Abstract: An improved electrical cable includes a number of insulated electrical conductors, which are closely spaced and parallel to each other, and frangibly joined along their respective longitudinal lengths by insulation of each insulated conductor. Also included is an uninsulated conductor that is embedded within, at least in part, and contacting insulation that is frangibly joining the insulated conductors. The electrical cable is specifically structured so that when a frangibly joined insulated conductor is separated from one or more other insulated conductors, the uninsulated conductor is exposed or released.

Abstract: A self-contained and highly portable assaying system includes a luminometer and a detector cap assembly. The detector cap assembly, which is structured with a first portion and a second portion, is capable of collecting a specimen, and causing a bioluminescent or chemiluminescent assaying reaction to be conducted in a light-tight environment within the detector cap assembly (devoid of any available ambient light). The luminometer is structured to be removably fixed to the detector cap assembly to sense low level luminescent emissions produced by the assaying reaction. A quantified result is subsequently provided to a user or operator that indicates the outcome of the assay activities.

Abstract: A treat dispensing toy including a middle portion and pair of spaced disk portions of differing diameters, which are fixed to the middle portion. The toy is structured to enable treats or snacks to be dispensed from an interior chamber when an animal causes the toy to roll and rotate one or more revolutions. The disk portions may be removably fixed to the middle portion to facilitate filling and cleaning activities of the interior chamber, which is formed by the disk portions and a wall structure of the middle portion. The wall structure of the middle portion includes a treat dispensing opening to dispense treats in a controlled manner. The toy is intended to dispense treats, while engaging and entertaining an animal, and at the same time is arranged to maintain position within an inherently restricted play or holding area.

Abstract: An effluent treatment apparatus, and associated methods of use, are provided for treating in a closed-loop configuration a volume of effluent contained in a holding vessel. The apparatus includes one or more treatment tank units arranged to hold a volume of molecular filtering material capable of removing one or more toxic contaminants from the effluent, al least in part, as the effluent contacts the surface areas of the molecular filtering material within each tank unit. A pump unit is provided to draw effluent from the holding vessel and deliver the effluent to selected tank units to effect treatment. The apparatus further includes fluidic conduit structures to fluidically couple the holding vessel, a pre-filter, the pump, and each selected tank unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus supporting the high speed evaluation of the quality of a bar code indicia by processing a scan reflectance profile signal generated by a scanner unit. The scan reflectance profile signal may be sampled by an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the sample values produced are processed in real-time to determine all occurring peak sample values, including all positive peak sample values and all negative peak sample values, for each element of the bar code indicia. The peak sample values determined, including at least one peak value for each element, are made accessible for post-processing to determine appropriate figures of merit indicative of the quality of the bar code indicia being evaluated. The samples produced by the a/d converter are processed as they are generated to filter and reduce the total collection of samples values stored, while still providing the critical values for the scanned elements to support high speed verification of the quality of bar code indicia.

Abstract: A method to collect and group a plurality of scans for respective bar code symbols of a succession of spaced bar code symbols. The symbols are disposed on a continuous substrate moving past a scanner unit arranged to scan a plurality of the spaced symbols, one after the other. The method of the invention provides for the energizing and de-energizing of a scanner unit in order to scan the substrate in a controlled manner so as to ensure the scanner unit is operating and scanning when each respective bar code symbol, to be scanned, is within the field of view of the scanner unit. The detecting of the presence of a bar code symbol within the field of view of the scanner unit is realized by scanning the symbol and determining a valid decode. Once a valid decode is determined, a plurality of subsequent scans associated with the bar code symbol are collected and grouped, and further may be processed to determine at least one evaluation attribute for each scanned symbol.

Abstract: Methods and associated apparatus are provided to analyze and selectively sample scan reflectance profile (SRP) signals by producing corresponding first derivative and second derivative signals, as the SRP signal is generated. The methods employ the occurrences of zero crossings of the first and or second derivative signals, along with occurrences of the level of the first derivative signal rising above, or dropping below, predefined positive or negative threshold levels, respectively. Sample values, including positive and negative peak sample values, are produced and made available for post processing to determine one or more figures of merit (or quality parameters) that are indicative of the quality of a bar code indicia that was scanned to generate the SRP signal analyzed and processed.

Abstract: An evaluation system having one or more scanner units providing arrangements to enable the computer controlled, rapid setup and calibration of each included scanner unit to be employed for evaluation. The calibration is effected with specific settings established using stored calibration parameter groups. The calibration parameter groups, which are previously determined using special calibration targets, are stored and available for later recall and use, as needed. The evaluation system arrangements provide for slidably mounted scanner units to enable the distance between the scanner unit and a target indicia to be adjusted to a known distance to produce a selected spot size for the subsequent evaluations. A computing unit is provided having a memory to store the plurality of calibration parameter groups, with each stored calibration parameter group available to provide parameter values to be applied for use with the included scanner units.

Abstract: Methods to determine and apply calibration parameter groups are provided to rapidly calibrate bar code evaluation systems. The systems may include fixed position or slidably mounted scanner units. A computing and evaluation unit, which may be configured to enable one or more scanner units to be selected and operatively coupled to the system, includes a memory unit to store the plurality of calibration parameter groups. Each calibration parameter group includes a number of calibration parameter values that are available for recall to calibrate selected scanner units. A user interface may be provided for a user to select scanner units to be used for evaluation, wherein subsequently, the appropriate calibration parameter groups are retrieved from the memory unit and applied to calibrate the evaluation system.