Abstract: A mounting device for holding a first panel within an aperture in a second panel includes two frames. The first frame has subconnectors with hook structures. The second frame is formed as a U-shape with flanges extending at angles greater than 90.degree. from the arms of the U-shape. When the two frames are connected to each other by virtue of the interaction of the hook structures and apertures in the arms of the U-shaped structure, the U-shaped structure exerts spring-like pressure on both the wall panel and the window being held within the wall panel.

Abstract: A decorative system for lamp shades and related articles relies upon a plurality of clips having spring tension between their parts. The clips are easily added or removed from a lamp shade or similar article without destroying or otherwise compromising the fabric of the lamp shade. Virtually every style, size and shape of lamp shade can be decorated by the present system.

Abstract: A thin flexible floor mat system is configured to resist penetration by high heeled shoes and be capable of being easily rolled up in long segments. The floor mat is constituted by a series of small square sections and are connected together with connectors that permit easy deployment and removal of the mat system by detaching segments of the mat from each other. The mat is flexible but resists penetration from high heels and other forms of traffic by virtue maintaining of a predetermined volume in the areas formed by adjacent cross pieces of the mat. Longitudinal connectors are configured so that the matting connected to half the connector comes away relatively easily while the matting connected to the other half of the connector is held tightly to the connector. Ramp structures are arranged on all outside edges of the mat system. Different connection arrangements between the mat and the ramps are provided.

Abstract: A security door latching mechanism and complementary receiver are arranged to be installed within a door and a complementary door jamb. In the preferred embodiment, the installation takes place in a vehicle and the latching mechanism can be installed either in the door or in the door frame or jamb. The latching mechanism includes a plunger shaft which is arranged to extend from the door jamb into the receiver, and is forcibly maintained in the extended position until retracted by an electrical current provided to an actuator. This actuator is spring-driven to keep the plunger shaft in an extended position until provided with an electrical power to retract the plunger shaft. A wedge-shaped guide forces the plunger shaft to slide to the recess when the door is being closed. It is necessary to constantly maintain the electric power to the actuator in order to keep the plunger shaft retracted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for using the system to provide a dross-free zinc bath for hot-dip galvanizing of steel strip or wire. The system includes the operation and apparatus for carrying out the operation of directing a zinc solution directly against both sides of a steel strip, along at least 50% of the processing length of the strip.

Abstract: A security door latching mechanism and complementary receiver are arranged to be installed within a door and a complementary doorjamb. In the preferred embodiment, the installation takes place in a vehicle and the latching mechanism can be installed either in the door or in the door frame or jamb. The latching mechanism includes a plunger shaft which is arranged to extend from the doorjamb into the receiver, and is forcibly maintained in the extended position until retracted by an electrical current provided to an actuator. This actuator is spring-driven to keep the plunger shaft in an extended position until provided with an electrical power to retract the plunger shaft. It is necessary to constantly maintain the electric power to the actuator in order to keep the plunger shaft retracted.

Abstract: A pitot tube cover is arranged with a slot to encompass the pitot tube and a wind surface that is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle upon which the pitot tube is mounted. Once the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed, sufficient force is applied against the wind surface that causes the cover to rotate about a pivot area, freeing itself from the pitot tube and allowing the pitot tube to operate normally.

Abstract: A guitar has a removable neck section including fretboard, electronic pick up system with a built in headphone amplifier system for private listening. The detached main body also has an amplifier with a built in loudspeaker which can be activated when the neck section is attached, or used as a stand alone amplifier for a microphone, tape player, radio, cd player, or other electronic instrument. The instrument can also be played as a standard electronic guitar by plugging it into an external amplifier. The built in sound system enables the performer to move around the room without being constrained by a cord to external amplifiers or speakers. Also, power requirements can be reduced since the speaker moved with the guitar and is not being left in a disadvantageous position.

Abstract: The invention provides a dispersion shift optical fiber which is capable of a zero dispersion wavelength division multiplex optical transmission in the wavelength band of 1550 nm and a wavelength division multiplex transmission using the optical fiber. With the dispersion shift optical fiber according to the invention, the relationship between the relative refractive index difference .DELTA..sub.-- 1 of a core of an optical fiber, the relative refractive index difference .DELTA..sub.-- 2 of the first clad covering the core, and the relative refractive index difference .DELTA.3 of the second clad covering the outer circumferential side thereof is .DELTA.1>.DELTA.3>.DELTA.2, the mean dispersion slope of the use wavelength band of a wavelength from 1530 nm to 1560 nm is made a negative value, and the zero dispersion wavelength is set to a value which is outside the gain band of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical switch which is used for connecting or switching light (optical signals) by utilizing optical fibers. An optical fiber tape (6) is fixed on an optical fiber placing base (2) by an adhesive agent. A plurality of slave side optical fibers (3) are caused to protrude from the optical fiber tape (6). plurality of V grooves (5) are formed at the front edge side of the slave side optical fibers (3), a groove formed member 1 which has the master optical fiber (4) fixed in the V grooves thereof is provided.

