Abstract: A scoop for filling bags has a channel shaped member open at its forward and rear ends with an open top extending through forward and rear portions between the forward and rear ends. The forward portion has a flat bottom with two sides tapering inward from the front to the rear portion. The rear portion transitions from the flat bottom and the two sides of the forward portion to an open-top arcuate cross-section at the rear end suitable for being inserted into an open end of a bag. Forward and rear handles extend across the open top at the respective forward and rear portions with ends fastened to the two sides.

Abstract: A semiconductor light source with optical feedback includes a vertical member extending upward from an upper horizontal surface of a header parallel to a vertical beam projected from a semiconductor light-emitting element mounted on the horizontal surface of the header wherein the vertical member supports a light-sensing element for receiving light reflected transversely from the vertical beam by a beam splitter supported by the vertical member. The vertical beam passing through the beam splitter passes through a window or filter in a cap mounted on the header and covering the light-emitting element, the light-sensing element, the beam splitter, and the vertical member. Substantially all of the transversely reflected light impinges on the light-sensing element and can be used to control the power to the light-emitting element. A simple lens can by used to collimate the beam. Interior portions of the unit are formed from light absorbing materials such as black ceramic, black plastic, anodized aluminum, etc.

Abstract: In a data checking system and method for an educational management system, lists of various possible areas for data entries are displayed for a user to select the areas for which data entry is necessary. Upon request, the user can request a check of a data base of the system to determine if data has been entered for selected areas.

Abstract: A wireless microphone is provided with a recharging circuit which determines if a battery in the microphone is a rechargeable type and can be safely recharged. The recharging circuitry in the microphone, which could also be included in other handheld wireless devices, determines if a battery is in a charged state where it is difficult to distinguish rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. If so the battery is discharged until the battery reaches a charged state where non-rechargeable batteries can be readily distinguished from rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: An emulation circuit includes a digital signal processor with a digital filter controlled by frequency response conversion parameters for converting a standard microphone signal into a signal emulating the frequency response of one of a plurality of microphones selected by a selector connected to the digital signal processor. Optionally the conversion parameters can also include phase response conversion parameters. The emulation circuit can be included in a receiver for a wireless microphone or in a microphone itself.

Abstract: A particle momentum detector has a massive support with a flat surface on which is mounted a piezoelectric member supporting a flat low mass plate resistant to deformation by impinging particles. The low mass plate has a rigidity suppressing multiple mode vibration of the plate. The piezoelectric member generates a damped oscillating electrical signal when a particle impinges upon the plate. A circuit integrates a portion, such as the first half cycle, of the damped oscillating electrical signal to determine momentum of the particle.

Abstract: A holder for a wireless microphone includes a pair of terminals electrically connected to a power supply and mounted in a recess of a holder member for engaging corresponding terminals on an elongated handle body of the wireless microphone. In one embodiment, the holder includes an axially offset opening, a rib, a groove or other orienting provision form mating with a corresponding axially offset protrusion, a groove, a rib or other mating orienting provision on the microphone handle body to ensure engagement of the microphone terminals with the holder terminals. In another embodiment, first terminals of the microphone and holder terminals are axially centered and second terminals of the microphone and holder terminals are offset from the axis with one of the second terminals being annular.

Abstract: A computer diary archives a diary entry by creating, time stamping, authenticating and permanently storing a reference data block along with each diary entry. An archived diary entry can only be modified by placing original text within compartment codes, such as cross-out or tear-out codes, and by placing inserted text within insertion codes so that the original diary entry can be recreated from the modified diary entry. The reference data block, which can be the original diary entry, a canonical version of the original diary entry, or a one way fixed length encryption (hash) of the original diary entry, cannot be modified and is used to authenticate the original diary entry. The diary program also monitors text entry for aliases and relative date phrases, and upon detection, prompts the user for entry or enters a specific identifier for each detected alias in an alias compartment or an absolute date for each relative date phrase in an implied date compartment in the diary entry.

Abstract: In a scale building system and method for an educational management system, education goals are added to lists of different knowledge areas for enabling a teacher or administrator to tailor the assessment of student achievement. As each goal is added, the system and method computes a difficulty factor for use in weighting the achievement assessment. Additionally scales can be translated into different languages.

Abstract: A computer diary archives a diary entry by creating, time stamping, authenticating and permanently storing a reference data block along with each diary entry. An archived diary entry can only be modified by placing original text within compartment codes, such as cross-out or tear-out codes, and by placing inserted text within insertion codes so that the original diary entry can be recreated from the modified diary entry. The reference data block, which can be the original diary entry, a canonical version of the original diary entry, or a one way fixed length encryption (hash) of the original diary entry, cannot be modified and is used to authenticate the original diary entry. The diary program also monitors text entry for aliases and relative date phrases, and upon detection, prompts the user for entry or enters a specific identifier for each detected alias in an alias compartment or an absolute date for each relative date phrase in an implied date compartment in the diary entry.

Abstract: An education management system designed primarily for preschool and beginning elementary grade levels employs learning capabilities which have assigned difficulty and discrimination factors. The learning capabilities for each developmental or grade level are classified into developmental areas which are further broken down into knowledge areas. Those learning capabilities which are indicated as learned for each child are used to assess child educational development, child developmental scores and to indicate readiness level for learning higher difficulty learning capabilities. In the absence of direct observation, work sample, or parent information regarding achievement of individual learning capabilities, an estimation of general overall capability can be used to compute indications of learned capabilities in each developmental area.

