Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vaporizer valve which accepts a carrier gas and a pressurized liquid and forms a mixture of the carrier gas and vaporized liquid. An internal cavity receives the carrier gas through a carrier aperture and the liquid through a liquid aperture, and the mixed gas and vapor are exhausted out of the cavity via a third aperture. A moveable diaphragm disposed adjacent to the liquid aperture forms a vaporization region having a pressure gradient. The liquid passing through this pressure gradient vaporizes due to expansion. By controlling the diaphragm position with a feedback control circuit responsive to a liquid flow rate monitor, the liquid flow rate may be controlled independently of the carrier gas flow rate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vaporizer valve which accepts a carrier gas and a pressurized liquid and forms a mixture of the carrier gas and vaporized liquid. An internal cavity receives the carrier gas through a carrier aperture and the liquid through a liquid aperture, and the mixed gas and vapor are exhausted out of the cavity via a third aperture. A moveable diaphragm disposed adjacent to the liquid aperture forms a vaporization region having a pressure gradient. The liquid passing through this pressure gradient vaporizes due to expansion. By controlling the diaphragm position with a feedback control circuit responsive to a liquid flow rate monitor, the liquid flow rate may be controlled independently of the carrier gas flow rate.

Abstract: Plasma events are detected by analyzing the spectral emissions of a plasma process of a substrate. A plasma is monitored by a spectrometer which produces plasma emission data which includes an intensity value for each individual wavelength which is a large quantity of information. The plasma emission data is processed with an algorithm or combination of algorithms to reduce the quantity of the plasma emission data. A peak finding algorithm which identifies the wavelengths of light which are associated with a plasma process allowing the other wavelengths to be ignored. A data reduction algorithm provides a single value representative of the intensity of the emitted light from each peak. A noise reduction algorithm removes noise from the spectral signal by eliminating signals at wavelengths which do not exceed a threshold intensity and do not exceed a threshold wavelength span. The data may also be processed with principal component analysis to further reduce the optical emission data.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vaporizer valve which accepts a carrier gas and a pressurized liquid and forms a mixture of the carrier gas and vaporized liquid. An internal cavity receives the carrier gas through a carrier aperture and the liquid through a liquid aperture, and the mixed gas and vapor are exhausted out of the cavity via a third aperture. A moveable diaphragm disposed adjacent to the liquid aperture forms a vaporization region having a pressure gradient. The liquid passing through this pressure gradient vaporizes due to expansion. By controlling the diaphragm position with a feedback control circuit responsive to a liquid flow rate monitor, the liquid flow rate may be controlled independently of the carrier gas flow rate.

Abstract: A method of processing digital image information, including pixel intensity information, includes the steps of identifying a region of the image in which pixel intensities are similar to each other, but the median pixel intensity differs significantly from the median pixel intensity of other parts of the image; and modifying pixel intensities in the identified region so that the median for the region is closer to the median for the other parts of the image. A related method of processing digital image information involves modifying pixel intensities according to a non-linear algorithm, with the result that one or more regions of the image have their median pixel intensities adjusted to a level which is closer to the median pixel intensity for other parts of the image.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of gait problems associated with Parkinson's Disease in a subject involves the use of virtual cues which are delivered to the subject in a spatial orientation and at rate which enable the initiation and sustainment of ambulation, as well as the suppression of dyskinesia associated with medication. In one embodiment, a mulfiplexed head up display is used to provide the cues to the subject's field of vision without obscuring the real world. In another embodiment, light emitting diodes fastened to eye glasses are used to deliver the virtual cues to the subject's field of view.

Abstract: A disc made of thermoplastic material is inserted into the neck of a corked bottle and placed upon the top of the cork so that when the disc is partially melted, it forms a water resistant seal with the interior surface of the bottle neck and the cork. In forming the seal, the entire disc remains inside the bottle neck leaving the exterior of the bottle free from messy or harmful residue. The interior surface of the bottle neck may be straight or beveled at an obtuse angle. If the interior surface of the bottle neck is beveled, a disc with a frusto conical configuration is used in the method. A cover layer can be adhered to the top of the wax disc for ornamentation and labeling purposes.

