Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for detecting an atomic structure of a sample along a surface thereof. The method comprises arranging the sample in a constant magnetic field (B.sub.0) of predetermined field strength and high homogeneity and irradiating a high-frequency magnetic field (B.sub.1) of a predetermined frequency on the sample, wherein the fields (B.sub.0) and (B.sub.1) are oriented perpendicularly to each other. The method further comprises providing a force-sensitive sensor having a paramagnetic tip comprising a paramagnetic material. The sensor is placed in close vicinity to the sample such that the paramagnetic tip is in atomic interaction with the sample surface which means that the distance between the tip and the surface is in the order of between 1 and 10 .ANG.. The predetermined field strength and the predetermined frequency are set such that electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is excited within the tip paramagnetic material.

Abstract: An improved anatomical support apparatus including an upper substrate engagable with a body surface of a user, and a support substrate attached to the upper substrate. The upper substrate having a first honeycomb core formed of undulated strips of resilient thermoplastic material, thermal compression bonded together to form cell walls defining a plurality of contiguous regularly shaped cells. Each of the cell walls having an upper extremity and a lower extremity. Each upper and lower extremity of the first core forming either a planar or a contoured surface. The upper substrate further includes means for maintaining the first core in its expanded configuration. A stack having at least one support substrate attached to either the upper or the lower extremity of the first core. A support substrate including a second honeycomb core formed of undulated strips of resilient thermoplastic material, thermal compression bonded together to form cell walls defining a plurality of contiguous regularly shaped cells.

Abstract: A memory module using non-standard configuration memory devices while allowing access by computer systems is disclosed. In one example, according to the JEDEC standard 2M.times.36 configuration, the memory module is comprised of two banks of 1M deep memory blocks. For this JEDEC standard configuration, the computer system will provide four Row Address Strobe (RAS) signals, four Column Address Strobe (CAS) signals, a Write Enable signal, and ten address signals, A0-A9. The RAS and CAS signals allow memory blocks of the memory banks to be accessed. However, with only ten address signals, only 1M deep memory devices having 1M deep memory locations can be addressed. In order to use 2M deep memory devices having 2M deep memory locations, an eleventh address signal (A10) is needed. A logic circuit is thus provided to derive an additional address signal and to provide the needed refresh cycle for the second 1M memory locations of the 2M deep memory devices.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed which focuses a polychromatic source to an extended focal pencil. The implementation makes use of two holographic optical elements (HOEs) fabricated and aligned to form a deliberate longitudinal color dispersion, but to alleviate lateral chromatic effects. Consequently, the HOE doublet focuses different wavelengths of the source to different locations along the optical axis. The strong intensity of the focused wavelengths dominate at each location, so that the overall beam has a near-diffraction-limited 1/e.sup.2 spot size and suffers only relatively weak background illumination. An alternative optical system using bulk lenses and several possible applications for the device are also described.

Abstract: An improved telephone interface device communicatively couples a local telephone set to an inside telephone wire which, in turn, is communicatively coupled to an outside telephone line from a central office of a telephone service provider. The interface device includes an on-hold switch, a ring detector, a tone decoder, and a coupling switch, all of which are coupled to the bridge via an internal signal line and a control computer. The touch tone decoder receives input tone sequences from the bridge, decodes the tone sequence, and outputs a bit signal to the control computer. The on-hold switch is responsive to a command from the control computer, and is operative to maintain the signal line at a first predetermined voltage. The coupling switch communicatively couples the signal line to a node line. When the node line is coupled to the signal line, a user at the local telephone set may communicate with another user in the home, or with an outside user.

Abstract: A handling apparatus can be used with particular advantage as a pallet moving apparatus, and includes a machine frame with an extension arm, movable in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction, on which is provided an engaging element for receiving a gripping device. The extension arm has a first rocker element that is mounted on the machine frame and is driven rotatably about a horizontal rotation axis, and at its free end a second rocker element is arranged rotatably and is positively coupled to the first rocker element via a linkage in such a way that when the first rocker element rotates, the engaging element describes a locus curve with largely linear horizontal and vertical sections. Preferably the two rocker elements are positively coupled in such a way that an imaginary rotation of the first rocker element through 360 degrees results in a substantially square locus curve in a vertical plane.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media comprising an ordered, ultra-high density array of 500 .ANG. diameter circular magnetic thin film islands on a substrate. The magnetic material supports magnetization perpendicular to the film plan, and each circular island comprises a single magnetic domain and a single information storage bit. An areal bit density of 10.sup.11 bits/in.sup.2 can be achieved by such an array. The magnetic array is generated using a single level mask comprised of a self-ordering polymer array, either an array of polymer spheres or a regular array of polymeric blocks in a phase-separating polymer film.

