Abstract: A venetian type blind has a bottomrail, a headrail positioned above the bottomrail and a set of slats. Upper slats or no slats are carried on a set of upper ladders extending from the headrail and a set of lower ladders extending from the bottomrail. Each upper ladder is connected to a lower ladder by a connection device that connects an upper ladder rail to a lower ladder rail. Alternatively, all of the ladders can be connected to a single rail located between the headrail and the bottomrail. The upper ladders are connected to a tilt mechanism. At least two lift cords are attached to the bottomrail, running past slats through the headrail. At least two tilt cords are provided. Each tilt cord runs through the headrail, passing adjacent to one rail of an upper ladder and is connected to either one connector or a rail of the ladder adjacent to a connector.

Abstract: An improved venetian type blind has slats having at least one small hole adjacent one edge of each slat. At least two ladders having opposing cord type rails and rungs extending therebetween carry slats and are connected to the bottomrail. A first lift cord runs through the holes and adjacent to the first ladder. A second lift cord runs across the opposite edge of each slat adjacent the rail of a second ladder. A similar arrangement can be provided using pairs of spaced apart holes and two pairs of lift cords. A tilt mechanism attached to the headrail moves the oppositely disposed lift cords and the rails of the ladders together when the blind is changed from an open to closed position.

Abstract: A flat microtip display screen including a cathode provided with active areas of electron emission microtips; a cathodoluminescent anode provided, at least in front of the active microtip areas, with active areas of phosphor elements; a main grid of extraction of electrons emitted by the active microtips towards the phosphor elements; and on the cathode side, at least one sacrificial area of microtips adapted to being addressed, outside screen operation periods and independently from the active areas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing laminated parts from a plurality of laminas, in which the laminas for forming the laminated parts are blanked from strip stock material. The laminas and are then cut and stacked to form the laminated part. The apparatus includes a measuring device placed with the die element of the press, for accurately measuring the thickness of successive sections of the strip stock. A controller, such as a computer or a programmable logic controller, receives the thickness value of the strip stock sections from the measuring device. Means are also included which is activated by the controller to provide a compensation adjustment at selected locations upon the strip stock sections to counteract the measured thickness variations, and to control the stack height.

Abstract: A method of measuring fluid flow through a conduit takes a plurality of pressure readings at a high sampling rate preferably of from 15 to 25 samples per second. The square root of each reading is found. An average of those square roots is multiplied by a predetermined constant to find the flow rate.

Abstract: A patient-worn energy delivery apparatus for imparting electrical therapy to the body of a patient responsive to an occurrence of a treatable condition. The apparatus includes a voltage converter for converting electrical energy from an initial voltage to a final voltage at a plurality of charging rates, and a defibrillator electrically coupled between the converter and the patient and having an energy reservoir for receiving the electrical energy. The defibrillator produces preshaped electrical pulses such as defibrillation pulses and cardioversion pulses. The apparatus additionally includes an energy delivery controller electrically coupled to the patient and the converter and the defibrillator. The controller causes the converter to provide the electrical energy to the defibrillator at a specific charging rate in response to an energy level in the reservoir.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing NO.sub.x emissions from the combustion of carbonaceous fuels using three stages of oxidation. In the first stage, a partial oxidation combustor is used to partially combust the fuel in the presence of heated combustion air. The fuel gas produced in the partial oxidation process is passed to a second stage partial oxidation combustor while molten slag is removed and disposed of. A second preheated combustion air is introduced into the second stage combustor to produce a reducing flue gas. A third combustion air is mixed with the flue gas in a third stage combustor to substantially complete the combustion process. Preheated steam may be added at any or all of the combustion stages. The stochiometric ratios at each stage of combustion are controlled to minimize overall NO.sub.x emissions to acceptable levels.

Abstract: A mouse pad support is mounted on a keyboard support that has a keyboard support arm attachable to a fixed structure such as the underside of a desk top, and a tiltable keyboard support platform thereon. A mouse pad support arm is coupled to the keyboard support arm via a rotational swivel fitting with a vertical axis for moving the mouse pad arm and mouse pad support table to any position around the keyboard in a circular arc in a horizontal plane. The height of the swivel fitting is adjustably fixed over a range. The mouse pad arm is kept in a horizontal plane because its rotational coupling to the keyboard support arm is made at an angularly fixed part on the keyboard support arm, such as on a parallelogram linkage associated with setting the elevation of the keyboard platform. The keyboard platform tilts relative to the angularly fixed part, whereby mouse position is independent of keyboard platform tilt.

Abstract: A three-phase transformer having a variable output utilizes an auxiliary winding to minimize the number of switches or taps required to provide a plurality of output voltages. At least two output windings or coils each have a plurality of taps corresponding to varying percentages of output voltages. Although each output winding has at least one tap at the same voltage level, one of the output windings has an additional tap corresponding to a different output voltage level. The auxiliary winding, which preferably has a number of coil turns equal to that corresponding to the spacing between the different voltage levels on the output winding, permits one output winding to be set at a different voltage level than the other output winding. The auxiliary winding includes a pair of terminals which are alternately operable to balance the level and phase of the overall output voltage of the three-phase transformer.

Abstract: A reliable method and apparatus for illuminating and imaging eyes uses multiple light sources producing multiple images of a subject each created under illumination by different illuminators. A composite image of the subject is formed by selecting pixels based upon their gray scale values or using pyramid image processing. A composite image can be created which is free of bright spots commonly caused by reflection of illumination from eyeglasses that may be worn by a subject or for which is free of dark shadows or which is free of both bright spots and dark shadows.

