Abstract: A remote control for an operating system such as a fireplace, includes a remote transmitter and a receiver. The remote transmitter communicates signals to the receiver to control the operating system. The remote transmitter includes a child safety switch which, when activated, prevents activation of the receiver by the remote transmitter.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods are described for performing endarterectomy remotely via intraluminal techniques. A flexible blade dissector has a curved, diamond-shaped flexible dissecting blade mounted on a catheter shaft. The distal edge of the flexible dissecting blade is configured to form a dissecting edge for separating an atheromatous plaque from the medial layer of an artery wall. The flexible blade dissector may incorporate a steering mechanism to direct the flexible dissecting blade along a preferred path within the arterial wall. The endarterectomy method is performed by making an incision into an artery wall and initiating a plane of separation between an atherosclerotic plaque and the medial layer of the artery wall, inserting the flexible blade dissector into the plane of separation and advancing the flexible dissecting blade to longitudinally extend the plane of separation.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention increases the precision for drying diverse textile printing substrates during printing operation while ink is emitted from an ink jet print head to form patterns upon the textile substrate. The present invention addresses several long-standing obstacles to high quality printed textile output including media handling from a powered media supply roll, through a cross-web tensioning area, an idler pulley, then over a full-web media advance grit roller, through a printing zone, over an idler pulley, through a forced heating zone (preferably dual-sided), then over another idler pulley, and finally onto a take-up spool which is biased against the force created by the powered media supply spool. The print engine of the present invention utilizes an open-web printing zone, dual forced air heating of both the underside and the upper side of freshly printed media, and a continuously biased tension in the axial web directions and cross-web directions.

Abstract: A method of making an ink jet ink that entails combining a water miscible organic solvent, water, and a pigment dispersion, and blending the water miscible organic solvent, the water, and the pigment dispersion together to form the ink jet ink, wherein the ink jet ink is capable of exhibiting no pigment precipitation, no pigment agglomeration, and no pigment flocculation after being stored in the absence of any agitation for a period of at least about 1 month.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention thus increases the precision for controlling the movement of a printing media through an improved set of vacuum apertures formed in the platen surface, a discrete set of compartments inside the platen each fluidly coupled to a unique set of improved vacuum apertures, and vapor/dust recovery apertures fluidly coupled to a storage, collection, or other disposal vessel. In a preferred embodiment the present invention comprises at least four exhaust fans each fluidly coupled to a discrete compartment within the platen and at least one said compartment connects to each end of the platen surface adjacent to the printing zone and is adapted to evacuate the entire interior space of a large format printing engine. In each of these embodiments, at least some of the improved vacuum apertures located near the edges of the printing zone extend to a recess, or grooved, segment of the platen surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for precise placement of discrete marks comprising a digital image using an optical sensor adapted to read individual dots of a variety of calibration patterns. The sensor is preferably coupled to a reciprocating carriage assembly so that the dot patterns recorded upon a printing media from at least two of a plurality of print heads disposed on the carriage assembly are compared, a preferred timing or trajectory control sequence is calculated, and thereafter relayed to the print heads to correct for physical misalignment of print heads, manufacturing tolerance errors, and the like to improve registration in a digital color print engine.

Abstract: A wrist-based fitness monitoring watch which uses a lap sensing device and a step or a stroke sensing device for detecting movement. In response to the output of a micro controller, information is displayed concerning the number of laps completed, the distance completed, and the time. Also included is a wireless heart rate transfer system which is provided through the micro controller in order to provide heart rate indicators during movement of the user. The lap measurement is based on a synchronization between a heading direction from the lap sensing device and the step/stroke frequency in order to provide the lap count, as well as the distance traveled and the time. Each of these items are accomplished on a wrist based monitoring system which does not require periodic intervention by the user. The system is able to provide split times without the requiring of continual pressing of the start/stop button either before or after a running or swimming event.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention increases the operating envelope for large format thermal ink jet printing via a directed fluid flow from specially-designed orifices which promote fluid flow on a printed surface adjacent a printing zone in a large format ink jet printer where in addition to the optimized fluid flow one or more heating elements are inserted directly into the fluid flow to thereby promote drying of said printed surface. In one embodiment, a single dual-duct plennum spans the width of a roll-fed large format ink jet print engine and a first duct distributes heated air downward (in the direction of media web movement) and a second duct evacuates a printing space so that any potentially harmful ink vapors or other air-borne contaminant is appropriately fluidly coupled to either a remote exhaust vent or vapor capture vessel.

Abstract: An improved treadmill having a weight-scale sensor and a console display which displays a history of weight loss or weight control based upon goals set over a period of time in order to facilitate an enclosed loop system for a weight loss monitoring program.

