Abstract: A movable-vehicle security system includes a facial-recognition system including a scanner such as a television or infrared camera directed at the face of a person in the driver's seat, which system produces output control signals that are applied to enable or disable operation of the vehicle, with or without a key or other supplemental security system. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a camera mounted on the “third taillight” assembly (which is preferably mounted below the roof and inside the rear window), directed at the rear-view mirror, and coupled to a facial-recognition computer, which in turn is coupled (with appropriate security precautions) to an enabling element for the vehicle, such as a starter motor. In a further embodiment, the system can be coupled to various elements of the motive system to create an auto-starting car.

Abstract: In an exemplary configuration, an air container is placed in a vacant portion of a structure and substantially prevents convection between an air mass in that portion and an adjacent air mass of an occupied portion of the structure. By thus isolating the air masses, the air container restricts heat transfer between them and advantageously allows the occupied portion's air mass to heat up and cool down without requiring substantial heating and cooling (at least initially) of the vacant portion's air mass. Other methods and structures with different advantageous features are also described.

Abstract: An oil-sorbent composition of matter has bound combinations of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). The SBS, or both materials, may be in the form of multitudes of granules. In certain preferred embodiments, the combination is 10-30% by weight and the SBS is about 30% styrene and manufactured without talc. The composition of matter can be formed into a solid, compliant body and utilized in a product for absorbing oil. The body can be formed, in one preferred embodiment, into an extended cylinder having an axial hole.

Abstract: A dual-mode hose roller including a crank and a mounting plate may be used to roll up collapsed hose into either a compact hose roll or an expanded hose coil. The crank and mounting plate are arranged to facilitate transmission of torque from the crank to the desired type of hose winding. When a compact hose roll is desired, torque is transmitted directly to the hose. When an expanded hose coil is desired, torque is transmitted to the hose through the mounting plate and several extension arms. The extension arms are sized so that the hose roller forms an expanded hose coil having a suitable diameter for structural fire hose. The mounting plate is rotatably mounted on a fixed support through a bearing and, optionally, a ratchet mechanism. Using the hose roller, preparation is made for fighting a structural fire arranging a section of collapsed hose into a hose bundle. A section of hose is rolled up into an expanded hose coil and arranged into a number of hose loops to form a hose bundle.

Abstract: A valve seat insert includes a ring bounded by surfaces including an inner wall circumferentially disposed about an imaginary central axis passing through the insert. The inner wall includes a plurality of grooves oriented diagonally with respect to the central axis. This and other disclosed valve seat designs impart a vortex to an air-fuel mixture as it enters the combustion chamber, improving combustion efficiency.

Abstract: A modular insert for curb-inlet storm drains creates a composite collection system for trash and for oil or other hydrocarbons and related chemicals. A hopper contains a multitude of irregular, macroscopic fragments of a hydrophobic, compliant, oil-absorbent, copolymer material having high surface area. Preferably, the material is formed with a binder in a novel extrusion process. The fragments absorb and retain permanently a high quantity of oil and other chemicals passing through the hopper, while permitting a high water flow-through rate. The fragments are held in place by a removable bottom plate, which allows replacement of the filtering fragments, and an internal basket. Trash and debris are collected in the internal basket. The hopper is configured to be suspended in a storm drain adjacent to a curb inlet on a bracket and can be installed or serviced through a conventional manhole entry. The hopper has a side cutout that permit lateral overflow from one of the modular units to an adjacent one.

Abstract: A system and method assist the driver of a motor vehicle in preventing accidents or minimizing the effects of same. In one form, a television camera is mounted on a vehicle and scans the roadway ahead of the vehicle as the vehicle travels. Continuously generated video picture signals output by the camera are electronically processed and analyzed by an image analyzing computer, which generates codes, that serve to identify obstacles. A decision computer mounted in the controlled vehicle receives such code signals along with code signals generated by the speedometer or one or more sensors sensing steering mechanism operation and generates control signals. Such code signals maybe displayed, and as synthetic speech or special sound generating and warning means used to warn the driver of the vehicle of approaching and existing hazards.

Abstract: A plurality of water- and oil-porous sacks are partially filled with a number of generally toroidal bodies of a polymer material that entraps oil and including mesh fragments scattered throughout the bodies. Each sack is sewn with a perimeter stiffening ring, to retain a flat profile, and has a netting that closes to help inhibit outflow of the oil when the sack is retrieved. When deployed from ship or by air onto a spill, the sacks spread into a pancake shape and the polymer matter forms a single layer that retains the oil. The inventive sacks will float indefinitely without releasing the oil or allowing it to emulsify, so the oil can remain in place until collection efforts are feasible. The sacks can be burned in situ, or standard fishing boats or specialized collection boats can be used to retrieve the sacks, and the collected material can be burned to capture the energy content of the oil or processed to separate the oil from the polymer.

Abstract: A modular insert for curb-inlet storm drains creates a composite collection system for trash and for oil or other hydrocarbons and related chemicals. A hopper contains a multitude of irregular, macroscopic fragments of a hydrophobic, compliant, oil-absorbent, copolymer material having high surface area. Preferably, the material is formed with a binder in a novel extrusion process. The fragments absorb and retain permanently a high quantity of oil and other chemicals passing through the hopper, while permitting a high water flow-through rate. The fragments are held in place by a removable bottom plate, which allows replacement of the filtering fragments, and an internal basket. Trash and debris are collected in the internal basket. The hopper is configured to be suspended in a storm drain adjacent to a curb inlet on a bracket and can be installed or serviced through a conventional manhole entry. The hopper has a side cutout that permit lateral overflow from one of the modular units to an adjacent one.

Abstract: A water- and oil-porous sack contains a hydrophobic, compliant, oil-absorbent, copolymer material arranged in a number of bodies that (a) are generally cylindrical, (b) are porous, (c) have at least one passageway parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and (d) are dimensioned to float on water with the axis parallel to the surface of the water. The material is formed with a binder in a novel extrusion process. The inventive sack is sewn to create a number of pockets, and the seams create fold lines that permit the sack to dip below the water to allow debris to pass. The inventive sacks can be suspended below a storm drain and used in conjunction with known catchbasin inserts.

Abstract: A storm-drain insert has separate collection systems for trash and oil or other hydrocarbons. A tilted grate separates trash from oily inlet water and directs the trash to a separate basket, and the water flows through a corrugated, flexible canister containing a hydrophobic, compliant, oil-absorbent, copolymer material arranged in a number of bodies having high surface area. Preferably, the material is formed with a binder in a novel extrusion process. The inserts can be suspended in a storm drain adjacent to a curb inlet.

Abstract: A system for detecting and reporting a defect in a telephone line includes a network of utility processors that communicate over a power line. Each utility processor monitors a telephone line connected to the processor. The utility processor includes a processing element, a line sensor, a telephone interface and a power line communication interface. Each utility processor reports a defect in the telephone line by sending message to a second utility processor via the power line. The second utility processor reports the defect to a central office via a telephone line.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for printing selected indicia on objects, including, for example, sheets, cards, envelopes and containers. The objects are conveyed, one at a time, by a conventional conveying device along a path past a printing station. An electrically operated detector, such as a limit switch or photoelectric detector, senses a portion of each article, such as its leading edge, and generates a control signal. The control signal triggers activation of a memory containing a train of signals, which are applied to control a printer that automatically applies ink to print a selected group or line of indicia, such as alpha-numeric characters or codes, along a portion of the surface of each object.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording and reproducing data with respect to closely spaced magnetically recording areas or tracks of a magnetic recording member such as a card, tape or magnetic disc wherein scanning, tracking and reproduction functions are controlled by electro-optically scanning markers or indicia which are predeterminately recorded with respect to the magnetic recordings of the record member. Signals generated when such electro-optically scannable markers are detected are employed to control either or both the functions of selectively tracking and locating a magnetic transducer with respect to a select recording area or track of the magnetic record member and selectively controlling magnetic reproduction of information from the select recording area by either controlling the driving of the magnetic transducer mount or the operation of the transducer as it scans a select portion of the recording area or track along which it scans.

