Abstract: A cathodic protection system employs a photovoltaic panel for generating current through the metallic body to be protected from corrosion and a ground bed in response to sunlight. A battery is also charged by the photovoltaic panel during daytime, and then supplies current at a reduced level through the metallic body and ground bed during nighttime. A solid state voltage regulator limits the maximum charging voltage across the battery to a predetermined value required to fully charge the battery. A second photovoltaic panel can be included for additional current capacity. In an alternative embodiment, the voltage regulator monitors the battery voltage and triggers a solid state relay to shunt excess current from the photovoltaic panel when the battery voltage exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A telecommunication system provides voice and data communications over a conventional telephone line that can be dynamically switched from voice mode to data mode during a single conversation. Each station includes a telephone for voice communications and bypass relay means for selectively connecting the telephone to the telephone line in voice mode and disconnecting the telephone while operating in data mode. Prior to transmitting data, the originating station first transmits a start signal over the telephone line that includes a rate signal indicating one of the several possible data transmission rates. If a station detects a start signal transmitted by a remote station, a microcontroller directs the bypass relay means and modem to automatically switch from voice mode to data mode in preparation for receiving data from the originating station.

Abstract: After formation of the storage poly in a stacked capacitor DRAM, the oxide 1 layer is partially etched to leave a thick oxide deposition in the area of the future bit line contact, upon which the cell poly is deposited, followed by oxide 2 and then a poly or nitride layer. A mask and etch process forms the bit line contact region through the cell poly, then a thin oxide is deposited and etched along with the oxide 1 to form cell poly spacers that don't close off the active area. The poly or nitride on top of the oxide 2 forms a hard mask that allows the spacers to travel down the side walls of the contact region creating a contact region that is wider at the top than bottom, facilitating metalization.

Abstract: An integrated circuit memory array has a data input/output, a Read/Write* signal input, a row decoder, and a column decoder. An input circuit inputs a beginning and ending address to an on-chip memory controller which then sequentially addresses the beginning address, all the cells between the beginning address and the ending address, and the ending address, causing the array to sequentially output or input data from the sequence of cells, depending on the state of the Read/Write* signal.

Abstract: A combination air freshener and picture frame includes a front frame to receive a picture and a removable back insert that can be attached to the frame to retain the picture against the front face of the picture frame. The front frame has a central opening for viewing the picture in the frame. An enclosure adjacent to the rear portion of the frame contains an air freshener material. The enclosure has openings to allow diffusion of the air freshener scent into the ambient atmosphere. A removable cap is attached to cover the openings in the enclosure. A number of props are pivotally connected to the back side of the rear portion of the frame and to the removable cap for selectively supporting the frame in any of a number of possible orientations.

Abstract: A solute can be separated from a solute/solvent solution by dissolving a gas-forming material into said solution and then adjusting the temperature, pressure and solute concentration of the resulting solution such that a Joule-Thompson free expansion of the gas-forming material released from the solution will produce a three-phase separation of the components of said solution.

Abstract: A craft art form product, system and method including patterns, paint, and applicators enables craft paint to form three-dimensional color bead matrix patterns having high degree of visual resolution and color saturation. Precisely located and closely spaced geometric shapes associated with a set of color symbols are used to form matrix designs in patterns. Each symbol represents an artistic expression which is assigned to a particular color. Each color symbol has a color darkness value which may also correspond to the darkness value of the assigned color. The craft paint material has the characteristics of forming a discrete substantially uniform and homogeneous, three-dimensional bead to overlay the color symbol associated with each geometric shape. The craft paint material can form discrete beads placed closely together without running together, yet retain sufficient fluidity to settle into smooth, substantially uniform beads. A fine tip applicator applies the craft paint material to each geometric shape.

Abstract: Oil spills on natural bodies of water can be cleaned up through the use of flocculation/microorganism compositions including amine-substituted clay flocculation agents and microorganisms including bacillus species, pseudomonas species, azobacter species and xanthomonas species.

Abstract: For sealing a fine point applicator tip of a craft paint applicator with a cap without damage to the dispensing end of the applicator tip. The cap includes an abutment shoulder for engaging a corresponding abutment shoulder on the applicator tip to form a first seal. A flexible shoulder is formed in the interior cavity of the cap spaced from the cap abutment shoulder. The interior cavity terminates in an end wall portion spaced from the flexible shoulder. The cap is threaded onto the applicator causing the dispensing end of the applicator tip to engage the cap end wall portion. The flexible shoulder of the interior cavity of the cap resiliently yields as the dispensing end is forced against the cap end wall portion during the continued rotation of the cap until the applicator abutment shoulder engages the abutment shoulder in the cap. The cap thus seals the applicator tip in at least two positions.

Abstract: A foldable portable chair provides users with two side-by-side seats. The supporting framework of the chair includes four support members. The first and second support members are hingeably attached to each other at their upper ends to forman inverted V-shape. The third and fourth support members are hingeably attached to each other at their lower ends to form a V-shape. The first and third support members and the second and fourth support members are then pivotally attached to each other so as to fold in a scissors fashion. A first seat member extends between the first support member and the third support member. A second seat member extends between the second support member and the fourth support member. In the preferred embodiment, the support members are U-shaped, and a storage compartment is suspended between the two seat members.

