Abstract: A slot line band reject pass filter including a substrate of insulating material having slot line primary conductors formed thereon. One or more supplemental conductors are preferably coupled to the slot line primary conductors to achieve rejection of a desired frequency. Several embodiments of supplemental conductors are disclosed including substantially closed loop and non loop segments that extend in a range from parallel to perpendicular from the primary conductors. The supplemental conductors may be directly or electromagnetically coupled, or both.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the clarity of a picture produced from a video signal. A differentiation circuit is provided that produces a responsive correction signal. Mechanisms for adjusting the shape (width, amplitude, etc.) of the correction signal are disclosed. Disabling the correction signal during blanking intervals and synchronization is also disclosed, among other features.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for improving or otherwise affecting the picture produced from a video signal. The apparatus preferably includes a video signal receiver, a circuit that decodes picture parameter correction information from a received video signal, and a circuit that processes a received video signal based on decoded picture parameter correction information. The correction information is preferably located in the vertical blanking interval of the received video signal. The method includes encoding picture parameter correction information into a vertical blanking interval of a video signal.

Abstract: A solder clamp having a common base and first and second clamp levers or jaws that are capable of independent operation. Positioning slots are preferably provided in the common base and the first and second clamp levers to properly align two wires or similar articles to be joined. The common base and clamp levers are formed of a durable plastic or similar lightweight, durable and inexpensive material. Torsion, coil or flat springs or similar mechanisms are provided to bias the first and second clamp lever towards the common base.

Abstract: Self-configuring computer apparatus and method thereof. The computer apparatus preferably includes logic that determines the available system resources and those devices that desire access to those resources. Using an artificial intelligence protocol, resource setting are allocated to the devices. All devices are preferably considered (i.e., parallel consideration) before assign of resource settings for a particular resource so that an efficient allocation is achieved. A method of performing such a configuration is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hot tub cover that is lightweight, durable, watertight and economically fabricated. The cover includes a water-tight exterior that surrounds insulation material, typically of foam or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the exterior is provided with mechanisms that permit thermal expansion of the exterior relative to the insulation material. The provision of thermal expansion buffer material and air gaps between the insulation material and exterior layer is also disclosed as are joinder and skirt attachment mechanisms.

Abstract: A plurality of systems and/or apparatuses for use in delivering liquid where desired, such as for watering agronomic or household plants. A reservoir housing is disclosed that has an egress opening and retains liquid by vacuum pressure. Capillary material is preferably provided at or near the egress opening for controlled delivery of liquid and to assist in establishing a regulatable seal at the egress opening. Several embodiments with both different and common components and features are disclosed.

Abstract: Opposing sling object holding device that includes a first flexible strand and a second flexible strand that have at least a first and a second intersection with a loop defined therebetween. The overlapping portions of the strands and the first and second intersection are held in a relative relationship by holding members. The holding members are not fixedly mounted to the strands or are releasably fixedly mounted so that the size and location of the loop can be changed to accommodate different sized pots and different hanging arrangements. The components of the hanging device preferably withstand environmental degradation and have a multiplicity of arrangements.

Abstract: A trough waveguide antenna that has a septum and opposing bases and side walls. In one embodiment, the bases are undulated and asymmetrically disposed about the septum. The magnitude, periodicity and length, etc., of the undulations may be varied for performance. The configuration of the septum may be similarly varied. Other mechanisms for achieving energy radiation are also disclosed as are cost effective fabrication techniques.

Abstract: A coplanar band pass filter having a centerline formed of at least first and second serially arranged conducting segments which are separated by a gap. The centered segments are flanked by a resonator for coupling return current from the first and second segments. Conducting members that may include conductive strips or conductive planes are respectively provided on opposing sides of the resonator and centerline. Band pass elements may be provided in the conductive strips or planes to reduce or eliminate spurious pass band frequencies.

