Abstract: A method for producing an electrical feedthru wherein a thin liquid conductive film is deposited into a shallow trough of an insulating machinable substrate. The conductive film and substrate are fired and then the resulting bound composite is ground flush with the adjacent surface of the insulating machinable substrate. The surface cohesion of the fired composite, and the resulting high quality surface finish of the grinding operation, combined with an elastomeric seal, create low leakage barriers capable of supporting a pressure differential while allowing isolated electrical conduction across a pressure or vacuum envelope. The method produces a space saving feedthru which allows a high signal line density in a limited space, is relatively simple to assemble, allows for disassembly rework, can be ‘designed into’ unique geometries of varied applications, and which has a single O-ring sealing across all traces.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a one-piece unit for retrofitting back-lit incandescent or compact fluorescent, LED, and EL signs with electroluminescent (EL) panels, or for fitting new signs with EL panels. The EL unit comprises an EL lamp attached to a diffuser, a connection module which may have built-in surge protection and which is connected to first and second electrical connection leads, or traces, of the EL lamp and heat wrapped in place by heat shrink tubing to ensure a stable connection, and at least two electrical connection lead wires extending from the connection module for attachment to one or more power sources. The connection module is selected based on the AC and/or DC voltage of the power supply in the location to be fitted or retrofitted. Another embodiment of the invention is a kit which may include the EL unit, wire nuts, adhesive mountings, and instruction sheets.

Abstract: A multi-functional, compound apparatus that functionally provides at least one additional axle and wheels, that can be used with or without a trailer being towed to enable a vehicle to carry extra weight, extra long loads, and/or to tow a trailer heavier than the tow vehicle could otherwise safely tow is disclosed. The apparatus provides the additional payload carrying and towing capacity while maintaining the driving and steering capability of the tow vehicle, and removing the majority of the weight of the load from the rear portion of the tow vehicle. The apparatus may be used as a load bearing and distributing trailer hitch, or simply as a load bearing member to increase the payload capability of a carrying vehicle, or may be adapted to be used as a trailer itself.

Abstract: A collinear electronically tunable helical antenna system includes at least one helical antenna coil; a center conductive tube disposed axially through the open center space of the coil, which may contain bias and control lines and feed lines. The antenna coil is short circuited to the center tube near the base of the coil, forming a tunable choke. Sections of the coil are shorted to electrically shorten the coil, thereby tuning the antenna and choke. Each antenna coil is powered via feed lines that emanate from the antenna base and which run through the conductive tube from below the antenna base. Sections of coil may be shorted by a pair of oppositely poled diodes forming a PIN diode switch connected across a section of antenna coil. A bias voltage that controls the switch is supplied to the switch, via bias lines which run within the antenna coil and exit the antenna coil at a point symmetrical between each pair of oppositely poled diodes.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for music synthesis is provided. A chaotic system is driven onto a periodic orbit by a compressed initialization code. A one-dimensional, periodic waveform is then produced from the periodic orbit. A variety of periodic orbits produces a variety of sounds, which sounds approximate the sounds of different musical instruments. By sampling the amplitude of the periodic waveforms over time, a digital version of the sound is produced. The frequency and duration of a note to be synthesized are produced by sampling the periodic waveform at the proper rate to produce the desired frequency and then repeating the waveform to produce a note of the required duration.

Abstract: A pressure compensatable mateable connector for use in hostile environments, or environments where the contacts to be connected must be protected from the environment, comprising a plug connector half and a receptacle connector half which are mateable and de-mateable multiple times. The connector may be used for electrical, fiber optic, hybrid electro-optic, hydraulic and gas or vapor connections. The plug connector half comprises at least one isolated mating probe contact immersed in a pressure transfer medium, and contained in an isolation envelop which partially comprises a free-sliding flexible rubber-like tube which is sealed at both the rear and mating ends and wherein the mating probe contact enters the flexible tube through a hermetic fitting snugly fitted to the rear end of the flexible tube. The flexible tube may have one or more axial slits.

