Abstract: A positive airway pressure assist breathing apparatus or ventilator system has a gas delivery unit, an inspiration line connected to the output of the gas delivery unit for connecting the gas delivery unit to a, patient during an inspiratory phase of each breath, and an expiratory unit for controlling exhausting of gases from the patient during an expiratory phase of each breath. A pressure sensor senses gas pressure in the system, and a control unit controls pressure of gas supplied to a patient in each inspiratory phase based on a pre-set target pressure.

Abstract: An RF power oscillator for contactless card antennas shapes a carrier signal at the operating frequency utilizing a delay circuit having a number of taps for delaying the carrier signal by different lengths of time. The delayed signals are input into a buffer and output through resistors to a node coupled to the antenna. The resulting waveform for a square wave input signal, and equal-length delay taps, is a trapezoidal wave output. Any input wave form can be shaped in a variety of ways depending upon the combinations of delay taps used. Since the buffer drivers for each delayed wave switch state at slightly different times, the amplitude and bandwidth of emitted electromagnetic interference (EMI) is reduced for the transmission circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing the rheological properties of a viscous fluid is particularly designed to reduce the viscosity of the fluid so that it may be more readily transported from a subsurface reservoir to the surface. The apparatus includes housing having a first through bore defining a cross-sectional flow area and longitudinal flow path for fluid through the bore. The housing has an inlet end and an outlet end and is designed for connection in a flow path from a subsurface reservoir. A flow restriction device is adjustably mounted in the through bore to define a reduced area orifice of adjustable size for restricted flow, so as to accelerate the fluid and produce shear. A magnetic unit may also be selectively connected to the housing to produce a magnetic field across the fluid, further reducing viscosity.

Abstract: A toner characterization cell used to determine characteristics of insoluble particles in a liquid medium. First and second electrode are spaced apart and an electric field is applied between the electrodes and a displacement current is measured. Optical density measuring devices measure the change in optical density in the cell adjacent each electrode. The characteristics are determined from the displacement current and the change in optical density. The characterizing feature may be particle mobility. The invention also relates to a method of determining the characteristics.

Abstract: A boat has two or more open hull sections that may be assembled prior to using the boat and disassembled or separated from one another prior to transporting or storing the boat. The forwardmost hull section is defined by the bow and an aft bulkhead. Each section has an elongated rigid structural load-bearing member, such as a keel or a gunwale, extending between its forward and aft ends. Each end portion of such member couples with a facing end portion of an aligned of the structural load-bearing member of an adjacent hull section through a rigid, load-bearing and load-transferring elongated shank member. The cooperation of each pair of facing rigid members and the shank interfitted with them causes all hull sections to be integrated into a rigid, load-bearing unitary boat. A cable may extend the length of the boat to prevent the shanks from being displaced from their relationship with the rigid member end pairs during operation of the boat.

Abstract: Cabinet modules are readily attached and removed from selected attachment parts on a vertical support to provide customized portable storage and instrument mounting. Drawers may be accommodated within a module. A lock on a single drawer can secure all other drawers and modules on one side of the vertical support. An uninterruptable power supply can e incorporated into an enclosed, ventilated module and located at an attachment point low on the vertical support to maintain a low center of gravity while supplying portable power to electronic instruments carried on the vertical support.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intermediate component for protecting hangers associated with electrostatic coating processes. The component is an electrically conductive, pliable, tubular member, and inexpensive relative to the hanger which it serves to protect. The component lessens the cost associated with traditional hanger cleaning and preserves hanger life and integrity. The tubular member may have a longitudinal slit for installing the member over a cross bar of a hanger.

Abstract: An end seal assembly is mounted in a conduit or feedthrough body with a through bore of stepped diameter between its ends into which a fiber or wire-carrying metal cable extends. An inner end of the cable is stopped against a shoulder in the through bore, with at least one fiber or wire extending from the cable end out through the second end of the seal body. An end seal is seated at the outlet end of the seal body and has a through bore through which the or each fiber extends. The through bore is filled with epoxy material. The end seal is of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion approximately equal to that of the epoxy material.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a support frame and an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly including at least one rigid, elongate exercise arm. A flexible handle assembly is secured to the exercise arm, the handle assembly having a hand grip portion for gripping by a user, and a flexible connecting portion securing the hand grip portion to the exercise arm to permit a variety of different upper body exercises to be performed by moving the hand grip portion in selected different paths as permitted by the flexible connecting portion.

Abstract: An add value terminal provides an automatic fare collection environment with a compact, easy to use, and easy to install device that re-values and issues transit fare cards exclusively utilizing credit and debit functions. The add value terminal alleviates long lines often associated with automatic vending machines that allow bill and coin transactions. The add value terminal also can sell tickets in out-of-station environments including malls, grocery stores, post offices, and airports.