Abstract: The present invention proposes an optical wavelength division multiplexer device which has low through loss and low reflection loss, and also has high isolation. A filter member is made up from a filter base board upon which is formed a wavelength division filter 5, and is disposed so as to intersect an input and output optical waveguide 3 of rectilinear form part-way along it at an intersection angle .alpha.. When light which includes light of two different wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.2 is incident through an incident light side of the input and output optical waveguide 3, the light of wavelength .lambda..sub.2 passes through the wavelength division filter 5 and is emitted through an emitted light side, while the light of wavelength .lambda..sub.1 is reflected by the wavelength division filter 5 in a direction separated from the input and output optical waveguide 3.

Abstract: A golf putter provides improved power, control and "feel" with a special head configuration including a counterweight as well as a hosel and striking portion. The counterweight extends behind the striking portion and has a horizontal centroid that aligns with that of the striking portion. The hosel connects the shaft to the head via the portion of the counterweight that is opposite the connection to the striking portion. A beveled surface connects the lower surface of the striking portion to the vertical striking face thereby facilitating an easier stroke.

Abstract: An optical power detector is provided which accurately detects the optical power of transmitted light and suffers almost no influence due to noise, and a multi-level digital transmission system which includes such an optical power detector. A beam of received light is incident into an entry end of a light fiber. A plurality of saturable absorbers are disposed in series along this light fiber, each having its own pair, differing in steps, of a first threshold value and a second threshold value which is greater than the first threshold value, and being substantially opaque to light of optical intensity below the first threshold value and substantially transparent to light of optical intensity above the second threshold value.

Abstract: Competition between subscriber stations attempting to access reverse channels in response to Temporary Equipment Identifier (TEI) messages is limited by requiring the subscriber stations to wait for a predetermined amount of time. The time delay is selected on the basis of a random number and a factor based upon the number of TEI messages broadcast. The method for determining response opportunities for subscriber stations also includes a back-off phase at the first stage. The time delays to the defer phase is based upon a random period of time and a predetermined maximum based upon the time needed for the microslots containing a TEI message.

Abstract: A dispersion compensating optical fiber is proposed for application in a wavelength optical signal transmission system. This dispersion compensating fiber has a W shaped refractive index profile, and has a first core layer, a second core layer formed around the outside of the first core layer, and a cladding layer made of substantially pure silica formed around the outside of the second core layer. The first core layer is doped with germanium, so that its refractive index s increased by a proportional refractive index difference of about 2%. The second core layer is uniformly doped with fluorine, so that its refractive index is decreased by a proportional refractive index difference of about 0.58%. The ratio of the outer radius of the second core layer to the outer radius of the first core layer is about 2.5.

Abstract: A method of sensing and controlling a gas metal arc welding process employs high frequency sampling of electrical signals from the welding circuit. The sampled signals are operated upon by predetermined processes to determine characteristics indicative of on-going weld quality and the future weld quality. The processes which operate upon sampled electrical signals determine shielding gas quality, the occurrence of short circuits and frequency thereof; pulse frequency and standard deviation thereof, contact tube wear and trends in the sampled electrical signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining the error due to inherent PM and M noise in a noise measurement device. The apparatus is a calibration standard having a high frequency carrier source and a Gaussian noise source. The outputs of both sources are linearly combined by a power summer so that AM and PM noise components are equal at the output terminals of the calibration standard. To carry out the process of calibrating the calibration standard then determining inherent noise in a noise measuring device under test, the calibration standard includes means for switching to output a signal indicative of either the noise floor or a high frequency signal linearly combined with the output of a Gaussian noise source.

Abstract: A switchable local oscillator for use in a shared mixer radiometer is capable of providing at least two separate frequencies. The local oscillator contains at least two cavity resonators, a voltage controlled oscillator controlling a microwave generator, a microprocessor to intermittently control the voltage controlled oscillator and an output voltage detection circuit to provide output voltage levels to the microprocessor. The microprocessor controls the voltage controlled oscillator to tune the microwave generator through a frequency range. Output voltage level of the local oscillator is detected, and a resonant frequency is determined. In response, the microprocessor fixes the voltage of the voltage controlled oscillator at a voltage corresponding to the resonant frequency of one of the cavity resonators. Microprocessor control of the voltage controlled oscillator is then relinquished. The local oscillator generates a resonant frequency while measurements are made by the radiometer.