Abstract: An electric power measuring system wherein power factor measurements are adjusted to reflect the adverse economic effects of harmonic currents and voltages. Well-known techniques are used to acquire frequency spectra that represent the voltages and currents present at the measuring point. These spectra are weighted in such a way that non-fundamental currents are increased and non-fundamental voltages are decreased. The weighted spectra are used to calculate a harmonic-adjusted volt-ampere measurement, which is then accumulated to form a harmonic-adjusted volt-ampere-hour measurement. The weighting functions for voltage and current are selected to approximate the economic impact on the AC power generating, transmission, and distribution system of nonfundamental currents and voltages. The resulting harmonic-adjusted volt-ampere-hour measurement is used to calculate a harmonic adjusted power factor measurement.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring voltage harmonics and current harmonics on AC (alternating current) power systems. The instrument includes the ability to determine when threshold limits have been exceeded for harmonics. The instrument also includes timing thresholds whose inputs are activated when the harmonic thresholds are exceeded. A single harmonic threshold is applied to measurements from multiple phases on poly-phase systems by comparing the square root of the sum of the squares of measurements from each phase to the harmonic threshold. Three indicators show when voltage harmonic limits are exceeded, current harmonics limits are exceeded, or both voltage and current harmonic limits are exceeded simultaneously.

Abstract: A carpet stretching device using a power stretching adapter attached to a standard carpet kicker is provided. The stretching adapter is formed from a frame having an anchor plate attached to the front of the frame for anchoring the device between the wall and tack strip adjacent to the carpet edge to be stretched. A handle is provided which is pivotally attached along its lower portion to the back of the frame. A clamp is located at the bottom of the handle for attaching the handle to a standard carpet kicker adjacent to the head of the kicker, so that the head will be positioned between the anchor plate and the clamp. The device functions by placing the handle upright, placing the anchor between the wall and tack strip, engaging the carpet pile with the carpet kicker head, and pivoting the top of the handle down towards the knee pad of the carpet kicker, forcing the kicker head towards the anchor, thus stretching the carpet.

Abstract: Methods and compounds for the preparation of nucleic acid samples. Polymerase inhibitors are treated so as to allow for amplification of nucleic acid from biological sources, including whole blood.

Abstract: A fast parasitic-insensitive continuous-time filter and equalizer integrated circuit that uses an active integrator is described. Circuit techniques for excess-phase cancellation, and for setting the corner-frequency of the filter and equalizer are also described. These techniques result in a filter and equalizer chip with performance independent of process, supply, and temperature without employing phase-lock loops. This 20MHz 6th order Bessel filter and 2nd order equalizer operate from 5V, and generate only 0.24% (-52 dB) of total harmonic distortion when processing 2 Vp-p differential output signals. The device is optimized to limit high-frequency noise and to amplitude equalize the data pulses in hard disk read-channel systems. The device supports data rates of up to 36 Mbps, and is built in a 1.5.mu./4 GHz BiCMOS technology.

Abstract: An output circuit includes a totem-pole output circuit for driving a power MOSFET. A pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit drive the output node low or high as required. The circuit prevents the pull-up and pull-down circuits from simultaneously conducting current. The pull-up circuit has a pull-up threshold voltage and the pull-down circuit has a pull-down threshold voltage such that the pull-up circuit is turned off before the pull-down circuit is activated when the output node is switched from a high state to a low state and further wherein the pull-down circuit is turned off before the pull-up circuit is activated when the output node switches from a low state to a high state. The pull-up circuit is held off when the output node is switched from a high state to a low state by two diodes from the output node to an input of the pull-up circuit.

Abstract: The invention provides a reinforced film or reinforced metallized film, in which the reinforcing yarns in the fill and/or warp direction are coated with hot melt adhesive and placed in contact with the reinforced film, under heat and pressure, to melt the hot melt adhesive and bond the coated yarns to the film.

Abstract: An adjustable brace for supporting an elevated concrete form floor between support beams during the curing of the concrete is provided. The adjustable brace is formed from a single leg pivotably attached to a cradle assembly for supporting half of a shoring member underneath a concrete form floor against the adjacent lower web/flange interface of a support beam. The height of the cradle assembly can be adjusted relative to the leg for raising and lowering the shoring member to enable leveling of the form floor and disassembly of the brace after the concrete has cured. In use, two braces are used to support a shoring member, with the cradle of each brace positioned between the center and an end of the shoring member and the foot of each brace positioned against the web/flange interface of the support beam opposite the support beam against which the foot of the other brace is positioned.

