Abstract: A tire support structure capable of spreading the beads of a tire for inspection and repair is supported by a mechanism for raising and lowering the structure. This permits the structure to be positioned in a lower position at a convenient height for a worker in an adjoining working position and permits the structure to be raised to an elevated position for retrieving a tire from an overhead conveyor system or delivering a tire to the conveyor system. A work bench is preferably located adjacent the worker position for supporting tools and supplies for repairing the tire.

Abstract: A plurality of struts extend upwardly from a subfloor and a plurality of racks interconnect selected rows of struts for supporting transmission lines and/or conduits. Each strut is formed of four orthogonally oriented C-channels having the edge of each leg curled inwardly to define a lip extending toward the base and each rack includes a similar C-channel. Each end of each rack is detachably attached to a C-channel of a strut by a bolt penetrating a plate at the rack end and threadedly engaging a nut captured in the C-channel of the strut. The transmission lines and conduits are secured to any of the C-channels of the struts and the racks by clamps having distal ends of two sections captured by the respective C-channel and an attachment mechanism securing the proximal ends of the sections to one another to retain the transmission lines and conduit clamped between the two sections.

Abstract: A flex antenna for a collar-mounted receiver-stimulator of an animal training device includes a conductive mounting element for connecting and disconnecting the flex antenna to and from a mounting connector of the receiver-stimulator. A flex conductor is connected between the conductive mounting element and a conductive coil support. An insulative rod is attached to the conductive coil support and supports an antenna coil having one end electrically connected to the conductive coil support. An insulative waterproof sheath is disposed on the entire flex antenna except an exposed portion of the conductive connecting/disconnecting structure. The sheath includes a cylindrical portion around the antenna coil and the conductive coil support and a portion of the diameter which gradually decreases from the first diameter to a second diameter and then increases to a third diameter. The second diameter is at a midpoint of the flex conductor to confine flexing to the midpoint.

Abstract: Curvature in a reference voltage produced by a switched capacitor band gap reference circuit is compensated by producing a first .DELTA.V.sub.BE voltage by causing first and second PTAT/R currents to flow through a first .DELTA.V.sub.BE -generating circuit. The first .DELTA.V.sub.BE voltage is applied to a first terminal of a first capacitor having a second terminal coupled to a summing conductor of an operational amplifier producing the reference voltage. A second .DELTA.V.sub.BE voltage is produced by causing a third PTAT/R current and a fourth current to flow through a second .DELTA.V.sub.BE -generating circuit. The second .DELTA.V.sub.BE voltage is applied to a first terminal or a second capacitor having a second terminal coupled to the summing conductor.

Abstract: A solenoid driver circuit includes an input terminal for receiving a solenoid actuation pulse, an output terminal for connection to a terminal of a solenoid coil, a pull-in current adjustment terminal, and a hold-in current duty cycle adjustment terminal. A pull-in current duration circuit includes a first input coupled to the input terminal, an output producing a pull-in current duration pulse, and a second input coupled to the pull-in current adjustment terminal. A hold-in current duty cycle control circuit includes a first input coupled to receive a triangular waveform signal, a second input coupled to the hold-in current duty cycle adjustment terminal, and a third input coupled to the output of the pull-in current duration circuit. An output transistor includes a control electrode coupled to an output terminal of the hold-in current duty cycle control circuit, and a current carrying terminal coupled to the output terminal.

Abstract: A dependingly supported self-righting frame for displaying a replaceable sign and having an upwardly extending hook traversing the top edge of a room dividing panel and a stabilizer extending in opposed directions from the hook along the top edge of the panel. The frame includes a base attached to a depending leg of the hook and a pair of parallel opposed channels extending from the base to slidably retain the sign within the channels. The hook prevents movement of the sign away from the underlying panel surface and the stabilizer prevents pivotal movement of the sign in the plane of the panel surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and attendant methodology for extracting maximum power from an energy source, such as a photo voltaic panel, an array of photo voltaic panels, or a windmill and delivering that power to a battery or an array of batteries is disclosed. The apparatus determines the maximum operating point of the energy source, and circuits and circuit topologies are presented for extracting the energy. The apparatus eliminates the problem of finding local maximum points, and problems attendant variations of the absolute maximum power point as a function of temperature, insolation, array construction, and photo voltaic panel manufacturing tolerances. The energy source supplies power in the form of a voltage and charges the batteries with a controllable current source.

Abstract: A hollow toilet seat having a plurality of inlets in its bottom surface is pivotably secured to a hollow attachment device mounted on a commode. Slots in the toilet seat are in positional correspondence with slots in the attachment device to provide fluid communication for air/gas flow from within the commode, through the inlets into the toilet seat and to the attachment device at least when the toilet seat is in the down position adjacent the bowl of the commode. A selectively operated vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the attachment device draws air/gas from within the bowl of the commode to an exhaust location.

Abstract: An improved antenna system for a collar-mounted receiver-stimulator unit of an electronic animal training apparatus includes a conductive antenna mounting connector for detachable connection of an external flex antenna to the receiver-stimulator unit, a ferrite core, and a first winding on the ferrite core is coupled to a receiver circuit of the receiver-stimulator unit, and constitutes an internal ferrite antenna thereof. A second winding on the ferrite core is connected to the antenna mounting conductor and coacts with the first winding to function as a matching transformer between a receiver antenna input terminal and an external high flex antenna connected to the antenna mounting connector. The longitudinal axis of the ferrite core is co-planar with a longitudinal axis of the flex antenna.

Abstract: A monitor program stored in a ROM of a microcomputer chip of a computer is operated both to (1) save power by disabling all external buses, turning off power to a communication port, deselecting all external memory devices, and turning off a fast clock oscillator and clocking all operations of the microcomputer chip at a slow second frequency, and also to (2) prioritize execution of a plurality of application programs located in external memory devices and/or internal memory of the microcomputer chip while also relying on the monitor program to effectuate normal initialization procedures. The monitor program also allows efficient access to slow external memory devices by dividing down the fast clock rate produced by the oscillator to a slower rate and accessing the slow memory at the slower rate, thereby saving power.

Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit achieves offset cancellation by supplying an offset correction current from a current copier circuit to the output of the differential amplifier. The current copier is programmed by closing a first switch to short the differential input terminals of the amplifier, by opening a second switch to break the feedback loop of the amplifier, and by closing a third switch to allow the current copier to sense the offset output voltage at the output of the amplifier. The current copier generates an equal and opposite offset cancellation current which is summed with the offset current from the amplifier. The current copier circuit includes a storage capacitor for storing a voltage required to produce such offset cancellation current. After programming the storage capacitor, the third switch is opened, the first switch is opened, and the second switch is closed for normal operation.

Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing decorating materials such as frosting incorporates a dispensing tube having the material to be dispensed and a water-operated piston therein. Application of water under pressure to the dispensing tube results in the dispensing of the material through a decorating tip. The water pressure applied to the dispensing tube is controlled and regulated through the utilization of a control valve assembly having a flow stop valve and an on/off valve. Water applied to the control valve assembly is pressure regulated and filtered.

Abstract: A medication inhalation apparatus for use with an MDI inhaler includes an elongated housing for receiving a plume of medication particles ejected by the MDI inhaler, a mouthpiece, and an inhalation valve disposed between the mouthpiece and the housing. An exhalation valve in the mouthpiece allows exhalation through the mouthpiece, presenting very little resistance to the exhalation effort of the patient. An adapter receives and stabilizes a mouthpiece of the MDI inhaler. The inhalation valve includes an inhalation membrane hanging adjacent to a valve seat. Exhalation into the mouthpiece presses the inhalation membrane against the valve seat, forcing exhaled gas through the exhalation valve. Inhalation causes the inhalation membrane to swing away from the valve seat and mostly out of a path of the medication plume. Impaction of medication particles against the inhalation membrane is avoided, and very little resistance is presented to the inhalation effort of the patient.

