Abstract: Engraving tool bit depth controlling nosepiece adjustment devices establish a precise protrusion distance that an engraving tool bit protrudes from the end of the nosepiece of a spring loaded engraving tool, that is in turn inserted within and driven by a standard machine tool such as a cnc type milling machine. One rotational adjustment device establishes the axial position of the nosepiece with respect to a collet nut of the engraving tool and another adjustment device employs annular ring spacers in the form of washers between the nosepiece and collet nut to precisely establish the desired engraving tool bit protrusion distance from the end of the nosepiece. This modification of a spring loaded engraving tool beneficially prevents the engraving tool bit from being able to plunge too deeply into the workpiece, particularly at the start of each engraved line, to thus ensure that all the lines will be consistent.

Abstract: An infrared zoom lens having no aspheric lens elements comprises, six distinct lens groups each having two or less spherical lens elements. The first group has a positive power, the second group has a negative power, the third group has a positive power, the fourth group has a negative power, the fifth has a positive power and the sixth group has either a positive or negative power with the purpose of relaying and focusing the output of the fourth lens group onto the focal plane of the imaging device. The second and fourth groups are axially movable but fixed relative to each other and move as a group relative to stationary groups one and three. The zoom ratio is thus varied, and no additional motion is required to keep the imagery sharp at the output focal plane as the lens is varied from the wide angle to the telephoto position.

Abstract: A single high resolution holographic pickup, for reading/writing both a CD and DVD optical recording medium, has an electrical tuning control for applying a DC and AC signal to a tunable Bragg cell, which AC is phase locked with respect to the fundamental repetition frequency of the recorded data on the CD to produce accurate tracking. A special high resolution holographic lens is recorded within the Bragg cell that focuses the light signals read off of the optical storage mediums upon a pickup detector, and its focal length is varied to read a selected CD and or DVD from a group of CDs or DVDs in response to changes in the DC applied to the Bragg cell. The holographic lens within the Bragg cell is formed by an interference pattern produced by interfering light emitted from the tip of a one micron optical fiber and a plane broad light beam.

Abstract: A dedicated liquid level detection method having a sensor positioned into the casing of a groundwater well. The detector is in the form of an elongated thin film sensor tape that extends along the full length of the well casing which detects the level, thickness and volume of both groundwater and any light or dense non-aqueous phase liquid that may be present. This is accomplished through the use of a conductive and hydrostatic resistive circuit measuring the level of liquids in a groundwater well at one hundredths of foot resolution or greater. Once the elongated sensor is installed, liquid levels can be gauged from the surface. The data is stored using a battery operated hand held digital display temporarily connected at the top well section casing. Since a sensor probe is not lowered into the well, cross contamination between wells is eliminated.

Abstract: A four piece firewood rack has left-hand and right-band end sections, each section including a horizontal cross-beam welded between lower portions of a vertical beam to be positioned at the front of the rack and lower portions of a second left-hand beam at the rear of the rack, a third horizontal cross-beam, having sleeves members welded to terminal portions of the third cross-beam, are passed over the vertical beams at the front of the rack until they rest upon the cross-beams of each end section without the need for fasteners, and a fourth horizontal cross-beam, having sleeve members welded to terminal portions of the fourth cross-beam, are passed over the vertical beams at the rear of the rack until they rest upon the cross-beams of each end section without the need for fasteners.

Abstract: Hash numbers are assigned to each individual ballot choice made by a particular voter and a hash total, establishing the voter's set of ballot choices, is recorded and a printed receipt is issued to the voter, bearing the voter's identification number, to assure him that his vote was correctly recorded along with his hash total. If the voter presents his receipt, to deny that he voted as shown on the receipt, an unfavorable comparison of the previously recorded hash total, with the hash total on the receipt, proves that the receipt was forged, and each such tampering attempt and voter ID is recorded. Recounts are unnecessary, unless the number of such recorded attempts at tampering exceed a predetermined number. A hacker attempt to change a recorded vote will fail because the hash totals of the altered ballot won't match the correct hash total because the hash encoding algorithm is secret.

Abstract: A concrete basement stairway is created, by positioning a stairway form 1 between a first pair of concrete receiving foundation channels 9 and a second pair of concrete receiving foundation channels 9a of any size foundation, the stairway form including a single piece stairstep panel 2, coupled by pivotable latching members, between a pair of parallel inner stairway side panels 6 and 6a, the inner stairway side panels configured to permit concrete to flow between the two pairs of concrete receiving foundation channels and spaces beneath the stairstep panel, in a manner forming a series of solidified concrete steps unified, and thus leak proof, with concrete solidified within the concrete receiving foundation channels. The stairway is formed simultaneously with the foundation so that a builder can complete the job without awaiting shipment of a pre-cast stairway requiring returning to the site. Reusable lightweight aluminum forms are employed for easy handling.

