Abstract: The present invention includes a open-Brayton-cycle automotive power-generation unit adapted to be energized by stored thermal energy. Thermal energy, absorbed from hot thermal-energy-storage material present in a working fluid heating vessel, heats a working fluid that passes through the unit's turbine. The unit also includes a rotary impeller that draws the flow of working-fluid into the unit from the surrounding atmosphere and discharges it into a working-fluid heat regenerator. Within the regenerator, working fluid from the compressor is warmed by thermal energy from hot working-fluid exhausted from the turbine. After passing through the regenerator, working-fluid from the turbine is discharged into the atmosphere. Working-fluid from the compressor flows from the regenerator through the heating vessel into the turbine. An alternator converts energy from the turbine into electricity. The electric energy thus obtained powers a vehicle's electric drive motors.

Abstract: A frequency-locked torsional scanner of the type having a micromachined mirror formed on a surface of a silicon wafer section supported within a larger wafer section by a pair of opposed torsion bars. The principal vibrational frequency of the mirror is selected to be at least 20% higher than other modes of vibration. To prevent breakage, the torsion bars are hardened by conversion of at least a surface layer to silicon carbide or nitride. A pair of scanners with orthogonal torsion bars may be mounted in a vacuum enclosure for two-dimensional scanning at different rates suitable for television display. In alternate embodiments, a detector and a scanner may be built on a plate on the same supported wafer section or two scanners may be independently supported or one scanner and one detector may be independently supported as two plates. The mirror may be driven electrostatically, magnetically, or by both methods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dissipating surcharge waste material clogging manholes includes a sewage surcharge dissipation head. The sewage surcharge dissipation head is connected through a high pressure hose to a source of high pressure water. The sewage surcharge dissipation head is lowered into a clogged manhole, and high pressure water is pumped through the high pressure hose to the sewage surcharge dissipation head. The high pressure water exits the sewage surcharge dissipation head through multiple water jet nozzles positioned around the circumference of the head and set at 35 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the head. The resultant water jet streams cut through, stir and dilute the surcharge clogging the manhole. The sewage surcharge dissipation head includes a means for connecting a pole to control the position and motion of the sewage surcharge dissipation head.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention generally concerns digital computers and, in particular, repeaters or switches (40) for distributed arbitration digital data buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) to which devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connect in parallel. The bus repeater/switch (40) includes a plurality of bus interface cards (48) that are connected to the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto. The bus interface cards (48) connect to a control card (44) which allows signals from one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) to be exchanged with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) also includes selector switch (84 or 88) for choosing which particular one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) exchanges digital data signals with the shared bus (58).

Abstract: A switched-mode power supply for energizing a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp ("CCFL") includes a first semiconductor switch connects in series with a primary winding of a step-up transformer. The primary winding and a secondary winding, having many more turns than the primary winding, are disposed about a transformer core which has a linear magnetic permeability. A series connected second semiconductor switch and capacitor connect in parallel with the transformer's primary winding. A controller circuit transmits signals to turn the switches on and off. The controller circuit turns the first and second semiconductor switches on and off at a frequency that is higher than a resonant frequency of a parallel resonant circuit formed by the primary inductance of the transformer and capacitance of the capacitor. A decoupling capacitor connects in series to a first end of the transformer's secondary winding.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention generally concerns an expandable dental implant for receiving and supporting a dental prosthesis. The expandable dental implant, securable within a bore formed into bone of a patient's jaw, includes an elongated, hollow, tubular barrel having both an attachment end and an insertion end. The barrel has both a threaded interior surface for screwing the implant into the bore, and a threaded exterior surface for receiving a threaded expander screw. The barrel is pierced about its insertion end by a plurality of radial slits spaced circumferentially around the barrel. The interior surface of the barrel at the insertion end is formed with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the interior surface of the barrel at the attachment end.

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches ("NDCs") (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form a NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit ("AVC") from the NDC client site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client site (24) where it may be either read or written by the workstation 42. The NDCs (50) maintain absolute consistency between the source dataset and its projections at all NDC client terminator sites (24, 204B and 206) at which client workstations access the dataset. Channels (116) in each NDC (50) accumulate profiling data from the requests to access the dataset for which they have been claimed.