Abstract: A high energy direct circuit stored energy connector precisely aligns and interconnects conductors of "flexible circuits" directly to mating contacts on printed circuit boards. The connector uses the flexible circuit conductors themselves to aid in alignment and eliminates the need for precise control of the outside dimensions of a flexible circuit's dielectric backplane or a precisely located alignment hole. The connector is a zero insertion force (ZIF) type, and is a high density surface mount. The connector comprises two major components: a connector housing and a circuit interconnection spring assembly. The housing is configured with a device for forming a direct flexible circuit conductor to printed circuit board mating contact interconnection. The circuit is retained in position by a multi-function spring assembly rotatably position able with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A toothbrush providing a radiation source of selected optical range, having the radiation source built into a cavity in the handpiece of the toothbrush. The brush head may be transparent and the bristles may be transparent. Various combinations of scattering, transparent and reflective properties of the brush head, the type of radiation source, and bristle transparency allows selected influence directly on different field and tissues of the oral cavity. Radiation wavelength is selectable to provide treatment to both the soft tissue of the oral cavity and to the teeth. Selected radiation penetrates the pulp of the tooth to stimulate and enhance calcium transport to the dentine and enamel of the tooth to prevent and treat cavities.

Abstract: A system and method for supercharging an in-line engine is disclosed. The system comprises a "bolt-on" supercharger system that is attachable directly to an existing installed engine without significant modification of the engine. The system includes an intake manifold fabricated preferably from aluminum and appropriately sized to the particular engine and available space, and which is removably attachable to the stock intake manifold of an engine in flow communication with the stock intake manifold; a supercharger removably attachable to, and in flow communication with, the fabricated intake manifold, by use of an adapter plate; a bypass valve assembly attached between and in straight line flow communication with a carburetor or fuel injected system and the supercharger. The bypass valve is joined to the carburetor by a bypass adapter ring, and allows an air-fuel mixture from the carburetor to bypass the supercharger and go directly into the fabricated intake manifold when the system is not in a boost mode.

Abstract: A stable work bench (1) that is easy to adjust in height regardless of the load on the platform (8) has an upper platform (2) and a lower base element (3), a frame that is variable in height and arranged between the platform (2) and the base element (3), each end of which frame has an upright first leg (4) and a second leg (5) disposed parallel thereto and at a horizontal distance therefrom that supports the underside of the platform (2), which legs (4, 5) are pivotably connected by a lower arm (6) and an upper arm (7) parallel thereto to produce a deformable parallelogram (4-7), and with a drive system to raise and lower the platform (2) of the work bench (1) by changing the angle between the parallel arms (6, 7) and the upright first leg (4).

Abstract: A system and method to deter the theft of paper currency comprising a currency pack assembly containing coded electronics and an ignitable chemical pack. There is a coded teller sentry unit located near the cash drawer in which the currency pack assembly is stored. The currency pack assembly contains a coded transmitting/receiving apparatus that signals the coded teller sentry unit when the currency pack assembly is removed from the cash drawer. The coded teller sentry unit is connectable to a silent alarm and may trigger the silent alarm upon removal of the currency pack from the cash drawer. The coded teller sentry unit is also connectable to surveillance equipment such as cameras, and activates such equipment automatically upon removal of the currency pack assembly from the cash drawer. There is also a coded door control unit located near the egress to the building which detects when the currency pack assembly has left the building.

Abstract: This loudspeaker system overcomes the disadvantages of prior art bipolar loudspeaker systems in which the front and rear-mounted driver(s) are connected with the same electrical phase. It compensates for the undesirable cancellation and reinforcement effects of prior art in bipolar loudspeaker design caused by the interaction of the front and rear acoustical output of the two drivers over certain frequency ranges. The introduction of a third side-mounted driver(s) to an enclosure whose depth exceeds its width when viewed from the front compensates for the usual cancellations and reinforcements of acoustic level that would normally occur in previous bipolar loudspeaker designs. This loudspeaker uses electronic, electrical and acoustical frequency-dividing networks to allow compensation of the acoustic level and the interaction of the front, rear and side-mounted driver(s) in such a way as to provide a nearly constant acoustic level over the entire operating range of the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A computer-based method of innovatively solving one or more problems using a group assembled at a computerized meeting. One participant of the group is the client who is the owner of or is responsible for the problem or opportunity to be resolved. Each participant is provided with a computer which is networked with all other computers. A group list is created of all the participants of the group, and one participant is designated the facilitator who controls the problem solving process of the meeting. The remaining participants are designated as resources. An agenda is created consisting of placeholders and activities. The resources enter creative springboards into their computers based on the problem to be solved, and these springboards are distributed to all participants. Builds and elaborations are generated by the resources based on the springboards and distributed to all participants.