Abstract: A horse hoof sandal which has a substantially triangular pad dimensioned and configured to occupy at least a portion of the area adjoining the frog of a horse hoof. The pad is kept against the frog by one or more support bands which are directly attached to the substantially triangular pad. A hoof growth promoting substance may be applied to promote hoof growth and attendant healing of damaged hooves. A hoof growth promoter is also provided having an elastic band and a hoof growth promoting substance which is applied to the coronet of a horse's leg.

Abstract: A launchable figurine device includes a figurine having wings capable of providing aerodynamic lift upon rotation of the figurine. A rotation imparting mechanism is releasably mated with the figurine to provide the requisite rotational velocity for launching the figurine into the air.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the treatment of fluids, particularly wine, to remove unwanted substances. The wine is treated in a reverse osmosis (R.O.) treatment unit, generating a retentate and a raw permeate. The membrane for the R.O. unit is selected to pass in the permeate the unwanted substances, such as volatile acidity (ethyl acetate and acetic acid). The raw permeate is subjected to a treatment column. In the case of volatile acidity, this is an anion exchange column, which removes the acetic acid from the permeate by anion exchange and removes the ethyl acetate by base hydrolysis. This produces a purified permeate, which is depleted in volatile acidity, but contains other components desirable for the wine. The purified permeate is then recombined with the retentate from the R.O. column, and the result is wine with the volatile acidity and little else removed. This wine may be recirculated through the system to remove yet more of the volatile acidity.

Abstract: A disc made of thermoplastic material is inserted into the neck of a corked bottle and placed upon the top of the cork so that when the disc is partially melted, it forms a water resistant seal with the interior surface of the bottle neck and the cork. In forming the seal, the entire disc remains inside the bottle neck leaving the exterior of the bottle free from messy or harmful residue. The interior surface of the bottle neck may be straight or beveled at an obtuse angle. If the interior surface of the bottle neck is beveled, a disc with a frusto conical configuration is used in the method. A cover layer can be adhered to the top of the wax disc for ornamentation and labeling purposes.

Abstract: A disc made of thermoplastic material is inserted into the neck of a corked bottle and placed upon the top of the cork so that when the disc is partially melted, it forms a water resistant seal with the interior surface of the bottle neck and the cork. In forming the seal, the entire disc remains inside the bottle neck leaving the exterior of the bottle free from messy or harmful residue. The interior surface of the bottle neck may be straight or beveled at an obtuse angle. If the interior surface of the bottle neck is beveled, a disc with a frusto conical configuration is used in the method. A cover layer can be adhered to the top of the wax disc for ornamentation and labeling purposes.

Abstract: A remotely controlled toy flying system in which the pitch of the toy flying device is controlled by the same drive shaft and drive shaft tube that is used to transmit power to the rotor of the toy flying device. A child can easily control the pitch of the toy flying device by rotating a knob. Rotation of the knob displaces the drive shaft, lifts the pitch link member and rotates the pitch shaft and toy flying device. Tilting the toy flying device causes the rotor to have a horizontal component of thrust causing the toy flying device to rotate in a fixed arc around the pivot member in the direction in which the knob is rotated by the child. Speed of the toy flying device rotor is controlled by the fore and aft motion of a lever.

Abstract: A special marker is disclosed that is affixed to a stationary or moving web near the lateral web edge to designate defective material. When edge trim is removed from the web, the trim removal device also cuts-off the front end of the marker so that the remaining portion is momentarily flush with the new web edge. This cutting action activates the remaining portion of the marker so that a component of the marker advances to extend out beyond the new web edge such that it is visible after the marker is wound into the rewind roll. This ability to see where the web was initially marked, after edge trim is removed, eliminates the conventional inaccurate and wasteful practice of remarking the web.

Abstract: A special marker is disclosed that is affixed to a stationary or moving web near the lateral web edge to designate defective material. When edge trim is removed from the web, the trim removal device also cuts-off the front end of the marker so that the remaining portion is momentarily flush with the new web edge. This cutting action activates the remaining portion of the marker so that a component of the marker advances to extend out beyond the new web edge such that it is visible after the marker is wound into the rewind roll. This ability to see where the web was initially marked, after edge trim is removed, eliminates the conventional inaccurate and wasteful practice of remarking the web.