Abstract: A hair roller assembly is shown which includes a hollow roller member (12 and 60) containing a consumable heat source (14 and 62). The heat source is slidable into and out of engagement with the roller member such that, after use, the heat source may be removed and discarded and the roller member reused with a fresh consumable heat source. The heat source may include combustible material (40) or reactants (80). The combustible material is ignited by an electrical heating element (42) connectable to a battery (50). The reactants, when activated by liquid from a syringe (84), create an exothermic reaction for heating the roller member and hair wound thereon. The reactants are contained in a rupturable container (82) which is ruptured by the syringe needle (96) upon actuation of the syringe.

Abstract: A geophone is disclosed which includes at least two transducers having axes which are perpendicular to each other for generating Cartesian coordinate signal components in response to at least vertical and horizontal in-line seismic wave motion of the geophone. The Cartesian coordinate signal components are converted to polar coordinate signal form including vector length, L, and angle, .theta., signal values. Surface wave noise signal components, such as ground roll wave signals, included in the L and .theta. signals are attenuated, or suppressed, to obtain signals L.sub.B and .theta..sub.B proportional to body waves. The L.sub.B and .theta..sub.B signals are converted to Cartesian coordinate signal form for subsequent processing along with outputs from other geophones in a geophone array for locating underground formations, deposits, or the like.

Abstract: A golf guide for a golf club is shown which includes an obtuse isosceles triangular shaped member comprising visible line segments. The guide is attached to the golf club with the vertex of the triangular shaped member located at a point on a vertical plane that is normal to the ball-striking surface of the head of the club at the sweet-spot. The base leg of the triangular shaped member opposite the vertex is located parallel to, and foward of, the ball-striking surface of the head. A second obtuse isosceles triangular shaped member also comprising visible line segments may be attached to the golf club with the vertex located at a point on the plane and with the base leg parallel with the base leg of the first triangular shaped member and located rearwardly of the rear face of the club head.

Abstract: A manipulator is disclosed which includes first and second interconnected limb sections, the second section of which is elongated and flexible in at least one direction normal to the longitudinal axis. The first limb section is connected to a base, and the second limb section is connected to an end effector. Relative to a reference frame with origin at the first limb section, the stiffness matrix of the second limb section is variable, and is under motor control. In one embodiment, the second limb section is inflexible in a direction orthogonal to the one direction and the longitudinal axis, and is supported by the first limb section for rotation about the longitudinal axis. In another embodiment, the second limb section is flexible in all directions normal to the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of adjustable-tension stays attached to the second limb section adjacent opposite ends thereof are used to control the stiffness matrix thereof. Methods of damping vibration of the flexible beam are shown.

Abstract: A rotary engine includes separate compressor and combustion sections which are interconnected. Each section includes a cylinder formed with a cylindrical working chamber containing a pair of pistons rotatable about the cylinder axis. The pistons are attached by cylindrical hubs to coaxial shafts extending from an end of the cylinders, which shafts are interconnected by generally elliptical gear means to provide for rotation of the pistons at periodically variable speeds such that sub-chambers of periodically variable volume are provided. The outer free edges of the pistons and attached hubs are recessed, and seal means are located in the recesses to prevent gas leakage between opposite sub-chambers. The combustion section cylinder is provided with intake and exhaust ports in the cylinder wall and, for spark ignition, with a spark plug. For compression ignition, fuel injector means are provided in place of the spark plug.

Abstract: In a digital encoder, truncation is controlled by the fullness of the output rate-smoothing buffer. A signal compression system is shown for processing a stream of fixed length digital sample signals, such as audio signals, which system includes a linear digital compression filter for compression filtering the sample signal stream and generating a stream of compression-filtered signals. The compression-filtered stream is encoded by an encoder which implements a variable word length truncated code. The encoder output is supplied to a buffer for transmission to a communication channel. The encoder is controllably operable in a normal mode and in an out of range (OOR) mode. In the OOR operating mode an OOR code word together with the compression filtered signal is sent to the buffer. Buffer underflow is controlled by operation in the OOR mode when the buffer is empty or near empty.