Abstract: An electronic stringed instrument including a head formed of a front panel having a central opening therein and a back panel held in spaced-apart relationship by an elongated member extending therebetween and attached to one end of an elongated neck. A plurality of strings each have one end affixed to the neck and extend along the length thereof and across a bridge to an attachment point on the front panel. An electrical pickup is mounted on the elongated member beneath the strings and between the bridge and the neck and extends through the opening to a point proximate the strings. The instrument is particularly suited for manufacture from acrylic materials.

Abstract: The present invention in the form of a computer software program provides for a method for annotating over static images or annotating over active application programs. In the case of static images, user-created objects can be created, manipulated and placed over static images. In the case of annotating over application programs in a structured system environment such as in a windows environment, an overlay program embodying the present invention provides an overlaying method allowing the user to switch back and forth between the active application programs and the overlay program. When the overlay program has control, a screen-size, transparent window is created and annotations are created in this window. This transparent window allows the user to see the application programs on the screen. Thus, when creating annotations on this window, a visual perception is created that the annotations are on the images displayed by the application programs.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for deterring theft of manually operated wheeled vehicles, reducing unauthorized use and removal of steel or steel and plastic constructed swivel-wheel shopping carts by preventing the free movement of one or more of the installed wheels. Attached to the frame of the shopping cart, a braking device in accordance with the present invention, when activated, measures the distance traveled beyond an activating point by counting the number of wheel rotations made by the cart and compares this to a preprogrammed stored attribute that defines the allowable distance the cart is allowed to travel once outside the shopping facility. Depending on the direction the cart is travelling, the counter is "armed" or "disarmed" when the cart passes over low-frequency magnetic arrays placed at the entry or exit of the shopping facility.

Abstract: An automated photomask inspection apparatus including an XY state (12) for transporting a substrate (14) under test in a serpentine path in an XY plane, an optical system (16) comprising a laser (30), a transmission light detector (34), a reflected light detector (36), optical elements defining reference beam paths and illuminating beam paths between the laser, the substrate and the detectors and an acousto-optical beam scanner (40, 42) for reciprocatingly scanning the illuminating and reference beams relative to the substrate surface, and an electronic control, analysis and display system for controlling the operation of the stage and optical system and for interpreting and storing the signals output by the detectors. The apparatus can operate in a die-to-die comparison mode or a die-to-database mode.

Abstract: A hat rack including a vertical rod with a loop at the top for hanging the rack on a wall. Separate rack sections are attached to the vertical rod, and spaced apart at intervals, each section for storing a single cap. A section includes two rods extending out from the vertical rod at an angle to each other forming a triangular shaped cap support structure with a tie rod extending between them for strength, and each rod having an upwardly protruding end for captivating a cap visor placed on the rods. A short rod is positioned above each pair of outwardly protruding rods, extending outward from the vertical rod in a direction parallel to an axis half way between the outwardly protruding rods, and spaced above them so as to be useful for supporting the top portion of a cap. The invention meets a particular need of those who collect numerous baseball caps and desire to have them individually displayed.

Abstract: Exponential and pseudo-exponential decay function values are generated by scaling a fractional decrease per sampling period by a previous decay function value and then subtracting the scaled fractional decrease from the previous decay function value. In one embodiment, a multiplier multiplies the fractional decrease by the previous decay function value and provides a product signal representing the scaled fractional decrease. An adder subtracts the scaled fractional decrease from the previous decay function value. In another embodiment, a shift block replaces the multiplier and approximates multiplication by a binary shift of the fractional decrease. The size of the shift is determined by the previous magnitude of the decay function as indicated by a priority encoder. Shifting generates a pseudo-exponential decay function which is suitable for music synthesis and can be generated quickly using less expensive hardware.

