Abstract: An irrigation spray device has a substantially cylindrical peg for insertion into a water supply tube. A longitudinal water supply groove extends along the peg, with a water deflecting plate at one end of the groove for deflecting water traveling downwardly along the groove into an outwardly directed spray. The water deflecting plate has a smooth, convex curved or part-conical shape for forming a smooth, continuous, cone-shaped spray. The supply groove may be U-shaped for improved uniformity.

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: 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.

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: An in-line skate apparatus has a frame for attachment to the sole of a shoe with a pair of outer, substantially flat side faces, a front end, a rear end, and a lower edge. A plurality of wheels are rotatably mounted on the frame in a line from the front end to the rear end of the frame, and a cut out extends upwardly from the lower edge between an adjacent pair of wheels. A separate H-block is releasably mounted in the cut-out so as to substantially fill the cut-out, and has a width at least equal to the width of the frame, so that its outer side faces are substantially flush with the outer side faces of the frame. The H-block has an arcuate, downwardly directed sliding region extending across its width and along at least part of the height of each side face, whereby the sliding region of the H-block includes the only sliding surface of the apparatus during sliding maneuvers.

Abstract: A method of preparing a liquid ink or liquid toner for printing including the steps of dispersing a monomer in a carrier fluid and a polymerization stabilizer comprising a multi or single functional group containing polysiloxane, and in situ polymerizing the monomer to form uniform polymer particles dispersed in the carrier fluid. The multi or single functional group on the polysiloxane is amino, carboxylic acid, vinyl and hydroxyl.

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 exercise arm assembly for mounting on an exercise machine frame has a main arm, a swing arm, and a handle. The main arm has a first end for pivoting on a frame of the machine to pivot about a first pivot axis. The swing arm has a first end pivoted to the second end of the main arm for pivoting about a second pivot axis. The handle is pivoted to the swing arm for pivoting about a third pivot axis, with each pivot axis being perpendicular to the other two pivot axes to form a perpendicular, tri-pivot arm system.

Abstract: A communication link is established between the smart card and a computer using a valid smart card communication protocol. A smart card communication device determines the valid smart card communication protocol used by a smart card by polling a communication channel using a plurality of smart card communication protocols until a valid acknowledgment message is received. A radio frequency circuit is configured to communicate with the smart card using the valid smart card communication protocol. A digital signal processor having at least two demodulators demodulates an incoming data stream produced by the receiver in accordance with the valid smart card communication protocol in a dynamically reconfigurable manner.

Abstract: Hemoglobin chemically modified to reduce oxygen affinity and prevent dissociation are administered parenterally during resuscitation to patients suffering from burn shock. Such treatment, reduces base deficit, increases cardiac output and mean arterial blood pressure, and improves survival.

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: A hair integration apparatus and method of attachment thereof is provided. The hair integration apparatus is comprised of a cap-like base that has numerous spaced, hair pull-through openings located on its side and rear faces. The hair integration is attached to a wearer's scalp when a continuous band of material contained around the perimeter of the cap is adhered to the wearer's head. The top face of the cap does not contain any hair pull-through openings and is instead made of a breathable material to allow for the release of heat from the wearer's body.

Abstract: A modem interface device is coupled to a computer such that the device is powered via a power signal received from a bus port of the computer, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a RS-232 port, or a PS-2 port. The modem interface device has a telephone base connector, a modem connector, a power connector, a two-to-four-wire converter circuit, and a power distribution circuit. The two-to-four-wire converter circuit bidirectionally couples signals between the telephone base connector and the modem connector. The power distribution circuit receives electrical power from the power connector and supplies power to the two-to-four-wire converter circuit.

Abstract: An arch support device has a lower layer of a rigid or semirigid material shaped to conform to the arch of a wearer's foot and to provide an arch supporting function when inserted in a shoe, a second layer of cushioning material such as foam secured to the upper face of the lower layer; and a third, cover layer of pliable material secured over the second layer. The foam layer is of variable thickness, with a maximum thickness in a heel region and a minimum thickness in a toe region.

Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for adjusting the position of a member on an exercise machine has an inner tube with a series of spaced pinning holes and an outer tube telescopically engaged over the inner tube and having a locator hole for alignment with a selected pinning hole. A lever has a pinning section pivotally mounted on the outer tube to extend across the locator hole, and a hand engaging section extending at an angle to the pinning section. The pinning section is pivotable between an operative position in which a pinning button projects through the locator hole and an aligned pinning hole in the inner tube to secure the tubes together, and a retracted position in which the pinning button is spaced from the locator hole. A handle is mounted on the outer tube to extend in the same general direction as the hand-engaging section such that a user gripping the handle can engage the hand-engaging section and urge it towards the handle to pivot the pinning section into the retracted position.

Abstract: This invention describes a drilling plate and bracket for the drilling plate for machining drilled holes in work pieces, whereby the bracket for the drilling plate is designed so that it is somewhat pin-shaped and holds the drilling plate on its front side. It is characterized in that the drilling plate (1) is designed with an enlarged sheet thickness in the area of the cutting geometry in which chip breaking contours (15, 16, 20) are formed.

Abstract: A collision resolution system and method for enhanced non-contact automated data collection. The data collection system generally includes a plurality of portable fare tags or token (“smart”) cards and a stationary target terminal. Each tag exchanges a series of messages with the target terminal to establish a communication link for the transfer of financial or other data. Concurrently, each tag and the target terminal process the messages to provide collision resolution, thereby ensuring that only one tag, at any instance, establishes the communication link with the target.