Abstract: A low cost, high energy direct circuit to circuit stored energy connector is disclosed. The connector precisely aligns and interconnects conductors of "flexible circuits" directly to mating contacts on printed circuit boards. The connector uses the flexible circuit conductors themselves to aid in alignment and eliminates the need for precise control of the outside dimensions of a flexible circuit's dielectric backplane or a precisely located alignment hole. The connector is a zero insertion force (ZIF) type, and is a high density surface mount. The connector comprises two major components: a connector housing and a circuit interconnection spring assembly. The housing is configured with a device for forming a direct flexible circuit conductor to printed circuit board mating contact interconnection. The circuit is retained in position by a multi-function spring assembly rotatably positionable with respect to the housing.

Abstract: Light reflected from skin has two components: regular reflectance, or "glare" arising from the surface, and light backscattered from within the tissue. The regular reflectance contains the visual cues related to surface texture, whereas the backscattered component contains the cues related to pigmentation, erythema, infiltrates, vessels and other intracutaneous structures. Unlike the backscattered component, regular reflectance preserves the plane of polarization of polarized incident light. Thus, viewing skin through a linear polarizer, under linearly polarized illumination, separates the two components of tissue reflectance. When the planes of polarization are parallel, images with enhanced surface detail are obtained. When the planes are orthogonal, wrinkles and surface detail disappear, and an enhanced view of vasculature and pigmented lesions is obtained. Apparatus for performing such inspection is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting intrusions into spaces of various kinds such as apartments, offices, lockers, and the like by either authorized or unauthorized persons apparatus monitors a specific portal for intrusion occurrence events using an intrusion sensing unit, which communicates intrusion occurrence information to a remote, and possibly hidden monitor unit. The monitor dynamically counts the number of valid intrusion occurrence signals received from the sensing unit and stores the same in non-volatile memory. The number of intrusions stored in memory can be displayed on a display means at the monitor unit, which, in a simple embodiment would take the form of a single, seven segment light emitting diode (LED) display. In addition, the number of intrusions stored in the non-volatile memory can only be reset by the input of a unique, coded personal identification number (PIN) signal from an input keypad located on the monitor unit.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling device and method for removing heat energy from an object in thermally conductive contact with the device that is formed of a flexible and conformable container that is at least partially filled with a liquid absorbing material. When the device is hydrated and placed in thermally conductive contact with an object to be cooled, heat energy is transferred from the object to the device and the liquid that was absorbed by the material is evaporated. The amount of heat transferred is substantially equal to the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid that is evaporated. The use of the liquid absorbing material also allows the container to remain dry to the touch, even after it is hydrated.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of positively identifying individuals. The system comprises a point of identity verification terminal having a means for inputting data presented by a particular individual, at least one database storage and retrieval site having stored therein a plurality of digital image data unique to persons to be identified, and a means for exchanging data between the point of verification terminal and the database site. The database site comprises a means for validating that a point of verification terminal seeking to exchange data with the site is authorized to do so. At the database site, the system receives the information presented at the point of verification terminal and searches the database to find the unique image data corresponding to the unique data. The system then transmits the image data to the point of verification terminal where it is displayed on a display means.

Abstract: The invention comprises a novel stretcher frame clamp, which allows standard hospital-style traction components to be used in conjunction with ambulance cots or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp comprises two clamp halves, which when joined together define an octagonal outer shaped clamping area. The octagonal outer shape of the clamping area is sized to adapt to octagonal tubing-based traction components. Each clamp half also has a recessed channel cut therein, which is of a shape and size so that when the clamp halves are joined together around a stretcher frame rail, the frame rail passes through the center of the frame clamp assembly and contacts the clamp assembly along the entire length of the frame rail section which passes therethrough. The clamp halves are held together to create the clamp assembly in a compressive fashion, so as to squeeze the stretcher frame rail as it passes through the clamp assembly.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a frequency tunable filter which includes an electromagnetic (E-M) wave propagation line which includes a microstrip and a ground plane in the substrate for transmitting a sequence of E-M signals via the propagation line. The E-M wave propagation line includes a frequency tuning mechanism, i.e., the magnetic layer, which is capable of utilizing a ferromagnetic anti-resonance frequency response to the E-M signals transmitted via the propagation line for controlling and frequency tuning the E-M signal transmission. In one of the preferred embodiments, the E-M wave propagation line includes a microstrip forming on the top surface of a dielectric or semiconductor substrate for receiving and transmitting the E-M signals and a ground plane forming on the bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate. And, the frequency tuning mechanism includes a ferromagnetic layer formed in the substrate between the microstrip and the ground plane.