Abstract: A hearing aid employs a permanent built-in rechargeable storage cell or battery, and a solar cell or other photo cell which powers the electronics of the hearing aid and recharges the storage cell. Favorably, a thin film amorphous silicon cell is employed, and is affixed onto an outward-facing surface of the aid. The photocell is connected in parallel with the storage cell and is of sufficient power capacity to power the amplifier and recharge the storage cell under average ambient light conditions. The storage cell is favorably of sufficient capacity to power the amplifier for at least several hours under darkness conditions.

Abstract: An exercise rowing machine uses a flywheel as a resistance member and has cam sector arms which are pivoted to rotate with the machine's oars. A bicycle-type chain is pulled to drive a sprocket drive on the flywheel when the oars are stroked. The arcuate shape of the cam sector arms provides a constant resistance force to the stroke of the oars over the oar sweep. The position of the foot stretcher plate is adjustable. A shroud for the flywheel has an adjustable throttle or shutter to control air flow and thus adjust the amount of resistance.

Abstract: The reliability and life cycle of a thin-film conductor is predicted accurately and directly by measuring changes in its resistivity during an interval in which its temperature is dynamically increased. A semiconductor wafer containing a number of integrated circuits, each of which contains the thin-film conductor, is placed on a test platform of a semiconductor test station, where probes are positioned to supply a constant current stress to the conductor and to measure the voltage across it. A ramp current is supplied to a resistive heating element on the test platform to effect a linear rise in temperature over a span of time to the thin-film conductor. Changes in the conductor resistivity with respect to temperature provide kinetic data related to electromigration damage in the conductor, and hence to reliability over time.

Abstract: A flame retardant or fire retardant preparation can be employed with fibrous material containing either cellulosic fibers, non-absorbent fibers, or blends thereof. The preparation is formed of an aqueous solution of ammonium sulfate, a metasilicate salt serving as a binder, and ammonium phosphate (MAP or DAP). An ultraviolet inhibitor is preferably included in the solution.

Abstract: A lid for closing an electronics package exhibits a high corrosion resistance. The lid is formed of a metal substrate which is clad with rolled or worked nickel, and covered with a layer of gold or precious metal electroplate. At edges of the lid, which are not covered with cladding, a layer of nickel is electroplated, employing the dogbone effect to concentrate the metallization at the edges. The rolled or worked metal has a much smaller porosity than an electroplated layer, and the nickel cladding can be applied to the desired thickness in much less time than nickel electroplate.

Abstract: A rupture testing procedure is carried out on metal foils at a number of process temperatures to evaluate their suitability for use in printed wire multilayer circuit boards. The test stand has a heated platen capable of heating foil test samples up to solder float temperatures (e.g. 550.degree. F.) and an interchangeable cover with a circular aperture that is selected to match the foil thickness. Gas under pressure is admitted to the platen and the unsupported part of the sample bulges out until the sample ruptures. A plot is made of samples for temperature, burst pressure, and bulge height at burst, and the results are used to accurately classify or grade the foil. Creep rupture can also be tested at elevated temperatures to provide further foil quality information.

Abstract: A roof system comprises roof support members, such as rafters and purlins, to which truss members are connected. These members are formed as sheet metal beams. The truss members are joined to the other members by spring truss pins or clips. These clips are generally formed as a spring bight having first and second legs, with key portions formed at the free end of the legs. The key portion of the first leg includes an indentation which faces away from the second leg, and a short stub member. The second leg key portion includes an offset which extends transversely in the direction towards the line of the first leg, and a stub member which extends in the direction generally parallel to the second leg.

Abstract: A microprogram-coupled multiple-microprocessor module receives a system command system status and associated data. The system command and the system status can be directly used as an address or mapped into a microprogram memory address to initiate micro-subroutines. The module can serve as a basic processor and its microprogrammability gives it a high degree of flexibility and modularity. A five-microprocessor module is employed in one example. Basic microprogramming techniques used in the module include a multiple-way microprogram branch technique. The organization of the module is systematic and structured and the microprogramming for the module is a comparatively simple procedure. The module achieves an improved rate of instruction execution at a relatively small cost in the number of clock cycles required.

Abstract: An optical illuminating system for endoscope or borescope has a round fiber optic bundle light guide and a non-spherical lens disposed at the distal end of the light guide. The lens has a flat front surface and a compound rear optical surface formed of a central flat circular portion of smaller diameter than the fiber optic bundle light guide, and a frustoconic surface that flares back from the central surface beyond the diameter of the fiber optic light guide. The conic portion of this lens provides an annular distribution of light, and the disc portion provides a spot distribution to fill in the center of the annular distribution. The overall distribution is thus generally flat over an angle of up to 120 degrees.

Abstract: A package terminal air conditioning unit that is split into two sections, an indoor section and an outdoor section. The components of the indoor section are housed in an indoor cabinet of all molded construction having a recirculating air duct that is contoured to conduct air quietly and efficiently through the cabinet. Interchangeable guide vanes are also mounted in the air duct to act in conjunction with a crossflow fan rotor which permits the cabinet to be adapted to accommodate fans of different sizes and shapes without having to alter the configuration of the molded cabinet. The outdoor section simply contains a heat exchanger and a small blower which are housed in a lightweight cabinet. The outdoor cabinet used in one preferred embodiment of the invention is hung on the outside wall of a building and the outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the remaining air conditioning components housed in the indoor cabinet by two refrigerant lines.

