Abstract: A personal alarm system remote unit (602) includes a navigational receiver (606) for receiving navigational information, a demodulator (608) for demodulating the received navigational information, timing circuits (610) for providing precise time-of-day information, a manually operated switch defining a panic button and having an output signal defining a switch status wherein operation of the panic button produces a change in the switch status, and a radio transmitter (614) for transmitting the demodulated navigational information, the precise time-of-day information, and the switch status. Additional embodiments define remote units for a man-over-board system, an invisible fence system, and a weather alarm system.

Abstract: A computer pointing device on a single, small printed wiring board includes all electronics necessary for providing a standard mouse-type output signal. The pointing device uses a balanced bridge strain gauge isometric sensor having a manipulation lever for user input. The computer pointing device includes a receiving space for accepting one of a large-size strain gauge sensor and a small-size strain gauge sensor, depending upon the specific application. The computer pointing device includes internal power regulation and has input for up to two momentary switches and two of the pointing devices can be daisy chained with a single, composite output signal. The small-size strain gauge sensor permits use of the pointing device in ultra thin keyboard applications.

Abstract: An input device for a computer system includes a keyboard, a pointing device embedded in the keyboard, operational buttons, including a button for selecting an operating mode for the pointing device. The mode selection button is located adjacent left- and right-buttons. In one embodiment, an alternative pointing device operating mode is available when the mode button is held depressed. In another embodiment, a depress-release sequence permits the user to sequence through a menu of predetermined pointing device operating modes. The placement of the mode button with respect to the left- and right-buttons facilitates improved performance of certain eye-hand coordination tasks.

Abstract: A manually operated pallet changer system for use with automatic machine tools includes a pallet changer and a compatible machine tool mounted pallet receiver. The pallet changer includes a massive, floor supported base to which a cantilevered first platform is pivotally attached for rotation between a pallet-exchange position and a work-setup position. A second platform rests atop the first platform and supports a pair of work pallet guides. The two platforms are rotatably attached near their centers so that the pallet guides can be interchanged by rotating the upper platform about its center by 180°. The configuration permits the platforms to be rotated as a unit away from a machine tool to the work-setup position. Work pallets are assembled and then the platforms are rotated together into the pallet-exchange position in which one of the pallet guides is aligned for transferring a work pallet to the machine tool mounted pallet receiver.

Abstract: A two-joystick interface for use with an information processing system having a 3D virtual reality module implements a bulldozer control metaphor permitting movement in three orthogonal directions—forward-backward, up-down, left-right—and turning about a vertical axis. The pointing interface includes mode switching permitting use of the joysticks for the cursor positioning and page scrolling functions of the information processing system. The pointing system includes a frame-of-reference conversion module for transforming the pointing devices software interface to a four-degree-of-freedom three-dimensional interface, an interface with a virtual reality module including a display function. Ergonomic embodiments of the interface include locating the joysticks, e.g., two IBM TrackPoints™ along the bottom row of keys of a standard keyboard, and, alternatively, placing the joysticks and related momentary switches in a wristpad.

Abstract: A method for displaying a group of headlines from a headline stream across the bottom of a computer graphical user interface display provides a solid polygon shaped display which displays a headline, its immediate predecessor and its immediate successor on adjacent polygon faces. At predetermined intervals the bar rotates so that the successor headline moves into a dominant position, the previous headline moves to a predecessor position, and a new successor headline is displayed. In one embodiment, the predecessor and successor headlines are foreshortened to enhance the suggestion of a three-dimensional solid polygon being displayed and rotated about a central axis. The headline display method is less distracting than the usual ticker tape display, and is easier to read because the eye does not have to follow moving text. In another embodiment, the user double clicks on the a displayed headline to retrieve and display an associated news story.

