Abstract: Wicket gates and axial flow or mixed flow runner blades for a hydraulic turbine with the wicket gates arranged in a generally circular array around a central axis and with the gates pivotal about pivot axes parallel to the central axis. Each of the wicket gates is provided with a trailing edge shaped to present a discharge angle which varies from a small discharge angle at the bottom of the gate to a large discharge angle at the top of the gate. The discharge angle at any point along the length of the trailing edge is preselected such that water flow having a known radial velocity vector at the trailing edge will have a constant circumferential velocity vector along the length of the trailing edge. The shape of the runner blades is related to the shape of the wicket gates such that the whirl value for the fluid flow exiting the runner blades is between about zero and a value that is less than the change in whirl from the inlet to the exit of the runner apparatus formed by the runner blades.

Abstract: A composition for vibration damping of a structure releasing vibrational energy through its surface is disclosed. The composition includes either a substantially non-homogeneous visco elastic damping layer on the surface of the structure, or a visco elastic damping layer that is either homogeneous or non-homogeneous discontinuously attached to the surface of the structure. The non-homogeneity of the damping layer is caused by substantially planar voids, substantially spherical voids, or particles. The discontinuous attachment of the damping layer and the surface of the structure is caused by a plurality of grooves, indentations, or by the presence of a non-adhesive material where the damping layer and the surface structure are not secured.

Abstract: A control device for weft inserting in a jet loom realizes weft inserting in stable running conditions without depending on the professional perceptions and experiences of operators. The control device for weft inserting is constructed by inferring a corrected value of at least one parameter for weft inserting by fuzzy inference on the basis of at least one operating information relating to the weft inserting in a weaving machine in order to accept an operating condition of the weaving machine at an objective value, and controlling at least one actuator for weft inserting on the basis of the corrected value inferred by the fuzzy inference.

Abstract: A compact optical memory in which data is stored in an optical data layer capable of selectively altering light such as by changeable transmissivity, reflectivity, polarization, and/or phase. The data is illuminated by controllable light sources and an array of multi-surface diffractive imaging lenslets cause a data image to be projected onto an array of light sensors by reflecting, hence folding the image rays, by means of a mirror that both reflects and optically modifies the light rays to redirect them onto the sensor array located substantially coplanar with the data layer. Data is organized into an annular array of patches (called pages). By selective illumination of each data page, one of the lenslets images the selected data page onto a central image plane where the sensor array is located. Light in the data image pattern strikes different ones of the arrayed light sensors, thereby outputting a pattern of binary bits in the form of electrical data signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a telephone user with automated attendant functions with numerous selectable options. The options include selecting one or many greetings to be given to the caller before sending the caller to voice mail, recording a new greeting for the caller after learning the caller's identity, re-routing the call and adding an audio message to be delivered to the substitute called party before the call is connected, and delivering a selected or customized greeting to the caller and then placing the caller on hold without accepting the call. A display screen with a cursor is used to facilitate presentation of information and options to the telephone user and selection of options by the telephone user.

Abstract: A down reaming apparatus has an upper stabilizer which supports the down reaming apparatus in the bored hole. A plurality of shoe assemblies are radially attached to the hub of the upper stabilizer. The shoe assemblies are biased against a bored shaft wall by pressurized cylinders which allow limited return movement with resistance of the shoe assemblies. A weight assembly comprising a plurality of stacked plates is secured to the frame of the down reaming apparatus and has manways therethrough which allow passage of workers. A lower stabilizer provides additional support for the down reaming apparatus. The lower stabilizer also includes shoe assemblies that are biased against the bored shaft wall by a pressurized cylinder.

Abstract: A device that frequency up-shifts an impinging electromagnetic wave, facilitating signal pulse compression, consisting of a semiconductor block or waveguide containing an optically induced relativistic plasma wave which interacts with an applied or self generated electromagnetic signal.

Abstract: A method for making photographic cards by imprinting a message directly on the reverse side of a photograph, in a plurality of configurations including singular cards, cards in sheet form, cards in roll form and cards in a new and improved continuous form with tractor feed selvedge strips and perforations for separating the photographs from each other and from the selvedge strips. Each configuration of photographic cards is comprised of developed photographs having a photographic image surface (32) on one side and a message printed directly on an imprinting surface (34) which is the reverse side of the photographic paper material (30) using a computer (22) with a printer (24) attached and controlled by a software (20) program used by a computer operator (18) to create and edit messages and control the printing of said messages.

Abstract: A method for programming a computer, and software products for implementing the method, are disclosed. According to the method, objects are created which, upon execution of the system, may initiate actions and may acquire values. A specification of relevance criteria is stored as an attribute of each object. Relevance criteria, which may refer to the values of other objects, describe all conditions necessary and sufficient to make the binary decision for whether the object will be considered relevant to the program's operation during execution. Action criteria may also be specified to control the actions of a relevant object. The method is particularly well suited for programming expert systems, but may be used for programming any type of computer program.

