Abstract: An ambient anaerobic digester system for anaerobic digestion of animal waste with biogas production and recovery is provided. The anaerobic digester system includes a substantially flexible bladder for anaerobically digesting the animal waste with biogas production and transmitting the biogas to at least one biogas storage container, biogas use device or a combination thereof. In a preferred form, the substantially flexible bladder has a waste inlet, a digester effluent outlet, one or more sludge access ports and a biogas outlet in a top surface thereof. The anaerobic digester system may inexpensively, simply, reliably, and effectively be used to treat animal waste without energy expenditure and little capital expense, thus minimizing pollution typically caused by animal waste.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for electrical junction boxes has two sides to which electrical junction boxes for adjacent rooms may be attached. The mounting bracket is interposed between parallel vertical stud members. A plurality of electrical junction boxes may be attached to either side of the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A driver observation system for extending the driver's point of vision to the corners of a vehicle by transmitting forward, side and rear light images from camera mirror assemblies at or near the front and rear corners of a vehicle to monitors within the driver's view at the controls of the vehicle. The system is suitable for either front or rear or both front and rear applications, as well as left or right or both left and right and may be installed after factory manufacture of the vehicle or as part of the original manufacture.

Abstract: An active sensor a method for optical illumination and detection provides low cost and high-speed optical scanning of bio-arrays, DNA samples/chips, semiconductors, micro-electromechanical systems and other samples requiring inspection or measurement. A plurality of illumination sources forming a parallel multi-pixel array is used to illuminate one or more samples via an imaging system or by placement in close proximity to the samples. The array may be a line array or a two-dimensional array. A plurality of detectors is integrated within the multi-pixel illumination array or provided in a separate array, each detector for detecting optical properties of the sample that results from illumination by one or more associated illumination sources. One detector may be associated with multiple illuminators or one illuminator may be associated with multiple detectors.

Abstract: A method of playing a five card high-low wagering game comprises distributing one first pair of playing cards and a single playing card of at least one three playing card hand of at least one deck of playing cards to an evens portion having a first bet and an odds portion having a second bet of the game. A fourth playing card distributed from the deck provides a second pair of playing cards pairing with the single playing card. The first bet and the second bet are separately settled depending upon the face value of a fifth playing card of the deck when compared to the face value of each playing card of both of the first and second pair of playing cards. Both a gaming table layout and gaming machine of the five card high-low wagering game is disclosed.

Abstract: A fishing hook retaining apparatus and method, utilizing a retaining apparatus secured to a shaft of a fishing pole. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a sleeve having a magnet in an interior portion thereof, and a channel extending part of the way through an upper portion thereof. A hook is retained therein by the passage of a portion thereof through the channel, and the contacting of the hook with the magnet. The apparatus may be secured to the shaft, in one embodiment, with an O-ring that is looped over two opposing securing members, and about the shaft of the pole. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises two upwardly angled opposing sides, with a bar interposed therebetween. In a third embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base having retention ends which couple the apparatus to the shaft of the pole. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus is integral with the shaft of the pole.

Abstract: A semiconductor stacking structure has a semiconductor device. A flexible substrate is coupled to a bottom surface of the semiconductor device. The flexible substrate is folded over on at least two sides to form flap portions. The flap portions are coupled to an upper surface of the first semiconductor device and covers only a portion of the upper surface of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A foot massaging device has a body section. A pair of foot holding devices are coupled to an interior of the body section. The foot holding device has an elongated housing for holding a foot and an opening located at a top section of the elongated housing for inserting the foot into the elongated housing. At least one massaging device is coupled to an interior section of the elongated housing for massaging the foot and for applying pressure to certain areas of the foot to relieve body aches based on reflexology.

Abstract: A fish tape assembly has a fish tape. A housing is provided for storing the fish tape. A location indicator circuit is coupled to a first end of the fish tape. The location indicator circuit being used to send a location signal indicating a location of the first end of the fish tape.

Abstract: A combination trailer and rooftop carrier for transporting objects has a frame having an axle and wheel assembly. The frame has a trailer hitch to couple the frame to a vehicle. A main storage compartment is coupled to the frame and axle wheel assembly. A lid assembly is removably coupled to the main storage compartment wherein the lid assembly may be removed and coupled to a roof top mounting rack on a vehicle to form the rooftop carrier.

Abstract: The surface of a solder ball and a conductive wire for a semiconductor package are coated with a predetermined colorant. Various colorants may be used according to the diameter and metal composition of the solder ball and the conductive wire. The colorant is formed by mixing organic compound and dye of a predetermined color. Examples of organic compounds excellent in physicochemical bonding with metal include benzotriazole, alkylimidazole and benzimidazole. The solder ball is fabricated by coating an organic compound of a predetermined color on the surface of a typical solder ball. The conductive wire is fabricated by coating an organic compound of a predetermined color on a general conductive wire between heat process and winding. Moreover, the solder ball is evaporated in a reflowing step after bumped via flux and the conductive wire is evaporated in a wire bonding step so that the solder ball and the conductive wire return to their unique colors.

Abstract: A method and system for distance measurement in a low or zero intermediate frequency (IF) half-duplex communications loop measures the distance between two transceivers without synchronizing the local oscillators of the two transceivers. Transceiver distance may be measured in systems that use direct conversion (zero IF) or intermediate frequencies that are so low that phase noise significantly reduces the accuracy of the distance measurement. The communications loop demodulates, re-modulates and retransmits a received signal to provide a re-transmitted signal that has the same carrier and modulation frequency as the received signal. A phase-hold circuit provides an analog system for half-duplex operation that retains the frequency and phase information of the received signal for retransmission in a subsequent time slot.

Abstract: A mountable illuminable display. An illuminable device housing is mounted within an aperture in a mounting surface. Mounting is accomplished by a groove or protrusion in the housing engaging the mounting surface or by a retaining element fastened to the housing to contact the mounting surface.

Abstract: An ignition safety system and method. A control circuit is coupled to a warning circuit indicating a safety condition. The control circuit is further coupled to a fuse circuit to control an operation of a motor ignition circuit in response to the safety condition.

Abstract: A digital decimation filter having Finite Impulse Response (FIR) decimation stages provides improved performance over a Hogenauer decimating filter. The filter comprises multiple integrator stages followed by multiple FIR decimating stages. The zeros of the filter are tunable by adjusting the integer coefficients of the FIR stages providing tunability of the cut-off response, as opposed to the fixed sinc response of the Hogenauer filter. As a result, the number of required stages for a particular steepness is reduced, dramatically reducing the amount of digital circuitry required to implement a particular filter design. The improved filter is especially suitable for use in digital intermediate frequency (IF) stages in receivers, and for code-based applications where selectable decimation rate is desired and a fast multiply is not available.

Abstract: A lumbar support cushion consists of a seat portion and a back portion, foldably joined along a crease positioned therebetween. An opening extends in a continuous manner upward into the back portion, and downward into the seat portion. The opening may have an oval shape. In one embodiment, a support member is provided, and is positioned across the front of the back portion. The position of the support member along the back portion may be made adjustable, for example by the use of mating hook and loop material on the support member and a rear portion of the back portion.