Abstract: A Thin Layer Protocol.TM. adds three new data stream commands--the WOCC, WOC and END commands--to the Intelligent Printer Data Stream.TM. ("IPDS.TM.") structured page description language. The WOCC command creates a container for encapsulating a foreign print object, such as a PostScript.TM. or PCL.TM. command stream The container includes information identifying the type of object it contains. The WOC command provides the foreign print object data for the container and includes information defining the length of the object. The END command unambiguously locates the end of the container to prevent confusion of encapsulated binary data with escape sequences. Long objects are partitioned using separate WOC commands, each providing the length of its partition. The object type information enables the printer to easily invoke an appropriate language interpreter. Alternatively, the printer may use the object type and object length information to skip over an object which it does not recognize.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are defined for increasing the effective bandwidth of a system bus for commanding a co-processor in an information processing system. The system processor commands the co-processor by sending a command block including one or more command parameters via the system bus. The bus includes an address phase and a data phase, and the effective bus bandwidth is increased by using a significant portion of the address phase and all of the data phase for sending the command parameters. The system processor disassembles the parameters and packs these into the address portion and the data phase of as few bus transfer commands as required. The co-processor includes a front end which receives the command and uses the command to select an appropriate procedure for unpacking and reassembling the received command parameters. Previous methods have transferred the command parameters using only the data phase of the system bus transfers.

Abstract: A self-locating remote monitoring system (750) includes a supervising base station (754) and one or more remote monitoring units (752). A remote unit (752) includes a navigational receiver (756) operating with an existing navigational system for providing a remote unit location (759) and includes a transmitter (758) for communicating the location (759) to the base station (754) for display (772). The remote unit (752) includes one or more physiological/environmental sensors (760) for monitoring at the remote location. In a specific embodiment a change in sensor status (761) results in the status and the location being transmitted to the base station (754). The base station (754) includes alarms (776) and displays (772) responsive to the change in status. One embodiment defines a man-over-board system (300) which combines water immersion (308) and distance (334) from the base station (318) to trigger an alarm (332) and begin location tracking (324).

Abstract: A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards including water immersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring, for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities which expose them to environmental risk.

Abstract: A bicycle brake or derailleur cable including at least one signal transfer pathway, such as a pair of electrical conductors or a fiber optic. In one embodiment the cable structural members are electrically conductive and form at least one signal transfer pathway. Use of the cable with a cycle computer permits the wires between a wheel rotation sensor and the computer to be protected from damage and provides for an improved appearance.

Abstract: A latching apparatus for interlocking electrical connectors such as the Ethernet.RTM. compliant 15-pin D-shell AUI connector. The latching apparatus is made a part of the male AUI connector, and includes a key for engaging and operating the locking member of the female AUI connector. The key can be incorporated into any device or mating connector which attaches to the AUI connector of an Ethernet.RTM. LAN adapter. The key is operated by hand and in one embodiment is coupled to a switch for modifying an Ethernet.RTM. signal to indicate whether the lock is in the locked or in the unlocked position.

Abstract: A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards including water emersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring, for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities which expose them to environmental risk.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted system for drying articles of clothing with recaptured heat includes an evaporation chamber and a condensation chamber. The evaporation chamber is enclosed inside the condensation chamber. Heat transfers from the condensation chamber to the evaporation chamber when vapor condenses on the exterior of the evaporation chamber. Pressure is reduced in each chamber by an automated regulation system which pumps vapor from between the chambers to optimize drying.

Abstract: A fanny-pack with a shoulder harness allowing a skier to securely, comfortably, and with hands free, carry and transport, to and from ski lifts, skis, poles, and ski accessories. The basic ski carrier comprises a carrier worn around the waist and below the small of the back in combination with a shoulder harness assembly. The skis and poles are mounted rigidly to a locator on the carrier and secured at the top via a quick release strap on the shoulder harness. The entire carrier is lifted, secured around the waist, and the shoulder straps slipped on and adjusted. In this configuration the skis and poles are positioned at a precise angle safely away from making contact with the skier's head and legs while standing or walking. In the preferred embodiment the personal ski carrier is combined with pockets on either side to facilitate carrying essential ski accessories such as goggles, gloves, etc.