Abstract: A method of making a stone veneer panel including finishing one face of a slab of stone material; placing the slab finished face down on a support plate; machining the unfinished face to obtain a predetermined thickness of the slab; and bonding a backing sheet to the unfinished face of the stone slab to produce a composite stone veneer panel.

Abstract: A dual layered magnetic card with an apparatus for reading data therefrom and recording data thereon. The magnetic card includes (a) a card body, (b) a first magnetic layer disposed on the card body, the first magnetic layer including a first magnetic material, (c) a second magnetic layer disposed on the first magnetic layer, the second magnetic layer including a second magnetic material having Curie temperature lower than that of the first magnetic material and a coercive force at an ambient temperature higher than that of the first magnetic material. Also disclosed is an apparatus for reading data on the magnetic card, having a reader, post processor and data eraser, and an apparatus for reading and recording data having a recorder, reader, post processor and a data eraser.

Abstract: A portable, collapsible baby bed and carrying bag includes a base panel foldable about a lateral axis; the base panel having a bottom surface and a top surface; engaging means for releasably securing together the base panel with the bottom surface facing itself on the opposite sides of the lateral axis in the folded position; peripheral wall extending up from and around the base panel and including opposing side walls and opposing end walls; two of the opposing walls including securing means for securing together the opposing walls over the base panel.

Abstract: A self-assembled personalized message device including a base substrate with one or more blank areas on which messages can be written; a transparent cover sheet for covering the message areas, a material for adhering the cover sheet to the substrate, and a removable, opaque coating on the cover sheet for obscuring the message area when the cover sheet is adhered to the substrate in which the opaque material is capable of being rubbed off the cover sheet to selectively reveal the message written in the message areas.

Abstract: A locking device including a plurality of small, discrete elements and means for confining the elements in a string. Further included are primary and secondary biasing means at opposite ends of the string for biasing the elements into a contiguous series with each adjacent pair meeting at a junction. The locking device also has a plurality of actuator means. Each of the actuator means in an unlocked state is poised adjacent a junction, and is movable from the unlocked state to a locked state in which it is interjected into its adjacent junction for shifting the remainder of the elements against the force of the biasing means to misalign all of the remaining junctions with respect to their associated actuators and prevent the remaining actuators from moving to the locked state. The biasing means returns all the elements to the contiguous series when the actuator means in the locked state is returned to the unlocked state.

Abstract: A power FET includes a substrate of semi-insulating material having a top side and a ground side; an FET fabricated on the ground side of the substrate; and conductor means in the substrate extending from the drain electrode and the gate electrode on the ground side to the top side of the substrate. A ground plane on the ground side of the substrate contacts the source electrode of the FET and is spaced from the gate and drain electrodes to form a dome for minimizing ground inductance and maximizing heat transfer from the FET independent of the thickness of the substrate.

Abstract: An improved fingerboard for a stringed instrument having a series of substantially planar raised surfaces, each surface having an edge disposed toward the nut of the instrument, a "fret edge". The fret edges are located at fret positions along the strings and may be provided by the attachment of fret blocks to the fingerboard. Between the raised surfaces are recessed surfaces which are at least partially inclined to verge upon the fret edges of the raised surfaces. Alternatively, the raised surfaces and recessed surfaces may be formed of a single monolithic member. The fingerboard is a modular unit which may be installed on the neck of the instrument or may comprise the neck of the instrument itself. Recessed surfaces may include indicator means to show the fret position of a proximate fret edge.

Abstract: A digital spatial filter system includes means for separating an image formed of a matrix of pixels into four regularly distributed interleaved subimages from alternate rows and columns of the matrix pixels; means for convolving each of the four subimages with two orthogonal unidimensioanal, vectors of a convolving kernel to produce four filtered subimages; and means for recombining said convolved four filtered subimages into the original image filtered.

Abstract: A universal launch cable assembly for testing multimode fiber optic cable includes a first connector for interfacing with a light source; a second connector for interfacing with a fiber optic cable to be tested; and a stepped index fiber optic cable having an optical fiber of a diameter larger than the diameter of the fiber in the cable to be tested and being disposed in a curved path and having a numerical aperture for generating a secondary uniform, symmetrical, idealized light source. Also disclosed is an intergrated idealized light source system using the univeral launch cable and having means for adjusting the output of the light source as a function of the diameter of the fiber in the cable to be tested.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for raising a roof including at least two lifting beams which are generally parallel to the peak or highest point of the roof and at least two pairs of lifting towers which are arranged about the building. Each pair of lifting towers has one tower disposed along one face of the building and the other tower disposed along the opposite face of the building. The lifting beams are interconnected with the roof portion and the lifting towers; the selected roof portion is then severed from the building and lifting means raises the lifting beams and the attached selected portion of the roof. After installing walls under the raised portion of the roof, the roof is lowered and attached to the newly constructed walls to form the additional expanded space of the building.

