Abstract: A method and system for water conservation relies upon the reduction of evaporative losses from water storages having a high ratio of surface area to depth. The system comprises a plurality of buoyant flexible membrane strips interconnected along adjacent edges and anchored by anchor members about the periphery of the water storage. The membrane strips include spaced apertures to prevent accumulation of rain water on upper surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic detection and matching of power line impedance which makes use of level detection and source impedance circuits in electronic communication with the existing circuitry of a power line communication devices are disclosed. This invention uses modified power line communication device circuitry to sense the impedance of the power line and to correct its impedance to match the impedance of the power line. By automatically sensing and adjusting the source impedance of the power line jack this invention maximizes power transfer to and from the power line, reduces radiated power as well as the power line reflection coefficient.

Abstract: An improved bolt, bolt carrier and barrel assembly for rifles is described. This invention provides bolt mechanism that has heavier lugs on each side of the extractor to distribute the forces more equally and reliably and thereby reducing firearm failure rate. Moreover, this invention provides a bolt system that is easily adaptable to different ammunition feed devices as well as different ammunition cartridges. This invention further includes a barrel having a barrel extension designed to mate to the symmetrical bolt head lugs of this invention.

Abstract: A battery operated hand held device for use in handling or controlling livestock, particularly cattle, swine, sheep and horses. This invention provides a novel alternative to conventional electric livestock prods, which deliver an electric shock to the animal. While operating on the principle of external stimulus to invoke a flight response, this invention relies on vibration and/or sound rather than painful electric shock. This unique mode of action satisfies the needs in the livestock industry for low stress handling equipment and techniques with the welfare of the animal as a priority.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting power line null frequencies and for adjusting the transmit frequency and transmit power to maximize the reliability and efficiency of the AC power line transmission link is described. This invention uses a programmable logic device in the transmitter, which transmits multiple frequencies to a receiver. The receiver detects and records the bit error rate and/or the received noise per frequency and communicates this information to the transmitter. When all desired frequencies have been transmitted and tested, the optimal frequency is identified or selected. Generally, the optimal frequency is the frequency requiring the lowest transmit power while maintaining an acceptable bit error rate or an acceptable noise level.

Abstract: A method and system for remotely calibrating a headset telephone with a reliable, accurate and easy to use user interface is provided. This method makes use of the remote programmability of advanced telephone headsets and DTMF signal encoding and permits the customer-user to instigate the calibration procedure with an ordinary telephone call. The invention provides the means by which the optimum settings can be transmitted to the headset, loaded and stored in the headset, thereby improving the audio quality of telephone headsets by providing adjustment steps for such audio qualities as microphone gain (transmit level), speaker gain, background noise and echo cancellation, filter functions and diagnostics. This method also provides audio feedback to a customer service representative performing the calibration to insure that the commands and adjustments were properly received.

Abstract: A method or process for making polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline CBN cutting tools (Superabrasives), which have integral chip-breaking features is disclosed. This method involves pressing a die or other like rigid component against either the outer can cover or the diamond or CBN region directly. This invention provides economical manufacture of diamond chip-breaker tools, while avoiding unnecessary EDM EDG, grinding, or laser processes. This process forms the chip-breaker on the upper surface of the diamond region, during or prior to sintering. This invention permits a wide variety of chip-breaker or other diamond surface features, while minimizing cost and processing steps. Disclosed embodiments include: pressing through the can assembly; pressing within the assembly by introducing a rigid component in the can; and pressing two cans together with an intervening rigid component imposing the desired diamond surface features.

Abstract: A system for measuring magnetic fields outside a ferromagnetic container from inside the same container is described. The invention uses magneti circuits to direct the flow of magnetic flux to a magnetic field detector. By using magnetic fields for detection, this invention is able to measure the properties of magnetic materials outside the ferromagnetic container, such as a geologic formation, electric or magnetic parameters, or log well and drill holes that have been cased.

Abstract: A cutting element, insert or compact, is provided for use with drills used in the drilling and boring of subterranean formations. This new insert, in its preferred embodiment, has a “hoop” region of polycrystalline diamond extending around the periphery of the compact to reduce the residual stresses inherent in thick diamond regions of cutters, thereby providing improved wear and durability characteristics because it avoids failures due to stresses, delaminations and fractures caused by the differences in thermal expansion coefficient between the diamond and the substrate during sintering. Moreover, this invention may provide multiple polycrystalline diamond edges as the PDC wears.

