Abstract: Thermal detectors comprising at least one pair of membrane electrodes formed on a base material (such a pyroelectric, semiconductive and insulating materials), wherein at least one member of said pair of electrodes is covered with a black membrane of precious metal formed by the electrolytic process, are highly sensitive because of the excellent heat absorption efficiency, with little change in sensitivity over a wide wavelength range.

Abstract: A process for preparing L(-)-carnitine chloride having the formula: ##STR1## comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a racemic ester of (R,S)-3,4-epoxybutyric acid having the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1-10 carbons, or a benzyl group, with an enzyme capable of selectively hydrolyzing enantiomer S(-),(b) separating said enantiomer S(-), from non-reacted ester, which is predominantly in the R(+) form;(c) reacting (1) the non-reacted ester obtained in step (b) with trimethylamine hydrochlorid or (2) the trimethylamine, to obtain thereby an ester having the formula: ##STR3## (d) hydrolyzing the ester obtain in step (c) in the presence of HCl to obtain thereby the L(-)-carnitine chloride having formula (I).The present invention is also directed to a novel class of compounds comprising R(+) enantiomers of the esters of 3,4-epoxybutyric acid.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a mesh like fabric for implantation beneath or within the dermis to control formation of scar tissue; the fabric being aligned such that its axis having the greatest resistance to distension is aligned parallel to the predominant stresses to which a wound is thought to be subject these being principally parallel to the wound line; axes of the fabric having lesser resistances to distension serving to control other stresses within the dermis transverse to the predominant longitudinal stresses; the fabric being provided with a binder in order to maintain the mesh structure in a known pre-stressed orientation.

Abstract: A single interferometer system (20) which simultaneously measures linear and angular displacement of a movable plane mirror (90) employs a frequency stabilized laser (10) which emits an input beam (12) comprised of two linear orthogonally polarized components which may or may not be of the same optical frequency. The input beam (12) is incident on a beamsplitter (14) which transmits a beam (16) and reflects a beam (15), with the reflected beam (15) being reflected off a mirror (18) to form a beam (17) which is parallel to but spatially offset from beam (16). Beams (16) and (17) are incident on interferometer (20) and are used to measure linear and angular displacement, respectively, using a polarization beamsplitter (80), prism (82), retroreflector (81) and quarter phase retardation plate (88).

Abstract: An integrated optical disc pickup comprising an optical waveguide in the form of a insulation layer provided on the surface of a substrate, a semiconductor laser disposed outside the waveguide, a beam splitter of the transmission type and a Luneburg lens provided on the path of propagation of a laser beam from the semiconductor laser through the waveguide and arranged in the order mentioned in a direction away from the laser, a transmission grating provided on the path through the waveguide to be followed by the laser beam upon having its direction changed by the beam splitter after emanating from the laser, passing through the beam splitter and the Luneburg lens, being reflected from an optical disc disposed outside the waveguide and passing through the Luneburg lens, and first and second photodetectors disposed on the paths of propagation through the waveguide of two portions of the laser beam divided by the diffraction grating.

Abstract: A puppet theater kit is provided for use with hand or glove puppets which is easily convertible from a compact portable carrying case wherein all stage structural components, props, curtains, puppets and accessories may be conveniently stored to a puppet theater for puppeteers of various heights and ages. The puppet theater may be supported on the ground or floor by a suitable support means or may be used on tabletop or the like.

Abstract: A television image processing system in which images from any composite or component RGB video source (26) may be fed into a signal processing circuit (60) where they are digitized for processing in real time, then reconverted to analog form and displayed on an RGB analog television screen (22). During this process, users can capture a frame of the digitized video at random and store it in digitized format as a full size image in the memory (32) of the graphics coprocessors (20). In order to store live or full motion video (26) in the memory (32), the memory read signal from the graphics coprocessor is intercepted (84) in response to a grab control (54) and a memory write signal substituted therefore, with the captured video then being written written to the memory (32) from the video buffer (86) through which it passes. Multiple variable size windows may be created and overlayed in the composite display (22), with each window being independent in size and content.

Abstract: An air deodorizer, and a method for deodorizing rooms therewith, utilizing an aerosol of a solution containing from 2-25% by weight of non-toxic, non-oxidizing, deodorizing agent, said solution constituting liquid droplets having a weight average droplet size of less than 50 microns, more than 90% of said droplets having a size, by count, of less than 10 microns.

Abstract: An interactive television system (10, 10a) for providing full motion synched compatible audio visual displays based on dynamic user selection (26) of a plurality of syllable synched compatible audio choices for a common full motion video frame presentation received over a common television channel. Two or more audio channels are synched to a common video channel, with the video being compatible will all audio channels. The interactive programming is transmitted via broadcast or cable TV and received (28) by VCR used as a tuner (12, 12a) or by a simplified TV head-end tuner (30), with the transmitted television signal having the audio channels either multiplexed into the video line or the existing audio channels. The received television signal is provided to a control module (14, 14a) which demultiplexes the signal (16, 16a) and ultimately combines the user selected audio signal with the video in an RF modulator (20) under computer control (18, 22, 24, 26) to provide the interactive display.

Abstract: An interactive television system (10, 10a) for providing full motion synched compatible audio visual displays based on dynamic user selection (26) of a plurality of syllable synched compatible audio choices for a common full motion video frame presentation provided over a common television channel. Two or more audio channels are synched to a common video channel, with the video being compatible will all audio channels. The interactive programming is stored on video cassette (12, 12a) or other storage media and the audio channels are either multiplexed into the video line or the existing audio channels and are provided to a control module (14, 14a) which demultiplexes the signal (16, 16a) and ultimately combines the user selected audio signal with the video in an RF modulator (20) under computer control (18, 22, 24, 26) to provide the interactive display.

