Abstract: An optical power meter for a fiber optic link includes a photodetector that generates a current proportional to the energy of the light transmission in the fiber optic, a current-to-voltage converter that converts the current to a proportional voltage, and a voltage-to-frequency converter that converts the voltage to a digital pulse train proportional to the amplitude of the voltage. The digital pulse train increments a counter, which is read periodically by a microprocessor. The value read by the microprocessor corresponds to the average power in the light transmission. This digital value is converted to a power value in dBm and stored on a mass storage device and displayed on a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display shows the power level over time so that losses due to intrinsic and extrinsic loss factors can be quickly and easily identified. The power meter also includes software executed by the microprocessor that allows the user to input a range within which the power can fluctuate.

Abstract: A copolymer having units of Formula II: ##STR1## wherein M is H, alkali metal, anmonium cation, or a mixture thereof;N is OM or a mixture of OM, OR, and NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 in a molar ratio of (OM):(OR):(NR.sub.1 R.sub.2) of ?1-(e+f)!:e:f, wherein e and f are each independently 0 to 0.5, provided that (e+f) is less than 0.8;R, R.sub.1, and R.sub.2 are each independently H or a branched or straight chain C.sub.1-20 alkyl;Y is a C.sub.2-10 alkyl, C.sub.6-12 aryl, or C.sub.4-12 alkoxy;X is a fluorinated thiol radical;Z is H; andv and w are each a positive number such that the molar ratio of v to w is from about 0.4:1 to about 1.3:1 is disclosed.

Abstract: A marking instrument, e.g. a felt tip marker, has a retractable marking tip (4) carried by a marker unit (5) housed within the barrel, and a rolling diaphragm (10) connecting between the marker unit and barrel to form a sealed envelope around the tip (4) when the tip is retracted. Upon retraction of the tip the marker unit rotates to twist the diaphragm and close the envelope.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of viscous materials, such as dentifrice pastes, produces a striped outer layer of a first material surrounding a core of a second viscous material. The apparatus includes a collapsible tube or pump-type dispenser containing a first viscous material and a second viscous material of a contrasting color in contact with the first material so that both materials are dispensed simultaneously. The tube or dispenser includes an outlet nozzle having a shaped outlet capable of scraping and removing a portion of the outer layer of viscous material to dispense the core material having stripes of the outer material. The nozzle is capable of forming a plurality of fine pin stripes on the core material.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint includes an inner race having an outer surface with ball tracks. An outer race having an inner surface with ball tracks corresponding to the ball tracks of the inner race is provided adjacent the inner race. Balls are provided between the ball tracks of the inner and outer races. A stem assembly, including ball pockets and a spherical surface provided therebetween, is secured to the outer race. A cage is provided between the inner and outer races. The cage has apertures for the balls, a spherical surface corresponding with the spherical surface of the stem assembly. The spherical surface is positioned in an abutting condition with the stem, and a spring section is provided between the spherical surface of the cage and the ball apertures.

Abstract: A cleaning card has a flat, semirigid base with a first and second material mechanically bonded to the side surfaces thereof. The first material is an abrasive substantially impenetrable material and the second material is a soft spunlaced fabric of high absorptive capacity. The differences in physical qualities of the first and second materials allow for one card to be used both as frequent cleaning card as well as a corrective cleaning card and provides a cleaning card that enables operation of the machine quickly after cleaning thereof.

Abstract: An integrated nursing bottle and liquid medication dispensing apparatus enables precise and independent control of both the rate of administration of the medication, and the amount by which it is diluted before reaching the infant's mouth. A preferred embodiment utilizes a sleeve with a restricted tip for receiving a syringe that permits the optimal mixing of medicine and a diluting fluid in the nipple area of the bottle while minimizing the loss of fluid in the syringe tip, thus ensuring the easy and accurate administration of medicine dosages.

Abstract: An integrated protection system for an electrical distribution system including a panelboard for receiving power from a utility source and distributing the power to a plurality of branch circuits each having line and neutral conductors for delivering the power to a load. The integrated protection system comprises a plurality of arcing fault detectors and line interrupters attached to positions in the panelboard. The arcing fault detectors detect the occurrence of an arcing fault in either of the branch circuits, while the line interrupters disconnect the load from the power source in response to the detection of an arcing fault in either of the branch circuits. The line interrupters and arcing fault detectors may comprise separate modules, each being connected to one of the positions in panelboard or being attached externally to the other module.

Abstract: A method for repairing a blade tip of a turbine blade of a gas turbine engine. The method is particularly directed to replacing the squealer tip (14) of a directionally solidified (DS) or single crystal (SX) turbine blade (10), and can be carried out using a brazing or welding technique. The method generally entails the step of machining the tip (14) to remove any damaged, worn, oxidized or eroded portions thereof sustained by the blade (10) during engine operation. A DS or SX superalloy replacement tip (18) is then placed on the surface generated by the machining operation. If a brazing operation is used, a brazing alloy composition (16) is first applied to the blade tip or replacement tip (18) prior to placement of the replacement tip (18).

Abstract: A spatial-filter which includes a first filtering unit which performs a smoothing process on image data, the smoothing process being a process by which tone oscillations formed by tone levels are suppressed. A second filtering unit performs an adaptive edge-enhancement process on the image data which has previously undergone the smoothing process. The adaptive edge-enhancement process is a process by which sharpness of edges is enhanced, the edges being parts having steep tone gradients in the image. The manner of the adaptive edge-enhancement process depends on edge amounts present in the input image data. The edge amounts are amounts indicating how steep tone gradients of the tone levels represented by the image data are.

