Abstract: A digital filter for a phase-locked loop operates to compare the bit values of the data represented by the incoming pulse stream with patterns in that pulse stream known to produce bit shifting (either early or late). The bit shift caused by physical interaction of bits encoded on computer diskettes or the like always is predictable, in accordance with the pattern of previous bits, the current bit and the next bit. This information is processed by a logic circuit to predict which pulses in the incoming stream of data pulses are shifted. A signal is produced each time a predicted shifted pulse is determined; and this signal is utilized in conjunction with the output of the phase difference counter in the digital phase-locked loop to permit the phase of the controlled oscillator to be adjusted at each unshifted bit in a normal manner, and compensated for adjustment in a modified manner as a result of the prediction of the shifted pulses.

Abstract: A digital phase detector circuit is designed for particular application with a phase-locked loop voltage controlled oscillator system for synchronizing the MFM synchronization pulses on a floppy disk with the operation of the computer in which the disk is used. A classical Type 4 digital phase detector is employed, to which a bistable latch is added. The latch is set upon coincidence of reference and data pulses applied to the phase detector within a pre-established time interval or window. The output of the phase detector then is utilized only when the output of the latch indicates such coincidence; so that erroneous control signals are not supplied through the loop whenever data pulses fail to occur in adjacent time frames or windows.

Abstract: A swimming pool alarm responsive to wave motion that will produce a signal when two waves exceeding a threshold level of amplitude are sensed within a preset duration of time. A transducer senses air or water pressure changes and produces electrical signals corresponding to the changes. A comparator system, connected to the transducer, receives the transducer signals and, if the signals exceed a preset threshold level, transmits a signal to the discriminator system. The discriminator times the signals received from the comparator and when two signals are received within a specified period of time, a third signal is generated. A warning device such as an alarm is connected to the discriminator and will be activated by the third signal.

Abstract: A detaping machine is provided for removing parts from a reel of sealed pocket tape, with minimum handling of such parts. The machine has a spindle on which the sealed pocket tape is mounted. The pocket tape includes a carrier tape portion and a cover tape portion. The carrier tape is fed into the detaping machine in an inverted position; and it is guided on an upper track of the machine. The cover tape is wound on a take-up reel located beneath the upper track. As the cover tape is wound, the carrier tape is driven on the upper track between guide flanges. An aperture is located in the upper track, and it is sized to permit devices, located in the inverted pockets of the carrier tape, to drop through to a second guide track located beneath the aperture. The devices in the second guide track then may be repackaged in carrier tubes or the like, without damaging the leads and without manual handling.

Abstract: A temperature control chamber is designed for use with refrigerant recovery systems. The temperature control chamber comprises a main base portion, in the form of an upright container, with an open top. A refrigerant storage tank is placed in the container, which has dimensions such that the handle on the top of the storage tank extends beyond the top of the sides of the main base portion of the container. A rigid cover, with an aperture in its center, fits down over the open end of the main base portion; and the handle of the refrigerant storage tank extends through the aperture. A plurality of releaseable latches then secure the cover to the main base portion; so that when the refrigerant tank within the temperature control chamber is lifted and moved from place to place by means of its handle, the temperature control chamber also is lifted by the interaction of the top of the tank with the cover pressing downwardly on the top of the tank.

Abstract: A walker for assisting a physically impaired person in ascending and descending stairs has the four legs pivotally attached to the upper frame of the walker. When the walker is in use, the legs are locked against any pivotal movement; so that the walker provides a stable support for the person using it. When stairs are to be negotiated, a locking member is released to permit relative pivotal movement of the legs with respect to the side portions of the walker frame to be effected. Thus, the front of the frame may be lifted relative to the rear, causing the legs to pivot generally toward the rear by an amount sufficient to permit the front legs to be placed on a step of a staircase. After this has been done, the legs again are locked into position; and the walker maintains this relative position so that the person using it may negotiate the stairs. A reverse of this operation is effected for descending stairs.

Abstract: A vehicle, such as a sport utility vehicle, is provided with a vertically moving panel for opening and closing the rear of the vehicle. The panel is mounted on telescoping tracks located on opposited sides of an opening in the rear of the vehicle, and moves from a closed position covering the opening to an open position located vertically above the vehicle. The panel moves in a plane parallel to the opening in the vehicle; and gas cylinders are provided to facilitate the opening and closing of the panel, and to hold it in an open position after it has been lifted to such a position.

Abstract: An air filter for use with a forced air handling system has a pad of air-permeable material held in a bordering frame. The bordering frame has a generally U-shaped cross section, with opposing legs extending a short distance over the edge of the pad of air-permeable material. The legs of the bordering frame have spaced apertures extending through them; and scented material is placed within the frame and located so that air passage through the apertures in the frame passes through the scented material to evaporate or volatilize the scented material and supply it to the filtered air flowing through the filter pad.

Abstract: A pipe machine dolly/cart combination is designed with spaced-apart wheels at both ends of a load carrying platform. Removable handles are provided to permit the dolly/cart combination to be manipulated from both ends to be rolled about on a surface, and to be pivoted about the wheels on either end. With the handles attached to one end, the dolly/cart may be manipulated by a single person to permit the loading and unloading of the cart to and from a raised surface, such as the bed of a truck. When the removable handles are secured to the other end, the device may be used as a dolly to transport the load, and to deposit the load on a surface when the device is pivoted 90.degree. . The device is ideally suited for facilitating the loading and unloading and transportation, by a single person, of a relatively heavy load, such as a pipe threading machine, or the like.