Abstract: An exercising device for strengthening hands or limbs has first and second bladders containing fluid with first and second valves that couple the bladders to a fluid pressure gage. Squeezing the first bladder by the left hand causes easy flow through the first valve to the pressure gage in a first direction, whereas the second valve presents a high impedance to flow in the same direction into the right hand bladder, so that the measured gage impulse pressure is proportional to the flow rate of fluid through the second valve indicating left hand strength. Squeezing the second bladder by the right hand produces fluid flow in the opposite direction with the right hand strength being measured in like manner. Alternate bladder squeezing creates a pleasant rhythmic exercise routine and the peak gage pressure indicates progress. The valve configuration enables strength measurement of the weak and the strong with one device.

Abstract: An oscillating microscopic or tomographic optical input image is directed at a tunable Bragg cell and a tuning control device applies a fluctuating AC hetrodyne signal to the cell, such signal having a phase locked template with respect to oscillation of the optical image, causing the cell to hetrodyne and correlate a phase locked matching template with the oscillating optical input image. A time integrating detector integrates output signals from the Bragg cell while illuminated point sources of the optical image are interconnected with corresponding imaging points upon the integrating detector via a high resolution holographic lens array within the Bragg cell. The array consists of recorded interference patterns between tiny one micron point sources of light produced by an optical fiber with broad wave fronts of light. A DC signal applied to the Bragg cell along with the AC signal enables beneficial wavelength discrimination and averaging.

Abstract: A high resolution, non-scanning system for microscopy and/or tomography whereby a broad non-focused input image transmitted through a medium such the human body is processed, in contrast with a focused scanning beam. A high pass filter provides high sensitivity, and a high magnification feedback loop magnifier having reduced lens aberrations is also provided. A zoom lens focuses the input image such as a tumor at different planes within the medium. Image processing systems for correction via a back-propagation algorithms followed by a two-dimensional (2-D) deflection sensor and a 2-D Demultiplexer is employed to produce separate phase and amplitude image signals that are then mixed and applied to a display yielding three dimensional tomographic images. Novel two demultiplexers for calculation amplitude and phase images are disclosed based on a smart pixelated array, a tunable grating, and a two-probe beam hologram, each beam having two different wavelengths or two different modulations.

Abstract: A dedicated liquid level detection method having a sensor positioned into the casing of a groundwater well. The detector is in the form of an elongated thin film sensor tape that extends along the fill length of the well casing which detects the level, thickness and volume of both groundwater and any light or dense non-aqueous phase liquid that may be present. This is accomplished through the use of a conductive and hydrostatic resistive circuit measuring the level of liquids in a groundwater well at one hundredths of foot resolution or greater. Once the elongated sensor is installed, liquid levels can be gauged from the surface. The data is stored using a battery operated hand held digital display temporarily connected at the top well section casing. Since a sensor probe is not lowered into the well, cross contamination between wells is eliminated.

Abstract: A flexible transparent mask having a vision blocking portion is positioned over the infant's “good” eye to prevent amblyopia and a large plastic corrective lens is positioned over the eye under correction, and is heat laminated to the mask during manufacture. Since the entire mask is mounted upon and removed from the infant's face in a single motion, separate application and removal of a corrective lens and a conventional patch is avoided for convenience. The mask avoids the cumbersome conventional removal, sterilization and reinsertion of a contact lens to prevent infection, or alternatively, the use of external eyeglasses which the child can peek around, unlike the preferred mask held close to the infant's face. Another embodiment uses a double-sided adhesive ring for affixing the lens over the infant's eye along with a separately applied eye patch over the “good” eye.

Abstract: An easy to clean, flexible plastic mesh thistle seed containing sack provides a broad substantially planar surface for simultaneously viewing a surprisingly large number of colorful birds. Its mesh openings are configured to enable perching of small birds during feeding, and several substantially separated discrete centrally positioned feeding apertures are dimensioned to make it easy for the birds to feed, to keep them at the feeder, and yet without wasting of tiny thistle seed. An opening is formed within an upper portion of the flexible mesh thistle seed containing sack for inserting seed therein, and a closure member is seated over the opening, providing easy access for refilling of seed. The closure member remains seated upon the top of the sack by gravity and yet can be readily displaced upwardly for gaining access to the sack. The closure member at the same time also functions as a bird supporting perch.

