Abstract: The volume control device temporarily alters the loudness of an electric musical instrument by allowing all (or part) of the audio signal to leak through a photosensitive resistor to ground. A light source is positioned so as to affect the value of the photosensitive resistor. The user indirectly controls the audio level by manipulating the light source in various ways: a control switch turns the light on and off; a selector switch determines whether the light source is normally off and turned on by the control switch, or vice versa; the brightness of the light source is adjusted by a variable resistor; and the time taken for the light to reach maximum brightness is controlled by an RC circuit. The device is removable and compatible with any electric instrument.

Abstract: A rope-climbing exercise apparatus comprising, a support structure, a continuous rope, a means for applying resistance to the downward force on the rope applied by the user, and a means for applying upward force to the user.

Abstract: The invention described herein comprises a food storage container that provides an insulated box member having a plurality of walls defining an internal cavity, and at least one wall being hinged or otherwise movable to enable access to the interior. The box is conditioned to carry a plurality of internal, modular storage bin members of various shapes and capacities.

Abstract: Electro-gravity plates are applied to road surfaces for generating electricity from the passage of vehicles over the plates. Each plate contains a packed lattice of electro-gravity cells that individually produces electricity from the passing vehicles. The cells use a variety of technologies to convert the kinetic energy and the gravitational potential energy of moving vehicles into electricity. A first type of cell includes a spring-loaded permanent magnet inside a solenoid. The passing vehicles cause the magnet to translate up and down inside the solenoid for generating electricity. A second type of cell includes a spring-loaded hammer and a piezoelectric material. The passing vehicles cause the hammer to compress the piezoelectric material for generating electricity. A third type of cell includes a counterweighted crank rotatably coupled to a dynamo. The passing vehicles cause the crank to rotate the dynamo for generating electricity.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing clocks related to telecommunications across an unsynchronized point-to-point network connection utilizes downstream data timed using a high frequency transmission clock to transfer timing information of a central telecom-based clock from a first network node to a second network node. In an exemplary embodiment, the point-to-point network connection is an Ethernet-based connection that operates in accordance with a Gigabit Ethernet standard. The timing information of the central telecom-based clock is extracted from the transmitted data at the second network node by recovering the high frequency transmission clock and then, deriving a reference clock, which is synchronized with the central telecom-based clock, from the recovered transmission clock. The reference clock is then used to generate one or more telecom-related clocks that are used by the second network node.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein comprises a guitar pick with a built-in recorder and playback device. The invention allows guitarists to record an audio sample into the recorder, then play it back directly through an amplified guitar or microphone.

Abstract: A passive optical network which employs multiple wavelengths to increase overall system bandwidth, with each wavelength being shared by multiple optical network units (ONUs) according to a time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol. The upstream TDMA traffic therefore includes multiple TDMA data streams at different wavelengths. An optical line terminal (OLT) preferably receives the multiple TDMA data streams and separates them to different detectors before ultimately combining all data into a single data stream using a multiplexer after performing clock and data recovery functions. In this manner, the upstream bandwidth in a passive optical network can be markedly increased without requiring an increase in data transmit speeds, and while using low cost/low speed detectors in the OLT, and low cost/low speed transceivers in the ONUs. System bandwidth can be further improved by using higher cost, higher speed components.

Abstract: A sleeping bag (10) which includes a main body (11) for substantially enclosing the trunk of a user, and at least one body portion (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) attached or attachable to the main body (11), the at least one body portion (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) being adapted to separately enclose substantial portions of other body part(s) of the user. The at least one body portion (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) may be integrally formed with the main body (11) or releasably attachable to same. The provision of the at least one body portion (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) allows for greater mobility of a user while still within the sleeping bag (10). Furthermore, the embodiment which has at least one releasably attachable body portion (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) allows for a degree of flexibility in terms of use and accessories.