Abstract: An indicator used for monitoring whether or not a cooled or deep-frozen product has exceeded a preset critical temperature. The indicator includes a hollow shape which is symmetrically divided by separating walls. This structure allows the indicator fluids to be placed on a circular radius within the hollow shape. This design also exhibits a special centrifugal axis. This axis allows the fact that the products have reached the critical temperature to be disclosed in the following manner: the indicator fluids melt and move away from their resting place in the hollow shape. If the fluids are re-frozen, they can not return to their prior resting place because the fluids arrived at that original resting place due to centrifugation. Thus, departure from the fluids' centrifuged state gives notice that the products have reached their critical temperature.

Abstract: A protein having a molecular weight of from about 10,000 to 18,000 daltons, isoelectric points of from about pH 4.0 to 6.5 and having the reversible biological effect of inhibiting aromatase activity in a biological system, and antibodies to the protein, modulate follicular development and spermatogenesis and provide for diagnostic tests of gonadel functions.

Abstract: A control valve including a second stage spool for controlling flow of fluid from a source thereof to a load. The valve includes one additional pressure slot and one additional return slot on each side thereof and separated by a land on the spool from the usual pressure and return slots respectively. Each of the spool lands separating the pressure and return slots defines and opening therethrough to interconnect the slots so that upon movement of the spool to connect the source to the load, a greater flow of fluid is provided and would be possible with the same size spool without the additional pressure and return slots.

Abstract: An adjustable head mounting system for a magnetic recording device. The head mounting system includes a head tray for receiving a magnetic head and a bracket. The head tray is formed of a resilient material and has a first portion for receiving the head, a second portion intersecting the first portion along a first joining line, and a third portion intersecting the second portion along a second joining line. The three portions of the head tray each have a substantially planar surface and an adjustable coupling device to connect the surface to the bracket. The orientation and position of the head can be adjusted by adjusting the coupling device to pivot the head about the joining lines.

Abstract: A landscape care tool can take the form of a vegetation-cutting tool incorporating circular-shaped blades having teeth or an earth-working tool incorporating hoeing tines. Drive linkage for such tool forms, as well as other tool forms, imparts linear movement in response to rotation of a shaft. The drive linkage includes a worm element which rotates with the shaft and a tooth carrier which moves linearly in response to rotation of the worm element. The worm element has one set of threads angled in one direction and a second set of threads angled in the opposite direction. The tooth carrier carries one tooth which engages threads of the first set of threads in order to move the carrier in one linear direction and a second tooth which engages threads of the second set of threads to move the carrier in the opposite linear direction.

Abstract: A wireless, real time video system provides a low power video transmitter wherein the base band video signal generated by the video camera directly modulates a radio frequency carrier signal to produce a very narrow band transmitter signal that is transmitted through a circularly polarized patch radiating antenna to a receiving antenna at a remote receiver site. The transmitted signal is picked up by the receiver antenna to be passed through a narrow band preselector filter to a low noise amplifier. The amplified signal is then applied to a mixer along with a fixed local oscillator frequency that is demodulated to reconstruct the original base band video signal for use in operating a video monitor or recorder connected by hard wired cable to the receiver unit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the composition of a fuel mixture comprising hydrocarbons and oxygenates, wherein more than one measurement is made of the interaction of light passing through a light guide and the fuel mixture in which the light guide is immersed using light of a variety of different wavelengths and/or light guides having different indices of refraction. Data from the measurements is then interpreted to establish the concentration of hydrocarbons in the fuel mixture and/or the concentration and identity of the oxygenates. Pursuant to one type of embodiment of the invention, a plurality of light guides is provided, with particular light guides being used for each oxygenate to be analyzed (including water). In accordance with an alternative type of embodiment of the invention, a single light guide is employed with a single wide band light source and a plurality of light sensors.

Abstract: Remotely located lottery terminals, for operation by purchasers of lottery tickets, are adapted to be coupled by telephone to each other and to a central host computer as for verification of tickets by storing backup lottery data. Individual terminals are self-sufficient to approve ticket sales, issue tickets, encrypt data, register data and verify winners. Tickets are sold by terminals on the basis of various payment forms, e.g. cash, credit cards and payslips. One aspect of security in the relationship between the host computer and the remote terminals is provided by monitoring for operating anomalies, as a disconnected terminal, format irregularities or identification failures. Detection of an anomaly prompts corrective action, e.g. commanding a fresh call, realigning data or calling numbers for identification confirmation, as by use of ANI calling number identification.

Abstract: A central processing system interfaces remote terminals through a dial-up telephone facility to complete various communication formats selectively involving either an audio response unit (ARU) or a telecommunications service representative station (TSR station). A substantial number of ARU's accommodate many calls simultaneously, executing formats whereby a caller is given voice cues or prompts to input digital data using the telephone keypad. Similarly, a substantial number of TSR stations accommodate calls in various formats with a prompting data display. Calls are selectively allocated to an ARU or a TSR station on the basis of time, call loads and call format. A programmable logic array cooperates with a host computer, load indicators and a clock (time class indicator) to implement a program of call allocation. Accordingly, the structure and process accommodate multiple-port, multiple-format operation.