Abstract: A reflex transmission ultrasonic imaging system and method are shown which include a transducer (10) for pulse insonification (14) of an object (12) and for receiving echo signals from within the object. Echo signals are converted to electrical signals at the transducer (10) and the electrical signals are supplied to a signal processor (38) through a switching matrix (20), delays (22), and transmit-receive switches (18). The signal processor includes a detector (46) and integrator (48) for integrating the detector output. Echo signals obtained from a range zone (BZ) opposite a focal point (F) are processed by processor (38) and supplied to hold circuit (60) to provide an image pixel signal value. A compensation pixel signal value for hold circuit (64) is obtained by repeating the transmitting-receiving operation using a beam which is unfocused at any point along the beam axis between the transducer (10) and backscatter zone (BZ).

Abstract: Encoding and decoding method and apparatus are disclosed including a decoder for decoding a stream of encoded digital data words which have been encoded by an encoder using variable length code words in which the code words comprise a single group of 0 bits followed by a single group of 1 bits. The 0 bits and 1 bits are separately counted (46), and the combined counts are used to address a read only memory (54) containing the decoded digital data words. The decoded digital data word is read out from the addressed memory location. Also disclosed is an AND gate array 70 of rows and columns of AND gates (90-1 etc.), in which the number of 0s in the code word determines which row is energized, and the number of 1s in the code word determines which column is energized. The energized AND gate is indicative of the decoded digital data word.

Abstract: A fluid pump is shown which includes integral valve and cylinder housings. The cylinder housing is formed with axially aligned cylinders. Axially movable pistons are located in the cylinders, which pistons are interconnected by a piston rod extending through a common inner end wall of the cylinders. Axially movable push rods extend through opposite outer end walls of the cylinders. The valve housing contains a plurality of three-way valves for communication with opposite ends of the cylinders, which valves are interconnected for simultaneous movement thereof. Mechanical linkage connects the push rods to the valves for actuation of the valves from a first to a second condition when the pistons are moved to one end of the cylinders, and for actuation from the second to the first condition when the pistons are moved to the other end of the cylinders. Resilient rocker arms are included in the mechanical linkage for storing and returning kinetic energy of the movable pistons at opposite ends of piston travel.

Abstract: An auxiliary side wheel assembly for use with a two wheel vehicle, such as a motorcycle, is shown which includes right and left arms at opposite sides of the vehicle which arms are attached to a connecting shaft extending transversely of the vehicle. The arms extend downwardly and rearwardly from the connecting shaft and are provided with left and right ground engaging auxiliary wheels at the lower ends thereof. A releasable lock engagable with the auxiliary wheel assembly releasably locks the same against upward pivotal rotation about the connecting shaft. In the locked condition, the vehicle is stabilized to prevent tipping onto its side, which stability is of particular benefit during low speed operation and when the vehicle is stopped.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recurrently obtaining a measure of the systolic slope of the blood pressure wave in a subject's artery during a range of physical activity, or exercise, are disclosed. A plot, or record, of the slope measurements versus heart beat rate, point in an exercise protocol, or the like, is provided from which subjects having coronary artery disease (CAD) may be distinguished from subjects without CAD.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for intensification and reflective read-out of underexposed films, radiographs, and the like are shown which include means for converting a metallic silver particle image to a highly reflective image. The film containing the highly reflective image is placed in a black-walled cavity which may contain a particle-free liquid, such as water. The image is raster scanned by a laser beam, and light reflected from the image is detected by a photomultiplier. The photomultiplier output is digitized and the digitized signal is stored for subsequent computer enhancement and display.

Abstract: A high efficiency lamp is shown which includes an evacuated envelope, at least a portion of which is light-transmitting. A phosphor layer and anode electrode in engagement therewith is provided at the light-transmitting portion of the envelope. A field emission structure is located inside the envelope, which structure includes spaced plate-like cathode and accelerator electrodes and an insulator separating and insulating the cathode and accelerator electrodes. The accelerator electrode is formed with an array of apertures therethrough, and the cathode electrode is formed with an array of needle-like members projecting from one surface thereof and into the apertures in the accelerator electrode. Electrons are drawn from the tips of the needle-like members by application of a first voltage between the cathode and accelerator electrodes, and emerge from the tips over relatively wide solid overlapping beam angles.