Abstract: A method for providing a full motion synched compatible audio/visual interactive television display from a plurality of syllable synched compatible audio choices for a common full motion video frame presentation. Two or more audio channels are synched to a common video channel by first recording the most likely branch and then rerecording the audio portions for the alternate branches by syllable synching the alternate branch choices to the original video presentation so as to make the video compatible with all audio channels. Animated characters, such as puppets, cartoon animations or humans, are used in the video with the audio being synched to the mouth movements of such an animated character so that all branches appear to be visually the same. The same techniques can be used to convert appropriate preexisting non-interactive programming into interactive programming.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## or a salt thereof, wherein R is hydrogen atom, phenyl group which may be substituted freely or a group of --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --R.sub.1 wherein n is an interger from 1 to 3 and R.sub.1 is hydrogen atom, hydroxy group, lower alkoxy group, mercapto group, lower alkylthio group, amino group, di-lower alkylamino group, C.sub.3-11 alkyl group, lower alkenyl group, lower alkynyl group, cycloalkyl group, 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group, or phenyl group which may be substituted by one or two substituents of halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R.sub.2 and R.sub.7 are different, hydrogen atom, C.sub.1-11 alkyl group, lower alkenyl group, lower alkynyl group, cycloalkyl group, lower alkoxyalkyl group, lower alkylthioalkyl group, phenyl group whch may be substiuted freely, aralkyl group whose nucleus may be substituted by one or two substituents of halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy or haloalkyl gorup or 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group; R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention allows for efficient and safe decolorizing or dyeing of cloth articles using bleach or dye-impregnated stones or granules. The apparatus includes a cylindrical drum with longitudinal baffles along its inner surface. Liner sheets are attached to adjacent baffles, thereby lining the entire drum. The sheets flex inwardly due to gravity as the drum is rotated, thereby dislodging any residual materials layered thereon. The apparatus also provides for separation of treated articles from stones and re-impregnation of the stones with a bleaching agent or a dyestuff solution or dispersion.

Abstract: A method for conducting an interesting, competitive and equitable competition is described. The method may be programmed using known computer languages. The method provides an opportunity for second place finishers in early competition rounds to compete in an additional tournament, provided the first place finisher in that round qualifies for the final round of competition. The method also provides for the outcomes of the lower stage competitions to be used in both zone championships (e.g., regional or continental championships) and world championships. A unique scoring system is employed for soccer competitions to more accurately rank the relative performance of competitors.

Abstract: An output information system for providing preset information signals from a camera accessory (Y), such as an interchangeable lens or a stroboflash device, to a camera body (X), for use by a microprocessor in the camera body (X), employs a gate array (AN1-AN8, OR1-OR7), a counter (COUNTER 1), and a decoder arrangement (decoders 1,2) for providing an n bit stream of 1's and 0's to the microprocessor in a predetermined bit pattern synchronized to an n pulse clock stream from the camera body (X), without addressing.

Abstract: An electrochemical electrode device for simultaneously measuring the partial pressures of two gasses in a medium of limited gas availability one of which is measured potentiometrically and another one of which is measured polarographically comprises an electrode body (18) constituting a reference electrode relative to a pH-electrode (19) of a potentiometric electrode system, and a anode relative to a cathode (20) of a polarographic electrode system. Furthermore, the electrode device comprises an electrolyte solution (28) enclosed between the electrode body and a membrane (30). The membrane comprises a basic membrane layer (31), preferably of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or fluoroethylenepropylene (FEP) of a thickness of about 12 .mu.m, and a covering (32), preferably a polypropylene layer of a thickness of about 15 .mu.m, which covers part of the basic membrane layer so that an uncovered area (34) is constituted in front of the pH-electrode.

Abstract: A process for preparing pectin which comprises subjecting a plant tissue containing pectic substances to the action of a microorganism which belongs to the genus Bacillus and possesses an activity liberating pectin from a plant tissue but substantially does not possess an activity of decomposing pectin, or a culture broth or processed material thereof to liberate pectin from said plant tissue and recovering the pectin, which allows to obtain readily a pectin of high molecular weight in high yield.

Abstract: A multi-tipped pen and a pen/pen holder combination are disclosed. The multi-tipped pen has an even number of pen tips spaced at a set distance to enable to user to draw simultaneously parallel lines. The pen is used by layout artists to indicate the placing and size of printed material that will appear in the final version of an advertisement. The distance between the pen tips indicates the size of type to be used. The pen may be located within a pen holder that prevents the pen tips from drying out.

Abstract: An improved system for testing a full reflectivity range of optical surfaces employs an improved Fizeau spherical or plano wavefront interferometer comprising a laser source (2) and an optical element (18) located in the wavefront (16) having a reference surface (20) everywhere normal to the wavefront (16) which has a partially reflective, partially absorbtive, and partially transmissive beamsplitting coating (19) applied to the plano or spherical reference surface (20) and having a transmittance such that there will be only two beam interference and the contrast of the two beam interference fringes between the reflected reference wavefront (25R) and the reflected test wavefront (25T) will be substantially equalized at the two extremes of the test surface (28) reflectivity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polyacrylate derivatives such as tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium salt of polyacrylic acid and benzethonium salt of polyacrylic acid, which are effective as a paint ingredient to prevent the accumulation or attachment of marine organisms such as periphytons to ship's bottom. The polyacrylate derivatives have a very low degree of toxicity.