Abstract: A system and method for controlling toy vehicles has a plurality of pads coupled to a central station. Switches in the pads may be closed to select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles forwardly, rearwardly, to the left and to the right and moving upwardly and downwardly a receptacle or bin for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). The pads may be set in a mode to allow sharing of a vehicle by more than one pad. The pads are connected by wires to the central station, and may be interrogated selectively, sequentially or simultaneously by the central station. The central station forms packets of signals representative of the switch closures of the interrogated pads, and transmits the packets over a modulated carrier frequency to receivers in the vehicles. Each of the packets includes a binary signal addressing the vehicle selected by the pad whose switch closures are represented by the packet of data.

Abstract: First (embedded) and second (non-embedded) processors are energized by an energy source in a hand-held device. The second processor performs functions requiring more power than those performed by the first processor. The second processor is normally asleep and is awakened by the first processor and is empowered, when awakened, to perform functions. Only the portions of the second processor required to perform these functions are activated. Protocols for functions to be performed by the second processor are provided initially to the second processor and are processed in the second processor. They are then transferred to the first processor for storage. When the second processor is activated to perform functions represented by a protocol, the protocol is transferred to the second processor and the functions are performed by the second processor.

Abstract: Data at a transmitter is modulated, in accordance with instructions from a receiver, to provide M different modulations in successive sequences. N spreading codes are also provided in successive sequences at the transmitter, in accordance with instructions from the receiver, alternately with the M data modulations. The alternate sequences of the M data modulations and the N spreading codes are paired and individual ones of the M data modulations and the N spreading codes in the paired sequences are combined (e.g. multiplied). The paired combinations of the individual ones of the M data modulations and the N spreading codes are transmitted to the receiver, which uses correlation or matched filter techniques to recover each combination of the individual one of the data modulations and the individual one of the spreading codes. A single spreading code may be used instead of the N spreading codes.

Abstract: A propulsion member (e.g. a bat) has an external switch and an internally disposed transistor which transmits signals when the switch is manually closed. A receiver in a tee mechanism receives the signals and causes a tee in the mechanism to move upwardly from a rest position to an operative position. As the tee moves upwardly to the operative position, an element (e.g. a wiffle ball) moves on a ramp to a supportive position at the top of the tee. When the tee is in the operative position, a player holding the propulsion member swings the member against the ball. This is helpful to young children (e.g. eight (8) years old or younger) in learning how to hit a baseball.

Abstract: A hollow rotatable member preferably made from a clear plastic material and a hollow cover are attached to each other in a spinning top. A ring is disposed within the top on the cover at a position of the top's substantially maximum diameter to provide stability and inertia to the top during the top's rotation, thereby significantly increasing the top's spinning time. A cap fits tightly on the upper portion of the rotatable member. A strap having teeth defining a rack gear extends through an aperture in the cap and engages a pinion gear in the aperture. When the strap is pulled from the aperture, the pinion gear rotates and causes the top to spin. Because of the tight fit between the top and the cap, the top can be thrown outwardly and downwardly toward a support surface and can be spinning as it reaches the support surface.

Abstract: Each of first vehicles has an individual address dependent upon an insertion of a selective one of different keys into a socket in the vehicle. Each vehicle is movable in any desired direction on a first support structure formed by intercoupling male detents on first beams and female detents on other beams and on blocks. The first support structure may be, but does not have to be, intercoupled with a second support structure. The second structure may define a track on which an additional vehicle (e.g., a monorail) is movable in first and second opposite directions. Each of a plurality of manually operated pads generates signals for addressing any unaddressed vehicle and for providing movements of, and the performance of functions in, the vehicle when addressed. Each pad communicates the pad-generated signals to a connected central station. The central station communicates these signals by wireless to the vehicles.

Abstract: Switches in pads may be closed to select toy vehicles and operate motors in the vehicles for moving (a) the vehicles in any direction and (b) a bin holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). A central station interrogates the pads, forms packets of signals representative of the switch closures in the interrogated pads and transmits the signal packets to the vehicles. Each packet includes binary signals for addressing the vehicle selected by the pad providing the packet. When the pads are interrogated by the central station, the signals from the pads are routed to an accessory coupled to a smart port in the central station. When the accessory is smart, the accessory recodes the signals and sends the recoded signals to the central station for transmission to the vehicles. When the accessory is dumb, it passes the signals from the central station to the vehicle without recoding the signals.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment, first and second platforms are respectively provided for supporting a user's arms and knees. Rollers on the bottom surface of at least one of the units facilitate relative movements between the units. A detent may extend from the unit receiving the user's legs to retain the user's calves or ankles on the unit. An elastic cord separable from at least one of the units may extend between the units to provide for a controlled relative movement between the units and to facilitate a collapse of the unit into suitcase size. In another preferred embodiment, a pair of units having straps for grasping by the units hands are provided, one for each of the user's arms. Each unit is rotatable and/or movable linearly on a support surface in any direction independently of the other.

Abstract: Articles move on a conveyor mechanism in a first direction past a radiation source for an irradiation of the articles (by e.g., an electron beam, x-rays or gamma rays) by radiation moving in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the fires direction. The distance between the radiation source and the articles on the conveyor mechanism may be adjusted to provide for the irradiation of each position in the articles and to minimize the amount of the radiation which does not pass into the articles.