Abstract: A non-contact electrical transformer coupling is disclosed that provides electrical power and full duplex digital communications between a host computer and a removable IC memory card. A unique two-part host magnetic core assembly having a quadrafid design forming multiple poles is provided with printed circuit windings and is disposed to receive the IC memory card embedded with core pole pieces and associated printed circuit card windings to complete the magnetic flux paths and transformer coupling. The configuration of the poles and windings form completely independent channels, each of which behaves like a wide-band ferrite core transformer. The independence of each channel enables this unique magnetic core and associated windings to couple relatively large amounts of power to the circuitry of the IC memory card and establish a high-speed bidirectional data link between the host and card.

Abstract: Exercise apparatus incorporating lift assistance mechanism for pull-up and/or dip stand exercising including one or more interchangeable extensible, elastomeric links of various extensil resistances, arranged to upwardly bias a pivotally mounted lift bar, and having arranged in parallel therewith a hydraulic shock absorber type fluid cylinder functioning to limit the extent of downward movement of the lift bar when the cylinder is extended to its maximum length and limiting the rate of upward movement of the lift bar in the event of the user falling off. The elastomeric link is preferably longitudinally bifurcated with two lengthwise parts so that if one part breaks the other part is likely to remain intact and provide some degree of extensil resistance. Other exercise components can be included as well as parts of the apparatus, such as push-up handles, and padded cross bars for sit-up exercising and the like.

Abstract: A multi-pull exercise device comprising a stationary frame, an extensible resistance element carried by the frame, at least two flexible pull lines attached to respective ends of the resistance element; and pulleys guiding the free ends of the pull lines to desired locations of use on the exercise device. To achieve a simple and versatile exercise device, each end of the resistance element is movable axially with respect to the other and with respect to the frame. The resistance mechanism is self-restoring, and can be in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and/or spring.

Abstract: A foot pad for a stair climber type exerciser having a relatively soft cushioning pad overlying a rigid base member. The pad has a length of at least about one foot, a width of at least about four inches, and an undulating contoured surface extending from about one-quarter to at least about two-thirds of the way from the front to the rear of the pad. It also has an overall top surface convexity fore-and-aft enabling easier weight shift, from the user's heel to the ball of the foot as the attitude of the pedal changes during cyclical pivotal movement of the part of apparatus on which the foot pad is mounted. The cushioning pad disclosed is formed of molded polyvinylchloride with a hardness of about Durometer 70 Shore A.

Abstract: Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialogs between human players and animated characters on a video screen. When two or more characters are in two different scenes, the animated picture may alternate between the two scenes to give an illusion that the actions in both scenes are happening simultaneously. A character in one scene talks with a character in the other scene who then may talk back. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes. But within each scene there are several branching dialog sequences, thereby providing a large variety of possible dialogs. Scenes are separated in space or in time. The characters may be shown talking with each other through a voice communication apparatus such as a telephone or two-way radio or through an opening in a wall such as a window or door. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or actions. A player responds by pressing a button next to a selected phrase or action.

Abstract: Talking video games provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a video or television screen. Two or more animated characters perform cooperative actions and talk about what they are doing or will soon do. They talk to each other and to the human players who control directly or indirectly what the characters do and say. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes. But within each scene there are several branching dialog sequences, thereby providing a large variety of possible dialogs. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data read from a laser-readable disk or stored in a semiconductor memory. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences. A player responds to what an animated character says by pressing a button next to a selected sentence. An animated character then responds verbally or by action to the selected sentence as if it had been spoken by the human player or says the words the player selected.

Abstract: Talking video games provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a video or television screen. Two or more animated characters argue with each other and with human game players who control directly or indirectly what the characters do and say. Many different kinds of vocal conflicts can be simulated. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes. But within each scene there are several branching dialog sequences, thereby providing a large variety of possible dialogs. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data read from a laser-readable disk or stored in semiconductor memory. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences. A player responds to what an animated character says by pressing a button next to a selected sentence. An animated character then responds vocally or by action to the selected sentence as if it had been spoken by the human player or says the words the player selected. Speech recognition is not required.

Abstract: Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a TV screen. Two or more players can take turns responding to animated characters and two or more animated characters can respond to each player and to each other, thereby providing three-way or four-way conversations. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data separately stored on a laser-readable disk such as a CD-ROM in compressed form. As the game is played each animated character talks to the human game players and waits for a response. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences and a player responds by pressing a button next to a selected phrase. An animated character then responds to the selected phrase as if it had been spoken by the human player. Speech recognition is not required. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes.