Abstract: A combustible gas sensor having a noble metal sensor element with a surface that is heated above a critical temperature at which the surface is able to dissociate oxygen in a gas stream and adsorb the oxygen onto its surface. The adsorbed oxygen present on the noble metal surface enhances the reactivity of the sensor element and permits it to react with combustible gases that otherwise would have little or no affinity for the sensor element. The balance of adsorbed oxygen and combustible gas species on the sensor surface cause a change in an electrical property that is used to determine the presence or identity of a combustible gas, or to derive a concentration measurement.

Abstract: A protective cover for a vehicle includes a main section, a door section, and a secondary section. The vehicle may be operated when the protective cover is installed upon the vehicle. The door section is secured to the vehicle door with a drawstring that is tightened around the perimeter of the door. The door section includes a door handle access panel and a sideview mirror opening. The protective cover includes window screen elements that cover the vehicle windows and light fixture screen elements that cover the vehicle headlights and taillights. The protective cover also includes a flap section that covers the door seam formed around the door and a second flap section that covers the seam formed between different body sections of the vehicle.

Abstract: An open angle glaucoma treatment method and apparatus wherein pressure, positive or negative, is applied to the frontal surface of the eye. The open angle glaucoma treatment apparatus is a vacuum source and a vacuum applicator coupled by a hose. The vacuum applicator is an eye ring or an eye cup that is placed on the frontal surface of an eye. Suction (negative pressure) in the range of 10 to 30 mm. Hg. is applied by the vacuum source, which will fixate the ring or cup to the eye, or alternatively pressure is applied via ring or cup that is held in place. The suction or pressure is applied for 15 to 120 seconds. A second treatment is recommended later. It could be within twelve hours, on the following day, or within the next couple of days. A second treatment more than five days later considered less effective or ineffective.

Abstract: A vehicle for collecting debris from a road includes an operator cab located at a front section of the vehicle, a boom assembly located at the front section, a paddle guide assembly located at the front section, and a collection bin located at a back section of the vehicle. The boom assembly carries a rotary rake, a leader blade, and a conveyor belt assembly. The operator cab and boom assembly are configured such that an operator has a substantially unobstructed view of the debris as it is being collected. The paddle guide assembly includes a plurality of paddles configured to move the debris into the path of the rotary rake. The rotary rake guides the debris over the leader blade and onto the conveyor belt assembly. The conveyor belt assembly transports the debris into the collection bin.

Abstract: A cutting length adjustment plate for a keratome that allows for a pre-cutting measurement of a corneal cut has a transverse groove adapted to receive a keratome, a parallel aperture in the groove for viewing the blade in the keratome, and indicia to measure the distance of the tip of the blade to the rear end of the keratome. A method of cutting a sized corneal flap is also disclosed. The invention further comprises a keratome with a spring loaded adjustable plate having a groove in which to retain a free end the spring. A collar to support the spring is also present. Lastly, a bracket is disclosed for use in measuring and adjusting the cutting depth of the keratome. The method for using the bracket is also disclosed.

Abstract: A camper shell (12) attaches to a cargo bed (16) of a pickup truck (14) through a hinging mechanism (50). The hinging mechanism (50) resides within the shell (12) and causes the entire shell (12) to move rearward and upward as the shell (12) pivots upward. The hinging mechanism (50) includes upper arms (52), lower arms (54) and a counterbalancing spring (66, 76). The upper arms (52) are longer than the lower arms (54), and the upper arms (52) pivotally attach to the shell (12) at pivot points (58) which are spaced apart from and above the pivot points (62) where the lower arms pivotally attach to shell (12). The upper arms (52) pivotally attach to the cargo bed (16) at pivot points (56) that are spaced apart from and rearward of the pivot points (60) where the lower arms (54) pivotally attach to the cargo bed (16). The counterbalancing spring (66, 76) urges the shell to pivot upward.

Abstract: A multiple mode, personal, wireless communications system exists within a radiotelephone network serving general customers and provides additional services to a select group of customers. The system uses handsets (32) which automatically switch between a standard cellular radiotelephone mode of operation (1901) and an enhanced cordless mode (1420) when the handsets (32) are within range of pico cells (26) that are interconnected to the public switched telephone network (20). Each pico cell is controlled via a framework of overlay cells (10b) that operates independently of the radiotelephone network and uses a unique control protocol on a small number of reserved cellular channels. Each pico cell consists of a spectrally dynamic, non-capturing, frequency agile, multi-purpose base station (26) provided at customer-selected locations to cooperate with the overlay cell framework. Each pico cell is capable of supporting multiple handsets (32) and uses low power operation that achieves limited coverage.

Abstract: An apparatus for reconditioning the protective coating of a digital recording disc is provided. The apparatus includes a turntable configured to receive a digital disc, a first motor for rotating the turntable, a turntable support for attaching the turntable to a base, a buffing element, a second motor for rotating the buffing element, a buffing element support for attaching the buffing element to the base, and a protective housing. A method for reconditioning a digital recording disc is also provided. The method involves placing a digital disc on a turntable, rotating the turntable, applying a cutting medium to the disc, rotating a buffing element, and removing material from the disc.