Abstract: Polymeric compounds for use in a chemically amplified resist are represented by the following chemical formulas 1 and 2: wherein R1 and R2, which may be identical or different, are each selected from the group consisting of —H and —CH3; R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, are each selected from the group consisting of —H, —CH3 and —CH2CH3; and 0.1≦m≦0.9 and 0.1≦n≦0.9, with the equation of m+n=1. wherein R3, R4, and R5, which may be identical or different, are each selected from the group consisting of —H and —CH3; R6 and R7, which may be identical or different, are each selected from the group consisting of —H, —CH3 and —CH2CH3; R8 is —CH3 or —CH2CH2OH; and 0.1≦p≦0.9, 0.05≦q≦0.8, and 0.05≦r≦0.5, with the equation of p+q+r=1.

Abstract: A sensor probe is disclosed which can measure the hydrogen peroxide content of a single sample using two oxygen sensors whose electrodes are encased in defined membranes. The oxygen reference sensor is encased in a hydrophobic membrane which prevents the transport of hydrogen peroxide or electrochemical poisons or interferents and isolates the electrodes and an electrolyte fluid surrounding the electrodes from the sample fluid. The hydrogen-peroxide-generated oxygen (HPGO) sensor is also is encased in such a hydrophobic membrane, but has in series with and distally of the hydrophobic membrane a hydrophilic membrane which contains an immobilized enzyme such as catalase, peroxidase or other enzymes of a family which catalyzes the reaction of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water. At the HPGO sensor, the hydrogen peroxide is catalyzed to oxygen by the enzyme so that the HPGO sensor measures an enhanced concentration of oxygen relative to the oxygen reference sensor.

Abstract: An air filter cleaning device has en elongate, readily gripable handle having a through bore and a connector at one end for coupling to an air supply hose, and a rotary head is rotatably mounted on the other end of the handle. The rotary head has an internal air distribution chamber with small outlet openings in its outer peripheral wall for spraying air from the chamber. Rotor outlet passageways in the peripheral wall are arranged at an angle to cause the head to spin in a turbine-like fashion when air flow is directed from the chamber and out through the passageways. The rotating head sprays air outwardly across the surface of an air filter unit to dislodge dirt from filter paper in a filter unit.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor is shielded against external electric fields to maximize measurement accuracy. The sensor may include two coaxial, tubular conductors with a chamber between them into which a material sample to be measured is introduced. A measurement circuit connected to the sensor may include a reference oscillator that oscillates at a constant frequency and a test oscillator that oscillates at a frequency responsive to sensor capacitance. The circuit may display a value responsive to the difference between the test and reference frequencies. The circuit may also reverse the polarity of the signal applied to the sensor to minimize charge buildup, a phase-locked loop frequency measuring circuit, a temperature compensating circuit, and a non-linearity compensating circuit. The indicating circuit that displays a representation of the measured capacitance may display a continuous-scale or proportional representation or may display a binary or “go-nogo” representation.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes one or more chambers through which a material can flow. Two conductors are located to partially surround the flow chamber so that the material flows between the conductors. Where more than one chamber is used, additional conductors are provided. A measurement circuit connected to the conductors provides an output corresponding to a difference between test and reference frequencies. A display indicates the measured capacitance as a continuous-scale, proportional representation or a binary representation. The sensor system can measure volume charge density of a fluid or parameters responsive to changes in volume charge density, such as flow velocity.

Abstract: Aerial photographs are utilized to produce an image of images which illustrate the topography of golf holes from an overhead perspective. The images are digitized and each element is assigned to an array of x-y positions (cells) on the hole or green. This information is loaded into a computer database on a server. A comparable image is reproduced in a scoring booklet which shows prominent landmarks on the course. Each shot position is recorded on the scoring booklet by reference to the physical and illustrated landmarks. After a round, the golfer goes to a web site on the Internet and clicks on the corresponding positions on the image presented. These positions are used to calculate the distance and drift of each shot and stored in the server database where they can be compared, say, for example, to that golfer's and other golfers' previous rounds for that hole and club.

Abstract: A pixel array device is fabricated by a laser micro-milling method under strict process control conditions. The device has an array of pixels bonded together with an adhesive filling the grooves between adjacent pixels. The array is fabricated by moving a substrate relative to a laser beam of predetermined intensity at a controlled, constant velocity along a predetermined path defining a set of grooves between adjacent pixels so that a predetermined laser flux per unit area is applied to the material, and repeating the movement for a plurality of passes of the laser beam until the grooves are ablated to a desired depth. The substrate is of an ultrasonic transducer material in one example for fabrication of a 2D ultrasonic phase array transducer. A substrate of phosphor material is used to fabricate an X-ray focal plane array detector.