Abstract: An improved electronic braking system for walkers that incorporates one or more electrically-operated brakes controlled by an electronic controller is disclosed. The controller is responsive to touch-sensitive switches for easy operation, and is adjustable and responsive to operator patterns of use to provide individualized control of the brake operation. The controller may also be responsive to environmental conditions such as the slope of the ground over which the walker is moving, to its rate of motion, or to the distance between the walker frame and the user, and may be adjusted to accommodate for the weight of the user or to set limits to the speed at which it can move.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for use with an exhaustible power source and load such as a light bulb, a radio or motor, includes a microchip with an input that transmits a signal to the microchip when the load is activated or deactivated. The input does not form a serial link between the power source and the load. The power switch, by on/off switching, controls energy flow from the power source to the load. The electronic circuit has an automatic delayed shut-off function for the load and, a find-in-the-dark indicator and a power source level indicator which are active when the load is not energized and the power source is not being charged. The input to the microchip acts as an activation/deactivation user interface. The microchip allows the user to select specific functions based on the time duration of activation signals, the time duration between activation signals and the number of activation signals at the input.

Abstract: Deep reactive ion etching creates a single mask MEMS structure 20-50 &eegr;m deep on the top surface of a wafer. Thereafter, a bottom surface etch cooperates with trenches formed in the MEMS structure to provide through trenches which release large area structures of arbitrary shape and having a thickness up to that of the wafer. The released structure is supported in the wafer by MEMS support beams and motion is detected and affected by MEMS sensors and actuators, respectively.

Abstract: An isolation process which enhances the performance of silicon micromechanical devices incorporates dielectric isolation segments within the silicon microstructure, which is otherwise composed of an interconnected grid of cantilevered beams. A metal layer on top of the beams provides interconnects and also allows contact to the silicon beams, electrically activating the device for motion or transduction. Multiple conduction paths are incorporated through a metal patterning step prior to structure definition. The invention improves manufacturability of previous processes by performing all lithographic patterning steps on flat topographies, and removing complicated metal sputtering steps required of most high aspect ratio processes. With little modification, the invention can be implemented with in grated circuit fabrication sequences for fully integrated devices.

Abstract: Two network communication protocols, one for routing and one for mobility management, are presented that are particularly suited for use with ad-hoc networks. The routing protocol is a proactive-reactive hybrid routing protocol that limits the scope of the proactive procedure to the node's local neighborhood. Routing zones are defined for each node that include nodes whose distance from the subject node in hops is at most some predefined number, referred to as the zone radius. Each node is required to know the topology of the network within its routing zone only. The reactive procedure is limited during route discovery to queries of only those nodes located on the periphery of routing zones. In this manner, the queries hop across nodes in distances of zone radius, thus limiting the scope of the reactive procedure. The zone radius is preferably adjustable to accommodate different and differing network topologies and network operational conditions in the most efficient manner.

Abstract: A hinge lid cigarette packet has an upper lid and a lower lid. The packet is constructed from a blank which is of a configuration which is symmetrical about the longitudinal centerline thereof. The upper lid is formed, in conventional fashion, of specifically lid panels of the blank, whereas the lower lid is formed of portions of what in a conventional single hinge lid packet are body panels. In order for the second lid to be moved from its closed position on the first opening thereof, front and side panels of the lid are separated at lines of weakening from bounding body panels.

Abstract: A continuous-flow water distiller includes a housing having a removable heating vessel which receives water to be distilled A heater is immersed within the water in the vessel for producing steam. The housing includes an openable lid which, when closed, seals the heating vessel so that steam can be directed through an outlet into a condenser located in the housing. Raw water is supplied to the heating vessel through a heat exchanger to preheat the raw water by effectively utilizing thermal energy recovery to initiate cooling of the steam, and distillate is supplied through the condenser to enhance heat exchange.

Abstract: The density or size of an ink roll, which is formed in an ink fountain of a rotary printing press, is determined either directly or indirectly at several spaced locations. The measured values are then evaluated. A signal is generated to an ink feed device, or a warning signal can be transmitted in accordance with the size or density of the ink roll and its deviation from reference values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite enthalpy exchanger useful for transferring or removing latent and sensible heat from a gaseous stream. This enthalpy exchanger consists of a cellulose-based substrate impregnated with a polymeric desiccant. Also provided is a method of manufacture of the enthalpy exchanger wherein the process for synthesizing the polymer on the substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a tactile communication system which provides a method and apparatus for presenting tactile communications in real time to people who lack the senses of sight, hearing, or both, but who have a functional tactile sense. To facilitate real-time communications, a new Phonetic Braille Code is provided which replaces the existing alphabet-based braille codes. The Phonetic Braille Code uses braille symbols which represent word sounds or phonemes, rather than letters. There is also provided an apparatus which enables the user to change from one-finger braille reading to two-finger or multiple-finger braille reading. The two-finger braille reading method facilitates the simultaneous perception of two-letter phonemes. By reading phonemes using a two finger method, rather than reading letter-by-letter with a single finger, communication speed can be increased to the point of real time. The apparatus of the invention includes several embodiments of portable tactile communication devices.

