Abstract: A temperature sensor has a flexible nylon tube connected by a fluid-tight coupling to a metal bellows within a metal housing. The interior of the tube and bellows is filled with a pressurized liquid whose critical temperature corresponds to a threshold temperature to be sensed. The pressurized liquid holds the bellows extended, holding an actuating piston back against the action of a spring. When the threshold temperature is reached, the liquid in the tube must boil and ruptures the tube, causing the bellows to collapse and the actuating piston to move. A projecting actuator then mechanically initiates a response such as the closing of a damper in an air-conditioning duct.

Abstract: A low breakdown voltage device for protecting an integrated circuit from transient energy is disclosed. This device provides an SCR having a reduced "snap-back" trigger voltage compatible with submicron integrated circuit fabrication processes. A low breakdown voltage SCR protection circuit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for removing tile adhered by a substance to a floor includes the step of enclosing a volume generally above an area of the floor and tile, with the tile and floor defining the bottom of the volume enclosed. The temperature in the volume enclosed is reduced so that the substance adhering the tile to the floor becomes embrittled. The apparatus is maintained in position over the area of the floor for a predetermined time to produce the required embrittlement of the adhering substance, and then moved to expose the area of the floor previously below the volume enclosed. The tile is then removed from the floor. An apparatus for use in the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A management tool is disclosed which aids the user in controlling the flow of data from one database table to another in computer memory, particularly when both the potential amount of data and the number of programmed functions which can be performed upon or be controlled by the data are large.

Abstract: A thin film electrocoagulation liquid treatment apparatus includes a nonconductive housing formed by opposite top and bottom walls, opposite side walls, and tubular end members with slots therethrough which define a treatment chamber. Pluralities of elongated electrodes extend between the side walls and are spaced along the top and bottom walls in spaced apart interleaved relation to define a serpentine fluid treatment path. The tubular end members form fluid connections, one end member receiving liquid to be treated from a supply conduit and the other discharging the treated liquid to a discharge conduit. A DC power supply has opposite poles thereof connected respectively to the sets of electrodes in such a manner that the polarity on succeeding electrodes is opposite. The first two electrodes in the flow direction of the fluid path are preferably connected to the negative pole of the power supply.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ADC including a comparator which sets, bit-by-bit, a successive approximation binary register. Feedback means for auto-biasing, auto-calibration, and offset compensation within the ADC are provided. The ADC sets itself to a high degree of accuracy automatically by reference to a master voltage reference. A number of identical ADCs are connected in parallel to provide an increased sampling rate. The ADC architecture compensates for component tolerance differences, for common mode noise, and for secondary parasitic effects. The ADC operates with high resolution at high speed (e.g., 10 bits at 50 MHz), and can be implemented in MOS technology with good circuit yield and is compatible with ASICs.

Abstract: A rotationally molded transparent back bar freezer unit having an insulating double wall. A housing receives an inner compartment 30 made of a thermally-conductive material. A recess contoured to match a shape of a fluid container is formed in the inner compartment 30 and defines a second volume. A cooling material, such as ice and salt added to a first volume within the inner compartment 30 cools the fluid container in the second volume through the flexible wall. An access door facilitates presentation, loading and extracting of the fluid container into and from the recess that forms the cooling compartment.

Abstract: A pulse width modulated controller for N.sub.2 O and enrichment fuel delivery includes a system control logic section which processes signals from sensors for throttle position, engine speed and a number of other user-selectable parameters and a driver section controls electrically operated injectors or solenoid valves. The driver section allows the injectors to open only when all of the parameters sensed in the control section are met. Moreover, the driver section activates injectors according to a pulse generated by a pulse width modulation section which determines how long the injectors will remain activated. The pulse width modulation section receives signals based on the present throttle position and engine speed and adjusts these values according to values for N.sub.2 O and enrichment fuel based on engine speed and throttle position set by the user in a tuning section and thereby continuously provides the driver section with a pulse having a width proportional to the proper amount of N.sub.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ADC including a comparator which sets, bit-by-bit, a successive approximation binary register. Feedback means for auto-biasing, auto calibration, and offset compensation within the ADC are provided. The ADC sets itself to a high degree of accuracy automatically by reference to a master voltage reference. A number of identical ADCs are connected in parallel to provide an increased sampling rate. The ADC architecture compensates for component tolerance differences, for common mode noise, and for secondary parasitic effects. The ADC operates with high resolution at high speed (e.g., 10 bits at 50 MHz), and can be implemented in MOS technology with good integrated circuit chip yield and is compatible with new ASICs.

