Abstract: A safety sign that has a front panel with cut out letters or numbers that form the word or message of the sign. Behind the front panel a predetermined distance can be a reflective panel or other surface. Light from an oncoming vehicle can reflect from this reflective panel through the cut out letters causing the sign to function like any other safety sign when not lighted. One or more light sources like LEDs can be mounted facing the reflective panel at angles so that light from these sources is reflected from the reflective panel and out through the cut out letters causing the sign to increase significantly in visibility at night or in other low light conditions. Further light sources can be located around the periphery of the sign or around the word or words on the sign. All or part of the light sources can be made to blink, and the system can optionally be made to turn off during the daytime. The sign can be run from AC power or battery power.

Abstract: Amines and amine derivatives that improve the buffering range, and/or reduce the chelation and other negative interactions of the buffer and the system to be buffered. The reaction of amines or polyamines with various molecules to form polyamines with differing pKa's will extend the buffering range, derivatives that result in polyamines that have the same pKa yields a greater buffering capacity. Derivatives that result in zwitterionic buffers improve yield by allowing a greater range of stability.

Abstract: A multipurpose personal training device with a pair of press arms that can be set to numerous different lateral angles. Each press arm can be equipped with a functional trainer handle coupled by cable and pulleys to an adjustable weight engine. The final pulley at the end of each arm is free to rotate to any angle. In addition to exercises involving the arms, the device can supply a full complement of most standard training exercises.

Abstract: A method of installing an x-ray grid into a CR cassette by opening the cassette, modifying parts of it, installing the grid and then re-closing the cassette with the grid inside. The preferred embodiment installs an x-ray grid into a Fuji 14×17 inch CR cassette by modifying parts that will interfere with the grid, removing a layer of protective material and placing the grid where the layer was, and then replacing the protective material by attaching it to the grid with adhesive.

Abstract: An automated retail kiosk or vending machine that can vend working cellular handsets and that uses changeable presentation formats. The kiosk is generally an automated retail kiosk that can deliver primarily prepaid wireless products and services such as prepaid cellular handsets, prepaid cellular and long distance calling plans and E-pins, accessories like ear buds, phone holsters, SIM backup devices, cables and the like. In addition the kiosk or vending device can optionally provide a complete array of banking services including check cashing, prepaid debit cards, transfer of funds from debit card to debit card and many other services. An advertisement screen can play continuous or targeted advertising. The kiosk or vending device can change how it looks by accepting changeable front plates or housings, and it can communicate wirelessly over a network and be managed from a central location.

Abstract: Amines and amine derivatives that improve the buffering range, and/or reduce the chelation and other negative interactions of the buffer and the system to be buffered. The reaction of amines or polyamines with various molecules to form polyamines with differing pKa's will extend the buffering range, derivatives that result in polyamines that have the same pKa yields a greater buffering capacity. Derivatives that result in zwitterionic buffers improve yield by allowing a greater range of stability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for light therapy, which is a method using light for treating diseases and/or maintaining the health of a living organism. The method comprises delivering a light modulated at a specific frequency and intensity for a specified duration to the whole body or a portion of the body of the living organism. Disclosed herein are different sequences of light therapy useful for assisting the recovery from e.g., disease, injury, or malfunction. The improvement in health of the living organism after each treatment is observed. If necessary to increase the improvement in health, the sequence of light may be repeated in one session (such as two back-to-back sequences of treatment in one sitting in one day), and/or the organism may be treated over a period of time, such as receiving the sequence of light every 3 to 5 days, etc., until improvement is observed, the health problem is resolved, or a sense of improved well being is experienced by the treated organism.

Abstract: An electronic nutrition journal that can include one or more portable units capable of reading barcodes and serving sizes on consumed food items either on menus or on items purchased. Portable units can communicate with either an intermediate computer or directly with a server computer that contains a master nutritional database relating nutritional data with bar codes. This master nutritional database can be updated by either user input such as user preferred menus or by visiting websites that contain this data. An external barcode generator can be operated to produce barcodes for commercial operations that sell food such as restaurants, food trucks, vending machines or others so that barcodes can be established for their menus or selections. The intermediate computer or the server can track food intake and provide computations of nutritional values, bench marks, etc. a particular user or for many users. The server and master nutritional database, as well as coding of restaurant menus, etc.

Abstract: The apparatus and method described herein provides for creating multiple spatial patterns, such as magnetic patterns on credit cards. The invention includes storage of information from which patterns may be created, a pattern creation device for creating the spatial patterns, and control whereby the information which is stored is selectively utilized to cause the pattern creation. This allows multiple desired patterns to be simulated, allowing convenient replacement of a number of separate pattern carrying devices.