Abstract: An internal mandrel assembly is provided that includes a cleaning attachment for cleaning the interior surface of a tube during a bending operation. The internal mandrel assembly includes a mandrel shank, a plurality of mandrel ball assemblies pivotally coupled to the mandrel shank in a linked configuration, a cleaning attachment pivotally coupled to the last mandrel ball assembly, and a locating rod that positions the mandrel shank within the tube. The internal mandrel assembly also cooperates with a lubricant pump and a lubricant collector. The cleaning attachment includes a wiper for cleaning the interior surface of the tube, a linking member, a first support washer, a second support washer, and a retaining shoulder.

Abstract: A thin film device having a selectively passivated surface is provided. An embodiment of the device is particularly suited to detection of chemical constituents by selective adsorption, where the selectively passivated surface is inert to the chemical constituent being detected. A method of fabrication of the device is also provided in which the selective passivation is achieved by selectively applying the metallic adhesive to the substrate. The migration of the metallic adhesive through the thin film layer is essentially normal to the surface of the substrate, thereby limiting the passivation of the thin film layer to the surface areas directly overlying the metallic adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining crystallographic characteristics of a specimen having at least one crystal includes an electron beam generator, a beam deflector for adjusting the tilt and azimuth angles of the electron beam relative to the specimen, a stage for holding the specimen, an image collection system for obtaining a plurality of dark field images, a data store, and a processor for processing the dark field images to identify a plurality of crystal lattice planes associated with the crystals. The dark field images are obtained under different electron beam tilt and azimuth deflection conditions. The bright pixels in each dark field image are identified and utilized to determine the spatial location and orientation of the crystal lattice planes and the crystals themselves. An orientation image is produced that represents the orientation of the crystals within the specimen.

Abstract: A system and method for counting vehicles by detecting RF signals emitted from a portion of the vehicles is provided. An RF scanner/receiver located at a testing site is tuned to receive local oscillator (LO) signals that may be emitted from radio tuners located in a portion of the vehicles. A control unit controls the scanner/receiver, stores data related to the received LO signals, and performs other operating procedures. A central computer in data communication with the control unit performs data translation operations on the raw LO signal data. Scale factors derived from calibration formulas are applied to the system data to provide an estimated vehicle count and an estimated average vehicle speed. The central computer formats the resulting data for presentation to a user.

Abstract: Male and female electrodes for stimulating penile, scrotal, anal vaginal and clitoral tissue is shown. The electrodes are formed from elastomeric material. Electrical stimulation to such areas is intended to control incontinence, to induce penile erection where impotence occurs, or to induce excitation and orgasm. A male penile ring electrode formed from elastomeric material and intended for use in pairs, has an outer nonconductive surface, and an inner conductive portion comprising the inner surface, and the sides of the ring, and all the material between the inner surface, the sides of the ring, and the outer nonconductive surface. A contact for connecting the electrode to a source of electricity is mounted on the outer surface and connects to the inner portion. A like connector that can be used alone has two nonconductive portions separating two conductive ring sections that outer nonconductive surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-invasively stabilizing the head of a patient is provided. The apparatus includes a support frame, a rigid template mounted to the support frame, a plurality of fiducial marker housings located on the support frame, and a mounting assembly that attaches the support frame to a table or a bed. The rigid template is formed by molding a heat-activated sheet of plastic around the head or face of the patient. A method for treating the head of a patient is also provided. The method involves forming a rigid template that conforms to the head and/or face of a patient, positioning the head with the rigid template, performing a radiographic imaging procedure, and performing a subsequent surgical procedure. The imaging and surgical procedures are performed with the patient stabilized in the same position.

Abstract: An antenna (26) projects a detection zone (28) across a non-intersection portion (16) of a road (10). A scanning receiver (32) couples to and is controlled by a data logging computer (34). This computer (34) commands the receiver (32) to look for one FM local oscillator (LO) signal (22) that may be emitted from within the detection zone (28). If one LO signal (22) is detected, other LO signals (22) that may be detected at the receiver are ignored until the one signal is no longer detectable (90-106). An attenuator allows LO signals 22 emitted from radios (20) in the detection zone (28) at noisy frequencies to have the same likelihood of being detected as LO signals 22 emitted at less noisy frequencies. Detected LO signals (22) are ignored if they are detected for less than a minimum duration (100) or if they are detected for greater than a maximum duration (118).

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the reliability of crystallographic solutions of a specimen includes an electron beam generator, a stage for holding the specimen, an image collection system for obtaining diffraction images of crystals within the specimen, and processor for processing the diffraction images to obtain most probable indexing solutions for the crystals and to generate confidence factors associated with the most probable indexing solutions. The apparatus may utilize the confidence factors to determine the phase of the crystals within the specimen. The confidence factors may also be incorporated into reports representing the statistical confidence of various crystallographic characteristics of the specimen.

Abstract: A training apparatus that indicates the alignment of a practice golf stroke includes a base plate and a club member. The base plate includes a body, a pointer, a guide strip, and a warning background. The club member attaches to a golf club, and includes a mounting clip, an extension arm, and a colored translucent blade coupled together. The guide strip, warning background, and blade cooperate to indicate a first color when the practice stroke is aligned and a second color when the practice stroke is misaligned. The apparatus is configured such that a golf ball travels over the practice surface during use, and such that a user can clearly view the golf ball in the address position and as it is struck by the golf club.