Abstract: A coding conditions selection apparatus, adapted for inclusion in an MPEG-II encoder chip, and methods for selecting encoding parameters for a macroblock of video data includes an encoder decision block ("EDB") for receiving and concurrently stratifying into a plurality of blocks digital video data associated with a macroblock. Each block may correspond to video data for pels of the macroblock, or a block may correspond to differences produced by subtracting digital video data for pels of a reference frame of video from digital video data for pels of the macroblock. The EDB while evaluating functions, e.g. either a variance or a mean square error, concurrently processes the stratified data for several blocks while avoiding any redundant computations. A plurality of encoding conditions are determined based upon the block function evaluations.

Abstract: A subscriber system (10), operating in combination with other similar subscriber systems, for collectively and swiftly distributing multiple copies of digital data to a large number of other subscriber systems. The subscriber system (10) receives digital data and stores it on a storage device (38). An autonomous digital data communication subsystem (42) then obtains a copy of the digital data directly from the storage device (30) and transmits that data to another subscriber system. The autonomous digital data communication subsystem (42) includes transceivers (72, 82, 102 or 104) for exchanging digital data with ISDN communication channels (46, 44a, 44b or 44c). The transceivers (72, 82, 102 or 104) receive the digital data from a random access memory ("RAM") (56) included in the autonomous digital data communication subsystem (42). A SCSI controller (52) exchanges the digital data between the RAM (56) and the storage device (38) of the subscriber system (10).

Abstract: An assembly and delivery circuit and method of operation therefor which delivers a stream of pixel formatted digital video data as words to an internal bus of a host personal computer. The host personal computer receives and processes the words assembled and delivered by this circuit to present a video image on its display screen. The assembly and delivery circuit operates in conjunction with the host computer's internal bus at a sufficient speed to permit a host personal computer having a sufficient operating speed to display either black and white images, or color television images at a real-time rate of thirty frames per second.

Abstract: Using the present cryptographic key exchange protocol, a first of two cryptographic units selects quantities "A" and "B." That same unit then applies a mathematical function ".PHI..sub.1 " to A and B to compute a third quantity "C.". A and B and the function .PHI..sub.1 posses the property that knowing A or B, and C, and the function .PHI..sub.1, it is mathematically impossible to compute the unknown quantity B or A. The first unit then transmits A together C to the second unit while retaining B. The second unit selects a fourth quantity "D" and then applies a second mathematical function .PHI..sub.2 to A and D to compute a quantity "E" which the second unit transmits to the first unit while retaining D. The quantities A and D and the function .PHI..sub.2 must posses the property that knowing D and E, and the function .PHI..sub.2, it is mathematically impossible to compute the unknown quantity D. Then the second unit applies a third mathematical function ".PSI..sub.2 " to D and C to compute the secure key "K.

