Abstract: A litter box assembly for pets includes two identical, stackable litter boxes each having a bottom with a pattern of openings and pointed, raised projections. A track extends around the bottom of each box to hold a plate with defines mating apertures and slides back and forth in the track to, respectively, align the openings and close off the openings. A handle on each box attaches to the plate and may be moved to the open position to allow unclumped litter to flow into the box stacked below. The clumped waste is held off the bottom of the box on the raised projections for disposal by dumping. The lower box containing the filtered litter is moved to the top position of the stack to be ready for use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transforming wide angle video into perspective corrected viewing zones which either a single user or multiple users may select, orient and magnify. The present invention first captures a wide angle digital video input by any suitable means. The captured image is then stored in a suitable memory means so portions of the image may be selected at a later time. When a portion of the stored video is selected for viewing, a plurality of discrete viewing vectors in three dimensional space are chosen on the video input and transformed to a plurality of control points in a two dimensional plane or any other suitable surface. The area between these points which is still warped from the original wide angle image capture is then transformed to a perspective corrected field of view. The perspective corrected field of view is then displayed on a suitable displaying apparatus, such as a monitor or head mounted display.

Abstract: The present invention is a quill interlock for a milling machine. Structurally, the present invention includes a clasp or other attachment means attachable to a milling machine. The clasp carries a switch which is activated when the quill of the milling machine reaches a predetermined, user selected, position on the Z-axis. The switch is connected to the computer controlling the milling machine, causing the computer to relocate the milling machine table to a new X and Y location each time the quill is raised to the predetermined position on the Z-axis.

Abstract: A method for rendering of three dimensional images on a video subsystem which does not include clearing of the Z buffer at each frame includes establishment of a Z buffer and a sequence number in memory, where the sequence number is incremented with each successive frame rendered and the Z buffer is cleared when the sequence number reaches a predetermined value; the Z buffer is thus recycled a number of times between clears. In a more elaborate implementation, the precision of the Z buffer is adjusted to permit clearing of the Z buffer to occur either as the result of the sequence number reaching a predetermined value or as the result of the accrual of a predetermined amount of time allocated for clearing, referred to as scheduling. The scheduling method can be applied to a wide range of accounting tasks within a system.

Abstract: The present invention is a surgical bone brush which provides a means to remove soft tissue from harvested autogenous and allografts bone prior to implantation of the bone into the human body. The invention is a surgical instrument with multiple fibers of surgical grade stainless steel or implantable material, wherein the fibers are held in place around a retaining ring, by a cap assembly, and extend outward forming a brush. The bone brush head, provided in a plurality of sizes and shapes, is attached at one end of a shaft, of a length and diameter providing for the insertion of the shaft into surgical grade rotary hand pieces. The bone brush provides a means to remove soft tissue from bone, decorticate, and contour bone. This is achieved when the shaft of the bone brush is inserted into a surgical rotary hand piece and the hand piece is activated thereby causing the brush head to rotate.

Abstract: A powered boom assembly for water skiing, particularly for barefoot skiing, allows boat personnel to activate a switch to automatically change the position of the boom while the boat is operating and while the skier is using the boom. The assembly includes a powered linear actuator which is attached by a bracket to the pylon of the motor boat. A fitting on the actuator is used to mount the boom, the fitting may also be attached to the pylon, so that the fitting and boom move up and down when the actuator is activated by the switch. A bracket securely attaches the actuator to the boom.

Abstract: A pointing device including a ball engaging one or more shaft encoders, each shaft encoder having an encoding wheel, including a monolithic photosensitive array for detecting light pulses representative of rotary movement of the ball. The photosensitive array provides a plurality of resolutions and permits accurate tracking of rotary movement of the ball without need for a mask. Comparator and latch means operate on the output of the array and provides digital hysteresis.

Abstract: Nestable software license authentication keys connect end-to-end on a circuit board to form an authentication key assembly for internal computer installation or for use as an external assembly connecting to a host system. The circuit board includes at least one plastic housing for one or more authentication keys which define a male connector at one end and a female connector at the opposite end, which connect to a female phone jack(s) electrically connected to the circuit board and attached to the end of a compression spring mounted within each housing. The spring(s) compresses as additional keys are connected end-to-end on the board and the spring biases the keys against the end of the circuit board. The authentication key assemblies may utilize a variety of circuit boards with a variety of connectors, and the external assembly is encased in the plastic housing for use with portable and Apple-type computers.

Abstract: An adjustable spinal fixator for insertion between adjacent vertebrae comprises a contoured housing defining convex edges to fit within the concavity of the vertebral body. An externally threaded core extends through the housing, and a pair of internally threaded nut assemblies attach to the core member. Four crown members with teeth are separately mounted within the housing and retract and variably extend with the movement of the movable nuts on the core member. Two of the crown members extend and retract from the top of the housing, and the remaining two crown members extend and retract from the bottom of the housing. The spinal fixator is positioned between adjacent vertebrae with the crown members retracted so that the teeth are below the convex edges of the housing. Following placement, the crown members are extended outwardly from the top and bottom of the housing by rotation of the core member which causes the teeth to penetrate the bone at an angle to secure the spinal fixator in position.