Abstract: A rotor system for a rotor convertible fixed winged aircraft comprising a rotatable rotor shaft mounted on one of the wings of the aircraft, the shaft tiltable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, a rotor mounted to the shaft and including at least one blade, the blade having an adjustable blade angle relative to the shaft, apparatus for tilting the shaft between the vertical and horizontal positions, controls responsive to the tilting of the shaft for automatically adjusting the blade angle of a blade to an autogyro blade angle when the shaft is in the vertical position and to a substantially feathered blade angle when the shaft is in the horizontal position.

Abstract: A multi-use number board including a board having a series of substantially square raised surfaces or lands arranged in rows and columns on the top surface of the board and separated by an array of substantially perpendicular channels, and including holes at the intersections of the channels; the pegs having two ends, both of which may be inserted into the holes, one end being easily removable, the other end forming a friction fit so the peg extends fixedly from the surface of the board.

Abstract: A conforming heat sink assembly including a heat dispersive element is mounted in spaced relationship to a surface from which heat is to be conducted. A thermal interface is provided for coupling the heat dispersive element to the surface from which heat is to be conducted. The thermal interface includes an elastomeric member which occupies only a portion of a volume defined by mounting the heat dispersive element proximate the surface from which heat is to be conducted. The unoccupied volume allows the elastomeric member to easily conform to the irregular surface from which heat is to be conducted to enhance thermal conductivity from the surface to the heat dispersive member.

Abstract: A microtonal key module includes a central key and a number of surrounding keys clustered about the central key. The central key and the surrounding keys establish among each other a progression of successive microtonal increments. A plurality of such microtonal key modules are arranged to form a microtonal keyboard system.

Abstract: A control system for stabilizing a vehicle resiliently levitated above a guideway including at least two sets of at least two aerodynamic control means mounted on the vehicle. The sets of aerodynamic control means are spaced longitudinally along the vehicle and the control means in each set are spaced on the vehicle. Further included are means for sensing the acceleration of the vehicle in at least one mode of oscillation and means, responsive to the means for sensing acceleration, for operating the aerodynamic control means to provide offsetting forces and moments for correcting the sensed acceleration to damp vehicle oscillation.

Abstract: A floor distribution slab comprises a base (1) and a plane lid. The base (1) is constituted by a base plate (11) having spacers (12, 13) upstanding thereon, together with the sides (16) of a connection housing (17). The spacers and advantageously the sides (16) of the housing (17) support the lid and keep it at a distance from the base plate (11). The sides of the housing (17) include at least one opening for passing cables. The housing (17) is provided to receive a fixing block (22) for connection (electricity outlets, telephone sockets, computer connectors, etc.). The lid of a slab fitted with a block (22) includes an opening for uncovering the block. A slab in accordance with the invention can be used for disposing connection scheme in any location in a given area. It also enables the connection to be displaced without difficulty. Further, it is cheap to manufacture and easy to lay.

Abstract: A variable color print of an image including an image medium having a plurality of differently oriented local image regions. Each region includes a number of periodic variations in an optical characteristic of the medium which extend substantially in a first direction within that region and are generally parallel to each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction. Each region further includes a number of periodic variations in color which extend in the first direction and are generally parallel to each other in the second direction and are generally aligned with the periodic optical variations in that region. The periodic optical variations selectively prevent viewing of one or more of the color variations at different viewing angles to generate changes in color of the viewed image as the viewing angle changes. A method of forming such a variable color print is also disclosed.

Abstract: A memory module for controlling access by a processor to information stored within the memory module including a memory for storing a plurality of groups of information, each group including a data word, an operation word for indicating the operation to be performed by the processor on the data word, and a state word for representing the status of that group for processing by the processor. A selection module accepts an access request from the processor for an identified group, and for interpreting the contents of the request. The memory module further includes a state modification module for determining, based on the information within the identified group in the memory and the interpretation by the selection module, when the identified group is ready to be processed by the processor, for updating the status of the identified group by selectively modifying the state word, and for selectively signalling the processor when the identified group is ready to be processed.

Abstract: A pad for use in a pad cup positioned over an opening in a musical instrument, the pad having a seal element which initially forms an impression of the rim of the opening and fixes the impression. The pad further includes a support member which carries the seal element to securely position the impression relative to the rim to seal the opening when the pad is brought to bear against the rim. The support element also damps vibrations generated when the seal element contacts the rim.

Abstract: A member of sheet material has cut out portions and fold lines, so that when it is folded up and central areas attached together to form a spine display areas are provided in different planes. The display area may be used to display a photograph or picture having with any one of a large range of sizes. The bottom edge of the member may have a V-shaped cut-out so that it leans back slightly when erected.