Abstract: A method for producing esters of hydroxy terminated polybutadiene, including the steps of: (a) providing an anhydride; (b) reacting a hydroxy terminated polybutadiene with the anhydride to form a carboxyl terminated polybutadiene derivative; (c) reacting the derivative with an epoxide. Also a curable composition, including: (a) an ester of hydroxy terminated polybutadiene; (b) a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer; and (c) a drier.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for monitoring differentials between a first signal and a second signal. According to a preferred embodiment, the first signal and second signal are sampled for a current sampling interval to provide a current first signal value and to provide a current second signal value. The first signal is compared with the second signal for the current sampling interval to determine a difference indication. At least one of the current first signal value and the current second signal value is repaired if a difference indication is determined and if fewer than a first predetermined number of repairs have been made within a second predetermined number of previous sampling intervals.

Abstract: An automatic door opening and closing system opens a door by driving means when a person approaches the door. A monitoring area is set in the vicinity of the door, and moving speed and direction computing means computes the speed and direction of movement of the person on the basis of changes in position of the person in the monitoring area. When it is judged from the computed direction of movement that the person is moving toward the door, door enabling area selecting means selects one of plural door enabling areas suitable for the speed of movement of the object. Open-door command means provides an open-door signal, which causes the door to be opened at a fixed speed, to the driving means so that the door is fully opened upon the predicted arrival of the person at the door.

Abstract: A system for vaporizing liquefied gas fuel supplied from a fuel tank and supplying it to an internal combustion engine includes a release path for releasing spontaneously evaporated fuel gas in said tank out of the tank. A catalytic burner is disposed in the release path for decomposing the fuel gas into hot steam and carbon dioxide. A release control valve disposed between the catalytic burner and the fuel tank selectively causes the burner and the fuel tank to communicate and to be decoupled from each other.

Abstract: A voltage input circuit for providing an output in response to an input signal. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an output having a first state and a second state is generated. The output is switched from the first state to the second state when a capacitor is charged for a first predetermined time period by the input signal having a magnitude greater than a first predetermined threshold magnitude. The capacitor is disabled to prevent the output from switching from the first state to the second state if the input signal falls below the first predetermined threshold magnitude during the first time period. The output is switched from the second state to the first state when the input signal has a magnitude less than a second predetermined threshold magnitude for a second predetermined time period.

Abstract: A cutting head stabilizer for controlling the movement of the substantially U-shaped cutting blade of a tire groover. The stabilizer facilitates the rapid and precise movement of the substantially U-shaped cutting blade about the gripping surface of a tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding a pixel image representative of a bar code symbol. A bar code symbol is scanned along a first scan line to determine a first set of candidate character values, each candidate character value of this first set having an error value associated therewith. If the scanning along the first scan line results in an unsuccessful reading of the bar code symbol, then the bar code symbol is scanned along a second differing scan line to determine a second set of candidate character values, each candidate character value of this second set having an error value associated therewith. Corresponding error values associated with the first and second sets of candidate character values are next compared. For each corresponding pair of candidate character values from the first and second sets, the candidate character value having the smallest associated error value is selected.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously convolving first and second digital binary images in parallel with a single convolver having a binary mask. A first window is selected from the first digital binary image and a second window is selected from the second digital binary image. A first binary pixel is selected from the first window and a second binary pixel is selected from the second window. The first binary pixel is bit-shifted by concatenating a plurality of trailing zero bits to the first binary pixel. A multi-bit input pixel is formed by combining the bit-shifted first binary pixel and the second binary pixel. A single multi-bit output value is generated by simultaneously applying a plurality of multi-bit input pixels to a single convolver.

Abstract: Curable and cured compositions having improved substrate adhesion, a method of providing a coating composition with improved substrate adhesion, a method of adhering a coating composition to a substrate, a method of providing a substrate with an adherent cured coating or film, and substrates with coatings or films formed from a cured composition are provided, wherein the coating composition comprises a fatty acid modified alkyd resin, a metal salt of an .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and, optionally, an initiator and/or metal salt drying agent.

Abstract: An improved pivotal structure for cordless telephone antenna is provided primarily by connecting the swivel head for mounting the antenna rod to the upper end of a plastic insulation cover with an antiskid seat which is provided on its surface with straight circumferential indentations, the lower end of the plastic insulation cover being secured to a high frequency connector, in which the antiskid seat is secured in the plastic insulation cover and the swivel head is pivoted in riveting manner to the antiskid seat by a resilient washer so as to provide a certain holding force, a pair of planar washer being interposed therebetween to provide a better friction surface such that the pivotal connector can be effectively positioned to whatever place to which the pivotal connector is rotated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding a pixel image representative of a bar code symbol. The bar code symbol is comprised of a plurality of encoded character values each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of prototype bar patterns, wherein each of the prototype bar patterns has a set of predetermined bar width feature values associated therewith. A set of bar width information estimates is determined from the pixel image. The set of bar width information estimates being representative of a character value stored in the bar code symbol. The set of bar width estimates is compared to a selected set of predetermined bar width feature values. Based on this comparison, it is determined whether the character value stored in the bar code symbol corresponds to the selected set of predetermined bar width information values.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating and verifying a digital signature of a message m. This method requires a pair of corresponding public and secret keys (y and x) for each signer, as well as a pair of public and secret values (r and k) generated for each message by the signer. The public value r is calculated according to the rule r=(g.sup.k mod p) mod q. A value s is then selected according to the rule s=k.sup.-1 (H(m)+xr) mod q where H is a known conventional hashing function. The message m, along with the signature (r,s) is then transmitted. When the transmitted signal is received a verification process is provided. The received values of r and s are tested to determine whether they are congruent to 0 mod g. Additionally, r is tested to determine whether it is equal to v mod q, where v is computed from r, s, m and y. For legitimately executed signatures, v=g.sup.k mod p.