Abstract: A spatio-temporally oriented coring method and apparatus for reducing noise in a sequence of images is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of decomposing each image into low-pass and a prefiltered sub-images, decomposing each prefiltered sub-image into a plurality of component patterns which are oriented in space, time or a combination of space and time, filtering each oriented component pattern to form a plurality of filtered patterns and reconstructing the image from the filtered patterns and the low-pass sub-image. Apparatus for reducing the noise in a sequence of images comprises means for decomposing each image into low-pass and prefiltered sub-images, means for decomposing each prefiltered sub-image into a plurality of component patterns which are oriented in space, time or a combination of space and time, means for filtering each component pattern to form a plurality of filtered patterns, and means for reconstructing the image from the filtered patterns and the low-pass sub-image.

Abstract: A multi-step method enables a user to extract useful information from a complex relational database without needing to construct elaborate Structured Query Language statements or to become familiar with details of the particular data model involved. In particular, the method generates a table of output data from a relational database having one or more database tables made up of columns of attributes, rows instances, and one or more keys composed of one or more attributes each as elements.

Abstract: The invention is a method for determining the motion of an image sensor through a scene directly from brightness derivatives of an image pair. A global image sensor motion constraint is combined with the local brightness constancy constraint to relate local surface models with the global image sensor motion model and local brightness derivatives. In an iterative process, the local surface models are refined using the image sensor motion as a constraint, and then the image sensor motion model is refined using the local surface models as constraints. The analysis is performed at multiple resolutions to enhance the speed of the process.

Abstract: A fabric stretching device having a primary upright frame support (10) and secondary upright frame support (18) which are parallel to each other. These supports are held apart at a defined distance by a front and a rear frame brace (12a,b) which are parallel to each other and connect perpendicularly to the top and bottom ends of both upright frame supports, forming a rigid rectangular frame such that the height of the frame is defined by the distance between the frame braces, and the width of the frame is defined by the distance between the upright frame supports. A front and rear scroller rod (24a,b) pass through the upright frame supports inward of and parallel to the frame braces such that fabric is attached to the scroller rods by inserting the fabric through a scroller rod fabric slot (26) which is cut through each scroller rod. The rear scroller rod is inserted through either of two holes in the frame supports, enabling adjustment of the distance between the front and rear scroller rods.

Abstract: A computer analysis tool enables an operator to analyze and visualize more effectively data objects having a large number of individual physical attributes. In the tool, one or more visual attribute icons are generated on the screen of a display monitor. Each of the visual attribute icons displays values of a sub-set of the total physical attributes of the data objects residing in computer memory in terms of different graphic characteristics. In addition, a physical attribute icon is generated for each of the data objects and may be selectively displayed on the screen of the monitor. Each physical attribute icon identifies all of the physical attributes of its data object available in computer memory. The operator selects from the physical attribute icons, typically with the aid of an input device such as a mouse, the sub-sets of physical attributes to be displayed in the visual attribute icons.

Abstract: A method for stress-relieving a flame-hardened component by vibrating the workpiece as it is being flame-hardened, and then vibrating the workpiece after it has been flame-hardened, measuring the workpiece to detect warpage, straightening the workpiece to remove the warpage, and then vibrating the workpiece to remove any stresses created by the straightening step.

Abstract: A continuous towel cabinet comprises a compartment for a roll of clean towel, and an arrangement of rollers for repeatedly allowing a length of clean towel to be dispensed into a loop beneath the cabinet and for simultaneously rewinding an equivalent length of soiled towel onto a rewind roller. The clean towel compartment is disposed above the arrangement of rollers and has at least a flexible base wall whereby the roll of soiled towel can reduce the depth of the clean towel compartment as the roll of soiled towel increases during operation of the towel cabinet. The clean towel compartment is preferably a flexible bag which is detachable from the cabinet. The pressure roller of the roller arrangement is also preferably mounted on the cover of the cabinet. The arrangement may also allow back rotation of the front metering roller with respect to the rewind roller.