Abstract: A slot line band pass filter formed on a dielectric substrate. In one embodiment, the filter includes input and output positive and negative signal conductors and resonators for coupling a signal of a desired frequency between input and output conductors. Various resonator arrangements are disclosed. In another embodiment, a filter having a resonator connected to and disposed between positive and negative conductors is taught. In yet other embodiments, filters having loop resonators are disclosed.

Abstract: A utility linkage apparatus configured in a preferred embodiment to have a ring-like member that has a longitudinal dimension that is greater than a dimension approximately perpendicular thereto. Various ring member configurations are disclosed as are mechanisms for releasably securing a cable to the ring member. A choker that utilized the ring member and releasable cable attachment mechanism is also disclosed.

Abstract: A slack pulling carriage having a skidding line drum arrangement that achieves efficient and accurate movement of the carriage along the skidding line. The drum arrangement is preferably configured such that the skidding line loops around at least approximately 180 degrees of the circumference of the drum. A hydraulic driving system, a multiple speed motor and locking clamps are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flared trough waveguide antenna capable of being used at high microwave and millimeter wave frequencies is disclosed herein. The antenna includes a conductive trough having first and second ends, a bottom surface, and first and second opposing side surfaces electrically coupled to the bottom surface. A conductive fin is electrically coupled to the bottom surface between the first and second opposing side surfaces. The bottom surface includes a first planar portion between the conductive fin and the first side surface, and a second planar portion between the conductive fin and the second side surface. The conductive trough may be induced to radiate electromagnetic energy by introducing an offset between the first and second planar portions with respect to the plane of the conductive fin. The antenna further includes first and second flared surfaces, respectively coupled to the first and second side surfaces, for directing electromagnetic energy radiated by the flared trough waveguide antenna.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for electronic form voice messaging. Logic is provided for generating a plurality of user specified outgoing and playback message components. Incoming message components that are responsive to the outgoing message components are combined in a user defined manner with the playback message components to form an output playback message. A user may specify a plurality of playback formats. Computer based and answering machine based embodiments are disclosed. A graphic user interface is taught in conjunction with the computer based implementation.

Abstract: A permanent electronic serial number unit for use with a network electronic device that includes a member having a machine readable pattern of unique identification information, a mechanism for propagating a read signal onto the member and a mechanism for detecting the read signal after it has been propagated to the member. The unit is preferable coupled to the processor of an electronic device connected to a network such that the electronic device may be identified by the network administrator. The unit may be positioned in the structural frame of an electronic device such that the same unique identification information is visible in a human readable form on the exterior of the frame.

Abstract: A climbing aid apparatus that includes cams that are mounted for rotation about axles. At least one of the axles is capable of relative movement. In a preferred embodiment, the position of at least one axle moves as the cams expand. An embodiment including three axles is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the location of pages in a system having multiple processors and multiple main memory. Local and remote accesses to main memory are monitored and when remote accesses exceed local accesses in a predefined period, steps to alleviate the volume of remote accesses are undertaken. The steps may result in the relocation of a memory page, replication of a memory page (for read only pages) and relocation of a process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a physical memory larger than a corresponding virtual memory. An apparatus is disclosed that includes a processor having an address word of a predefined length, a main memory having a size larger than the addressable range of the predefined address word, and virtual memory logic for configuring the processor virtual memory to contain a subset of the main memory as resident memory and pointers to the remainder of main memory. Analogous method steps are disclosed as is dividing main memory into a plurality of buffer uniquely identifiable within the address range of the predefined address word.

Abstract: Mixers assemblies including mixer cells, baluns, quadrature mixers and image reject mixers, etc. The mixer cell may contain CPW strip RF input and slot line strip LO input. LO signal return is provided through a flip-chip mounted to a mixer contact area and the CPW RF input is preferably coupled to the contact area through a distributed or flip-chip mounted capacitor. The use of two mixer cells in novel embodiments of quadrature and image reject mixers is disclosed. CPW to slot line power dividing baluns for use within and without such mixers are also disclosed.