Abstract: A public payphone telephone system providing remote access by telephone devices to telephone lines. There are a plurality of public telephone access modules disposed in separated locations and operably connected to telephone lines for receiving remote telephone transmissions and for connecting them to the telephone lines. Each of the public telephone access modules includes visible indicia of its presence and location and a first interface module for wirelessly transmitting and receiving telephone communications by means of a beam of IR energy (or, alternatively, RF) energy. A remote telephone interface is operably associated with each of the telephone devices for interfacing between the telephone device and the public telephone access modules. Each remote telephone interface includes a second interface module for transmitting and receiving telephone communications by means of the beam of IR energy.

Abstract: Apparatus for answering an incoming call over a single telephone line and for automatically switching the call between a telephone and a carrier signal-based device as appropriate. There is a three position switch for switching a telephone line connected thereto between first, second and third output positions thereof. The switch has the telephone operably connected to the second output position thereof and the carrier signal-based device connected to the third output position thereof.

Abstract: An improved automated irrigation system having localized moisture needs input to the control function. There is a sprinkler head connected to a supply of water under pressure by a pipe having a valve therein. A moisture sensing probe is placed in the soil adjacent the sprinkler head for developing an electrical signal representing the moisture content of the soil surrounding the probe. There is irrigation bypass logic disposed at the probe and operably connected to the valve and the probe for comparing the moisture content of the soil surrounding the probe to pre-established limits and for preventing the valve from supplying water to the sprinkler head when there is sufficient moisture in the soil. A timer controller can be employed to provide operating power to the system only at preferred times for watering. The moisture parameters for watering are adjustable. There is a wirelessly connected version eliminating wires between the probes and the valves.

Abstract: A method and associated circuitry for use in an electromagnetic digitizer having a plurality of first grid conductors connected from a first multiplexer controlled by a first enable input to ground and a plurality of second grid conductors connected from a second multiplexer controlled by a second enable input to ground and crossing over the first grid conductors at multiple points for eliminating errors caused by capacitively coupled signals between the grid conductors at the cross over points.

Abstract: A shield for use in eliminating edge effects from an electromagnetic digitizer having an active area of a grid of wires surrounded by a peripheral area of connecting wires containing sensitive interconnecting circuitry. The shield is a pan-shaped shield of a non-ferrous metal sized and shaped to fit over the underside of the grid of wires and surrounding area of connecting wires. The shield comprises a center section disposed over the active area of the grid wires and spaced from the active area so as to provide no interference with the operation thereof and an outer peripheral shielding lip that is disposed in close-spaced, non-contacting relationship to the areas of sensitive interconnecting circuitry contained within the connecting wires. The preferred shield is formed of a single blank of aluminum sheet having peripheral edge portions thereof bent into non-connected, abutting relationship at corners thereof to form the outer peripheral shielding lip.

Abstract: A telephone/facsimile system including a plurality of telephones and a facsimile device connected to a common telephone line wherein incoming calls are automatically switched from the telephone to the facsimile device as appropriate and the use of a common telephone line for the telephone and the facsimile device for both incoming and outgoing calls is transparent to users.

Abstract: A humidifying system for maintaining the moisture content of the paper at a preferred level in an electrostatic plotter. The plotter has a paper supply compartment rotatably holding a horizontal roll of plotting paper where the paper passes from the roll and through the supply compartment to a separate printing compartment. There is a powered piezoelectric humidifier for supplying cool water vapor at an outlet opening thereof. An adjustable humidistat is disposed in the paper supply compartment and operatively connected to turn the humidifier on and off as a function of the humidity in the paper supply compartment. A plastic pipe manifold is horizontally disposed across the inside of the paper supply compartment. The manifold has a closed end and an opposite end connected to the outlet opening of the humidifier. The manifold has a plurality of spaced outlet holes through sidewalls thereof along the length thereof for water vapor introduced into the manifold by the humidifier to emerge therefrom.

Abstract: An improvement to graphics pen plotters including a pen gripping mechanism for gripping a cylindrical bodied pen in a generally vertical orientation for sensing the presence and type of a pen in the gripping mechanism with a single sensor. There is a multi-channel sensor adapted for producing and sensing a plurality, "n+1", of parallel light beams disposed one above the other to produce a binary number at an output thereof indicating the ones of the light beams sensed by the sensor. The sensor is disposed to shine the light beams at a position past which the pen is moved by the gripping mechanism. There is also a cylindrical reflective surface disposed about a portion of the body of the pen so as to be struck by the light beams when the pen is being gripped by the gripping mechanism at the position and reflect the light beams back towards the sensor to be sensed thereby.

Abstract: This invention is a family of simple, inexpensive, and portable electronic devices for business support built around a simple 2-dimensional digitizing device. It includes a transmit-only facsimile transmission device/system, a simple computer-based facsimile system, and a dual-mode (digital or OCR) page reading device. The digitizing device includes a read bar having a linear read head for developing a signal reflecting a one dimensional line of viewing; apparatus for creating relative movement between sheets of material to be digitized and the read bar; and, a detector for developing a signal indicating movement of the sheets one scanned line distance.

