Abstract: A disposable ultraviolet dosimeter for rapid visual estimation of cumulative exposure to UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Abstract: Load balancing of activities on physical disk storage devices is accomplished by monitoring reading and writing operations to logical volumes on the physical disk storage devices. A list of exchangeable pairs of logical volumes is developed based on size and function. Statistics accumulated over an interval are then used to obtain access activity values for each logical volume and each physical disk drive. A statistical analysis selects one logical volume pair. After testing to determine any adverse effect of making that change, the exchange is made to more evenly distribute the loading on individual physical disk storage devices.

Abstract: A hot beverage lid having thermal protective flex-guards or flaps extending from opposite sides of a cover portion of the lid for protecting a consumer's fingers from heat emanating from the side of a cup. A first flap extends a first distance from under a drinking opening having sufficient area for a thumb. A second flap extends a second distance which is greater than the first flap from the opposite side of the lid and has sufficient area for at least two fingers. Each flap is contoured to conform to the curvature or the sidewall of the cup and each flap comprises swirled rib embossing for improved retention against fingers holding the cup. The top of the cover portion is concave with a hole in the center to allow liquid spillage to reenter the cup. Also, a channel surrounding the base of a circular plateau on top of the cover of the lid is provided for collecting fluid spillage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for performing a desired operation in a wellbore. The system contains a downhole tool which includes a mobility platform that is electrically operated to move the downhole tool in the wellbore and an end work device to perform the desired work. The downhole tool also includes an imaging device to provide pictures of the downhole environment. The data from the downhole tool is communicated to a surface computer, which controls the operation of the tool and displays pictures of the tool environment. Novel tactile sensors for use as imaging devices are also provided. In an alternative embodiment the downhole tool is composed of a base unit and a detachable work unit. The work unit includes the mobility platform, imaging device and the end work device. The tool is conveyed into the wellbore by a conveying member.

Abstract: A filter network having the capability of establishing multiple, tunable notch frequencies. A notch filter path is established for each notch frequency and includes a bandpass filter and inverter. An input RF signal covering a wide frequency range is applied to all the notch filter paths. Each notch filter path produces an output spectrum that is equal in magnitude and 180.degree. out of phase with respect to an undesired frequency spectrum. A combiner circuit combines the outputs of each notch filter path in parallel with the RF input signal to produce an RF output signal with all desired spectra unchanged and all undesired spectra attenuated.

Abstract: An expansible balloon catheter has at least a first exterior surface with a given coefficient of friction and a second exterior surface with a greater coefficient of friction. In a compact form only the first exterior surface is exposed to produce one coefficient of friction during transfer of the collapsed or uninflated balloon to and across a lesion. When inflated, the second surface dominates the first surface and produces a second coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A sealed slide switch having a toggle mechanism with a handle extending through a housing into a cavity of a slide. An O-ring on the handle seals any opening between the base of the handle and the housing. A surface plate retains the slide of the switch on top of the housing. A plug in the bottom of the housing provides electrical connections between the toggle mechanism and an application circuit.

Abstract: A two-piece, plastic, container particularly attractive for serving Margarita drinks and other well-known cocktails. A receptacle portion includes double flared side walls with a two-stage tapered plug on the bottom. The upper-stage of the plug secures the receptacle in a base portion and the lower stage of the plug provides for nesting of a plurality of receptacles to provide a compact and secure arrangement when packaged for shipping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a soft finish on a fabric such as a suede tone, raised loops, broken loops or fleeced and for providing a faded effect such as a washed or faded denim. A fillet having a plurality of wires extending therefrom is wound on a cylinder of a finishing machine. The outer ends of the wires extending from the fillet are angled at approximately 80.degree. from vertical. The wires are covered with an abrasive coating which is applied by an arc spray system. The coating extends around the perimeter of the wire from at least just below the bend of the wires and extending to the outer tip of the wires. The fabric is driven over a nip roll that is adjusted to bring the fabric in closer contact with the wires on the cylinder which is rotating. An alternative embodiment of accomplishing the same type of soft finish such as suede or washed or faded denim finish is accomplished with multi rolls (or kiss rolls) finish machinery using the coated wire fillet on each roll.

Abstract: A theft checking system that improves detection precision of theft checking systems. A micrometer samples data of received signals for three periods of a swept signal. A signal analyzer confirms signals that are regarded as resonance signals occurring in each of the first half and the second half of the first period, ignoring noise signals, and determines only whether similar signals corresponding to the resonance signals are present in each of the following two periods. A detection circuit recognizes the presence of the resonance signals and thereby recognizes and notifies passage of a tagged article.

Abstract: A directional coupler makes it possible to switch the input terminal and the output terminal thereof in position. A branch unit (5) containing a branching circuit (5a) is mounted so that the branch unit (5) can be rotated relative to a mother board (4), with a central portion of the branch unit (5) being a fulcrum. An input terminal (12) and an output terminal (13) are provided at positions corresponding to relay terminals (10, 11) of the mother board 4.

Abstract: A mirrored memory for a data processing system. The memory system includes two device controllers and related disk drives for storing the mirrored data. Each of the disk drives is divided into logical volumes. Each device controller contains a plurality of reading processes and a correspondence table that establishes the reading process to be used in retrieving data from the corresponding disk drive. Each disk controller responds to a read command that identifies the logical volume by using the correspondence table to select the appropriate reading process and by transferring data from appropriate physical storage device containing the designated logical volume.

Abstract: A method for improving vision in a human eye having a macula disease and in particular macula degeneration by inducing a prism in the cornea of an eye using a laser beam to ablate the central cornea into a prismatic shape. Also, an apparatus and method for implanting a synthetic prism into the cornea is provided. The resulting prism either induced or implanted in the cornea directs rays of light away from a diseased area of the macula to an undiseased macula area of the retina for improved sight.

Abstract: Wound strings for a musical instrument include inharmonicity compensation. A portion of the wound string, preferably at one or both ends thereof, includes a concentric winding. The concentric winding has a length l.sub.comp given by: ##EQU1## where D.sub.s is the outer diameter of portions of the wound string remote from the compensating winding, D.sub.comp is the diameter of the wound string at the compensating winding, d is the diameter of the core wire and l.sub.bare is the length of the bare end of the string.

Abstract: When an inclined surface (10a) of an oil tank 10 is heated by a burner (31), the temperature of the oil rises near the inclined surface (10a). Then, all the heated high-temperature oil flows out from an outlet port (16) in an upper portion of a guide plate (14) directly to the cooking zone. Thus, the oil temperature is rapidly raised in the cooking zone. The oil temperature in an intermediate zone under the cooking zone is more difficult to rise than that in the cooking zone. The deterioration of the oil can be therefore suppressed.

Abstract: An endoscope with an eyepiece and an objective lens system used for observing an object in an environmental media. The distal most optical element in the objective lens system is a spherical lens. The spherical lens has a curved distal surface that contacts the environmental media. The objective lens system facilitates the control of the distortion in an image generated by the objective lens system to approximate a reverse distortion of the eyepiece system measured as the distortion in an image generated distally of the eyepiece system of an object positioned proximally of the eyepiece system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting skived glue, hemming and skew, and backfold of cartons by means of real time image comparison. The apparatus comprises channel sensors, means for measuring conveyor travel distance, a system controller coupled to the channel sensors, a memory for storing images, a processor coupled to the outputs of the system controller and the memory and a bad carton locator means. A known good carton is passed through the channel sensors and a reference synthetic image is stored in a memory. A test carton is passed through the channel sensors producing a real time image which is compared to the stored reference synthetic image for detecting defects.