Abstract: If motion occurs in an area viewed by a lens (14) of a video camera (12), a video security monitoring system (10) establishes a communication link with a video monitoring facility and begins transmitting compressed video images of the area. The system (10) is fabricated from CMOS integrated circuits, and operates at a reduced clock frequency while motion is not detected. Reducing the clock frequency lowers the required power thus permitting operation of the system (10) on energy supplied by an ISDN basic access communication channel. If motion occurs, a digital video image compression subsystem (16) begins producing low quality compressed video data for transmission to the monitoring facility. If motion occurs in the central region of the area viewed by the lens (14), then the subsystem (16) produces a single high quality compressed video image. Commands transmitted from the monitoring facility to the video security monitoring system (10) may control its entire operation.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention generally concerns systems for audiovisual teleservices using digital telecommunication services such as Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN") communications. In the preferred embodiment, an interface subsystem (100) includes an ISDN interface circuit (130) for concurrently exchanging audiovisual information with an ISDN access. The interface subsystem (100) also includes a host computer interface circuit (144)for exchanging video, audio, high-speed, a low-speed data with a host digital computer. A computer program executed by a digital signal processing circuit (122) implements CCITT's H.221 and H.242 Recommendations for audiovisual teleservices, and provides a computer program at the application layer (44) of the OSI model that is executed by the host digital computer with an interface by which it can exchange video, audio, high-speed, and low-speed data with another compatible terminal using digital telecommunications.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying on a monitor screen of a computer either a color television picture or a black and white television picture at a frame repetition rate sufficient to show smooth motion in the displayed television picture. The apparatus digitizes an analog television signal to assemble an entire frame of digital video words in a video frame memory. After assembling the frame of digital video words, the apparatus communicates that fact to the computer, and then, responsive to a signal from the computer, transfers the entire frame of the digital video words from the video frame memory to the computer over the computer's processing bus.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention generally concerns environmental recording apparatuses for photographing events occurring during a seismic event. The environmental recording apparatus includes a base securely fastened to a mounting surface. Disposed on the base is a seismic isolation structure. Secured on the seismic isolation structure is a camera mount which receives a camera. A motion sensing switch secured to the mounting surface activates the camera in response to a seismic acceleration which exceeds a preestablished threshold is secured to the base. An electrical signal cable connects the motion sensing switch to the camera to couple an electrical signal from the motion sensing switch to a camera during a seismic event. An inner and outer protective housings enclose the camera.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention generally concerns an expandable dental implant for receiving and supporting a dental prosthesis. The expandable dental implant, securable within a bore formed into bone of a patient's jaw, includes an elongated, hollow, tubular barrel having both an attachment end and an insertion end. The barrel has both a threaded interior surface for screwing the implant into the bore, and a threaded exterior surface for receiving a threaded expander screw. The barrel is pierced about its insertion end by a plurality of radial slits spaced circumferentially around the barrel. The interior surface of the barrel at the insertion end is formed with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the interior surface of the barrel at the attachment end.

Abstract: The invention is an adaptor which permits using a digital telephone device with an incompatible telephone network access. In its most preferred embodiment, the present invention is an adaptor which permits an ISDN telephone device to exchange digital data with two Switched-56 Access. An ISDN Basic Rate Access interface circuit interfaces with the ISDN telephone device, while two Switched-56 Access interface circuit interfaces with two Switched-56 Access. The adaptor also includes a clock recovery circuit for synchronizing digital data transfers occurring between the ISDN Basic Rate Access interface circuit and the ISDN telephone device with the digital data transfers occurring between the Switched-56 Access interface circuit and the Switched-56 Access.

Abstract: This invention generally concerns therapeutic appliances for alleviating pain by applying a moderate amount of pressure to specific locations on an individual's hand. The present invention includes a glove having a supple, fitted covering that envelopes at least a portion of a human hand. The glove's covering has an inner surface that is juxtaposed with and contacts the skin of the hand, and to which one or more pressure pads are secured. The appliance's covering urges each pressure pad into intimate contact with the skin of the hand at specific locations thereon for applying a moderate amount of pressure thereto.

Abstract: A nail clippings catcher formed from a pre-cut sheet of material having a hole punched through it. This pre-cut sheet preferably extends for some distance on either side of the hole along a fold-line passing through the hole. Folding this pre-cut sheet of material along a fold-line juxtaposes a surface of the sheet with itself. The juxtaposed surface of the sheet is then fastened together while a pocket for receiving nail clippings is concurrently established within the folded sheet. The nail clippings catcher is inserted between the jaws of a conventional nail clipper with the fold-line disposed adjacent to the jaws' cutting edges with the aperture formed through the sheet providing a channel through the folded sheet for the nail clipper's rivet, and an opening for nail clippings to enter and exit the pocket.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention generally concerns electroerosively drilling small diameter holes, e.g. holes 6.0 mm in diameter and smaller. Such a small hole drilling apparatus includes a worktable for receiving a workpiece, together with a chuck and an electrode guide which receives and retains an elongated and thin tubular electrode. The drilling apparatus also includes a fluid supply and pump which delivers a first flow of machining fluid to an inner bore of the tubular electrode at a pressure of at least 20 kg/cm.sup.2. The drilling apparatus also includes a power supply for applying a series of electrical machining pulses between the tubular electrode and the workpiece. As material is removed from the workpiece, an electrode feed mechanism included in the drilling apparatus advances the tubular electrode into the workpiece to maintain the spacing between the tubular electrode and the workpiece.