Abstract: A user's movements are detected by a capacitive system having one or more conductors. The output from the conductors is amplified and compared to a table of stored output. Thus, the device can eliminate the need to touch a control surface. The control surface such as a computer mouse could be eliminated in favor of merely sensing a user's hand movement. Likewise, the array of conductors could be placed in a panel that could be mounted on a wall. Such panels could be used in a factory to sense the movement of workers or a machinery. Indeed, the movements could be analyzed and warnings sounded if a collision is predicted.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for real time in-situ measuring of the downhole chemical and or physical properties of a core of an earth formation during a coring operation. The present invention comprises several embodiments that may use electromagnetic, acoustic, fluid and differential pressure, temperature, gamma and x-ray, neutron radiation, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mudwater invasion measurements to measure the chemical and or physical properties of the core that may include porosity, bulk density, mineralogy, and fluid saturations. The present invention comprises a downhole apparatus coupled to an inner and or an outer core barrel near the coring bits with a sensor array coupled to the inner core barrel for real time gathering of the measurements. A controller coupled to the sensor array controls the gathering of the measurements and stores the measurements in a measurement storage unit coupled to the controller for retrieval by a computing device for tomographic analysis.

Abstract: The present invention additionally comprises a method and apparatus for generating and mixing signals for frequency-domain lifetime and spectral fluorometry. The present invention comprises a plurality of signal generators that generate a plurality of signals where the signal generators modulate the amplitude and/or the frequency of the signals. The present invention uses one of these signals to drive an excitation signal that the present invention then directs and transmits at a target mixture, which absorbs the energy from the excitation signal. The property of fluorescence causes the target mixture to emit an emitted signal that the present invention detects with a signal detector. The present invention uses a plurality of mixers to produce a processor reference signal and a data signal. The present invention then uses a processor to compare the processor reference signal with the data signal by analyzing the differences in the phase and the differences in the amplitude between the two signals.

Abstract: An off-mains lighting display comprises a plurality of electro-luminescent lamps (ELs) connected in parallel across a rechargeable battery that is connected to the ELs through an inverter. A solar panel device recharges the battery.Electroluminescent lamps for use in light strings are produced by cutting decorative shapes from existing electroluminescent material and mounting them back to back, in receptacles connected to electric wiring as in conventional light strings. For greater protection and ease of use the lamps may be mounted inside a length of clear plastic tubing, or may be laminated within layers of plastic material.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for chemometric analysis for the extraction of the individual component fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetimes from a target mixture. The present invention combines a processor with an apparatus for generating an excitation signal to transmit at a target mixture and an apparatus for detecting the emitted signal from the target mixture. The present invention extracts the individual fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence lifetime measurements from the frequency and wavelength data acquired from the emitted signal. The present invention uses an iterative solution that first requires the initialization of several decision variables and the initial approximation determinations of intermediate matrices. The iterative solution compares the decision variables for convergence to see if further approximation determinations are necessary.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus that transmits the stereo and the surround sound information of the L-R signal without excessive attenuation at the higher frequencies in order to allow transmission of surround sound through a noisy medium. The apparatus includes a surround sound conditioner coupled to receive a L-R signal portion of the television signal for pre-emphasizing and companding the L-R signal to produce a conditioned L-R signal; a mixer coupled to the surround sound conditioner for switching the conditioned L-R signal at a predetermined value to produce an amplitude modulated L-R signal; and a synchronizing circuitry coupled to the mixer for maintaining the predetermined value in step with the reference value, wherein the mixed L-R signal is combined with a L+R signal portion of the television signal to produce a composite output signal.

Abstract: This invention continuously monitors the differential pressure between two environments, and dynamically adjusts the air handling system of the controlled environment to maintain a desired differential pressure setpoint by using a closed loop control methodology. Local and remote users can initialize, configure, monitor, and readjust the differential pressure setpoint as necessary. A differential pressure sensor transmits data to the system controller for processing and analysis. The system controller interfaces to a wide variety of air handling systems by using interchangeable air handling subsystems that plug into the invention. Each subsystem has the necessary hardware interface and software control methodology to easily and transparently enable the system controller to interface with a wide variety of air handling configurations.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for background generation and chroma replacement for use with video and digital imaging that includes motion pictures, television, commercial and portrait photography. The present invention comprises a projection device that generates and projects a background image where the projection device further comprises a front projecting device and a retroreflective screen. The front projection device couples to a camera and comprises a projector with a removeable filter coupled to a beamsplitter enclosure. The beamsplitter enclosure comprises a beamsplitter with a quick connect coupling. A sizing ring couples the quick connect coupling to the camera lens. The removable filter in the projector may comprise a solid colored filter or a photographic image.

Abstract: A safe providing both permanent and temporary storage of money. The safe uses bill validators to accurately count cash deposited into a secure area. A control system records the amount of money entered into both the temporary and permanent storage and the amount withdrawn from the temporary storage. The control system includes both a primary and an auxiliary memory for storing an audit trail of these transactions. Further, the control system utilizes an encryption code for communications between a main controller and each of the door controllers.

Abstract: A device that automatically repeats a prerecorded message for training a bird to mimic the message. The device is sized such that it may be attached to a bird cage by adjustable clips. The device electronically records and stores a message spoken by the user and plays back the message through a speaker for the bird at intervals determined by a timer. A user may record any type of message that the user wishes for the bird to learn. The message may be of variable length up to 60 seconds in duration. The user may select a delay interval between one second and thirty minutes by utilization of the timer. Once the user activates the play-back, the device will play the prerecorded message at a selected volume, automatically repeating in intervals equal to that selected by the user. Thereafter, the device will continue to repeat the prerecorded message at the selected interval until the user deactivates the device.