Abstract: A reversible conveyor belt system has, on at least one surface of the belt, projections arranged preferable in a plurality of asymmetrical rows and columns thereby forming a matrix engagable with an offset mating tracking surface glued to the surface of the pulley. The projections are truncated geometrical solids, pyramids, extending outwardly from the surface of the belt. When the truncated solids of the belt intermesh in the tracks provided between the rows of truncated solids on the pulley, positive alignment without creep, improved timing and increased drive force are achieved. The projections may be used on both sides of the belt, and a second belt with interlocking projections may be mounted around a second pulley and positioned beneath the main conveyor belt for heavy impact loads. The drive system includes an easily removable hub assembly wherein the shaft of the pulley defines a flat area which engages a hardened dowel wedge for providing positive drive with reduced shear.

Abstract: A charged particle energy analyzer having higher sensitivity than conventional analyzers inserts a substantially parallel beam of charged particles into a uniform magnetic field at an angle to the field direction. The charged particles travel along the field direction and rotate perpendicular to it, forming helical trajectories. After traveling a given distance in the field direction, the total rotation each charged particle has undergone is measured. Because the total rotation is uniquely related to the energy of the particle, a spectrum showing the energy distribution of all the particles in the beam can be derived from these measurements. The enhanced sensitivity of this analyzer results from its ability to simultaneously analyze all the particles in a beam having a large energy spread.

Abstract: A cursor control device for personal computers and workstations includes various embodiments, some of which include a patterned ball and some of which rely on other patterned surfaces, which recognizes changes in the position of the pattern relative to a sensor having an array of photosensitive elements. Circuitry associated with the sensor determines movement of the pattern across the array, and translates that movement into conventional cursor control signals supplied to a host system.

Abstract: A Runout, Velocity, Acceleration includes direct measurement of velocity by use of a Doppler laser, and determines runout by integration of the velocity information while determining acceleration by differentiating the velocity information, with appropriate correction for sources of error. A menu driven system permits the user to select from a variety of options for testing of rotating objects and manipulation, storage and display of the data. A novel windowing technique permits the display of multiple child windows, each having its own set of pull down menus for use in connection with that child window.

Abstract: A method for rendering of three dimensional images on a video subsystem which does not include clearing of the Z buffer at each frame includes establishment of a Z buffer and a sequence number in memory, where the sequence number is incremented with each successive frame rendered and the Z buffer is cleared when the sequence number reaches a predetermined value; the Z buffer is thus recycled a number of times between clears. In a more elaborate implementation, the precision of the Z buffer is adjusted to permit clearing of the Z buffer to occur either as the result of the sequence number reaching a predetermined value or as the result of the accrual of a predetermined amount of time allocated for clearing, referred to as scheduling. The scheduling method can be applied to a wide range of accounting tasks within a system.

Abstract: A rotating all metal sealed fluid delivery system for supplying fluid to an apparatus, such as an electron beam source assembly, in an UHV environment includes a housing with fluid inlet and outlet ports therethrough, opposed fluid inlet and outlet lines, an inlet and outlet bellows within the housing, and a turntable mounted in an aperture in the housing for attachment to a rotatable spindle of the apparatus. A ultra high vacuum compression gasket forms an UHV seal between the spindle and the turntable. The bellows are attached at first ends to the inlet and outlet ports, and at opposite ends to the opposed inlet and outlet lines extending to the rotatable apparatus, through the spindle and the turntable into the housing. The bellows are coiled within the housing and separated by a non-abrasive plate. Following attachment to the ports and lines, the entire length of each bellows remains within a single plane during rotation along the same axis as the axis of rotation of the apparatus.

Abstract: An electron energy analyzer uses identical sectors, typically though not necessarily ninety degree segments of a toroid, disposed in complementary relationship with an aperture therebetween to provide a mapping of the image at the entrance plane to the exit plane while permitting the desired energy analysis to be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus for sampling and registering fluids in pipelines utilizes a single probe to monitor fluid flow characteristics using sensors and attached gauges while simultaneously collecting fluid samples for laboratory analysis. A hollow probe defining fluid flow openings and a sample opening extends into the pipeline, and a pneumatically driven sampling assembly is slidingly engaged within the probe to carry the fluid sample through a fluid channel to a sample collection device. The fluid flow openings carry fluid through separate channels having sensors to gauges to simultaneous monitor the fluid flow rate and/or temperature. A variety of monitoring devices may be attached to the sampling apparatus, including on-line analyzers, thermocouple devices, pressure transmitters, and virtually any computerized monitoring device.