pack) surface. Heat from the drum penetrates deeply into the pack of already laid filaments, when present, to facilitate generalized consolidation of the workpiece--enough in many cases to make autoclave postconsolidation unnecessary.

Abstract: Game apparatus comprising of at least one self-standing upright playpiece and a self-powered striker self-movable along a supporting surface so as to engage and knock over the playpiece. The striker may be aimed toward the playpiece from a stationary position and then caused to move forwardly in the aimed direction toward the playpiece. This allows even young children to take their time to aim the playpiece and not have to try to aim or direct it while it is already moving forwardly. There may be a plurality of the playpieces, each shaped as a fish or other character. The illustrated striker is in the form of a shark having a side-to-side oscillating tail. The striker may engage and knock over the playpieces with its nose, and also with its oscillating tail as it goes by the playpieces.

Abstract: This mechanical joint allows relative rotation of two articles (one may be a stationary fixture), on an arbitrary axis. The joint has as much angular-rotation range as a hinge, but as many degrees of freedom as a ball-and-socket or universal joint. It allows transmission, between the objects, of force or flux (e.g., of electricity, gas, or liquid), or both. It can be used as an applied-force or motion sensor, varying electrical contacts or conductivity in response to relative motion or force applied between the articles. In one form the invention is simply a mechanical joint formed of two closely interlocked toroids. The minor cross-section of each toroid is sized to just fit through the central aperture of the other; there is a connection point on each toroid for attachment of one article. By adjusting closeness of fit, a designer can impart to the device a wide range of desirable frictional properties.

Abstract: An action toy for young children comprising a base that defines a pathway, and motor means on the base connected to a primary mobile object in the form of a personified animal or vehicle such as a toy shark for advancing the object forwardly along the pathway. Caming surfaces are spaced along the pathway and a matting caming surface is provided on the primary object. The caming surfaces are arranged and designed so that they engage and cause the primary object to raise upwardly at each pathway caming surface and then lower back down between pathway caming surfaces. This provides intermittent up and down movement of the primary object as it moves forwardly. Such movement could simulate the opening and closing of the jaws of the shark. Secondary objects such as small fish may also be provided for movement along the pathway; They may appear to be "swallowed" by the shark when it reaches one of them.

Abstract: One aspect of this gunite or refractories gun is a seal-clamping system that applies an essentially constant force despite variables such as wear of the seal or seals. Another aspect is a combination of hydraulic control and mechanical cams to clamp the seal(s). Ideally both aspects are used. Preferably the system also balances seal-clamping forces at different points. Chambers in a rotary feed structure carry material from a hopper at a receiving port to a delivery tube at a discharge port. Gas (usually air) flows from a pneumatic supply orifice to blow material from the feed structure into the distance port. One or more seals are used to seal the path that is formed by the pneumatic supply orifice, at least one chamber (when generally in position for discharge), the discharge port, and the delivery tube. A set of cams or other mechanical apparatus applies force to press the seal(s) against the feed structure.

Abstract: A multiple-choice verbal sound toy uses a microprocessor to produce one song or poem that has at least one space or slot for introducing a supplementary verbal sound segment to complete the song or poem. The child user may be given a plurality of different choices of segments for completing the song or poem. For example, the microprocessor may play a song such as "Old McDonald Had a Farm", and a child user may select--as by pushing one of several keys associated with pictures of different farm animals--the verbal sounds made by that particular animal, to be inserted into each verse of the song. The song or poem may have a series of slots or spaces and there may be a plurality of sets of verbal sounds to be inserted with the individual sounds in each set being a plurality of the same sounds or a variety of different but related sounds. Sounds may be inserted in successive verses cumulatively, in the order (or reverse order) in which they are first introduced.

Abstract: This display advertisement qualifies for second-class postal rates because it is all one piece of paper when bound into a publication, when mailed, and when received by a recipient of the publication. Yet it is capable of operation by the recipient to display two or more different images. One area of the sheet forms a slidable-panel portion for motion, eventually, within (or behind) other portions; this slidable-panel portion is folded over to lie within (or behind) the other portions, and connected to the other portions by a perforated tab. The tab initially restrains the slidable-panel portion against actually sliding. The recipient breaks the tab to free the slidable-panel portion, making it actually slidable; and then moves the tab to slide the slidable panel. Preferably the other portions of the sheet are folded and glued to form a flat tube that is tipped (or otherwise bound) into the publication. Parts of images--including photos, lettering, etc.

Abstract: A map construction for use by a tourist at a new site or location such as an amusement park or a college campus. The illustrated construction is in the form of a shirt having a front panel with an outwardly facing surface. The surface is provided with a map of the area in question. The map is oriented (i) with the bottom of the map uppermost and the top of the map lowermost, and (ii) with the map low enough, to facilitate ready reading and use of the map by the person wearing the shirt and without having to remove the shirt. The user wearing the shirt simply looks down and sees the map of the desired area in an orientation where it can be read by the wearer. In one form, a map may be provided on the outer surface of the rear panel of the shirt for use by a companion of the person wearing the shirt. The map on the rear panel is oriented with the top of the map uppermost.