Abstract: A method for supporting the end-user of a software application program is provided, wherein the end-user is provided the capability of communicating directly with the application program vendor and/or developer to request enhancement, provide comments, report defects and/or to ask questions. Moreover, this method provides an automatic communication that provides the developer of an application program such critical information as usage of program or document information, defects, and user comments. This invention provides a technique that minimizes the load and/or requirements for specially trained customer service personnel while simultaneously decreasing the feed-back lag time, thereby providing information, which is sufficiently timely to aid in the improvement of the quality of application software.

Abstract: A neurological control system for modulating activity of any component or structure comprising the entirety or portion of the nervous system, or any structure interfaced thereto, generally referred to herein as a “nervous system component.” The neurological control system generates neural modulation signals delivered to a nervous system component through one or more intracranial (IC) stimulating electrodes in accordance with treatment parameters. Such treatment parameters may be derived from a neural response to previously delivered neural modulation signals sensed by one or more sensors, each configured to sense a particular characteristic indicative of a neurological or psychiatric condition. Neural modulation signals include any control signal which enhances or inhibits cell activity.

Abstract: A conduit stress relief strap, which provides improved weight and tension relief along with being an adjustable, flexible, easy to attach and detach strap. This invention is particularly adapted to provide relief to hoses, cables, and other like flexible conduit. The combination of hook and loop fasteners and strap loop devices provides greatly improved flexibility and adjustment while maintaining stress relief at the point of connection between two conduits.

Abstract: A video game controller joystick strap device is provided which fits on the joystick, preferably by an expandable buttonhole. This device is provided with a fastener permitting the strap to fixed around a user's thumb or finger. Cushioning is also provided to relieve the stress on the user's thumb or finger, thereby avoiding blistering or other injury. In its preferred embodiment, the fastener is a hook and loop device and a the cushioning is provided by either a layer of neoprene rubber or one or more portions of neoprene rubber mounted to a fabric layer.

Abstract: A synthetic gasket material and the method for make such is described. This invention is specifically adapted for use in high-pressure, high-temperature presses. This material is made from a compacted, granulated and dried mixture of talc, garnet, and sodium silicate. This composition provides an alternative to the use of natural pyrophyllite as the material for gasket components, thereby reducing the cost of the materials. This composition can be pressed to net or near net geometry, thereby generating less waste. Moreover, this composition provides more consistency for the gasket components. Furthermore, this material has improved thermal insulator properties, thereby leading to lower power consumption used in the high-pressure, high-temperature presses.

Abstract: A system and method for registering computer software modules to allow or reject it for opportunities of interacting with a computer system, hardware and software and receiving service requests is described. The method is designed to receive the module; to check whether the module contains any suspect “virus type” code; to check the module's version compatibility; to check if the module contains an agreement string, a trademark string and a copyrighted text string. If all checks are valid, the module is registered and permitted to link and receive service requests. If not the module is rejected.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying the status of tasks or processes in a computer system is described. The method is designed to receive the expected time for task completion and by comparing the time used per task computes a task status indicator. The method displays the resulting status to the user in an intuitive manner with four configurations indicating: process running normally, process running intermittently, process stopped normally, and process halted unexpectedly. The device when properly used by the method combine to form a communications device which clearly and easily communicates to the user of the computer system the operational status of the selected program, routine or process and does so without requiring the allocation of significant continuous processing overhead.

Abstract: A natural language understanding system is described which provides for the generation of concept codes from free-text medical data. A probabilistic model of lexical semantics, in the preferred embodiment of the invention implemented by means of a Bayesian network, is used to determine the most probable concept or meaning associated with a sentence or phrase. The inventive method and system includes the steps of checking for synonyms, checking spelling, performing syntactic parsing, transforming text to its “deep” or semantic form, and performing a semantic analysis based on a probabilistic model of lexical semantics. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, spell checking and transformational processing as well as semantic analysis make use of semantic probabilistic determinations.