Abstract: A touch switch apparatus for detecting the presence of an object such as a human appendage, the apparatus having a touch pad and a local control circuit connected to the touch pad and to a controlled device. The touch pad preferable includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from and surrounding the first electrode. The control circuit is preferably in integrated circuit form. A signal is provided to the touch pad to generate an electric field thereabout. Introduction of a stimulus near the touch pad disturbs the electric field. The control circuit detects the electric field disturbance in and generates a control signal in response.

Abstract: A control circuit receives inputs from first and second field effect sensors. The control circuit produces a control output only if the second field effect sensor senses proximity or touch more than a predetermined time after the first field effect sensor senses proximity or touch.

Abstract: A field effect sensor interfaces with a power supply and detection circuit using two wires. The detection circuit can determine which of several parallel-connected field affect sensors is or is not activated at any given time.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for object recognition and compression. The apparatus (114) comprises an object processor (402) configured to receive the image (120) and synthesize a contour (404) of an object within the image (120) and a classification engine (406) configured to receive the contour (404) of the image (120) and recognize the object within the image as a member of a first object class if the object substantially meets first object criteria of the first object class that is at least partially related to the target-specific utility of the image. The apparatus (114) also comprises a multi-rate encoder (116) configured to compress a first region of the image (120) having said object recognized as said member of said first object class at a first coding rate, said first coding rate providing a first coding resolution of said first region that is greater than a second coding resolution provided by a second coding rate for the image.

Abstract: A field effect sensor is adapted for use in sensing level of fluids and powders. The sensor uses elongated, parallel electrodes disposed on or within the side wall of a tank. The longitudinal axes of the electrodes are parallel to the surface of fluid or powder contained in the tank.

Abstract: A stackable riser having a single side wall having a first open end defined by an edge and a second open channel end. A plurality of risers can be stacked on top of one another. The channel end of a riser mates with the first open end of a second riser. The riser includes a plurality of bosses and ribs connected to an interior surface of the sidewall to the edge of the first open end. A channel, on the channel end of one riser is adapted to receive the bosses and ribs of an adjacent riser.

Abstract: A control system interface integrates an electronic switching or sensing mechanism with an existing or custom-fabricated, functional or decorative equipment panel. The electronic switching or sensing mechanism is located on the rear surface of the equipment panel and a corresponding touch surface is defined on the front surface of the equipment panel. The electronic switching or sensing mechanism is responsive to a stimulus in the proximity of the touch surface, and it provides a control signal to a control system when it senses such a stimulus.

Abstract: Touch switches are integrated with thermoformable, injection molded, and other substrates to yield integrated touch switch/control panel assemblies. The ensuant assemblies can include ridges, depressions, anchors, overlaps, rivets and bezels or other housings. They can have any combination of flat and curved surfaces. Further, such assemblies can be incorporated into components of other assemblies, such as automobiles.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus (100) includes a housing (102), a food supporting structure (202), such as a grill and/or a rotisserie and a heat source below the food supporting structure. A delivery tube (114) ends in a plurality of nozzles (206) spaced from each other and above the food supporting structure. A pump (110) is selectively activated by an electronic control circuit to inject a basting liquid into the delivery tube from a supply tube (112). By periodically activating the pump, a basting liquid is applied to food.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multiple walled tube comprising a rolling of a plated metal strip through at least two complete revolutions to form a tube having at least a double wall which has a plated layer on the inside of the tube, said rolling being followed by a heating of the tube to cause the surface of the tube walls, which are in contact with one another, to be brazed and wherein said metal strip is plated on one side, the other side being formed by the steel of the metal strip and wherein said brazing is realized by brazing directly the plated side on the steel.

Abstract: A riser section and cover is disclosed. The riser section has a smooth cylindrical sidewall surface, a removable anchor tab on the exterior surface and bosses and ribs on the inside of the sidewall. The riser sections are stackable. The cover has a channel end to removably connect to a riser section. The cover has stowable handles and posts extending from a bottom surface that define wells open at a top surface and which posts fit into the wells of another cover. A bracket is disclosed to releasably secure and position the cover with an attached riser section on a concrete form wall to hold the riser in place while concrete is poured into the form.