Abstract: Glass restraint system for windows, including a film (102), an adhesive for affixing the film (102) to a window pane (104), and an assembly (106) for clamping the edges of the film to the window frame (100) or mullion and providing an aesthetically pleasing cap and seal around the window. The assembly (106) includes a baseplate (102) with upwardly projecting sides (206, 208), the outer surfaces of which have captivation grooves (210, 212) extending along the length of the baseplate, and an inverted trough-shaped cap (214) having a top (215) and two sides (216, 218) which fit over the baseplate. The sides of the cap are provided with inwardly protruding ribs (220, 222) on the inside faces that are configured to snap into the captivation grooves for securing the cap to the baseplate so that four segments of the cap and baseplate form a four-sided, substantially rectangular framing assembly.

Abstract: An expansion card for a personal computer digitizes, optionally processes and/or compresses, stores, and then relays to the personal computer video information without the use of a frame store memory. An analog-to-digital converter on the expansion card digitizes at least part of a frame of an analog video signal received on a video connector of the expansion card. After optional processing and/or compressing of the digitized video information of the frame, part of the digitized video information is stored into a relatively small memory on the expansion card. Once stored, the digitized video information is transferred from the memory and to the personal computer over a parallel bus of the personal computer. Another part of the digitized video information of the frame is then stored into the same memory on the expansion card for subsequent transfer to the personal computer over the parallel bus.

Abstract: An improved self-locking cleat for rope, cable, and the like including a housing, a rotatable generally spherically-shaped engaging member, a biasing means and a positioning means. The housing includes an elongated base, a first passageway generally circular in cross-section and extending transverse to the length of the base. A chamber is formed in the base and is disposed adjacent one side of the first passageway. A length of rope is drawn through the first passageway in either a first or an oppositely directed second direction. The rotatable engaging member is pivotally mounted within the chamber and is positionable at either a first or a second position. The member is biased into the first position by the biasing means and is manually positionable, via the positioning means, into the second position.

Abstract: A video module including a video sensor having a sensor video signal output terminal, a timing signal terminal, and an image field of pixel elements responsive to incident light to generate sensor video signals; a processor having a sensor video signal input terminal coupled to the output terminal, a host signal input terminal for accepting a host signal, a timing signal terminal, video pixel signal combining means responsive to the sensor video signal and the host signals simultaneously to develop display video signals where each of the pixel elements is individually manipulated and controlled, and a display video signal output terminal for outputting the display video signals; a video display having a thin screen disposed along an axis passing through the center of and perpendicular to the image field and facing oppositely from the image field, a display video signal input terminal, and a timing signal terminal, wherein the video signals generate video images on the screen; and a timer for providing timing

Abstract: A compression and decompression method using a wavelet decomposition, frequency based tree encoding, tree based motion encoding, frequency weighted quantization, Huffman encoding, and tree based activity estimation for bit rate control. Forward and inverse quasi-perfect reconstruction transforms are used to generate the wavelet decomposition and to reconstruct data values close to the original data values. The forward and inverse quasi-perfect reconstruction transforms utilize special filters at the boundaries of the data being transformed and/or inverse transformed.

Abstract: A fluid detection system capable of detecting the smallest amount of liquid chemicals, mixtures, aqueous solutions, pure water and others by detecting very low levels of resistance or conductance due to ionization when the liquid substances are subjected to very small amounts of electrical power in a small and localized sampling area. The system includes an electronic control module and a sensing probe. The control module provides strictly limited and controlled amounts of electrical voltage and current to one or more remotely located sensing probes which detect the level of resistance or conductance between two electrodes (gold pins) disposed at a fixed distance from one another. The voltage developed across the electrodes is input to a comparator circuit in the electronic module and compared to a reference to produce a signal defining either a dry or a wet (leak) condition of the sensing probe. This signal can be utilized to generate shutdown signals and/or audible and visual alarms.

Abstract: Synthesizer models for emulating musical instruments can be improved using an analysis model that compares the output signal of the model to a recording of a desired sound and derives a residual signal that can be used to correct the model. When the original model is a good one, the residual signal is small and takes much less memory to store than is required for a sampled sound.