Abstract: A nail clipper is described which can be used by a person having only one hand. The nail clipper comprises a base 32 shaped to rest on a horizontal surface and an elongate actuator 30 pivotably connected at one end to the base 32. A first cutting edge is located on the base 32 and an opening 34 is provided in the actuator 30 to allow the nail of a finger of a hand pressing down on the actuator to be placed over the first cutting edge. A second cutting edge movable with the actuator 30 towards the first cutting edge is used to trim the nail resting on the first cutting blade when the actuator 30 is depressed.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise apparatus includes a frame, a pair of footpads, and a linkage coupling the footpads to the frame and for guiding the footpads in closed paths when a user's feet apply forces to the footpads. The linkage, which includes a rotatable member having an angular position indicative of the positions of the footpads within their closed paths, responds to input control signals by adjusting length and height dimensions of the closed paths. A control system senses the angular position of the rotatable member, senses the forces the user applies to the footpads, and generates the control signals to increase or decrease the path dimensions when it senses particular combinations of angular position and user forces, thereby permitting the user to control the path dimensions by controlling the forces applied to the footpads.

Abstract: A protection device for monitoring current in a power cable to an electrical device and for controlling a remotely located starter for the electrical device in response to a system controller. The device includes a transformer magnetically linked with the power cable to produce a voltage signal in response to the presence of a changing current within the power cable. An input circuit located in a single housing together with the transformer is electrically connected to the transformer so as to receive the voltage signal. The input circuit produces, in response to the voltage signal, either a first signal or a first circuit condition at the output terminal of the input circuit, representative of the changing current in the power cable. A switch circuit also in the same container with the transformer has a terminal for sensing either a second signal or a second circuit condition of the remotely located system controller.

Abstract: A panoramic device includes a base member having a flat lower surface suitable to be supported by a tripod. A clamp member has a flat upper surface rotatably interconnected within a single plane of rotation with the base that includes a first rotatable knob to selectively inhibit the rotation of the clamp member with respect to the base. The flat upper surface includes a central region that is at a different elevation than another portion of the flat upper surface. The clamp includes a pair of opposed surfaces suitable to detachably secure a camera thereto. The one of the opposed surfaces is maintained in a fixed relationship with respect to the clamp member. The other one of the opposed surfaces is in a movable relationship with respect to the clamp member using a second rotatable knob. The first knob and the second knob are rotatably connected with respect to one another. The panoramic device includes a level bubble visible on an upper surface at a location exterior to the central region of the clamp.

Abstract: A control system for a load-handling clamp includes first and second load-engaging surfaces for selectively gripping and releasing a load disposed between said surfaces. At least one of said surfaces is selectively movable toward the other by a hydraulic actuator. At least one fluid valve assembly variably regulates a maximum hydraulic clamping pressure capable of causing the actuator to move one of the surfaces toward the other in a load clamping movement. Preferably, a load geometry sensor produces an electrical effect that varies as a function of the geometric profile of the load. A data receiver preferably also obtains load identification information related to at least one characteristic of the load, other than the load's geometry. A controller, in response to the data receiver and load geometry sensor, operates to control the valve assembly's regulation of the maximum hydraulic clamping pressure.

Abstract: Sensors located on a sensor carrier are placed adjacent one or more of a surgical patient's major thoracic blood-containing structures such as the aorta or pulmonary artery, and characteristics of blood in the blood-containing structures are determined noninvasively by measuring transmission or reflection of light or other types of energy by the blood. Emitters and receptors included in the sensors are connected electrically with suitable electronic signal generating and processing components in a package remote from the sensor carrier.

Abstract: A visual signal system including a signal display carried prominently on a paving machine, where it can be seen clearly by an operator of a dump truck or shuttle vehicle delivering paving material to the paving machine, as well as by other nearby personnel. Control circuits provide that a paving machine operator may separately control the display of certain signals, while other signals are automatically presented on the signal display in response to operation of paving machine functional controls.