Abstract: A continuously variable load responsive brake pressure control valve controls the amount of brake pipe pressure for a railway vehicle. The system also includes an isolator for isolating the load sensor from transient inputs caused by normal vehicle motion. A spring loaded isolator coupled with a matched hydraulic cylinder isolate wheel truck deflections with respect to the car body, preventing erroneous inputs to the load sensor of the variable load braking system so as to provide more accurate brake cylinder pressure according to vehicle load weight. The variable load limiting valve is continuously operable between an empty vehicle condition and a fully loaded vehicle condition and assures a minimum braking pressure, while also helping prevent sticking of the brakes.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a barbecue grill including a common gas supply, a grill pit, a grilling surface, and grill control means for regulating a flow of gas from the gas supply, the lighting apparatus including: a lighting enclosure including: a mounting bracket secured within the grill pit and extending outwardly therefrom, and, substantially transparent front closure means for sufficiently sealing a front of the lighting enclosure; and, lighting means positioned within the lighting enclosure and being responsive to the grill control means for illuminating the grilling surface.

Abstract: A multi-adjustable armrest assembly for a chair can be adjusted in a variety of different aspects including laterally, vertically, forwards and backwards, and rotationally. Such an armrest assembly can include an armrest base securable to a chair and having a tubular portion, an armrest support having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg slidably disposed in the tubular portion, a shroud slidably disposed on the vertical leg, a post member attached to the shroud, a collar connected to the post, and an armrest connected to the collar. Additionally, the armrest can have a bottom portion slidably connected to the collar and the collar can be rotatably connected to the post. Furthermore, a positive adjustment mechanism can be provided to control each adjustable aspect of such an armrest assembly.

Abstract: A three-in-one router accessory tool is provided. A router stabilizer base, fixed fence and floating fence can be used in various combinations to enhance the capabilities of the router. The router attachment aids the operator in finishing or smoothing wood pieces and can also be used as a biscuit slot cutter, obviating the need to purchase specialized wood working tools.

Abstract: A double pane window has a blind between the window panes. The interior window pane is in a housing that can be removed from the window frame. A cord guide is provided in the top edge of the housing. The cord guide has a lift cord slot and a tilt cord slot. The blind has at least one lift cord which passes through the lift cord slot and at least one tilt cord which passes through the tilt cord slot. The blind can be raised, lowered and tilted while maintaining a seal between the window frame and the window panes.

Abstract: A reliable method of illuminating and imaging an eye through eyeglasses uses a monochromatic light source with the smallest possible source area, a camera with an imager that exhibits minimal blooming, and a narrow-bandwidth optical bandpass filter to filter out most of the ambient illumination while passing most of the light from the system's own illuminator. In an alternative embodiment, a partially-transparent mirror is used to make the light source appear to be on the optical axis of the camera as viewed from the subject's eye.

Abstract: A venetian type window covering has substantially flat front and back layers made of transparent or translucent materials and preferably different sheer fabrics. The space between these layers is spanned by bridges at regular intervals slightly smaller than the space. The bridges are made of strips of material or bands of single or double strands that support slats that can be easily inserted or removed by the consumer. The slats may be flexible or ridged and are restrained from moving laterally by slots in their front and back edges that cords pass through. The cords have tension on them at all times and thereby retain the slats. The slats may also be retained by folding over the ends of the slats around the bridges.

Abstract: In a support garment for a patient-worn energy delivery apparatus, a vest-type garment holds an electrode belt in contact with a wearer's ribcage. The garment includes a flap with button holes to permit buttoning in of energy transfer electrodes, thus constituting a wearable electrode system. Additionally, a holster contains the components of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator that are not in contact with the skin. The holster has an adjustment for waist, girth and vertical position of the defibrillator according to the personal preferences of the wearer. The support garment includes a vest-like chest garment and an inner layer which provides support for the defibrillator electrodes. A removable electrode harness is attachable to the support garment in order to accurately position the sensing electrodes on the body of the wearer and energy delivery electrodes for transfer of an electrode therapy pulse to the wearer of the garment.

Abstract: A stake system has a set of couplings and fiberglass rods and can be expanded to include bendable wire and light holders which fit onto the rods. The connector has a tubular body open at opposite ends and a transverse inner wall or collar between the opposite ends which with the inner wall of the body defines an open upper cavity and an open lower cavity. Each cavity is sized to receive one end of a rod. A pair of arms extend outwardly from opposite edges of one end of the tubular housing. Each arm has a slotted opening of sufficient diameter to permit a cord of a decorative light string to be inserted into and pass through the opening. Elbows and rod holders are provided to have one end which fits into the coupling upper cavity and an opposite end that has a cavity or mouth sized to receive of a rod. This stake system allows a person of average mechanical ability to create lighted lawn ornaments in an almost infinite variety of shapes and sizes.

Abstract: A blood pump apparatus can include a pump housing having a drive chamber containing a drive mechanism. A cupped member can be connected to the housing and the drive mechanism can include a motor for rotating an eccentric shaft. A pumping arm can be provided having one end riding on the eccentric shaft, an intermediate portion pivotably attached to the housing and another end connected to a movable plate. A roller bearing can be mounted on the eccentric shaft on which the arm can ride. A compressible blood chamber having an inlet and an outlet connected can be provided sandwiched between the cupped portion and the movable plate. The motor thus rotates the cam causing the pumping arm to pivot which cycles the movable plate against the blood chamber to pump blood. The movable plate can be implanted adjacent a lung such that the lung moves with the plate as blood is pumped and thereby functions as a compliance chamber. A speed reducer can be provided between the motor and the eccentric shaft.