Abstract: A cabinet unit for housing component parts of an air conditioning system and in particular, to a cabinet formed by three molded sections that include a base section, a cover section and a back section that are interlocked in assembly to establish a high strength self-standing, rust proof enclosure. The back section contains a pair of internal vertical walls that coact with the cover section to form an air passage for connecting an inlet vent and an outlet vent and a separate equipment compartment adjacent to the air passage. A molded volute shaped wall closes the top of the air passage and forms a casing for housing a cylindrical fan. A guide means is removably supported in the front cover within the air passage adjacent the fan which serves to establish a stable laminar flow of air moving through the fan.

Abstract: A small, portable and inexpensive apparatus, and a testing method using the same, are employed to obtain objective data about children to differentiate between hyperactive and non-hyperactive children. In a Delay Task, the child depresses a button, and after at least a predetermined delay interval depresses the button again. Points are scored if the child waits for a sufficient time, but no point is scored if the child presses the button too soon. In a Vigilance Task, a stream of symbols, which can be numerical digits, is presented in a random or pseudorandom order. If the child sees a "1" followed by a "9", the child is instructed to depress the push-button, but not to otherwise. The number of correct responses, errors of commission, (depressing the button at the wrong time) and errors of omission, (failure to depress the button) are recorded. At the end of the task, the data for the tested child are compared with normative data, and an analysis can be made of the child's tendency toward hyperactivity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for detecting the presence of an individual yarn in an advancing lap of parallel yarns, constituted by: detector disposed on one side and in the vicinity of this advancing lap, adapted to detect the presence of a yarn moved away from the lap by a blower means disposed on the other side of said lap; an arrangement, controlled by the detector, for stopping the advancing lap or for triggering off an alarm system, wherein: it is composed, in known manner, of a plurality of parallel comb teeth, between which the advancing yarns pass; and the blower is placed at the base of said teeth and directs the flow of air towards the tip of these teeth. The invention is more particularly applicable to warp knitting machines.

Abstract: A detachable prism assembly for a small-diameter borescope has a generally cylindrical housing with an open end that fits over a viewing head of the borescope, a prism, and a sliding prism holder within the housing. A spring urges the holder and prism proximally away from the distal end of the housing, and into contact with the front surface of the borescope head. The spring also urges a projection in the assembly into engagement with a corresponding recess in the periphery of the borescope viewing head. A manually actuable member on the detachable prism assembly must be moved by the user to move the projection out of engagement with the recess to permit detachment of the prism assembly from the borescope. The prism assembly can be attached only in its proper orientation, and cannot fall off the borescope head while in use.

Abstract: An integrated heat pump and hot water system having a refrigerant to water heat exchanger that includes first and second refrigerant circuits in heat transfer relation with a hot water circuit for circulating water from a storage tank through the heat exchanger. One refrigerant circuit is connected between the discharge side of the refrigerant compressor and the heat pump reversing valve. The second circuit is connected between the suction side of the compressor and the indoor coil side of the heat pump expansion device. A pair of control valves are positioned to provide for water heating when the heat pump is in either a heating or cooling mode of operation or, alternatively, when the heat pump is not required to provide air conditioning. In addition, energy in the hot water on the water side of the system is used to evaporate refrigerant in a novel defrost cycle.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a fluid actuated snowplow which automatically locks the moldboard unit of the plow in a desired position and simultaneously therewith relieves the pressure on the fluid drive unit whereby the locking mechanism and not the drive unit accept the plowing stresses.

Abstract: The fractional volumetric holdup .phi. of a dispersed phase in a two liquid dispersed phase system is determined by measuring the travel time of ultrasonic pulses on a fixed path for the dispersed phase, and for the two liquids separately, and caluclated according to the relation.phi.=t*-t.sub.1 /t.sub.2 -t.sub.1where t*, t.sub.1, and t.sub.2 are the ultrasonic pulse travel times through the dispersed phase, the first liquid, and the second liquid. The pulses can be transmitted from a transmitter transducer straight through the contents of a reactor to a receive transducer, or can be reflected off a die or similar flat faced member back to the originating transducer.

Abstract: A self-sharpening hole punch for plastic bags includes a pneumatically operated punching apparatus for punching wicket pin receiving holes in a flexible film or plastic bag. If desired, a tear slit may be simultaneously formed to enable the bag to be quickly and readily torn free from the wicket pin upon which the bag is retained. A pneumatic air cylinder has a cylinder rod with a fitting affixed thereto, the fitting having an internal tapered thread. Interchangeable plastic cutting tools, having a complementary tapered thread, may be interchangeably screwed into the fitting to facilitate replacement as necessary. A resiliently compressible cylinder of foam plastic material is disposed in a circular void at the cutting side of each of the plastic cutting tools to expel the waste film discs that are punched out of the film or plastic bag material.

Abstract: A display assembly for miniatures comprises a case with a rear wall panel, side wall panels, and floor and ceiling panels which can be removed and reinserted. The floor and ceiling panels are supported in grooves in side support members within the case and these floor and ceiling panels slide into place to hold the rear panel. The side panels have spacers which project beyond the rear edges of the side panels to fit into recesses in the rear panel. This construction also provides adequate spacing between the case walls and the interior walls, floor and ceiling panels so that wiring for miniature lamps and other appliances can be run.

Abstract: A technique is described that permits direct and accurate evaluation of a thin film conductor's reliability which requires only a few hours to carry out. The technique involves a temperature ramp procedure which dynamically exposes a conductor operating under constant current stress to a linear (in time) rise in temperature. Changes in resistivity of the conductor provides kinetic data that is directly related to both the electromigration process and the reliability of the device.