Abstract: The PN junctions of a transistor are biased for operation in the active mode but an initial flow of current reverses the bias of the base-emitter junction causing the transistor to conduct a resonant current with a voltage less than the forward junction voltage of said base-emitter.

Abstract: A method of color assessment of a sample (10) with respect to a reference illuminant, includes illuminating the sample (10) with a light source (12) that comprises a fluorescent lamp (18) and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (24). The spectrum of the LEDs (24) supplements the spectrum of the fluorescent lamp (18) to reduce deviations between the combined spectrum of the light source (12) and a target spectrum. The target spectrum may be that of the reference illuminant or it may be adjusted to make allowance for known properties of a color assessment cabinet (2) or an observing instrument (16). The LEDs (24) may be arranged so that their light passes through the bulb of the fluorescent lamp (18), which thereby acts as a diffuser. Alternatively, the LEDs (24) and the fluorescent lamp (18) may be located in a housing (31) from which their light can only reach the sample (10) after being mixed by reflection from multiple facets (34).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cathode plate (1) that is used in the electrolytic cleaning and recovery of metals, the cathode plate being at least partly manufactured of stainless steel and the surface of the cathode plate being treated in at least one stage, whereby the cathode plate is formed by cutting it from a solid plate-like material (2), whereby, essentially before cutting (4) the cathode plate to shape, at least part of the surface constituting the cathode plate is subjected to a mechanical treatment (3) to improve the adhesion properties of the surface. The invention also relates to the cathode plate.

Abstract: A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for managing and combining data contained in layers in a multilayer bitstream such that one or more transform coefficients in a first layer are used to modify one or more coefficients in a second layers that in turn is reconstructed using the modified one or more coefficients.

Abstract: A voltage indicating coupling for metal conduit systems to indicate the presence or absence of voltage on a wire enclosed by a section of electrical conduit for a grounded AC power distribution system. Through the use of two opposing rectifiers the National Electrical Code requirement that the entire metal conduit system be grounded is met. The voltage indicating coupling comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD), a static suppression resistor, two opposing rectifiers for grounding purposes, a plastic block housing and two clamping screws with corresponding wire terminals. At least one “hot” conductor enclosed by the section of electrical conduit is capacitively coupled to the conduit creating a complete circuit through the liquid crystal display (LCD), the static suppression resistor and the opposing rectifiers. The path around the circuit is completed by a ground connection on the grounded part of the conduit system, and the ground connection at the transformer.

Abstract: A tapered rotary feed valve is manufactured or refurbished for use in feeding materials into a high temperature environment, so as to reduce the time and expense of break-in operation, by shaping the tapered bore of the valve body at ambient temperature to have greater clearance around the rotor in a sector of the valve body that is cooler when the valve is at stable operating temperature. As a result, when the valve first reaches operating temperature after being manufactured or refurbished the rotor and the bore of the valve body nearly fit and can quickly wear in to fit each other closely.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for digital image color balance correction.

Abstract: A method for displaying an image includes receiving an image having a first luminance dynamic range and modifying the image to a second luminance dynamic range free from being based upon other images, where the second dynamic range is greater than the first dynamic range. The modified image is displayed on a display.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprises a solid amorphous dispersion of a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor and a concentration-enhancing polymer.

Abstract: A method for displaying an image includes receiving an image having a first luminance dynamic range and modifying the image to a second luminance dynamic range free from being based upon other images, where the second dynamic range is greater than the first dynamic range. The modified image is displayed on a display.

Abstract: Processing of images for displaying on a display for displaying images on a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A display that includes at least one gray level being provided to a plurality of pixels that illuminates each of the pixels with the gray level. The display applies interpolated corrective data for the pixels so as to reduce the mura effects of said display for those characteristics generally visible by the human visual system and so as not to reduce the mura effects of the display for those characteristics generally not visible by the human visual system.