Abstract: The present invention relates to a tree stand having a first stand section including a central tube, the central tube having a first circumference, the central tube of the first stand section having at least one leg affixed to the tube, the leg having a u-shaped slot at an end of the leg proximate to the tube; and a second stand section including a central tube having a second circumference, the second circumference being larger than the first circumference, the central tube of the second section having at least one leg affixed to the tube, the central tube of the second section having a pin in corresponding relationship with the u-shaped slot on the leg of the first stand section such the slot is disposed over the pin when the tube portion of the first stand section is slid over the tube portion of the second stand section to create the stand.

Abstract: An enhanced electronic peak flow meter is provided that combines some of the enhanced electronic features found in other electronic peak flow meters with software for executing a stochastic process control and evaluating the digital respiratory data collected by the meter. The programmed stochastic process control is capable of selecting and calculating any one of a number of pulmonary function parameters including at least one statistical process control variable to determine a pulmonary threshold. Information systems linking doctor's offices and patient's meters are further provided to transmit warning data in cases where the pulmonary threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: This utility model relates to a decorative light, and particularly, to a decorative light capable of avoiding an open circuit condition on an entire string of bulbs that operate in series when an individual bulb is removed. The decorative light comprises a socket, a bulb base, a bulb and two terminals, wherein the socket is provided with a retainer therein, which has an opening laterally extending therethrough, and an elastic, conductive ring or coil with a thickness smaller than a width of the opening is disposed within the opening. When the elastic ring or coil is in a natural state, the elastic ring extends outside the retainer through the opening at two sides of the retainer. The bulb base is further provided with an inserting partition at the bottom thereof The elastic conductive ring has two states: one is a separating state where the bulb base is inserted into the socket.

Abstract: This utility model relates to a decorative light, and particularly, to a decorative light capable of avoiding an open circuit condition on an entire string of bulbs that operate in series when an individual bulb is removed. The decorative light comprises a socket, a bulb base, a bulb and two terminals, wherein the socket is provided with a retainer therein, which has an opening laterally extending therethrough, and an elastic conductive ring with a thickness smaller than a width of the opening is disposed within the opening. When the elastic ring is in a natural state, the elastic ring extends outside the retainer through the opening at two sides of the retainer. The bulb base is further provided with an inserting partition at the bottom thereof. The elastic conductive ring has two states: one is a separating state where the bulb base is inserted into the socket. In this first state, the inserting partition of the bulb base separates one side of the elastic ring from the corresponding terminals.

Abstract: The present invention involves an enhanced method for operating a speech recognition system in which sequential vocabularies are loaded for comparison to the input speech. Form each sequential vocabulary a subset of candidate vocabulary elements are selected for matching, the probability match scores of each of the selected candidate vocabulary elements is weighted by a weighting factor that is dependant on the particular vocabulary from which the vocabulary elements are selected. As each set of candidate vocabulary elements is selected from the next sequential vocabulary, the selected set is combined with the set of previously selected and weighted vocabulary elements, which is then further weighted according to the weighting criteria of the then active vocabulary. At the end of the sequential vocabulary selection grouping process, the final, sequentially weighted match scores for the candidate vocabulary elements are arranged and an appropriate match to the input speech is presented.

Abstract: A computer-based method and apparatus are provided for designing a building's electrical power distribution system. An electrical circuit design module accepts electrical requirements for individual circuits and automatically determines values for a set of variables that completely specify the design of the circuits and the physical attributes of the components needed to construct those circuits. The circuit design module determines the set of circuit variables with the aid of electrical standards data, such as the National Electrical Code. Further, multiple circuit design modules may be linked so as to share the data between them thereby providing an hierarchical design process where the design data for higher level electrical circuits is automatically determined from the plurality of individually specified, lower-level circuit data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lamp holder having two terminals arranged at the end of two wires of a light string and a light bulb preassembled in a lamp base. Electrodes from the lamp and base make contact with the terminals as the lamp is inserted into the inside of the lamp holder. A bulge is arranged at on position within the lamp base. An electrically conductive spring is arranged in the inside of the lamp holder having two feet corresponding to the positions of the terminals. Each foot is in contact with one of the terminals when the bulb and base are out of the holder, but one foot is displaced by the bulge on the lamp base to provide electrical connection through the lamp rather than the spring when the lamp is inserted into the holder.