Abstract: An electrical field between a positive anode and a negative target in a cavity and a magnetic field in the cavity cause electrons from the target to ionize neutral gas (e.g. argon) atoms in the cavity. The ions cause the target to release sputtered atoms (e.g. aluminum) for deposition on a substrate. A shield between the target and the substrate inhibits charged particle movement to the substrate. The anode potential may be positive, and the shield and the magnetic members may be grounded, to obtain electron movement to the anode, thereby inhibiting the heating of the shield and the magnetic members by electron impingement. The anode may be water cooled. The magnitude of the positive anode voltage relative to the target voltage provides selectively for (a) a uniform thickness of sputtered atoms on the walls of a groove in the substrate or (b) a filling of the groove by the sputtered atoms and a uniform thickness of deposition on the substrate surface including the filled groove.

Abstract: A document is processed by a web server at a web site to determine from a customer whether the customer wishes to facsimile the document to a recipient for free or for a fee. If the customer indicates the customer's desire to facsimile the document for free, a message, preferably an advertisement, is added by the web server to the facsimile document before the document is facsimiled to the recipient. Preferably the advertisement is disposed by the web server in the vertical blank spaces at the opposite sides of the document. Before the document is sent, the web server determines from the customer through the Internet system whether the customer is a first time user at the web site and, if so, the web server obtains background information through the Internet system concerning the customer.

Abstract: A first support structure disposes articles relative to a radiation beam, preferably x-rays, to obtain an irradiation of the articles. A second support structure disposes articles relative to the beam and to the articles on the first structure to obtain an irradiation of the articles by radiation passing from the accelerator through the articles on the first structure. A mechanism transfers the particles on the first structure to the second structure, after the irradiation of the articles on the first structure, to obtain the irradiation of the articles on the second structure. Each of the first and second structures may provide for an irradiation of articles initially through first sides of the articles and subsequently through second sides of the articles opposite to first sides. The irradiation of the first sides of the articles on the first and second support structures are preferably synchronous from a time standpoint as are the irradiation of the second sides of the articles on the structures.

Abstract: A transducer member is made from a piezoelectric material (e.g. barium titanium) having a looped configuration and a gap in the loop and having properties of vibrating upon the introduction of an electrical voltage to the transducer member. A support member made from steel or aluminum and having a looped configuration and enveloping, and attached to, the transducer member has a gap aligned with the transducer member tap and has properties of vibrating with the transducer member. The transducer member may have a uniform thickness around its periphery or a progressively increasing thickness with progressive distances from the gap. The transducer has a high mechanical Q (e.g. 8-12) and a particular resonant frequency when disposed in air or in a vacuum. When the transducer is disposed below the earth's surface, its resonant frequency may vary because of variations in the earth's characteristics at the different positions.

Abstract: A foot rest made from a suitable material (e.g. a polyolefin) may have, in cross section, a tear drop configuration defined by a progressively increasing width or may have a cylindrical shape in cross section. An aperture is provided through the foot rest and a hollow rod is extended through the aperture. In one embodiment, a stretchable member made from a suitable material such as a latex extends through the hollow rod closed loop. The user disposes the stretchable member around his thighs and feet and then reclines on a floor with the user's back on the floor. The user then rests his feet on the floor against the foot rest while reclining. The user then alternately arches the user's back upwardly to stretch the stretchable member and collapses the user's back against the floor to release such stretching.

Abstract: A transducer provides (a) increased magnitudes of vibrations without cracking and (b) increased power to the transducer, in response to alternating voltages, for producing transducer vibrations with increased magnitudes. A polycrystalline ceramic (e.g. polycrystalline lead titanate or polycrystalline lead zirconate) has a looped configuration with a gap and has properties of vibrating upon an introduction of an alternating voltage, preferably rich in harmonies, to the ceramic. The ceramic is cryogenically treated as by initially reducing its temperature to approximately −100° C., then disposing the ceramic in liquid nitrogen and thereafter gradually increasing its temperature to approximately room temperature. This increases the dielectric strength of the ceramic by prestressing the ceramic, thereby providing for the ceramic to receive increased voltages without cracking. An alternating voltage rich in harmonics (e.g. square wave voltage) may be applied to the ceramic.

Abstract: A first robotic assembly transfers articles from carriers on a transport mechanism at a loading area to a first load conveyor. The conveyor transfers the articles to a process conveyor which moves the articles through a target region at a substantially constant speed. The process conveyor then transfers the articles to a second load conveyor. A second robotic assembly then transfers the articles to article carriers on the transport mechanism at an unloading area. The load and process conveyors may be divided into two tracks. First and second radiation sources respectively disposed at first and second gaps in the process conveyor in the target region respectively irradiate the articles in both tracks in opposite directions from positions above and below the articles. Articles on the tracks may be (a) diverged on the first load conveyor to separate the articles from the dividers, (b) converged on the process conveyor to minimize the width of the radiation sources and (c) diverged on the second load conveyor.

Abstract: Each of first vehicles has an individual address dependent upon an insertion of a selective one of different keys into a socket in the vehicle. Each vehicle is movable in any desired direction on a first support structure formed by intercoupling male detents on first beams and female detents on other beams, all of an identical construction, and by intercoupling the male detents to female detents on blocks, all of an identical construction. The first support structure may be, but does not have to be, intercoupled with a second support structure formed by intercoupling beams and blocks of the same types as the beams and blocks in the first structure. The second structure defines a track on which an additional vehicle (e.g., a monorail) addressable as discussed above is movable in first and second opposite directions. The additional vehicle has rollers for driving the vehicle on the track and has guides (e.g.