Abstract: A valve for use in the float chamber of a boiling water unit. The valve consists of a body of circular horizontal cross section having a vertical outer wall. The inner portion of the valve body includes a central circular cut-out seat portion to accommodate a cylindrical seal, the wall of the valve seat between the cut-out portion and the outer wall being sloped in the manner of the surface of the frustrum of a cone, the seat being positioned below a nozzle so that when the nozzle is spaced from the valve body, flow from the nozzle contacts the valve body and is deflected along said sloped outer wall to activate a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a thin film silicon-containing active layer and a metallic first electrode is provided with an interfacial metallic layer at an inner surface of a second electrode to increase electrical resistance and thereby reduce shunts adjacent pinhole-type defects of the active layer. The interfacial layer is preferably made of a metal selected from the group consisting of tin, gold, titanium, palladium and tantalum.

Abstract: An oven with an oven chamber (2) provided at a front opening with a door (3) which can be opened and closed. The oven chamber (2) is provided with a halogen lamp (4), which halogen lamp (4) is arranged such that the output thereof reduced upon opening of the door (3).

Abstract: A fiber optic panel provides backlighting in devices such as rubber keypads, membrane switches, liquid crystal displays, rigid panels, or the like. The fiber optic panel comprises a light source for emitting light and a fiber optic cable which transmits the light to a plurality of different locations throughout the device. The fiber optic cable comprises a plurality of optical fibers, each of which individually terminates at one of a plurality of different locations to illuminate that location. Alternatively, the optical fibers individually terminate at evenly spaced locations throughout the device to illuminate a region uniformly.

Abstract: Dopable, fully dense polymer membranes are used to form membranes having selective permeabilities. To improve selectivity, the membranes may be subjected to chemical or electrochemical treatment with electron donors or acceptors to alter the doping level of the polymer membrane, generally in a reversible fashion. This leads to significant changes in gas permeation rates relative to what is observed for the non-doped, fully dense polymers. This change in doping level of the polymer films can be precisely controlled by varying the concentration and nature of chemical dopants used. Desirable changes in permeation rates are achieved by a treatment which comprises a reversal doping of the polymeric material, followed by removal of the dopants (to provide an "undoped" polymer).

Abstract: A desoldering wick which comprises a small number (e.g., three) of strands of a thin wire (i.e., having a diameter less than about 0.002") braided together to form a hollow tube which is subsequently flattened. Such a wick is suitable for use in desoldering operations for which the heretofore available products were too large, and provides a more rapid removal of molten solder than is achieved with the prior art products. Methods and apparatus are also provided which enable the manufacture of desoldering wicks comprising fewer strands of wire and/or wire of a substantially smaller diameter than has heretofore been possible. By modification of conventional apparatus to reduce the substantial drag on the wire strands heretofore encountered during the braiding operation, it is now possible to prepare wicks with thicknesses on the order of about 0.008" from wire having a substantially smaller diameter (i.e., less than 0.002") than was previously feasible.

Abstract: To interface a primary telephone terminal with a vast number of remote terminals through a telephone network, parties at the remote terminals are individually screened to attain a select group. Bridged together, the select group is preliminarily informed of the status of the interface by a voice generator and, accordingly, the multitude of connections are synchronized for the interface. On cue, the select group is coupled to the primary telephone terminal for unilateral communications. Deviations from the unilateral communication include select bilateral communication for a few of the remote terminals and digital communication from the remote terminals by push button as for polling applications. Subjects for interfaces are programmed for selection from a memory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for continuous separation and optional recovery of one or more contaminants from a liquid, and in particular, for isolation of one or more specific elements, isotopes, ions, complexes and/or compounds from mixtures of similar or dissimilar materials, whereby the liquid containing such mixture is treated continuously, and the thus-isolated material may if desired be economically recovered. Through the use of means for continuously moving an affinity medium in a direction countercurrent to the flow of a liquid containing the material to be isolated, it is possible to obtain contaminant removal efficiencies comparable or superior to what would be obtained with heretofore known methods, and to achieve selective removal of one or more contaminants from a mixture. The affinity medium is selected on the basis of its ability to form an association with one or more of the components of the mixture being treated.

Abstract: A method for disposal of aerosol dispensers and the contents thereof, which comprises cooling of the aerosol dispenser and its residual contents to a temperature below which the propellant exhibits a substantial vapor pressure (i.e., below the boiling point(s) of the propellant(s)). It is then possible to puncture the container without danger of an uncontrolled release of the contents. The cold liquefied propellant and any additional liquid contents of the spray container may then be drained, without any danger of propellant release to the atmosphere, into a collection container capable of subsequently accommodating the vapor pressure of the propellant at ambient temperature. The container is sealed while its contents are still cold and the liquid is allowed to reach ambient temperature, whereby the propellant regains its vapor pressure and some of the propellant mixture returns to a gaseous form.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for vascular examination of a limb by inflation of a flexible-walled pneumatic chamber mounted to the limb and calibration of the pressure within the chamber in units of volume. Calibration is accomplished by inflating the chamber to a preselected reference pressure, altering the volume of the chamber, and measuring the calibration pressure at the altered volume. The calibration pressure is stored for use off-line in scaling subsequent pressure fluctuations as changes in limb volume.