Abstract: A micro-optical light beam switch comprises a MEMS (Micro-Electromechanical Systems) mirror array with packaged CMOS driving circuitry. Each movable mirror is coupled to orthogonal pairs of thin unimorph PZT capacitor actuators about peripheral mirror portions for precise positional accuracy in two dimensions by the application of mirror tilt control voltages of 5 volts or less to the actuators. Each cantilevered actuator is individually controllable, allowing multi-axial movement of each mirror via simple flexible stress reducing hinging tab elements for the precise redirection of an incoming light beam to the appropriate targeted location, such as the direction of optical traffic throughout a fiber optic network.

Abstract: A generally circular, thin, laminated, high color contrast, flexible target sheet member is affixed to a central pocket portion of a baseball glove by a peel-away pressure sensitive formed upon the backing of the target member. This simple and inexpensive single (one piece) targeting member can be mail-ordered or otherwise sold directly, particularly to millions of young “Little League” players in need of an aid in improving their throwing accuracy. No detrimental modifications of the gloves already in possession of the players is required. An advertising logo of a sponsor can be added, enabling its use as a give-away item. Alternatively, a team logo can be printed on the target.

Abstract: A rotating spinner travels down a number of track segments by the force of gravity, the spinner jumping across gaps separating the track segments and yet remaining in an upright position to enable reliable transfer of the spinner across the gaps. This is accomplished by designing the back spinner disk to have a weight that counterbalances the weight of the front spinner disk for thwarting tilting of said spinner member. The flat face of the spinner disk is large to display a large graphic design that moves as the spinner is transported down the track segments. A target member receives the spinner upon termination of its travel along the head-to-tail positioned track segments, and the skill level is changed by changing the gap sizes between track segments and the positions of the magnetized track segments supported upon a refrigerator door by force of gravity.

Abstract: A matched amplification correlator transforms input images projecting a real time hologram upon a holographic storage device and a spatial light modulator, optically coupled to the storage device, modulates the hologram with a correlation filter, and the modulated signal is Fourier transformed to produce an output correlation signal. Alternatively, Fourier transforms of beams bearing the signals to be correlated are projected upon a beam controlled semi-conductor absorption modulator for selectively switching the Fourier transform of the noisy cluttered image through the device, and a spatial light modulator, modulates the hologram with a correlation filter, and the transform produces an output correlation signal. These compact adaptive, noise robust correlators can be made as small as one cubic centimeter. In a correlation system of exemplary figure one, nearly one hundred million correlations per second (0.1 Ghz) are possible. Front end components of the correlators can be used to clean noisy images.

Abstract: An angularly multiplexed store contains filters derived from prior examination of input image reference samples, a spectrum analyzer produces spectral data representing the frequency spectrum of the input image under examination, a computer produces an encoded map of the spectral data representing the input image frequency spectrum. The encoded map is transformed, inputted into the store while close match spectral correlation light beams emerge from the multiplexed store, each having an emerging angle associated with that filter within the multiplexed store producing a close match with the first transform. An array of light beam detectors and a display present images having colors that indicate the nature of the input image such as a type of cancer. An associated memory-retro-reflector arrangement displays characters naming the materials making up the input image such as types of abnormal tissue.

Abstract: A combination dowel-hole and pocket-hole drill comprising a motor/handle assembly, a pivoting platform, a fence system, and a base assembly. The motor/handle assembly includes a shoe structure enabling the motor/handle assembly to slide along grooves in the pivoting platform. The pivoting platform can be set at various angles to the base advantageous to either drilling a dowel hole or drilling a pocket hole. An adjustable stop rod on the pivoting platform sets the depth of plunge for drilling operations. The fence system consists of an upper fence primarily used for dowel hole drilling operations and a lower fence primarily used for pocket hole drilling operations. The upper fence slides perpendicular to the cutting tool and sets the distance of the dowel hole from the top surface of the workpiece. The lower fence slides parallel to the base assembly and sets the entry point for the pocket hole drill bit. This entry point is determined by the workpiece thickness.

Abstract: A driver briefly places his hand upon a biometric hand reader once during each successive four minute recurrent time interval established by a microprocessor that continuous to produce a maintain-truck-operative signal to prevent truck disablement that would otherwise occur while driving. Should a hijacker drive the truck away and use the hand reader, the reader senses a mismatch, will cease to produce the maintain-truck-operative signal, and the truck will stop. The hijacker is prevented from occupying the cab and forcing the driver to drive and use the sensor by a switch-mat within the passenger area that senses the hijacker's presence and disables the truck. A facial recognition reader will stop the truck if the driver is absent in an even faster manner, which is very important when a gasoline truck that is a bomb-on-wheels is stolen. More affordable data input sensors comprising a steering wheel pushbutton encoder are also disclosed.