Abstract: A security device for laptop- or notebook-type portable computers is provided for the securing of such a computer to a surface. The device comprises, in general a retainer for engaging the computer's display; positioning structure for moving the retainer into and out of engagement with the display; and a mounting structure therefor which is securable to the surface. The device includes a locking mechanism which functions to fix the position of the retainer a predetermined distance above the surface to trap the computer against the surface and, hence, prevent its removal. The device is adapted to quickly engage and disengage the computer and to provide a minimum of inconvenience with respect to the task of locking and unlocking the computer. When not in use, the device moves substantially out of the way so as to minimize obstruction of the surface on which the device is employed.

Abstract: A mooring system for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) employs a vessel mounted rotatable turret and a single point mooring arrangement. The mooring arrangement includes a single anchor chain that is removably attached at a top end to the vessel, and is attached at a submerged bottom end to three sealed anchored leg chains. The anchor chain is secured to the vessel by means of a chain stopper that is centrally located in the rotatable turret, and allows the vessel to rotate freely about the anchor chain's vertical axis. One or more submerged fluid carrying risers are detachably connected to a swivel stack positioned above the mooring table in line with the rotational axis of the anchor chain so that the risers and the anchor chain will not become entangled with one another during vessel rotation.

Abstract: An integrated polarization sensing apparatus and method uses a self-homodyne detection scheme to provide required sensitivity for numerous applications, such as glucose concentration monitoring, without the need for expensive, bulky components. The detection scheme is implemented by splitting a polarized laser beam with a polarization beam splitter into a P wave component and an S wave component, phase modulating the P wave component and recombining the two components. The polarization of the combined optical beam is then rotated slightly by the variable to be monitored, such as by passing the beam through a glucose solution. Finally, the beam is passed onto a photodetector that generates a signal that is proportional to the polarization rotation angle. This device has the advantage of employing optical components, including polarizing beam splitters, phase modulators and lenses, that can all be fabricated on a single silicon chip using MEMS technology so that the device can be made compact and inexpensive.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope produces molecular excitation in a target material by simultaneous absorption of three or more photons to thereby provide intrinsic three-dimensional resolution. Fluorophores having single photon absorption in the short (ultraviolet or visible) wavelength range are excited by a beam of strongly focused subpicosecond pulses of laser light of relatively long (red or infrared) wavelength range. The fluorophores absorb at about one third, one fourth or an even smaller fraction of the laser wavelength to produce fluorescent images of living cells and other microscopic objects. The fluorescent emission from the fluorophores increases cubicly, quarticly or even higher power law with the excitation intensity so that by focusing the laser light, fluorescence as well as photobleaching are confined to the vicinity of the focal plane.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for reclaiming and recycling oil/water mixtures. These mixtures are preferably hot or cold rolling oils for aluminum manufacturing operations. When used, the rolling oils contain organometallic particles and have less constituents than the unused oils. The present process enables the valuable portion of the oil to be reused by passing through an acid wash and a reconstitution process.

Abstract: An access system and method provides interactive access to an information source, such as the Internet, through a networked distribution system, such as a television distribution system. Each user in the television distribution system can access the Internet through an associated terminal by sending commands through an upstream channel to a headend server which is interfaced between a television network headend and an Internet Service Provider(ISP). The headend server manages all Internet information requests from the terminals by forwarding the requests to the ISP and receiving the requested information therefrom. An Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned only to the headend server which keeps track of the terminals requesting information by means of terminal identification numbers or codes associated with each request.

Abstract: A method for making hollow workpieces such as beverage containers with a circular die in which an aluminum alloy is strip cast whereby the alloy is solidified rapidly without substantial precipitation. Thereafter, the aluminum alloy is formed into a cup which is drawn and passed through one or more dies to iron the walls of the cup and thereby lengthen the side walls thereof using at least one circular die having a die angle of less than about 6 degrees and a chamfer angle of less than 35 degrees. It has been found that the use of such die angles prevents or minimizes galling and tearoffs.