Abstract: A bicycle seat for supporting the buttocks of a bicycle rider when the rider shifts his position on the seat between three positions, a touring position, a performance position, and a racing position. The seat eliminates pressure on the perineum and is designed for both men and women.

Abstract: The pharmacy benefit management system includes a pharmacy computer for generating pharmacy claim information based on pharmacy activity of a medical group. A health plan computer is responsive to the pharmacy claim information for generating pharmacy activity information for the medical group. A medical group computer receives the pharmacy activity information from the health plan computer and stores the pharmacy activity information. The pharmacy activity information is processed to generate utilization information to enable the medical group to monitor the pharmacy activity.

Abstract: A low profile non-resonant traveling wave slot antenna operating over broad frequency bands is in the form of a multiple layer circuit, which includes a generally planar slotted conductor sheet having an open smoothly curved tapered planar slot therein and a three-dimensionally smoothly curved stripline conductor sheet having an elongated stem portion electrically connected at its distal end to a feed point on top of the slotted conductor sheet and extending downwardly through the slot therein and terminating in an enlarged smoothly tapered portion to transition the characteristic impedance between the feed point and an aperture impedance matched to free space.

Abstract: The scaleable CDMA communication system comprises a new spreading code operating at an increased chip rate. The chip rate is selected to be a multiple of a base chip rate, and the new spreading code is created by repeating a base spreading code. Synchronization frames are thereby consistent with established CDMA communication systems. After spreading, a periodic phase rotation is applied to the communication signals, thereby providing a synchronization marker. The phase rotation and resulting synchronization marker enables subscriber units to synchronize to system timing with a minimum of ambiguity.

Abstract: The task of the invention comprises reliably acquiring documents from an output device with variable output speed without impermissible tractive forces being exerted onto the documents. For this purpose the rotational speed of the transport system of the acquisition unit is determined under no-load condition and the torque of the drive is reduced, for example by current imitation, until the transport rate of the acquisition unit is just above the maximum occurring transport rate of the output device. The torque value thus determined, which represents the torque requirement for overcoming the friction of the system, is stored and set as the nominal value during the document acquisition. As a drive motor can be used DC current motors as well as also load-controlled electronically commutated motors.

Abstract: The shoe incorporates adjustable straps that are positioned to tighten the shoe casing around a wearer's instep. A retractor mechanism incorporates elastic members. The elastic members are charged when the wearer loosens shoe by pulling on the straps. The stored energy is released when a catch is released releasing the elastic members to tighten and cinch the shoe on the wearer's foot. During charging a first elastic member is extended an intermediate distance and a second elastic member is charged a greater distance. The second elastic member triggers the release of the first elastic member when it reaches the intermediate position, increasing the tension available for cinching the straps.

Abstract: A new and improved process by which plastic material forming the plastic body package of an integrated circuit is selectively removed and replaced with a radiation shield having a specific formulation that is customized for a given radiation environment dependent upon the space application in which the integrated circuit is to be used.

Abstract: A novelty device and method of using it, include at least three lamp sockets, and at least three lamps, which are each capable of producing at least three different colored lights, such as red, green and orange light. The lamps are housed in opaque translucent enclosures or housings, to prevent their colors from being known until they are illuminated by a set of at least three corresponding manually operable switches. When the switches are actuated, the lamps each emit a different colored light to provide the appearance that each lamp is of a different color. A control device in the form of a microprocessor secretly enables the user to cause the lamps to emit the desired color even after the lamps are removed from the sockets, mixed, and then re-inserted.

Abstract: A base station for interconnecting via a wireless full duplex communication path, a plurality of stationary intercom unit stations with at least one portable transceiver unit. A page channel interface arrangement coupled to the stationary units and the base station interconnects the stationary units and the portable units with a common paging arrangement to enable all the users of the system to be alerted about messages to be transmitted.

Abstract: The meter reading data transmission system includes a transmission unit having a meter reading transmitter coupled to a meter. The transmission unit further has an associated node for sending wireless meter reading messages. An intermediate transmission unit including a node receives the meter reading messages, and retransmits the messages. The retransmitted messages are received by a remotely located data collection station to enable the meter to be monitored from a distance.

Abstract: An envelope construction for high speed printing includes a front panel having a flap with a sealing adhesive strip on its back side, and a rear panel secured to the front panel at its marginal edges to form a pocket. The thickness of the adhesive strip is substantially the same as the thickness of the rear panel so that when the flap is opened, the overall configuration of the envelope is flat to facilitate stacking and feeding. The combination of the strip and the rear panel are both secured to the back side of the front panel, and the combination adds a layer of a uniform thickness to provide the desired flat aspect. Like such envelope constructions are arranged in a stack within a paper tray. The topmost one of the envelope constructions is separated from the stack seriatim at high speeds to feed them individually to the printer for printing thereon.

Abstract: The organizer rack component includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart elongated rails for engaging an item of furniture, and a series of parallel, spaced apart cross members or ribs connected integrally at their opposite ends to the rails for defining a series of elongated access openings or apertures to receive boxlike articles therein. The ribs are spaced apart by a given distance sufficiently larger than the corresponding dimension of the article to enable the ribs to receive and retain the article therebetween. Pegs or ears extending outwardly from the rails are received in spaced apart openings in the furniture item to enable the organizer rack component to be held securely thereto in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Abstract: A small diameter linear motor is relatively short in length, and includes a hollow elongated mover, and a stator having a plurality of annular spaced apart stator teeth. Individual electrical coils are wound from individual uninterrupted single wires extending from outside of the assembly in the spaces between the teeth to avoid the need for electrical connections between the coils. The stator assembly and mover are dimensioned to fit within the hollow interior of a ferromagnetic tube. In another form, the linear motor includes a mover and a stator, the stator including a set of coils for producing a series of electromagnetic fields extending at least partially in an axial direction when energized with an electric current and a stator core defining a plurality of spaced-apart transversely disposed coil receiving slots and an annular axially extending mover receiving bore.

Abstract: A variable displacement apparatus includes a pair of axially adjustable housing parts sealingly joined together to form a unitary pumping chamber. A pair of meshing elongated vanes or gears having a plurality of teeth disposed within the chamber in a meshing overlapping relationship for positive displacement pumping purposes. The gears are mounted adjustably within the chamber to move axially therein as the housing parts are adjusted axially relative to one another.

Abstract: A flow meter system and method includes detecting the movement of a substance through a conduit with a sensing device partially within the path of flow of the substance. A signal indicative of the quantity of the substance moving through the conduit is generated in response to the detection of the movement of the substance. Another signal indicative of the cumulative quantity of the substance is generated from the quantity signal. Cumulative quantity information is transmitted in a wireless manner, and is received at a remote location.

Abstract: A logic arrangement for causing a display image of a given resolution to be displayed in an adjusted size to accommodate a projection display system, which, in turn, can project the adjusted image. The system also enables an image to be zoomed in size prior to projecting it.

Abstract: A new and improved ferroelectric liquid crystal display system having a matrix structure of pixel elements each including a transistor active switching device and a ferroelectric cell. Each switching device is coupled to an individual storage capacitor which is charged during each row select time when the switching device is activated, and which is discharged during each frame time when the switching device is deactivated. A plurality of multi-level or analog column drivers supply selected drive currents to charge individually the storage capacitors of a row of pixel elements to desired initial voltage levels corresponding to desired gray scale levels for the pixel elements during a row select time to maintain the liquid crystal pixel images for lengths of time proportional to the initial charge levels of the capacitors, which discharge until their individual voltages reach a threshold voltage within predetermined discharge times during one frame time.

Abstract: The rooftop snow retention assembly includes at least one upstanding projection connected integrally to a top surface of a roof. An elongated upper wall portion of the projection cooperates with a snow guard positioned adjacent to the projection. The snow guard includes an upright wall member to engage the snow or ice and a base member bonded to the top surface, wherein the base member substantially abuts the upper wall portion to help resist the snow guard from moving downwardly. A pair of leg members extend downwardly from the base member on either side of the projection to further brace the snow guard against shear forces applied by the accumulated snow or ice.

Abstract: The laser illuminated image projection system includes a microlaser array coupled with a beam shaper to produce an exceptionally bright projection light beam. In one embodiment, the beam shaper includes a binary phase plate to modify the shape and intensity profile of the projection light beam. In another embodiment, the beam shaper includes a microlens array arrangement. In yet another embodiment, the beam shaper includes a diffuser arrangement. A light valve modifies the projection light beam to generate an output light beam indicative of an image. A projection lens arrangement focuses the output light beam onto a remote surface to reproduce the image thereon.