Abstract: A finished, regulation long range, solid construction, multi-piece golf ball including a discrete cover and a core. The core has an inner and an outer portion. Either the outer portion or the entire core has a plurality of gas containing compressible cells dispersed therein, and either the outer portion or the entire core the a specific gravity greater than 1.The compressible cells are produce by a method selected from the group consisting of foaming, using a blowing agent, injecting a gas and incorporating a plurality of microspheres having a flexible outer surface.

Abstract: A plurality of express shuttle elevators S1-S4 exchange elevator cabs at a transfer floor 26 with local elevators L1-L10 by means of a carriage 107, the casters of which 93 are guided by tracks 70-83. The transfer floor has linear induction motor (LIM) primary segments 60-67 disposed on the transfer floor; the carriage has a LIM secondary 128 thereon for propulsion. The carriages can be locked 91, 92 to the transfer floor for loading, and cabs can be locked 131 onto the carriages for stability when being moved. A controller (FIGS. 10-13) keeps track of the progress of the cabs from one elevator to another.

Abstract: An apparatus to mix a slurry mixture with an oxidization air within a reaction tank of a wet scrubber spray tower of a flue gas desulfurization system for a furnace. The apparatus improves the contact between forced oxidization air and slurry mixture within the reaction tank.

Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 9115369325667, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 9115369325667, to the plants of soybean 9115369325667 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar 9115369325667 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 9115369325667 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: A system and method for distributed resource management in a computer network operating under control of workflow management software system (WFMS) to manage plural resources to perform a workflow process that includes multiple process activities, uses two-step resource assignment to manage resources at two levels. The resources are grouped by capabilities into resource groups controlled by a local resource manager (LRM), which maintains dynamic status of each resource, such as availability and load, as well as their roles and addresses. A global resource manager (GRM) stores resource data only about the groups: capabilities and status. The WFMS invokes the GRM, requesting a specified resource activity. The GRM checks the stored capabilities and status among the resource groups, selects the resource group capable of the specified activity and available, and forwards the request to the LRM for the selected group.

Abstract: An improved method for producing a final balanced and noise suppressing brake drum including a generally closed outer end, a generally axially extending cylindrical main body, and an open inner end. The closed outer end of the brake drum includes a centrally located wheel spindle opening formed therein, and a plurality of lug bolt mounting holes spaced circumferentially around the wheel spindle opening. The cylindrical main body of the brake drum is formed during a casting operation and includes a plurality of discrete raised segments formed on an outer surface thereof. Preferably, at least three raised segments are provided on an outer surface of the brake drum, and at least two of the three segments are spaced apart from one another by generally equal angles. The discrete raised segments are provided at predetermined locations on the outer surface to reduce brake noise and are selectively machined during a machining operation to produce a final balanced brake drum.

Abstract: A zoom lens comprises a plurality of lens elements arranged into three lens units. More specifically, there is a first lens unit of positive refractive power, a second lens unit of negative refractive power, and a third lens unit of positive refractive power. The third lens unit is located between the first and the second lens units. The plurality of lens elements provide: (i) a zoom ratio greater than 1.5, (ii) an F/number in the telephoto position of less than F/5 and an F/number in the wide angle position of less than F/3.6, (iii) and an overall compactness ratio L.sub.v /f.sub.t <1.0, where L.sub.v is the distance from a front vertex of the zoom lens to the image plane in a telephoto position, and f.sub.t is the focal length of the zoom lens in the telephoto position.

Abstract: An ink supply for an ink-jet printer is provided with a main reservoir, which is typically maintained at ambient pressure. The main reservoir is coupled to a variable volume chamber via a one-way valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and prevents the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet which is normally closed to prevent the flow of ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer.

Abstract: A restraining barrier is positionable across a roadway in a deployed position to define a restraining zone and may be moved vertically to a passive position by first and second transport components. Opposite ends of the barrier are coupled to the first and second transport components, respectively, and also couple the barrier to first and second energy absorbers of differing restraintive force in order stop vehicles of varying weight. A support cable is coupled to an indicator for providing a signal indicating vehicle impact. Additionally, a series of restraining barriers and energy absorbers may provide a series of sequentially differing restraintive forces to stop lightweight and heavier vehicles. The barrier may be a net and include a lower wire below the net assuring effective trapping of autos and trucks of a variety of heights.

Abstract: An interline sensor is constructed using photocapacitors. The vertical shift register of the interline sensor is operated in a uniphase mode, i.e., holding one of the two phase (.O slashed.2) at a D.C. potential while fluctuating the other phase (.O slashed.1) between a voltage that is sufficiently above and below that D.C. potential to facilitate transfer of charge from one phase to the next. The uniphase mode is facilitated by a single electrode that covers both the phase that is held at a constant D.C. potential and the photodetector having photocapacitor charges. The single electrode in the preferred embodiment is an indium tin oxide electrode. The charges are transferred from the photocapacitors to the vertical shift register by a third level clock into .O slashed.1 adjacent the photodetectors.It is also proposed that the same ITO electrode be utilized to for phase 2 of both the vertical and horizontal CCD shift registers.