Abstract: A self-contained, hand-held, portable code reading and processing system within an elongated tubular housing forms a wand that transduces coded data into selected speech or music. A simple-to-use reading and processing system can be used as part of a learning and activity game. In one form, a scanning guide is hingedly attached to a book. When the guide is folded over a page of the book, a path is created across the coded data to enable children and others to easily scan the coded data with the hand-held wand. A contact switch at or near the scanning end of the system is actuated by the scanning guide to activate the code reading and processing system. An energy-saving power shutdown feature turns off the code reading and processing system when no coded data are scanned in a given time period. The contact switch and the automatic power shutdown system act in concert as a safety system to prevent small children from staring at the light source for prolonged periods of time.

Abstract: A method for producing elongated strip, wire or cable, a portion or all of which is defined by electrically metallic superconducting material. In one form, a substrate in the form of a strip, wire or cable, is formed by extrusion, rolling, drawing, casting or a combination of two or more of such processes, of a metal, combination of metals, metal compound, non-metallic material or a combination of such materials, and is controllably driven through a reaction chamber while the material thereof, or of the surface stratum thereof, is chemically converted, as it is driven, to a superconducting material. In a second form, such elongated wire, strip or cable is controllably coated with one or more materials which define a superconducting layer thereon or a plurality of such superconducting layers which bond or solidify on the substrate.

Abstract: A plurality of water- and oil-porous sacks are partially filled with a number of generally toroidal bodies of a polymer material that entraps oil and including mesh fragments scattered throughout the bodies. Each sack is sewn with a perimeter stiffening ring, to retain a flat profile, and has a netting that closes to help inhibit outflow of the oil when the sack is retrieved. When deployed from ship or by air onto a spill, the sacks spread into a pancake shape and the polymer matter forms a single layer that retains the oil. The inventive sacks will float indefinitely without releasing the oil or allowing it to emulsify, so the oil can remain in place until collection efforts are feasible. The sacks can be burned in situ, or standard fishing boats or specialized collection boats can be used to retrieve the sacks, and the collected material can be burned to capture the energy content of the oil or processed to separate the oil from the polymer.

Abstract: A computer-aided design tool and associated methods address the problem of high-level behavioral synthesis, useful in the design of semiconductor integrated circuit for minimum power consumption. The tool makes a plurality of types of power reducing changes, and evaluates the results using iterative improvement. In a particular embodiment, "moves" corresponding to alterations of scheduling of operations or resource sharing are iteratively proposed and evaluated with a power "cost function" defined by summing estimates of the switched capacitance of each resource element. In an extension of that embodiment, moves corresponding to alterations of module selection and clock selection are also evaluated.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of three-dimensional hollow novelty items and their manufacture, particularly items such as artificial pumpkins that the consumer desires to carve or alter after purchase. Disclosed is a carvable novelty article, such as an artificial Halloween pumpkin, comprising a polyurethane shell substantially surrounding an interior volume and having a thin coating, such as an acrylic elastomer, on the exterior surface of the shell. The carvable article can be formed by an inventive process in which polyurethane foam material, such as material having a nominal density of about 2.5-3.0 pounds per cubic foot, is sprayed from a nozzle rotating with respect to the inside of a mold. After the polyurethane foam article and the mold are separated, the article is coated with an elastomeric coating, such as an acrylic material that is applied as a liquid.

Abstract: An improved apparatus (11) for emitting infrared radiation of a desired wavelength includes a primary surface (.[.35.]. .Iadd.25.Iaddend.); a burner (24) for raising the temperature of the primary surface so as to cause the primary surface to emit infrared radiation of a first wavelength; a secondary surface (26) surrounding the primary surface in spaced relation thereto and arranged to be heated by infrared radiation emitted by the first surface and for emitting infrared radiation of a second wavelength toward the object; and an actuator (28) for selectively varying the spacing between the primary and secondary surfaces so that infrared radiation emitted by the secondary surface .[.will be at a desired wavelength and.]. will be focused; whereby the apparatus will emit infrared radiation of a desired wavelength toward the object.