Abstract: An in-tank fuel module for a fuel tank having a conductive lead for connection to an electrical ground plane and at least a first electrically conductive component, and a conductive polymeric strand electrically connecting the component to the lead. A jet aspiration pump is made of conductive polymeric material. A conductive component is connected to the ground plane through the fuel level sensing assembly circuit.

Abstract: A symbol synchronizer (100) is provided for a software-defined communications system (10). The symbol synchronizer (100), when integrated into either a pre- or post-detection diversity signal combiner (108, 208), enables highly accurate signal synchronization with minimal added system complexity. The symbol synchronizer (100) includes a single complex sliding window matched filter (102) for filtering an input digital signal with a match filtering function based on predetermined signal transfer function characteristics to average out receiver noise from the signal. A signal delay bank (84) includes a plurality of delay blocks each for delaying the digital signal filtered by the single matched filter for a predetermined number of samples. A complex correlator (88) correlates the digital signal filtered by the single complex sliding window matched filter (102) and delayed by the complex correlator (88) with a correlator reference signal, and selects an index of a path having a peak correlator value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel biodegradable block for models, which has excellent workability and machinability and has mechanical properties suitable for models, while surely ensuring its biodegradability. The block is made of a biodegradable plastic material comprising a biodegradable polymer as the base polymer. The biodegradable polymer is a mixture comprising an esterified starch having a degree of substitution (DS) of about 0.4 or more and an esterified cellulose having a DS of about 0.4 or more, in ratio by weight, the former/the latter, of being from 10/0 to 1/9. The plastic material may further contain any of ester plasticizer and organic or inorganic fillers to make the block have desired physical properties.

Abstract: A signal calibrator (14) for a software-defined communications device (10) that enables device communications signals to be transmitted in a manner that maximally decouples the calibrator (14) from the device hardware (40), and that simplifies the design and reduces the cost of the communications device (10). The calibrator (14) includes a software modulator (16) for generating a nonstop stream of samples including zero valued samples and non-zero valued waveform bursts, and a software demodulator (18) connected to the software modulator (16) via a closed loop feedback path (20) that receives a nonstop stream of samples. The non-zero valued samples create radio emissions. The software demodulator (18) is for determining a timing error of the transmission sample and for transmitting a timing error correction value to the software modulator (16) via the closed loop feedback path (20).

Abstract: An active signal suppression system utilizes multi-rate recombinant transmultiplexer (56) to suppress or cancel an undesired signal (46) from a wideband composite signal (40) to be applied to an analog to digital converter (20). The transmultiplexer (56) includes a first demultiplexer (88,90), multiplier (100), switch (120), and multiplexer (128,130). The demultiplexer and multiplexer each have a poly phase filter and Fast Fourier Transform pair which permit channelization and facilitate the generation of a cancellation signal (145) for suppression of the undesired signal. Signal cancellation circuit (60) receives the composite signal (40) at one input (70) and the cancellation signal (145) at another input (76). A minimum mean square estimation circuit (MMSE) (158) and a second demultiplexer (145, 146) are included in a feedback circuit to provide error correction.

Abstract: A game material set is provided for playing a game of chance for monetary prizes and includes a plurality of individual playing cards each having one or more groups of game symbols printed thereon and selectively concealed under break-open windows. The game symbol groups provide a first level of game play whereby players with winning game symbol groups can receive instant prize awards. A master game card is provided which includes a sign-up area for players having contingent money-match bonus prize qualifier symbols printed on their individual play cards. A master card window selectively conceals a winning bonus prize symbol list comprising a subset of the contingent money-match bonus prize qualifier symbols. Opening the master game card window to expose the winning bonus prize symbol list identifies the players who receive prizes in the bonus level of play.