Abstract: A system for regulating the addition of lime to reduce water alkalinity includes two sensors for measuring the conductivity of the water prior to and after addition of lime, a pump for adding lime to the water, and a controller for regulating the pump. The controller periodically samples the conductivities measured by both sensors and computes the ratio of the conductivities for each sample as well as the slope of the ratio between samples. The controller turns the pump off when the conductivity ratio exceeds a predetermined maximum set point and the slope is positive, and turns the pump on when the conductivity ratio falls below a predetermined minimum set point and the slope is negative.

Abstract: A protective device for covering a barb in a strand of barbed wire is disclosed. The barb has a plurality of outwardly extending points disposed around the strand with the strand extending axially outwardly from opposing sides of the barb.In a first embodiment, the protective covering device of the present invention has an upper shell formed in a substantial hemisphere and a lower shell formed in a substantial hemisphere. A color agent may be optionally added to the upper and lower shells in order to provide high visibility when attached over the barb. A living hinge connects the upper and lower shells in a pivoting relationship so that the upper shell can pivot towards to lower shell. Male and female locking elements are provided on the upper and lower shells for locking the two hemispheres together over the barb. When locked, the barb is located in a formed hollow interior of the two shells and is fully protected from causing damage to animals and the like.

Abstract: A deployable satellite antenna system permits an antenna with elevation and azimuth control to be mounted to the roof of a vehicle. The elevation control assembly for the antenna system has a base with two parallel tracks and a slider that moves along these tracks. The antenna is connected to a support frame pivotally attached to the slider. Pivot arms are pivotally attached between the reflector and the base adjacent to the parallel tracks. The elevational position of the antenna is adjusted by a motor that controls the position of the slider along the parallel tracks between a stowed position in which the antenna is stowed facing the vehicle and a deployed position in which the antenna is rotated to a maximum elevational angle. The azimuth of the antenna is controlled by a rotating assembly mounted to the roof of the vehicle beneath the base of the elevation control assembly.

Abstract: Water contamination is purged from molecular sieve material used in oxygen concentrators by heating the molecular sieve material to a temperature in the range of approximately 450.degree. to 950.degree. F., and subjecting the molecular sieve material to a stream of dry sweep gas having a dew point in the range of approximately -80.degree. to -100.degree. F. In the preferred embodiment, the molecular sieve material is contained in a vessel and heated by means of a number of heating elements. In addition, a flow of dry sweep gas is produced by at least two drying chambers containing a desiccating material. A first valve assembly alternately cycles the sweep gas through the first drying chamber and then through said second drying chamber.

Abstract: A tensioning and support system for a sports net assembly includes two standards spaced a predetermined distance apart and a net suspended between the standards with a net rope extending along its upper edge. A number of guy ropes support each standard. At one end of the assembly, the net rope can slide relative to the standard, but includes a sliding locking mechanism for adjustably fixing the position of the standard relative to the net rope. The desired degree of tension is first placed on the top net rope. The guy rope is temporarily attached to the top net rope to maintain tension on the net rope while the sliding locking mechanism is moved along the top rope to fix the position of the standard relative to the net rope. Finally, the guy rope is detached from the top net rope and secured to the standard to complete installation.

Abstract: A phase locked loop including a switch between a phase detector output and a VCO input to open the PLL during a frequency change is provided. While the PLL is open, an analog error correction signal is generated by sampling any residual error coming from the phase detector, and generating the analog error correction signal to counter the residual error. Once analog error correction signal is available, the switch is closed and the error correction signal is added to the phase detector output and the PLL is allowed to settle to an optimized frequency.

Abstract: A DRAM or VRAM integrated circuit memory of the divided bit line design includes a bit line pair extending from a column decoder to a SAM. An N-sense amplifier divides the bit line pair into two pairs of bit halves. The N-sense amplifier is connected to each of the bit line halves through an isolation transistor. A P-sense amplifier is connected across each pair of the bit line halves. Since a P-sense amplifier is associated with each pair of bit line halves, the P-sense amplifier never has to pull through isolation transistors, and thus the isolation transistors can be high threshold transistors, eliminating the natural threshold mask step in fabrication. The two P-sense amplifiers separate the bit line voltages faster, thereby decreasing crossing current and saving power, and pull the bit lines to full high voltage levels.

Abstract: A gas analysis device (10) for the remote detecting, measuring and recording of NO.sub.x, CO, CO.sub.2, HC and H.sub.2 O levels from the exhaust (30) of moving motor vehicles (28) utilizes a source (11) of collimated infrared and ultraviolet radiation (15) and includes a detector unit (16) positioned on the opposite side of the roadway for receiving and measuring the infrared and ultraviolet radiation from the source (11) tranmitted through the vehicle exhaust. The detector unit splits the combined infrared and ultraviolet radiation into separate infrared and ultraviolet beams (42) and (40). An ultraviolet sensor (44) receives the separate ultraviolet beam and generates a signal indicative of NO.sub.x. A rotating reflector (27) time-multiplexes the infrared beam to a plurality of infrared sensors that generate electrical signals indicative of, for example, CO, CO.sub.2, HC and H.sub.2 O in the vehicle exhaust. A computer (17) then computes the relative concentrations of CO, CO.sub.2, HC, NO.sub.x, and H.sub.