Abstract: A method of creating a guide to the use of a set of products, which includes an example set of the products. This method includes providing at least one product guide apparatus that includes transparent, flexible material formed into a set of pockets of sufficient size to receive and retain any one of the set of products. The guide also includes material that can be written upon and an associative assembly, adapted to physically associate the material that can be written upon to the transparent flexible material formed into a set of pockets. A first one of the products is placed in a first one of the set of pockets and a second one of the products is placed in a second one of the set of pockets. Next, descriptions of the first and second products are written on the material that can be written upon.

Abstract: A bio-probe having a base and a tip, and comprising a core of substantially rigid, high-strength material, said core tapering inwardly from the base to the tip and a set of conductors extending longitudinally about said core. In addition, dielectric material, substantially electrically isolates each conductor from its surroundings. Also, a set of apertures is defined by the dielectric material to the set of conductors, thereby defining a set of electrodes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing extruded polymer products such as hollow extrusions and conductor coatings having wall thicknesses of 0.002 inches or less. The apparatus may comprise more than one of the following: an external heat source; temperature measurement and heater control; video monitoring equipment to allow magnified observation of the extrudate, thereby providing opportunity to observe any deficiency in the extrudate; and a die holder and die allowing for more expedient die adjustments.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing an electrode probe assembly, comprising, providing a flexible polymer substrate bearing a coating of conductive material and using photolithography and electroplating to form a set of contacts and conductors on the flexible polymer substrate. A resilient material substrate is provided and laminated to the flexible polymer substrate. The assembly may be sized and shaped so that it may be driven through brain tissue.

Abstract: A fine grading attachment, adapted to be affixed to a bulldozer and comprising an elongate body having fasteners, adapted to affix the attachment to a bulldozer in a predetermined orientation. In this orientation the length of the elongate body extends along and in front of the bottom of the bulldozer and the front face of the attachment is disposed to be vertical or to slope forwardly as it extends from bottom to top when the bulldozer is positioned so that the attachment contacts the soil.

Abstract: A method for the real-time transformation of an electrical signal representative of a sound wave that includes the steps of providing an electrical signal representative of a sound wave, transforming that signal to an analytic representation, and passing said electrical signal, in parallel, through a number of bandpass filters to create a set of time domain real and imaginary band limited signals. Next, a stream of instantaneous phase angle and magnitude values for each of said set of time domain real and imaginary band limited signals is computed. Thirdly, a stream of electrical pulses or other digital representation of the phase, instantaneous frequency, and magnitude information is computed for delivery to a cochlear implant or transmission for decoding and synthesis of the original sound.

Abstract: Laminated siding pieces and a method of producing them. A laminated siding work piece is provided including a substantially flat piece of display material having a first major surface that is laminated to a beveled piece of support material. The substantially flat piece of display material is cut through to form a laminated siding piece having a flat piece of display material, possessing a freshly cut major surface, laminated to a beveled piece of support material.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a probe station having a head plate, so that the probe station is adapted to mate with a predetermined probe card dish and any tester out of a set of testers. A depression is then machined into the head plate to create a head plate-tooling plate attachment region. Next, fastening and alignment items are provided and installed in this region. Further, a set of tooling plates are provided, each having fastening and alignment items adapted to mate to the fastening and alignment items on the attachment regions and defining an aperture designed to engage the predetermined probe card dish. The user may then select a desired one of the tooling plates and mate and fasten the selected tooling plate to the head plate-tooling plate attachment region using the alignment and fastening items.

Abstract: An electrical connector that comprises a pressure surface bearing a first array of electrical contacts. In addition a side-wall has an exterior surface and is physically connected to the pressure surface. The exterior surface bears a second array of electrical contacts, which are electrically connected to the first array of electrical contacts. Additionally, the electrical connector may include a ball screw for pressing the first array into the second array.

Abstract: A bridge comprising a set of bases, a deck, an undulating support structure having above-the-deck arch sections and below-the-deck sections and being supported by the set of bases at the below the deck sections. The bridge also includes at least two arrays of load-bearing connectors extending from the above-the-deck arch sections to the deck and supporting substantially the entire weight of the deck. A preferred embodiment of the bridge comprises a deck, a wishbone arch section, including a single topmost middle portion branching transversely into two support legs on either longitudinal side of the topmost middle portion and a set of connectors extending from the wishbone arch to the deck and supporting the deck. The bridge generally includes a deck, an arch and an array of load-bearing connectors extending downwardly and longitudinally inwardly from the arch to the deck and supporting the deck in tension.

Abstract: A device for machining a cartridge case that has a neck comprising a circular neck wall, a mouth and a primer pocket. The device includes a gripping assembly, adapted to accept and retain a cartridge case and a neck machining assembly, positioned to engage the cartridge case from a first direction and adapted to machine the neck of the cartridge case. Additionally, a primer pocket machining assembly is positioned to engage the cartridge case from a second direction, opposed to the first direction, thereby permitting simultaneous primer pocket and neck engagement, and adapted to machine the primer pocket.