Abstract: An impulse direction detector for AC power systems determines the direction of high-frequency impulses on an AC (alternating current) power line by measuring impulse parameters on each side of a low-pass filter inserted in series with the power line. The low-pass filter is formed by two capacitors and a series inductance. The series inductance is formed by placing a magnetic core around the power line. The impulse parameters are measured on either side of the magnetic core and are then transmitted to a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines if the impulse is above a threshold level and which side of the magnetic core the impulse originated from. The microprocessor then displays the direction of the impulse and communicates the result to other digital systems.

Abstract: A method of allowing for the identification of artistic shapes by the workpiece purchaser. Casting variable workpieces where the subject matter to be cast is not identified prior to casting.

Abstract: A slidably attachable automated hydraulic cylinder system opens and closes the die halves of a casting machine. Cylinders are provided having integral vertical side grooves for mounting on the casting machines. The preferred hydraulic cylinder has a hollow piston rod connected to the piston and projecting from one end of the cylinder. A fluid flow line movable within the cylinder projects from the other end of the cylinder and slidably passes through the piston into the piston rod. Separate elements contact the piston at opposite ends of its stroke to move the fluid flow line and switch the fluid flow in the cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention is for a radiation transmitter which transmits radiation to an illumination spot for forming reflected radiation. The transmitter includes a plurality of radiation transmission sources. Each of the sources transmits to a portion of the illumination spot. The transmitter includes means for alternately activating a portion of the transmission sources to illuminate a portion of the illumination spot for aligning a radiation receiver to receive the reflected radiation.Each resident of network transmits in turn its address and the address of each resident that it recognizes. Once a prospective resident can recognize each resident of the network it announces that it is joining the network and states its new address and the address of each resident it can see. Every resident then amends its list of recognized residents to include the new member.

Abstract: The invention provides a substantially flat film or metallized film, reinforced with regularly spaced reinforcing yarns in the fill and warp direction having a residual shrinkage of less than about 2.0%, which is dimensionally stable over a wide range of temperatures, along with a process for producing the same. Synthetic reinforcing yarns, including nylon yarns, can be preshrunk by heating the spooled yarn in an inert atmosphere for a sufficient period of time to reduce the residual shrinkage in the spooled yarn to less than about 2.0%. This preshrunk yarn can then be bonded to a film or metallized film substrate using a wide variety of adhesives, including hot melt adhesives, or water-based adhesives cured by application of heat. Because the residual shrinkage in the reinforcing fibers has been reduced, subsequent application of heat during manufacturing processes, or in the use environment, will not produce the curling or puckering of the film or separation of the metal layer.

Abstract: Method for treating nucleic acid that is to be amplified such that the nucleic acid is, after amplification, subsequently unamplifiable. Nucleic acid amplification is performed in a reaction containing means in the presence of an isopsoralen. The reaction is thereafter irradiated to render the amplified nucleic acid substantially unamplifiable.

Abstract: An electric power measuring system wherein power factor measurements are adjusted to reflect the adverse economic effects of harmonic currents and voltages. Well-known techniques are used to acquire frequency spectra that represent the voltages and currents present at the measuring point. These spectra are weighted in such a way that non-fundamental currents are increased and non-fundamental voltages are decreased. The weighted spectra are used to calculate a harmonic-adjusted volt-ampere measurement, which is then accumulated to form a harmonic-adjusted volt-ampere-hour measurement. The weighting functions for voltage and current are selected to approximate the economic impact on the AC power generating, transmission, and distribution system of non-fundamental currents and voltages. The resulting harmonic-adjusted volt-ampere-hour measurement is used to calculate a harmonic-adjusted power factor measurement.

Abstract: An "S" shaped, double-blade carpet cutter is provided which simultaneously cuts the edges of two adjacent, overlapped carpets from the back side, to provide closely matching, abutting edges which can thereafter be seamed. The lower carpet edge is inserted into one opening of the "S", and the overlapping edge of the upper carpet is inserted into the other opening of the "S". One blade is mounted on the first or top arm of the "S" and the other blade is mounted on the second or middle arm of the "S", and the blades extend perpendicularly out of the plane of the "S" and are aligned to cut along a single seam line. A handle is attached to the third arm of the "S" to allow the cutter to be pulled along the overlapped carpet edges.