Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for manipulating and cleaning of contact lenses, together with methods for same. The apparatus comprises at least one eyepiece, at least one body and a cleaning housing. The at least one eyepiece is attached to the at least one body and defines an opening in the body. The at least one eyepiece comprises a head for engaging a contact lens and an eyelid opening mechanism. The at least one body includes a contact tens manipulation device. The apparatus is arranged such that when the at least one eyepiece is attached to the body and the face of the user is in contact with the eyepiece, the eyelid opening mechanism engages the upper and lower eyelids to retain them open while a retractable mechanism removes the contact lens from the eye of the user. The cleaning housing is engageable with the eyepiece and can effectuate cleaning of the contact lens once removed from the eye of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a paper-breaker supporting framework structure, including the paper-breaker head and the wastebin, characterized in that the paper-breaker supporting framework structure further includes a profiled supporting framework, the supporting framework includes an upper frame and a lower frame, the upper frame and the lower frame are connected with a movable connector, the upper frame is movably located under the paper-breaker head, the wastebin is located between the interval of the supporting framework, the top of the wastebin is movably mounted under the paper-breaker head.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold is provided with a plurality of branch pipe parts and a collecting pipe part. The plurality of branch pipe parts are respectively connected to a plurality of exhaust ports of a multicylinder internal combustion engine. The collecting pipe part is formed by merging the plurality of branch pipe parts. The plurality of branch pipe parts and the collecting pipe part are formed by an upper shell member and a lower shell member superposed on each other. A partition plate is attached to at least one of the upper shell member and the lower shell member. The partition plate separates between exhaust gases flowing into the collecting pipe part from two of the branch pipe parts respectively connected to adjacent two of the plurality of exhaust ports.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel technique separating two mixed signals. The method is particularly useful for fetal electrocardiogram estimation. A maternal electrocardiogram signal recorded at the thorax area is nonlinearly mapped onto an electrocardiogram signal recorded at the abdomen using polynomial networks. The fetal electrocardiogram component is then estimated by subtracting the nonlinearly mapped maternal electrocardiogram signal from the abdominal electrocardiogram signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a speed monitor apparatus for monitoring speed and acceleration of rotating turbine equipment (turbomachinery) and for operating an overspeed trip to shut down the equipment in the event that the speed or acceleration exceed predetermined thresholds. The invention provides a speed monitor module having an input conditioner comprising: a multiplexer; an amplifier; and a comparator; in which the multiplexer selects an input signal from the sensor, or an input signal via a feedback loop from the comparator in dependence upon a test input, such that the input circuit may be tested by confirming that the amplifier oscillates when the feedback loop is enabled by the test signal.

Abstract: A plug connector consisting of a plug body (1) and an engaging part (2) is provided with short-circuiting contacts (9, 10) within the plug body. The engaging part (2) includes at least one separating element (11) of insulating material that is inserted between the short circuit contacts (9, 10) when plug body (1) and engaging part (2) are inserted to interrupt the short circuit. For the purpose of simpler matching to the quantity of conductors to be short-circuited and to be connected, the plug body (1) and the engaging part (2) each consist of modules (3, 4) that may be stacked one upon the other and are assigned to each of the conductors within the plug body (1) that are of varying polarity and that are to be short-circuited. The short circuit contacts (9, 10) of the plug body (1) are so arranged on the modules (3) that each is extended to the short circuit contacts (9, 10) working together for two adjacent plug body modules (3).

Abstract: A computerized system and method of teaching spelling interfaces with an application that captures a user's misspelled words and adds them to a word database. A teacher or instructor may also add words to the word database based on a user's curriculum, cross-curriculum or words of interest. The words in the word database are utilized to automatically create an individualized spelling teaching assignment and spelling Journal for a user. The user corrects any spelling mistakes that he or she has made and performs assignments with new words including hearing the words pronounced, spelling the words and writing sentences using the words. Spelling tests are also assigned. The teacher or instructor monitors the completion of the various assignments by the students and also monitors how well the assignments are performed.

Abstract: A device, method and system for facilitating placement of a sock, stocking, or other footwear are disclosed herein. An exemplary device may have a lower member, a handle, and a spreader. The lower member may have a first side and a second side. The first side and second side are sized to fit within footwear when the lower member is in a retracted position. The handle may be coupled to the lower member and allows a user to position the lower member. The spreader means moves the first side and the second side from a retracted position to an extended position. In the extended position, the first side and second side are sized to receive a foot of the user.

