Abstract: A system for generating electrical power supply signals includes at least one heat engine having a chamber that undergoes heating/cooling cycle and corresponding pressure variations. At least one piezoelectric transducer is deformed in response to the pressure variations of the heat engine. A power converter transforms the electric signals generated in response to deformation of the piezoelectric transducer(s) to a desired electrical power supply signal. The heat engine preferably uses a geothermal source of cold and an ambient source of hot or vice-versa. Hydrogen can be used as a working fluid, and metal hydride material can be used for absorbing and desorbing hydrogen during the cycle of heating and cooling of the heat engine. A phase change material can also be used. The power converter preferably includes an electromechanical battery with a flywheel storing rotational energy and possibly an electrostatic motor that adds rotational energy to the flywheel.

Abstract: Electronic mail software includes a main email component and a number of installable components which communicate bidirectionally with the email component through an application programming interface (API). The installable components include authoring/reading components and a mailbox browser/editor component. The main email component provides an underlying graphical user interface (GUI) for functions directly associated with the storage and transfer of electronic mail messages and also handles all data bundling and unbundling that may be required to transform a message created by an authoring component into a fully MIME compliant message. In addition, the main email component includes “hooks” (an application programming interface or API) for the attachment of the installable components. The authoring/reading components each provide functionality particular to the type of document the component is designed to create/display.

Abstract: An improved power supply unit includes a DC power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a voltage regulating circuit that includes a plurality of elements coupled in series between the positive and negative terminals of the DC power source to regulate the power supply signals supplied thereto to effectively cancel ripple and noise in such power supply signals. In one embodiment, the series-coupled elements include at least one resistor and a transconductive element having a characteristic transconductance value of T. The at least one resistor provides a resistance substantially equal to 1/T. The transconductive element and the one resistor cooperate to suppress spurious voltage level variations produced by the DC power source. The transconductive element may be realized by a thermionic triode, field effect transistor or other suitable device.

Abstract: An improved stereoscopic display apparatus and methodology includes an array of reflective liquid-crystal-based pixels that are cleared (i.e., placed in a “dark” state) before being loaded with the desired analog voltage potential signals for display during both left perspective image display periods and right perspective image display periods. In this manner, cross-frame image interference between the left and right perspective images is avoided and the quality of the stereoscopic viewing experience is improved. In another aspect, an improved stereoscopic display apparatus and methodology includes a plurality of arrays of reflective liquid-crystal-based pixels. During each successive display period, the pixels of the arrays display an image while being loaded with analog voltage potential signals corresponding to the image to be displayed in the subsequent display period. Such operations avoid cross-frame image interference and expand the left and right perspective image display periods.

Abstract: A spreader accessory mountable below the extension rack of an ATV. In another aspect, an improved spreader mechanism that automatically starts and stops the feed of material from a storage container in conjunction with the distribution of material therefrom.

Abstract: A guide catheter includes a hollow elongate shaft defining a channel. The hollow elongate shaft (or a segment thereof) includes an inner tube and a multilayer sheath formed around the inner tube. The multilayer sheath includes an intermediate layer derived from a melt-processible first polyether-block amide material (e.g., PEBAX®) and an outer layer derived from a different second polyether-block amide (e.g. a cross-linked polyether-block amide material). Reinforcing material (such as a braid of reinforcing filament) may be part of the multilayer sheath. The second polyether-block amide layer of the outer layer provides a shrink tube with a shrink temperature range greater than melt temperature range of the first polyether-block amide material of the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A pool/spa skimmer includes a housing and a face plate opening into the housing. The face plate is dimensioned to allow water to flow in a vertical column between it and the housing. In one embodiment, a flexible weir gate is coupled to the face plate and flexes under draw of water by a pump to allow flow of water into the skimmer. The interior of the housing has a curved wall so that when a column of water passes the face plate into the housing, a whirlpool effect is realized.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for implementing an algorithm for N-symbol noncoherent processing of M-ary DPSK signals in a pilotless, wireless system is provided. The algorithm is carried out with (N?1) recurrent steps (iterations) plus a decision step. Each iterative step includes simple trigonometrical transformation of quadrature components of the current symbol and summation of the transforms with results of the previous step. A final N-symbol decision regarding the current transmitted symbol corresponds to the vector of maximum length, calculated after the (N?1)-th step of the iterative procedure. The general algorithm is optionally implemented with one or more intersymbol processors, one or more memory blocks for saving results of the intersymbol processors, and a decision block. In addition, shift registers for quadrature components of the received signal may be utilized.

