Abstract: A showerhead with an internal valve to control the flow of fluid between a full flow and reduced flow condition so as to save energy and thereby conserve the supply of water. The showerhead includes an internal valve that operates easily between an off position and an on position to permit a controlled flow of water from an approximate flow of two and one half gallons per minute to a reduced flow of about one half gallon per minute. The internal valve is formed in a spherical configuration and swivels or rotates between a reduced flow position and a full flow on position; it has formed therein a relatively small by-pass aperture that serves to selectively maintain a predetermined, constant temperature flow of water for a person taking a shower.

Abstract: A filter and processing sequence is described that efficiently combines and performs two or more tasks required to demodulate a composite 3G (third generation) wireless signal formed by a combination of wideband 3.84 MHz (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, identified, as acronym “UMTS”, or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access, identified as acronym “UTRA”) carriers and narrowband 1.2288 MHz CDMA-2000 carriers. The three tasks, applied to each spectral component of the 3G wireless signal and described in the order of a traditional filtering structure are: Spectral translation, Bandwidth Reduction, and Sample Rate Selection. These tasks are traditionally implemented in three distinct pieces of hardware or software modules.

Abstract: A gripping device for handling heavy, dense articles made from organic materials formed into bricks, fired at high temperatures in kilns and for movement of the bricks from a storage area to a location for installation in a driveway, roadway, or the like to endure the wear and tear of pedestrian and vehicular traffic that moves thereover. The gripping device includes a base member, an associated telescopic member and a handle operable to clasp together a vertical row of stacked bricks into a secure assembly and thereafter maintain the assembly in a locked position as a worker carries the assembly from a storage area to a place of installation. The device includes a release mechanism operable to quickly disengage the stacked bricks at any desired location on a work site.

Abstract: A filter and processing sequence is described that efficiently combines and performs two or more tasks required to demodulate a composite 3G (third generation) wireless signal formed by a combination of wideband 3.84 MHz (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, identiied a acronym “UMTS”, or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access, identified as acronym “UTRA”) carriers and narrowband 1.2288 MHz CDMA-2000 carriers. The three tasks, applied to each spectral component of the 3G wireless signal and described in the order of a traditional filtering structure are: Spectral translation, Bandwidth Reduction, and Sample Rate Selection. These tasks are traditionally implemented in three distinct pieces of hardware or software modules.

Abstract: A fractional-spaced equalizer (FSE) is capable of performing joint intersymbol-interference (ISI) cancellation and matched filter (MF) processing. The FSE employs a constrained optimization technique to control the out-of-band frequency response of the equalizer's FIR while, at the same time, controlling the pass-band and roll-off of the FIR to cancel ISI. The format of the constrained optimization technique permits a single bank of multipliers elements to service the inner product computations associated both with the ISI cancellation and MF operations. This time-multiplexing technique promotes a conservation of hardware associated with the MF, and provides for a reduction in the computational complexity leading to an increase in power efficiency.

Abstract: An all weather animal drinker for horses in stalls of a stable or outside in pasture and/or for other animals inside of a barn or outside of a structure in an unprotected environment. The all weather animal drinker is effective to be used inside a stable or barn or outside in an area subject to all types of climatic elements so as to provide potable water to animals or poultry under extremely hot or severely cold weather conditions. The all weather drinker includes a plurality of wells or reservoirs for circulation of temperature controlled water therebetween by use of a heating element along with various plumbing connections to operate at temperatures as low as minus thirty degrees Fahrenheit.

Abstract: A watthour meter testing device for testing watthour meters is provided that includes a measuring device, a switch, a transmitter and a receiver. The measuring device is in communication with the power measured by the watthour meter. The switch is operable to test electromechanical watthour meters in a first position and operable to test electronic watthour meters in a second position. The transmitter is operative to transmit a light signal to a consumption indicator on the watthour meter when the switch is in the first position for testing electromechanical watthour meter. The receiver is operative to detect the light signal transmitted from the transmitter and reflected from the consumption indicator on the watthour meter when the switch is in a first position. The receiver is further operative to detect a consumption light signal emanating from the electronic watthour meters when the switch is in a second position.

Abstract: A showerhead with an internal valve to control the flow of fluid between a full flow and reduced flow condition so as to save energy and thereby conserve the supply of water. The showerhead includes an internal valve that operates easily between an off position and an on position to permit a controlled flow of water from an approximate flow of two and one half gallons per minute to a reduced flow of about one half gallon per minute. The internal valve is formed in a spherical configuration and swivels or rotates between a reduced flow position and a full flow on position; it has formed therein a relatively small by-pass aperture that serves to selectively maintain a predetermined, constant temperature flow of water for a person taking a shower.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing fast compression and decompression of seismic data. An adaptive transform (124) with selectable mathematical basis is applied to an initial data set to obtain a set of transformed coefficients, the transform factorizing an effective symmetric or non-symmetric biorthogonal filter of size (u, v) into a number m of elementary (3, 1) biorthogonal filters which are applied to the data set in selected directions without requiring transposition of the data set. The coefficients are encoded (126) using non-uniform scalar quantization and run-length coding followed by adaptive coding of resulting threshold coefficients. The transform and encoding steps are repeated (128) using a new mathematical basis for each iteration to obtain a compressed data set at a desired compression rate. Exact compression ratios can be obtained (158), allowing evaluation of the data in the compressed domain as well as transparent, on-the-fly decompression at computer network data transfer rates.

Abstract: An exemplary retractable awning and method are provided for mounting to virtually any structure, such as a house trailer, recreational vehicle, house, patio, deck, and the like, to provide shade and protection from the elements. The retractable awing includes a roller tube assembly, a covering, and support arms. The roller tube assembly includes a roller tube and at least one retractable rib. The roller tube has a first end, a second end, and a rib storage groove operable to receive and store the retractable rib so that the retractable rib may couple with the roller tube and extend from a retracted position, at least partially within the rib storage groove, to an extended position. The retractable rib may have an upward arch or bend when in its extended position. The covering couples between the structure and the roller tube assembly and may be supported by the retractable rib when open. The covering provides shade and protection from the elements when open.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of the present invention provide improved control over the activation and deactivation of a computer program. For example, the computer program may be a screen saver program and/or a password protection program. The computer program is prevented from being activated when the user has not recently provided input to a computer system via an input-output device, but the user is still in the vicinity of the computer system. When no person is detected in the vicinity, the present invention allows the computer program's activation to be controlled using standard known methods. In one embodiment, the present invention provides enhanced screen saver activation and deactivation control without the need to modify existing computer hardware or software. Embodiments of modified computer hardware and software systems are also provided where it is desirable to integrate enhanced screen saver activation and deactivation control into a hardware or software system.

Abstract: An outdoor feeder for game birds and the like in which the feeder pan extends below and beyond the body of the feeder. A shield which is fastened to the body by a unique and relatively rain-proof joint extends beyond the pan to protect it, and an adjustable ring on the bottom of the body of the feeder controls both the amount of feed in the pan and the space between the ring and the bottom of the pan. The pan is adjustably fastened to the body of the feeder to adapt the feeder to differing varieties of game birds.

Abstract: A device for providing water to young birds and fowl. The waterer is attached to a cage for the birds and includes a bottle which can be detached for cleaning or replacement and reattached when full without any spillage. The device also includes a removable piece for the prevention of drowning of certain types of game birds.