Abstract: A drywall tape or trim dispensing tool of the type similar to those sold under the name BAZOOKA with an elongated handle and a tape or trim dispensing head. The head can contain a blade coupled to a power mechanism such as a spring, hydraulic or electric energy source where the blade can be placed into a cocked position by a cocking mechanism and then triggered by a pull on a remote trigger located on the handle. After the device is cocked, the user can dispense tape or trim to a desired length and then cut it exactly by a simple trigger pull.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting metal contraband such as weapons related material in shipping containers where a container is scanned with at least one penetrating beam, preferably a tomographic x-ray beam, and at least one image is formed. The image can be analyzed by a pattern recognizer to find voids representing metal. The voids can be further classified with respect to their 2 or 3-dimensional geometric shapes. Container ID and contents or bill of lading information can be combined along with other parameters such as total container weight to allow a processor to generate a detection probability. The processor can use artificial intelligence methods to classify suspicious containers for manual inspection.

Abstract: A method and system for training a patient to improve swallowing, for retraining jaw muscles and for holding or keeping the jaw in a correct bite position. All of this in-turn causing an improvement in posture. The system includes a combination of exercise and oral apparatus pieces or mouth-guards to retrain and balance the facial muscles and to develop a correct swallow. The mouth-guards of the present invention can improve biomechanical imbalance, posture and in turn athletic performance. A particular embodiment of an oral apparatus of the present invention includes top and bottom troughs for receiving top and bottom teeth into the apparatus. The troughs can be adapted to hold the upper canine teeth lower than the central and lateral incisor teeth and hold the upper teeth outside the lower teeth from the incisors to the molars. The apparatus can be pre-fabricated or custom made for a particular patient.

Abstract: An abdominal muscle exercise machine that generally contains a diagonal member with an adjustable seat and a backrest and a pivot member that pivots with respect to the diagonal member. A chest push can be mechanically coupled to the pivot member through an adjustable force multiplier. An optional counterweight can be placed near one end of the pivot member to lighten the force, or an optional load weight can be placed near the other end of the pivot member to increase the force. The pivot member can be constructed to telescope or otherwise adjust for different body sizes. The machine provides a smooth exercise where the top and bottom portions of the body move together in a linked fashion. The machine of the present invention works without heavy external weights.

Abstract: A normally closed solid state power relay with an optionally optically coupled input circuit at an input terminal with a driver circuit electrically coupled to input terminal to drive one or more a power transistors, preferably MOSFET transistors so that the power transistor is held in the on state by the driver when no voltage or a low level voltage is applied to the input terminal, and the power transistor is held in the off state by the driver when a high level voltage is applied to the input terminal. An energy storage device, a battery or capacitor, is coupled to the driver to powers the driver with the energy storage device being charged by energy from the input terminal when said input terminal when a high level voltage is applied to the input terminal. The energy storage device is charged by leakage current through a diode or through a resistor from the input circuit when the input circuit is in a high state.

Abstract: An intelligent, self-protected control module which is a fully protected and configured as a multi-terminal device controlling a number of power field-effect transistors for delivering power to loads. The device can contain a central processing unit or logic, precision Hall-Effect based current sensors for precise measuring of bypass currents, temperature sensors, and input/output circuitry as well as an optional RF receiver. The inputs can incorporate de-bouncing techniques to prevent false turn on/off. Inputs can provide command signals for the processor or logic with built-in watchdog circuitry to monitor the input power supply. The CPU or logic can provide communications with external devices, generate alarms, generate control signals to turn-on/turn-off power MOSFETs, and analyze currents and temperature of each channel. Unlike an electromechanical relay, the present invention is free from arcing and sparking, there are no contact materials to wear, and it is noiseless.

Abstract: A business system that allows vehicle telematics and other trip planning systems to be updated with latest road construction information. This information can be periodically downloaded to the trip planning system in order to factor in possible road construction delays into trip planning. The information can be gathered by direct observation or by periodic reports from governmental agencies. A subscription fee could be charged for this service.

Abstract: A portable, expandable laser golf training device that can be placed on the ground to provide alignment. The present invention can supply a plurality of light beams produced by lasers or other light sources, switchable on and off, that can be projected along the ground both in the direction of play and perpendicular to it. In a folded configuration, the device can project in four directions creating a pair of axis lines running at right angles to each other. In an expanded configuration, one of the major axis lines can be separated into two parallel lines for putting alignment by sliding the halves of the device apart. The device can be used by placing it on the ground in front of the golfer (between the golfer's feet and the ball. Two lines project outward perpendicular to the direction of play, and two or four lines project into and away from the direction of play. These lines provide alignment for the golfer.