Abstract: An adjustable footstrap for attachment to the surface of a riding device such as a sailboard, or the like. There is an inner strap member comprising a pair of centrally overlapping straps having provision for attaching outer ends thereof to the surface of the riding device and provision for adjustably fastening inner ends thereof together. There is also an outer padded sheath for covering the inner strap member between the outer ends. The padded sheath comprises a generally rectangular piece of a fabric-covered foam material having provision on facing opposite edges extending between facing opposite ends for releasably fastening the facing opposite edges together. The padded sheath further has provision for releasably fastening the sheath to the inner strap member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing, holding, and hiding cables associated with electronics devices. The preferred embodiment is an extrusion for application to a surface of an electronics device or incorporation into the framework thereof defining a groove capable of routing, holding, and hiding the electrical cable(s). The extrusion has a cross-section comprising a plurality of sides connected to one another to define a desired shape for the extrusion. A pair of the sides have a generally V-shaped orientation with respect to one another thereby forming a longitudinal slot in the extrusion capable of containing the cable therein. The slot-forming pair of sides each includes opposed portions comprising a plurality of adjacent V-shaped segments thereby forming opposed longitudinal teeth in the sidewalls of the slot capable of releasably gripping a cable disposed in the slot.

Abstract: A patient comfort and convenience device for use in conjunction with a hospital bed having a mattress disposed between a spaced headboard and footboard and a mechanized drive for raising and lowering the mattress. There is a first support structure disposed between the footboard and the mattress, the first support structure including a pair of spaced vertical first members disposed at respective ones of a pair of foot corners of the mattress. There is also a second support structure disposed between the headboard and the mattress, the second support structure including a pair of spaced vertical second members disposed at respective ones of a pair of head corners of the mattress. A pair of rigid side rails are disposed between respective ones of the first and second members along and above upper side edges of the mattress. A fabric sling is disposed between the side rails.

Abstract: A multi-layered, thin-film, digital memory having associative recall. There is a first memory matrix and a second memory matrix.

Abstract: An improvement to position digitizing devices wherein sensed response voltages caused by the interaction of a movable instrument relative to conductors beneath a planar surface are converted to digital form and digitally processed to determine instrument position. An integrating voltage to frequency converter is used to produce a frequency with a correspondence to the voltage applied to it. By counting the frequency for a defined length of time, a resultant count is obtained which also corresponds to the applied voltage. By varying the counting period under microprocessor control, acquisition rate and resolution can be varied over several orders of magnitude without changing circuit components. The digitizer includes conductive elements disposed across the digitizing surface and incorporated into an instrument for producing an analog voltage signal having a DC component related to the position of the instrument on the digitizing surface.

Abstract: An improvement to a communications system such as a satellite communications system, or the like, wherein a plurality of nodes transmit over a common path on a time sharing basis via a central hub. The method and apparatus permits closer spacing of the communications from the nodes on the path and eliminates wasted delay time. The method comprises designating one of the nodes as the reference node and the remaining nodes as slave nodes. A transmission sequence is begun by having the reference node transmit a repeating, pre-established, pseudo-random, digital sequence at a pre-established bit rate. The reference node continues its sequence, but then omits a portion between the start and end of the sequence. A slave node wishing to join the transmission sequence begins the same repeating, pre-established, pseudo-random, digital sequence at approximately the same pre-established bit rate and then starts transmitting an approximation of the portion of the sequence being omitted by the reference node.

Abstract: An electronic pen for a digitizer capable of providing signals to a computer for pen movement in three dimensions relative to a planar tablet. There is a hollow, pen-shaped body member having a writing tip end. A sensing coil is disposed in the body member adjacent the writing tip end and having wires thereof connectable to the computer for use in developing X- and Y-axis positional signals relative to movement of the writing tip end over the surface of the tablet. A pen member is disposed in the body member for longitudinal slidable movement within the body member. The pen member has a writing tip passing out through the body member at the writing tip end and an opposite inner end. Finally, there is a linear position transducer disposed within the body member for producing on output wires therefrom connected to the computer Z-axis positional signals relative to the pressing of the writing tip end against the surface of the tablet.

Abstract: A new design for electrostatic printheads, and the like, which can be formed quickly, easily, inexpensively, and reliably employing wire bonding techniques. The preferred method disclosed is a method for simultaneously making two electrostatic printhead portions each having a row of dot-producing conducting printwire ends at a planar print face. A pair of printed circuit boards containing a plurality of parallel, spaced, flat, conductor strip ends along edges thereof are disposed in a common plane with the conductor strip ends positioned opposite one another in paris. Connecting wires are then wire bonded between the pairs of strip ends. The connecting wires are then embedded in an insulating material which will adhesively bond to the printed circuit boards along the edges thereof and cure into a hard material forming the body of the resultant printhead elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing automatic paper edge finding and sizing in a graphics plotter system having a platen over which paper is moved longitudinally to create one axis, penholding apparatus moved transversely across the platen and the paper to create the other axis, and a controlled raising and lowering mechanism connected to the penholding apparatus for lowering a pen being held therein into contact with, for raising it from contact with the paper, and for providing a relative vertical position value signal. Vertical sensing apparatus is connected to the penholding apparatus for sensing the top surface of the platen. First logic is operably connected to the vertical sensing apparatus and to receive the vertical position value signal from the controlled raising and lowering mechanism for calculating and saving a plurality of values indicating the distance to the platen top surface at a plurality of spaced points across the platen.

Abstract: A digitizer wherein the transduction frequency is controlled (automatically or manually) to minimize the interference effect of sources of external AC fields, such as CRT monitors. The digitizer implements the method of operation comprising the steps of, connecting a source of a frequency higher than the frequency to be employed as the transduction frequency of the digitizer to the first input of a counter; receiving input pulses from the source at the first input of the counter; outputting output pulses which are employed to generate the transduction frequency in the digitizer at an output of the counter; selectively setting an initial count value at a second input of the counter; and, repeatedly counting from the initial count value at the second input to a terminal value, outputting an output pulse upon reaching the terminal value, and resetting to the initial count value after outputting each output pulse.