Abstract: A seller's computer system, accessible by a customer's computer over the internet for ordering products, includes a product information unit, a purchase transaction information entry and verification unit; a transaction information storage unit, a transaction code generator, a purchase order generator, a transaction code interpreter and payment processor, and a product purchase control unit. The product information is accessed by the customer's computer to enable the customer to view the product information. Upon receipt of a purchase request from the customer, the seller's computer requests and receives transaction information including information of the product or products to be purchased, customer information, and payment information.

Abstract: A machine readable bar code is formed from a bar code datum by generating a first bar code image section encoding the bar code datum by a horizontal arrangement of first vertical bar sections separated by first vertical space sections wherein the first vertical bar sections have first widths selected to produce a first printed bar code section of correct ratios of space width to bar width for a first type of printer; and generating a second bar code image section encoding the bar code datum by a horizontal arrangement of second vertical bar sections separated by second vertical space sections wherein the second vertical bar sections have second widths larger than the first widths and selected to produce a second printed bar code image section of correct ratio of space width to bar width for a second type of printer. A document containing a print of this dual bar code is then readable by a conventional bar code scanner irrespective of the type of printer used to print the document.

Abstract: A musical instrument includes a two-dimension array of note producing elements wherein the elements along one dimension of the array have three-quarter steps or increasing fundamental frequencies F.sub.n according to the equationF.sub.n =F.sub.0 *2.sup.n/8wherein F.sub.0 is the fundamental frequency of the first note producing element in the one dimension and n is the number of the note producing element in the one direction from the first note producing element. The note producing elements along a second dimension of the array have fundamental frequencies which differ by frequency differences (such as perfect fourth intervals) greater than the frequency differences between adjacent note producing elements along the one dimension of the array.

Abstract: The magnitude of analog audio input signal to an analog to digital converter in a digital audio processing system is increased or decreased in response to the magnitude of a sample of the digitized audio signal being found below or above, respectively, an acceptable range of magnitudes of the analog audio input signal. The magnitude of an audio output signal is correspondingly decreased or increased, after a delay equal to the processing delay. Additionally the increase of the magnitude of the audio input signal is delayed by a predetermined period, e.g., five to thirty seconds, during which the magnitude of the audio input signal remains below the acceptable input magnitude range.

Abstract: A suspended particle concentration monitor includes near and far detector circuits with near and far elements sensing scattered visible or near infrared radiation projected into a fluid volume in which particle concentration is determined. The spacing and characteristics of the light sensitive elements and the gains of the near and far detector circuits are selected to produce generally equal peak signals at separate particle concentrations. A computer contains three tables each containing particle concentrations in respective portions of the particle concentration range being monitored. Based upon analysis of the near and far detector signals, one of the tables is selected and used to find the particle concentration corresponding to one of the near and far detector signals.

Abstract: A retainer for spectacles has slots formed horizontally from front edges in flat plastic depending rear ends or tips of temples hinged on opposite sides of a double eyeglass frame for receiving and retaining opposite end portions of an elastic band extending around the backside of the user's head to retain the spectacles on the user's head. The slots have forward portions with reduced width relative to thickness of the elastic bands and the width of rear portions of the slots so as to retain the elastic bands within the slots. The rear portions of the slots are beveled so as to reduce wear on the elastic band as well as to enhance the retaining of the band within the rear portions of the slots as well as rendering the band less visible.

Abstract: A metal musical string having a plastic or polymer material covering an end of the string opposite to a ball end of the string is contained in a flexible enclosure or pouch. In a coiled configuration, the ends of the string are twisted around convolutions of the coil to maintain the coil configuration. Different colors of polymer material cover ends of respective different music strings to identify the strings contained in the single pouch. The polymer material is either thin to allow insertion through holes or slots of musical instruments or removable. The flexible enclosure is a sealed gas impervious pouch filled with a non-corrosive gas such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, helium, etc.

Abstract: A chassis for an automobile has inner and outer frames pivotally connected together intermediate front and rear ends of the frames. The inner frame is connected directly to a rear end without resilient suspension and supports a motor driving a differential and rear wheels in the rear end. The outer frame supports a car body and a driver seat. Front steering wheels are supported by respective resilient suspensions on the outer frame. Rear resilient suspensions include rocker arms and Watts links connecting the inner and outer frames spaced from the intermediate pivot for resiliently controlling pivotal motion of the outer frame relative to the inner frame. The rear suspensions are positioned in front of the pivot between inner and outer chassis frames and in front of the motor.

Abstract: An automatic equalizer sequentially adds subdued narrow band audio reference signals of different frequencies to an audio program signal being broadcast, and measures the magnitude of each successive broadcast reference signal to determine a measured frequency response of an audio amplification system and its environment. The gains, or attenuations, of various frequency bands in the broadcast signal are adjusted as needed to produce a desired frequency response. In one embodiment the added reference signals are masked by adding the reference signals only when the test frequency is adjacent to a relatively large magnitude frequency component of the program signal. Additional masking is performed by the reference signal being relative quiet and of a short duration such as two to twenty cycles. A narrow band notch filter operates in synchronism with the reference signal adder to eliminate any program signal component at the frequency of each reference signal being added.