Abstract: An apparatus is adapted to be secured to a pressure regulator, relief valve, or any other valve and allows the user to control the position of the valve. According to one embodiment, the pressure regulator remains fully open until a desired maximum fill pressure within a boiler is reached. Upon reaching the maximum fill pressure, the valve is automatically and substantially instantly closed. Consequently, the pressure within the boiler never exceeds the maximum allowable pressure of the pressure relief valve, thereby preventing the accidental discharge of hot, high-pressure water from the boiler. Moreover, because the valve remains fully open until the maximum fill pressure is achieved, the amount of time to fill the boiler is substantially reduced. According to another embodiment, a relief valve remains fully closed until a maximum pressure is exceeded, whereby the valve is substantially instantly fully opened.

Abstract: An automatic call distributor (ACD) system, which includes an object-oriented system for defining one or more call treatments is provided. The system includes a first graphical user interface including a plurality of data record fields, which define data applicable to handling an incoming call. Also included is a second graphical user interface, which is configured to accept one or more tests based on the data included in the data record fields applicable to the handling of an incoming call. The first and second graphical user interfaces include a plurality of icons and data entry fields, which are manipulated by a system user to create and modify a call treatment. Once created, call treatments are displayed in a graphical format on a third graphical user interface, which allows one or more portions of a displayed call treatment to be altered by selecting the graphical representation of the relevant portion using a computer mouse or other point and click device.

Abstract: A method to automatically and adaptively tune a leaky, normalized least-mean-square (LNLMS) algorithm so as to maximize the stability and noise reduction performance in feedforward adaptive noise cancellation systems. The automatic tuning method provides for time-varying tuning parameters &lgr;k and &mgr;k that are functions of the instantaneous measured acoustic noise signal, weight vector length, and measurement noise variance. The method addresses situations in which signal-to-noise ratio varies substantially due to nonstationary noise fields, affecting stability, convergence, and steady-state noise cancellation performance of LMS algorithms. The method has been embodied in the particular context of active noise cancellation in communication headsets. However, the method is generic, in that it is applicable to a wide range of systems subject to nonstationary, i.e., time-varying, noise fields, including sonar, radar, echo cancellation, and telephony.

Abstract: A message delivery device for communication between a sender and a receiver having a container, a cover having a label on it that is easily personalized to a specific sender, and a rolled-up message strip disposed within the container having a time-dependant message. The time-dependant message is read and displayed as the user un-rolls the message. A display system having rows to hold the message delivery devices and a pull-tab for displaying the time-dependant message outside of the container is also disclosed.

Abstract: The power line communication system includes a transmitter and a receiver, both providing a communication path between two communication control devices over a power line. The transmitter includes a voltage amplifier and a current amplifier. A switch between the transmit and receive modes is implemented within the voltage amplifier. The current amplifier also has a two-step output impedance. When the transmitter is active, the current amplifier shows a low impedance on the line to overcome other loads. If, however, the communication medium shows a high level of noise, the output impedance of the current amplifier decreases even further and creates a path to ground. The receiver advantageously uses a logarithmic amplifier for signal range compression. This type of amplifier preserves the shape of the signal that is important when the modulation scheme uses the zero crossings to store information.

Abstract: A fluid safety discharge system for a relief valve having an inlet and an outlet includes a bushing frictionally engaging the relief valve outlet. The relief valve outlet is internally threaded for engaging with a threaded device, such as a discharge line. The bushing may contain a separate body and engagement region for use with hard-plumbed discharge lines. Optionally, an adapter may be used for retrofitting the bushing to an existing relief valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support for holding open a bag, in particular a plastic material rubbish bag. The support comprises a hoop and a plurality of clips spaced equidistantly around the hoop. The hoop defines an opening through which the open bag may be inserted with the opening of the bag being clipped to the clips. The hoop thereby supports the bag so that the bag hangs through the opening when the hoop is raised. The hoop has a circular cross-section, with each clip being spring-biased to conform to the hoop, so that the bag is pinched between the clip and the hoop. When the bag hangs from the support, the weight of the bag bears on each clip to pinch the bag tighter in each clip.