Abstract: An electric nailing tool comprises a housing, a nail magazine for supplying nails, a spout attached to the nail magazine and having a passage communicated with the housing, a solenoid set, and a hammer. The solenoid set comprises at least two solenoids having a common through-hole for receiving the hammer. A percussion member is securely attached to an end of the hammer to move therewith, thereby driving a nail in the passage out of the spout upon percussion movement of the hammer. The solenoids are energized and de-energized in sequence to move the hammer back and forth along the common through-hole of the solenoids, thereby providing at least two impacting motions by the percussion member to the nail in the passage.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention increases the precision for controlling diverse printing substrates during printing operation while ink is emitted from an ink jet print head to form patterns upon the printing media substrate. The present invention addresses several long-standing obstacles to high quality printed output upon many nontraditional print media, including media handling for nonbacked, unsupported, fibrous print media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizes conventional wireless heart rate monitor technology by providing a person with the ability to set upper and lower heart rates, i.e. a target zone, merely by inputting his or her age. Depending upon the physical conditioning of the user, the upper and/or lower limits can be selectively changed. The user also has the capability to program a desired time accumulation goal within the target zone and to observe, both during and after the exercise period, how much time has accumulated inside the target zone.

Abstract: A fitness monitoring device, comprising a wrist-based device including a receiver and a display; a separate, remote, pedometer including pedometer step sensing circuitry and wireless transmission circuitry; and wherein said pedometer step sensing circuitry senses a user's steps and said remote pedometer wirelessly transmits a signal corresponding to said sensed steps to said wrist-based device, and further wherein said wrist-based device processes the wirelessly transmitted signal received by said receiver and controls the display.

Abstract: A multi-channel system is provided for both wide-band and narrow band low frequency transmission/reception of digital telemetry. The multi-channel system uses coherent detection having a high selectivity, and a quadrature detector having a high sensitivity. A filter is provided to average out noise. The multi-channel system oscillator is software controlled for scanning/multiplexing. The multi-channel system is used for data transmission over inductive, infrared, sonic and cable links.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention increases the operating envelope for large format thermal ink jet printing via a directed fluid flow from specially-designed orifices which promote fluid flow on a printed surface adjacent a printing zone in a large format ink jet printer where in addition to the optimized fluid flow one or more heating elements are inserted directly into the fluid flow to thereby promote drying of said printed surface. In one embodiment, a single dual-duct plennum spans the width of a roll-fed large format ink jet print engine and a first duct distributes heated air downward (in the direction of media web movement) and a second duct evacuates a printing space so that any potentially harmful ink vapors or other air-borne contaminant is appropriately fluidly coupled to either a remote exhaust vent or vapor capture vessel.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an apparatus that increases the utility of the ink jet printing engines by allowing the engine operator the freedom to select the spacing between the ink emitting nozzles of each inkjet print head and a printing substrate. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a reciprocating carriage assembly having twelve individual ink jet pen receptacles and a manual vertical adjustment feature for precise control of the spacing between the printing substrate and the print head(s). In one embodiment, the inventive carriage assembly height adjustment features dual, manually-actuated axial screws that cooperate to evenly raise and lower the carriage assembly. Preferably a third mounting point ensures parallelism when the carriage assembly is raised and lowered. In use, the entire carriage assembly, including circuit boards, ink jet print heads, and electronics all move in unison when the axial shafts are rotated.

Abstract: A method of printing an image on a substrate with an ink jet printer, the method including the step of ejecting a plurality of discrete portions of ink from the ink jet printer toward the substrate, the ink including at least three different inks with each ink of each different pair of inks containing either different dyes or different concentrations of the same dye, and the step of sequentially forming a plurality of layers of ink dots on the substrate using the discrete portions of ink, with adjacent layers having overlapping ink dots formed of different inks, the plurality of layers of ink dots constituting the image, and the image fully covering all portions of the substrate beneath the image.

Abstract: A method of forming a printing ink, the method including combining a nitrogen-containing cyclic organic compound, a glycol ether or a glycol ether acetate, and a colorant; and homogeneously blending the nitrogen-containing cyclic organic compound, the glycol ether or the glycol ether acetate, and the colorant to form the ink jet printing ink.

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizes conventional wireless heart rate monitor technology by providing a person with the ability to set upper and lower heart rates, i.e. a target zone, merely by inputting his or her age. Depending upon the physical conditioning of the user, the upper and/or lower limits can be selectively changed. The user also has the capability to program a desired time accumulation goal within the target zone and to observe, both during and after the exercise period, how much time has accumulated inside the target zone.

Abstract: Unsaturated hydrophobic resins modified with labile hydrophillic groups exhibit reversible solubility in water. Beta-dialkyl amino carboxylate derivatives of novolak resins are useful to make baking enamels and resists.