Abstract: A catheter for use in an electrophysiological procedure to ablate a site includes a first electrode having a first work function and energized by a source of RF energy. A second electrode having a second work function is disposed adjacent tissue. The difference in work functions of the first and second electrodes, operating in the presence of an electrolyte represented by intermediate tissue, produces an exchange of electrical charges through chemical reaction to create a galvanic cell. The galvanic cell serves as a current source to provide a unique electrode signal used to regulate the RF energy applied to the first electrode.

Abstract: A column-driver integrated circuit, and related method, for driving the columns of LCD displays uses paired digital-to-analog converters to provide analog signals in an upper voltage range and in a lower voltage range. During a first drive cycle, first and second digital data words are provided to the first and second digital-to-analog converters; the first and second digital data words represent the magnitudes, within the upper voltage range and lower voltage range, respectively, of the analog signals to be driven onto first and second columns of the LCD display. The analog signal generated by the first D/A converter is selected, as by a multiplexer, onto the first column of the display, and the analog signal generated by the second D/A converter is selected onto the second column of the display.

Abstract: A programmable gain delta sigma analog-to-digital converter includes an analog input terminal receiving an analog input voltage, a charge summing conductor, an input capacitive switching circuit, and a feedback reference capacitive switching circuit coupled to the charge summing conductor. An integrator is coupled between the charge summing conductor and a comparator which supplies a stream of digital pulses to a digital filter that produces a digital number representing the analog input voltage. The feedback reference capacitive switching circuit includes a plurality of reference sampling capacitors, selectively coupling charge between a feedback reference voltage source and an integrating capacitor of the integration in response to a programmable gain control circuit so as to provide a selected gain for the analog-to-digital converter. The sampling rate of the capacitive switching circuits is adjusted proportionally to the selected gain to improve the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: A computer desk module has a trapezoidal desk top with an opening. A transparent window plate is supported in the desk top so as to cover the opening. A pull-out keyboard shelf is supported under a front edge portion of the desk top. A computer monitor is suspended under the desk top so its screen is inclined upward to allow viewing of the screen through the window plate. A plurality of the computer desk modules are assembled end-to-end into various semi-trapezoidal clusters, S-shaped clusters, and straight line clusters. Overhead power and data bus cables are routed from a classroom ceiling into tubular legs supporting a decorative cover against the ceiling. The legs extend upward from a cabinet having a semi-octagonal shape that mates with a semi-octagonal cluster of the computer desk modules. The cables pass through the legs, through the cabinet, into the various computer desk modules forming the cluster, and to the monitor and a computer in each of the computer desk modules.

Abstract: This invention relates to electromagnetic wave beam paths, formation of the beam, illumination of programmable electromagnetic wave field vector orientation rotating devices ("PEMFVORD") with an electromagnetic beam, and the technique of projection of the modulated beam. This invention also relates to a unique light path and method of forming the light into a rectangular beam to be used for optical projection systems and, more particularly, in a color and/or black and white liquid crystal device (LCD) projectors that produce high resolution, high brightness and/or three-dimensional images. This invention further relates to a device capable of receiving and displaying two-dimensional and three-dimensional images.

Abstract: A resilient connector uses a spring made from a cylindrical tube. The wall of the tube is cut in a helix along the central portion of the tube to form the spring. One or more plungers within the spring have a tip extending past a first end of the spring and a second end attached to the spring. Each plunger is a pin or a pair of coaxial conductors separated by a dielectric sheath. One of the coaxial conductors is a conductive layer on the sheath. A double ended connector uses a spring made as described above with a pair of plungers attached one each to each end of the spring.

Abstract: The vacuum nozzles in a rotary surface cleaning appliance are skewed with respect to the path of travel of the nozzles to enable the nozzles to glide smoothly over the surface being cleaned. A flexible mount for each nozzle on a rigid, radial vacuum duct permits the nozzle to accommodate irregular and different textured surfaces being cleaned.