Abstract: An article hanger including a body having at least one clamp. The clamp has first and second jaw members with opposed first and second gripping pads, respectively. The first gripping pad includes a first gripping surface that has a relief structure formed by projections that have a depth between 0.01 mm and 0.5 mm (and most preferably between 0.01 mm and 0.25 mm). The second gripping pad includes a second gripping surface that is substantially smooth. The projections of the relief structure may have pointed ends or planar end surfaces, and may be part of a texture or pattern (e.g., a pattern of cross-hatched grooves) that is imparted to the first gripping surface. The gripping pads of the jaw members are integrally formed therewith preferably with the same thermoplastic material or other suitable material. In the preferred embodiment, the hanger body is integrally formed together with at least one jaw member of the clamp(s) and its gripping pad.

Abstract: A pool/spa skimmer includes a housing, a face plate, and a flexible weir gate. The housing and plate are dimensioned to allow water to flow in a vertical column. The interior of the housing has a curved wall so that when a column of water passes through the open gate and into the housing, a whirlpool effect is realized. A vertical filter cartridge is mounted on a rotational bearing so that it can spin about its axis. The inlet of a pump is coupled to the cartridge via the bearing and is also coupled to a second water inlet via a vacuum operated valve. When the filter is clean, water is drawn through it and the filter spins about its axis due to the whirlpool effect. When the filter reaches a threshold dirt covering, water is no longer drawn through it and the vacuum operated valve.

Abstract: A clamp style garment hanger includes a cross-bar, a hook extending up from the center of the cross-bar, a pair of clamp assemblies in spaced apart relationship depending from the cross-bar, and a pair of gripping pads, one for each clamp assembly. The clamp assemblies each include first and second clamping members coupled to and biased towards each other. According to one embodiment, a clamping member has a recess surrounding a throughbore. The gripping pad has a hollow extension and is dimensioned to fit snugly in the recess with its hollow extension extending into the throughbore. An interlocking plug is inserted through the rear of the throughbore into the hollow extension. According to another embodiment, the gripping pad has a stepped recess on one side and the clamping member has an integral interlocking plug that engages the recess.

Abstract: A SONET demapper includes three desynchronizers, each of which includes a RAM-based, shared digital phase locked loop, shared elastic storage, and twenty-eight divide-by 33/34/44/45 counters. Unlike a conventional desynchronizer which uses separate FIFOs for each of the twenty-eight T1/E1 channels, the elastic storage for each channel is an addressed portion of a shared block of RAM. Each desynchronizer generates a clock for each of the twenty-eight T1/E1 channels based on a FIFO depth count for each channel which is derived from a read pointer, an “effective write pointer”, and the divide-by clock for the channel. Each desynchronizer can desynchronize both T1/E1 signals as well as a combination of these signals. In addition, the invention combines the leak FIFO and desynchronizer FIFO into a single FIFO with an effective write pointer. This eliminates the need to maintain separate counters and pointers for separate FIFOs.