Abstract: An interactive audio system employs a sound signal processor coupled with a microprocessor as an interactive audio control system. A pair of tranceivers, operated as stereophonic loudspeakers and also as receiving microphones, are coupled with the signal processor for receiving voice commands from a principal user. The voice commands are processed to operate a variety of different devices, such as television, tape, radio or CD player for supplying signals to the processor, from which signals then are supplied to the loudspeakers of the transceivers to produce the desired sound. Additional infrared sensors may be utilized to constantly triangulate the position of the principal listener to supply signals back through the transceiver system to the processor for constantly adjusting the balance of the sound to maintain the "sweet spot" of the sound focused on the principal listener.

Abstract: A low-skew CMOS clock divider circuit for providing tracking of the divide-by-one and divide-by-two output signals obtained from a source of master clock pulses is fabricated using two matched flip-flops externally wired as divide-by-two devices. Coincidence gates are coupled with the outputs of the flip-flops to produce the desired divide-by-one and divide-by-two output signals in a manner such that the signals in each path pass through substantially identical circuit components, Thus, any delays encountered are the same in both circuit paths. In this manner, skew between the edges of the divide-by-two and divide-by-one clock signals is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A hardware system provides a programmable method for addressing expanded memory specification (EMS) registers in a personal computing system functioning with an MS-Dos.RTM. operating system or the like. The system provides hardware flexibility for addressing EMS registers at different addresses than the standard LIM EMS specification calls for, to permit utilization of register addresses in otherwise unavailable locations. The address translations are effected through hardware; so that no additional delays in the circuit operation occur.

Abstract: A device for facilitating the carrying of various types of balls, such as basketballs, soccer balls, volley balls, footballs, and the like, consists of an elongated oval-shaped carrier made of elastic resilient material, such as neoprene. The length of the carrier is less than the outer circumference of the ball to be carried; and a flexible adjustable strap is provided between the two ends of the carrier to permit it to be securely and tightly pulled into contact with the ball. This causes the carrier to stretch or expand to the contour of the shape of the ball to be carried, and to hold the ball with constant frictional tension. A shoulder carrying strap is attached to the opposite ends of the carrier; so that the ball readily and easily can be carried by means of the shoulder strap.

Abstract: An electric car is powered from a primary power source in the form of a three-phase parallel resonant electric motor operated at a constant speed (the speed of resonance). The electric motor is provided with operating power from an invertor coupled to storage batteries in the electric car. The motor drives a main hydraulic pump, which is hydraulically connected with a pair of variable displacement drive motors, each connected to different drive wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle. The fluid flow through the pump is varied from 0% to 100% to control the speed of operation of the drive motors connected to the drive wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A gate hinge member is designed for attachment to a metal T-post fence post. The gate hinge comprises at least one pair of first and second L-shaped hinge members, which are secured by means of a U-shaped fastener to the T-post in a tight wedged relationship. The spacing between the hinge members is selected to accommodate a hinge pin, which is passed through a pair of spaced holes in hinge-pin holding plates of the first and second hinge members. The hinge-pin holding plates extend outwardly perpendicular to the T-post. The hinge pin is adapted to be passed through a mating cylindrical hinge member on the gate to pivotally secure the gate in place between the hinge members. After assembly, the hinge pin is releaseably secured in place by means of cotter pins passed through holes adjacent each of the ends of the hinge pin. The gate hinge may be placed in any vertical position on the face of a T-post, and cannot accidently be dismantled.

Abstract: A pressurized gas chlorinator is constructed in the form of a two-compartment pressurized container. The lower container is filled with a media liquid, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl). A pair of electrodes are located in the lower container beneath the surface of the media liquid, with one of the electrodes located at or near the bottom of the container and the other electrode located at or just below the top surface of the media liquid. Electric current is applied to the electrodes to cause a breakdown of the HCl into Hydrogen and Chlorine gas. A floor member is spaced a short distance above the surface of the media liquid in the lower compartment, and has an opening in it. This floor member comprises the bottom of the upper compartment; and gas is passed upwardly through the opening in the floor member into the upper compartment.

Abstract: A high resolution digitally controlled oscillator is in the form of a digital frequency divider, which uses calculation logic to utilize both the rising edge and the falling edge (start edge and stop edge) of the input clock pulses to provide the capability of alternating between two adjacent frequencies. This results in significantly improved resolution, since the division ratio is not dependent upon any integral number of clock periods.

Abstract: Integrated circuit parts to be loaded are guided down an inclined ramp in a guideway for gravity feeding into a storage and transport tube. A tube holder member is attached to the bottom of the ramp; and it has an aperture through it for receiving a tube to be loaded. A blocking device, in the form of a lever arm, is attached to the tube holder member, and extends into the guideway through which the integrated circuit devices travel. When a tube is inserted into the tube holder member, a projection on the lever arm is engaged by the end of the tube to move the lever arm out of engagement with the guideway or any integrated circuit parts in it. When the tube is full of parts, it is removed from the tube holder member and the lever arm drops into place to either rest on the top of the next integrated circuit part in line or to fall into the guideway to prevent further movement of parts into the tube holder member.