Abstract: A surfboard, comprising a blank made of lightweight, semi-rigid material and having a top major surface. A layer of resin-impregnated cloth adhered to the top major surface and a leash plug including a cup portion that is set into the top major surface of the blank and at least one extension that is interposed between the blank and the layer of resin-impregnated cloth.

Abstract: A method for treating wastewater that generates a supernatant having a concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) that falls within a specified range and a sludge that has percent total solids. The method includes the steps of providing a fermentation tank and a gravity thickener, operatively connected to the fermentation tank. The wastewater is permitted to flow continually or intermittently into the fermentation tank and a portion of the wastewater overflows the fermentation tank, thereby defining an overflow rate. The fermentation tank is subjected to anaerobic conditions and the wastewater in the tank is permitted to stratify so that sludge forms at the bottom of the tank. In addition the sludge is continually pumped from the bottom of the fermentation tank so that each stratification level within the fermentation tank corresponds to a sludge residence time that in turn corresponds to a range of VFA concentrations.

Abstract: A bioelectrical stimulus cable comprising at least one insulated electrical lead. The insulated electrical lead includes at least one fibril having a coating of rigid insulating, low friction material. A coating of shock dampening elastomeric, insulating material is tightly set about the rigid, insulating, low friction material. In one preferred embodiment the cable includes a braided sheath encompassing a portion of the cable and increasing the tensile strength of the cable.

Abstract: A percutaneous connector comprises a female-half that includes a housing that has a pair of side walls, each having an interior surface. An electrical contact assembly is arranged along the interior surface of at least one of the side walls and has a set of first electrical contacts. Insulating material electrically isolates the electrical contacts from one another. In addition, an electrical conductor attached to each electrical contact extends outside of the housing. A male-half includes a sheet of resilient material, bent into a U-shape and having two opposed outer surfaces. A handle assembly is adapted to permit a user to squeeze the two opposed outer surfaces closer to each other. In addition, a set of second contacts is attached to at least one of the outer surfaces and is arranged in matching configuration to the first set of contacts. Insulating material electrically isolates the contacts from one another.

Abstract: A method of constructing a planar array of electrical contact pads is disclosed, comprising the following steps. First, providing a set of dielectric layers each having two major surfaces and forming a set of first conductive paths on a first major surface, the paths terminating at or before an interior perimeter, to leave an interior area within the interior perimeter free of conductive paths and an exterior area outside of the interior perimeter having the first conductive paths. Second, forming a set of second conductive paths on a second major surface, the second conductive paths terminating generally inside the interior perimeter. Third, joining the sets of dielectric layers to form a depthwise stack of layers, the stack of layers having a top surface and the first major surface being interposed depthwise between the top surface and the second major surface.

Abstract: A method of producing an acoustically absorbing anisotropic backing structure for an ultrasound transceiver is disclosed. Laser machining of a substrate of acoustically absorbent electrically resistive material produces a set of vias and indented pad seats. The machined substrate is plated with an electrically conductive material. Excess electrically conductive material is removed from the substrate to leave an electrically conductive material plating on the indented pad seats and the vias to form conductive pads and plated vias on the substrate.

Abstract: A high pin count electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting a set of first conductors to a set of second conductors according to a predetermined connective scheme. The connector assembly includes a male-half connector that has an array of spring-loaded pins, each of which is connected to a separate first conductor, and further has a male half connective bracket. A female-half connector has an array of contact regions positioned in matching arrangement to the array of spring-loaded pins, and each connected to a separate second conductor, and further has a female-half connective bracket configured to releasably mate with said male-half connective bracket so that when said male-half bracket and said female-half bracket are correctly mated together said spring loaded pins are held in contact with said contact regions so that said first conductors and said second conductors are electrically connected according to said predetermined scheme.

Abstract: A fan assembly adapted to be installed into a standard expansion slot of a microcomputer. The assembly comprises a frame, sized to fit into the standard expansion slot, including attachment members adapted to permit attachment of the frame into a standard expansion slot and defining an air passageway through the frame, the air passageway having a first opening coincident to the attachment members and having a second opening positioned away from the attachment members. Additionally, an electric fan is mounted in the frame and positioned to move air through the air passageway from the first opening through the second opening. Finally, an electrical conductor and connector assembly is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power and to transmit electrical power from the source of electrical power to the electric fan.

Abstract: A tow bar having a body portion, adapted to be attached to a towing vehicle and a pair of legs joined to the body portion and adapted to be attached to a towed vehicle. At least one of the legs defines a closed channel that can be opened to form an open channel. The channel is generally adapted to partially conceal and protect a safety cable of the sort generally required to be used in association with a tow bar.