Abstract: The present invention involves the dynamic loading and unloading of relatively small text-string vocabularies within a speech recognition system. In one embodiment, sub-databases of high likelihood text strings are created and prioritized such that those text strings are made available within definable portions of computer-transcribed dictations as a first-pass vocabulary for text matches. Failing a match within the first-pass vocabulary, the voice recognition software attempts to match the speech input to text strings within a more general vocabulary. In another embodiment, the first-pass text string vocabularies are organized and prioritized and loaded in relation to specific fields within an electronic form, specific users of the system and/or other general context-based, interrelationships of the data that provide a higher probability of text string matches then those otherwise provided by commercially available speech recognition systems and their general vocabulary databases.

Abstract: An initial note series is collected from a real-time source of musical input material such as a keyboard or a sequencer playing back musical data, or extracted from musical data stored in memory. The initial note series may be altered to create variations of the initial note series using various mathematical operations. The resulting altered note series, or other data stored in memory is read out according to one or more patterns. The patterns may have steps containing pools of independently selectable items from which random selections are made. A pseudo-random number generator is employed to perform the random selections during processing, where the random sequences thereby generated have the ability to be repeated at specific musical intervals. The resulting musical effect may additionally incorporate a repeated effect, or a repeated effect can be independently performed from input notes in the musical input material.

Abstract: An initial note series is collected from a real-time source of musical input material such as a keyboard or a sequencer playing back musical data, or extracted from musical data stored in memory. The initial note series may be altered to create variations of the initial note series using various mathematical operations. The resulting altered note series, or other data stored in memory is read out according to one or more patterns. The patterns may have steps containing pools of independently selectable items from which random selections are made. A pseudo-random number generator is employed to perform the random selections during processing, where the random sequences thereby generated have the ability to be repeated at specific musical intervals. The resulting musical effect may additionally incorporate a repeated effect, or a repeated effect can be independently performed from input notes in the musical input material.

Abstract: A Christmas tree stand has a base for supporting the stand above a ground level and a shell having a lateral surface. The shell is disposed atop the base so as to define an inner volume and the shell houses electrical components within the inner volume. The shell has a plurality of holes disposed on a top portion of the lateral surface that provide ventilation between the inner volume and an outside environment. Further, the shell has a flange overhanging the top portion of the lateral surface so as to shield the holes. A base may also be provided for the Christmas tree stand including an elevated surface and a support structure for supporting the elevated surface above the ground level. Finally, the elevated surface may define one surface of the inner volume. Other thermodynamically efficient configurations are provided. Certain safety mechanisms are provided in relation to modular electronics platforms.

Abstract: An entertaining and educational card game utilizing a question and answer format. The game is comprised of a plurality of nonstandard decks of playing cards. Each card has a question and answer which aggregately cover a wide range of subject matter. Players acquire cards by answering questions correctly. Sets of cards must be completed in order to win rounds of play. The game features a method of play which allows players more than one opportunity to correctly answer questions.

Abstract: A synchronized lighting system is disclosed having a plurality of light strings. Individually, the light strings have groups of light bulbs, e.g. color groups, coupled to a power source that is driven by a sequencer that independently controls the power sequencing for the different light groups. The light strings have a configurable connector coupled to both the sequencer and the power source for controlling the routing of power control signals issued by the sequencer to the power source. The connector is capable of being coupled to the configurable connectors of other light stings with interconnecting wiring such that the power control signals from one light string sequencer may be distributed to the other connected and properly configured light strings.

Abstract: A Christmas tree stand has a base for supporting the stand above a ground level and a shell having a lateral surface. The shell is disposed atop the base so as to define an inner volume and the shell houses electrical components within the inner volume. The shell has a plurality of holes disposed on a top portion of the lateral surface that provide ventilation between the inner volume and an outside environment. Further, the shell has a flange overhanging the top portion of the lateral surface so as to shield the holes. A base may also be provided for the Christmas tree stand including an elevated surface and a support structure for supporting the elevated surface above the ground level. Finally, the elevated surface may define one surface of the inner volume.

Abstract: An initial note series is collected from a real-time source of musical input material such as a keyboard or a sequencer playing back musical data, or extracted from musical data stored in memory. The initial note series may be altered to create variations of the initial note series using various mathematical operations. The resulting altered note series, or other data stored in memory is read out according to one or more patterns. The patterns may have steps containing pools of independently selectable items from which random selections are made. A pseudo-random number generator is employed to perform the random selections during processing, where the random sequences thereby generated have the ability to be repeated at specific musical intervals. The resulting musical effect may additionally incorporate a repeated effect, or a repeated effect can be independently performed from input notes in the musical input material.