Abstract: Intraarterial blood pressure is measured noninvasively by an electromechanical transducer (22) that includes an array of transducer elements (22-1 through 22-19). The transducer extends across an artery (24) with transducer elements at the ends of the array extending beyond opposite edges of the artery. A set of diastolic and/or systolic pressure and pulse amplitude values is obtained from the outputs from the transducer elements, which values are stored in computer (62). Information concerning the subject related to the diameter of the underlying artery including, for example, the subject's age, weight, arm and wrist diameter also is entered into computer (62) through keyboard (64), from which information an estimation of the diameter of the underlying artery is obtained. Using the set of pulse amplitude values, a transducer element at the center of a search area located substantially at the center of the artery is identified.

Abstract: Audio signals such as ECG, speech and music are digitally processed to reduce the bit-rate needed for accurate transmission, known as minimizing the entropy of the signal. The transmitter features a digital compression filter with zeros restricted to certain points on the unit circle, and Huffman encoding for transmission. The receiver features a digital decompression filter with poles at the zero locations, but shifted inside the unit circle to prevent error-ramp build-up.

Abstract: Intraarterial blood pressure is measured noninvasively by an electromechanical transducer. The correct hold-down force to be applied to the transducer for obtaining accurate blood pressure measurements is determined by obtaining a set of at least one of the diastolic pressure, systolic pressure, and pulse amplitude versus hold-down pressure values over a range of hold-down pressures between which the underlying artery is unflattened and it is occluded. A polynomial is fitted to at least one of the sets of values, from which polynomial the correct hold-down pressure is determined. The hold-down pressure at the point of minimum slope of graphs of the polynominals fitted to the systolic and diastolic versus hold-down pressure values provides an indication of the correct hold-down pressure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling semiconductor chips and the like are disclosed which include the use of a flat flexible film which is attached to the face of a base member. The face of the base member is formed with recesses covered by the flat flexible film. Chips are loaded onto the flat flexible film in good surface contact therewith whereby they are securely held in position by interfacial, adhesive, or other forces between the chips and film. To facilitate removal of chips from the film, the recesses are connected to a vaccuum source, drawing portions of the flexible film into said recesses and providing the film with a texturized, or undulating, surface. The area of contact between the chips and film is thereby reduced which, in turn, results in a reduction in the force by which the chips are attached to the film, thereby enabling removal of the chips by conventional techniques.

Abstract: A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning dishes, vegetables, fish, or like items, is disclosed comprising a base, or tray, and removable hood or cover supported thereon to form a cleaning chamber. An inlet opening is formed at the top of the hood through which a rigid hand-held feed conduit extends. A resilient seal at the inlet opening provides a liquid tight engagement between the feed conduit and hood while permitting manual axial and pivotal movement in any pivotal direction of the feed conduit. A nozzle is provided at the inner end of the feed conduit from which liquid is jetted for cleaning items contained in the cleaning chamber. A high pressure pump in communication with a source of liquid pumps the liquid to the nozzle through a flexible supply conduit connected to the feed conduit. At least a portion of the hood is formed of transparent material for viewing the nozzle and items to be cleaned by the jet stream issuing from the nozzle.

Abstract: A data reduction system is disclosed which includes an analog to digital converter for converting an analog signal to digital sample signal form, a digital compression filter for compression filtering the digital sample signals, and an encoder for truncated Huffman encoding the compression filter output. A decoder for decoding the encoded signal, a digital reconstruction filter for decomposition filtering of the decoded signal, and digital to analog converter means are included to reconstruct the analog signal. The digital compression filter has a transfer function which includes zeros as the unit circle in the Z-plane, while the digital reconstruction filter has poles that normally are on or inside the unit circle in the Z-plane at the same angular positions as the zeros of the digital compression filter. The poles of the reconstruction filter are momentarily movable inwardly from their normal positions in response to a detected error signal to speed recovery from such error signal.

Abstract: A reflex transmission ultrasonic imaging system and method are shown comprising an ultrasonic transducer array of either a two dimensional or linear type acoustically coupled to a subject. An ultrasonic energy beam is transmitted by the array into the subject to insonify an image plane, in the case of the two dimensional array, or a line in the image plane in the case of the linear transducer array. Electronic focusing is employed during the reception of echo signals for simultaneously focusing the transducer array at a plurality of focal points while echo signals are received from a range zone opposite the focal points. For the two dimensional array case, an array of focal points is provided in the focal plane, and in the linear array case a line of focal points in the focal plane is provided during reception.