Abstract: A speaker system includes a speaker driver loaded by a horn waveguide. The speaker driver reproduces sound within an extended frequency range that includes a high frequency band between 8 kHz and 11 kHz. In the preferred embodiment, the extended frequency range includes a wide frequency band between 2 kHz and 11 kHz (and most preferably including the frequency band between 800 Hz and 11 kHz). The horn waveguide has an axi-symmetrical waveguide surface that provides uniform polar dispersion at dispersion angles greater than 90 degrees for sound within the extended frequency range. The waveguide surface preferably has an annular cross section with a radial dimension that increases curvilinearly from its throat to its mouth, such as a tractroid surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for mode assignment and mode adaptation to channel conditions are provided which are based on estimations of real signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) for each frequency carrier bearing information during a data transmission session. The invention utilizes two principal procedures: signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation, and a corresponding mode assignment. SNR estimation is obtained by an averaging of squared Euclidean distances between normalized received signals and reference signals corresponding to either current hard decisions from the output of a demodulator or soft decisions provided by a decoder, for each frequency carrier bearing random information. Using the SNR estimations, various algorithms for determining mode assignment are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a personal organization tool comprising an indicator and an analog display divided into areas representing days of the week to help people organize themselves and remind them of various events or activities. The tool may be used in co-operation with an apparatus for providing information. The tool is particularly useful for people with short-term memory loss who often experience difficulty in keeping track of when they are supposed to do something.

Abstract: A UV-transmissable window assembly for a DMD device includes a UV-transmissable glass window provided in a frame. The window and frame are bonded together to preferably effect a hermetic seal therebetween. Optical coatings specific to the intended wavelength of light transmission are applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the glass window to reduce reflection and increase light transmission therethrough. The window assembly, and DMD provided with the same, is adapted for excellent transmission of ultraviolet light, even at the deep ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. The DMD window assembly has application in the medical arts, both surgery and device manufacture, in the production of integrated circuits (IC), and in other optical lithography applications, among other fields.

Abstract: An amusement ride has a wooden running track realized by two wooden track structures and a support beam that is disposed above the two wooden track structures and that bridges the two wooden track structures. A passenger carrier (e.g., coaster car or train) has a frame structure with a first set of wheels mounted thereto that are adapted to run along the first and second wooden track structures during positive-g motion in addition to at least one seat that is suspended below the first set of wheels. This suspended wooden-coaster design provides a distinctive rough, noisy out of control feeling in addition to a distinctive feeling of freedom (and risk/danger), which are enjoyed by many roller coaster enthusiasts.

Abstract: A filter basket device includes two shaft wires, a filter basket adapted to capture emboli and thrombi, and an actuation handle. The shaft wires are loosely twisted together so that they remain adjacent to each other, and yet are able to slide relative to each other with little friction and without plastic deformation. One shaft wire is connected to the distal end of the filter basket, and the other shaft wire is connected to the proximal end of the filter basket. The actuation handle moves the shaft wires relative to each other to control opening and closing of the basket. In one embodiment, a guidewire-accepting fitting is attached to a distal portion of the device and permits advancement of the device over a guidewire until a desired location along the guidewire is reached. In another embodiment, the basket is provided with a tip resembling a guidewire.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting an input analog audio signal into digital form including an analog-to-digital converter. An amplifier circuit and step-down transformer provide an interface for the input analog audio signal to the analog-to-digital converter. The step-down transformer includes a primary winding operably coupled to the amplifier circuit and a secondary winding operably coupled to the analog-to-digital converter. The amplifier circuit drives the primary winding with the input analog audio signal (or an amplified version thereof). The step-down transformer generates a stepped-down representation of the input analog audio signal at its secondary winding. Advantageously, the step-down transformer lowers the effective output impedance of the amplifier circuit, which reduces distortion in the audio analog input signal supplied to the analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: A medicament tablet dispensing system and method dispenses any selected number of tablets, up to a maximum number, with minimal dispensing delays. During fill operations, a preset number of tablets are counted and stored in dedicated storage compartments. Dispensing operations are performed in response to dispense request commands. The fill operations are performed in a manner independent from the quantity of tablets identified by the dispense request commands. During the dispensing operations for a particular dispense request command, the preset number of tablets are emptied from one or more of the dedicated storage compartments, thereby avoiding delays associated with counting all of the dispensed tablets. Moreover, the fill operations and the dispensing operations may be performed in parallel for high-throughput dispensing applications.