Abstract: A system and method are provided for keeping track of the ownership of unique items in a system including a server computer connected to a database and at least one client computer connected to the server computer over a network. In operation information concerning the item is entered into the client computer. This information, includes at least a description of the item and its owner, is uploaded from the client computer to said server computer where the information is stored in the database. In response, the system provides from the server to the client computer a transaction identification number related to the information and an item number related to the item. A user at the client computer can use the transaction identification number to access the uploaded information at the database to determine the current owner of the item.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for keeping track of the ownership of unique items in a system including a server computer connected to a database and at least one client computer connected to the server computer over a network. In operation information concerning the item is entered into the client computer. This information, includes at least a description of the item and its owner, is uploaded from the client computer to said server computer where the information is stored in the database. In response, the system provides from the server to the client computer a transaction identification number related to the information and an item number related to the item. A user at the client computer can use the transaction identification number to access the uploaded information at the database to determine the current owner of the item.

Abstract: Methods for providing online health monitoring and accumulating data from patients worldwide, and accompanying apparatus for using the same, are disclosed. Such monitoring is particularly useful for both diagnosing and prescribing preventive medical treatment, and is particularly suited for the field of cardiovascular health care. Preferred methods and devices include using a sensitive acoustic device, such as an electret, to analyze a patient's cardiovascular functions from a location such as a public computer kiosk, a doctor's office or a patient's home computer. The data may be downloaded from the acoustic device to a central database located, for example, on the Internet. The data may be retrieved by the patient, or upon instructions from the patient, may be transferred to or accessed by doctors for purposes of diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. The data may, in addition, include demographic and like data for each patient and preferably be stored while maintaining the anonymity of each patient.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring electrical equipment in an enclosed cabinet, having an ultrasonic detector located in the enclosed cabinet and detecting ultrasonic emissions generated by the electrical equipment, e.g., arcing, and heterodyning those ultrasonic emissions into an audio signal, a data converter which generates a digitized version of the audio signal, and a processing unit located remotely from the enclosed cabinet which receives the digitized signal over a transmitting line, and analyzes the digitized signal to determine whether there is an actual or potential failure condition.

Abstract: A system provides messages from deceased relatives and friends, which messages are readily accessible. Before death a person records various messages for loved ones. The system stores these messages at a location and associates PIN numbers with each individual for whom there is a message. Either the intended recipient is given information about the message or leaving of a message by a symbol located in a conspicuous place, e.g., on the headstone of the deceased. The person then calls a 900 number or logs onto a specific website. In response to the correct answers to certain questions, the intended recipient is given their PIN. Using the PIN, the person can contact the system and received the recorded message at any time, e.g., by cell phone at the grave site. Alternatively, the grave site itself can be wired to provide the message, e.g., from a tape recorder over headphones or at special kiosks at the cemetery.

Abstract: A focal point reflector is used in conjunction with a dual heterodyne circuit to reduce reception nulls that can occur when performing ultrasonic measurements. The focal plane reflector is a flat non-porous or reflective material, such as printed circuit board (PCB) that is placed behind and in parallel with an ultrasonic array of piezoelectric transducers. In accordance with the invention, the addition of the focal point reflector to the array of piezoelectric array permits the reflection of ultrasonic energy that may “fall” between the crystals in the array and then back into the crystal elements.

Abstract: A system and method for eliminating confusion associated with checking valves, wherein additional test points are added to the measurement of a valve for ensuring the verification of the actual sources of leaks or turbulence. A base line measurement for the valve is established by measuring the level of ultrasonic sound at the two points upstream from the valve. The level of the ultrasound at two downstream points is then measured. The value of the ultrasound at the downstream test points is compared to the values of the ultrasound at the upstream test points. If the values of ultrasound at the downstream test points are higher than the values of the ultrasound at the upstream test points, then the valve is leaking. If the values of the ultrasound at the downstream test points are close to or lower than the values of the ultrasound at the upstream test points, then the valve is not leaking, i.e., the valve is good.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting leaks and mechanical faults by way of an ultrasonic device. An output from a variable gain amplifier is supplied to a pair of heterodyning circuits, i.e., a dual heterodyning circuit. At each respective heterodyning circuit, the output signal from the variable gain amplifier is multiplied by a local oscillator that is internal to each circuit. The dual heterodyning circuit is used to provide an enhanced input transducer signal for spectral analysis. This permits the capture of low level frequency components for extraction during spectral analysis. The dual heterodyning circuit of the present invention to provide the enhanced spectrum to thereby permit an easy determination of whether the resonance is mechanical or electrical becomes clear. In addition, fault frequencies are also more easily discernable. In other words, the enhanced signal output provides a lower signal to noise ratio such that the ease with which frequency components are analyzed is increased.

Abstract: An externally-powerable sensor is described for detecting ultrasonic energy and for providing an accurate indication of the level of such energy to an external monitoring device over a wide dynamic range. A first electrical signal proportional to the detected ultrasonic energy is chopped by the output of a free-running multivibrator to generate a signal having a frequency differing from the frequency of the first signal by an amount within the audio frequency range. Such difference signal is selectively amplified to concentrate the spectral energy of the difference component in a lower portion of the audio range. A low pass filter extracts, from the so-concentrated difference signal, a modified audio signal whose frequency content is at the lower end, illustratively 0-6 KHz, of the spectrum of the concentrated difference signal. The output of the low pass filter is processed to generate a DC output current that is proportional to the detected ultrasonic energy level.

Abstract: A finger joint prosthesis for MP joint or PIP joint in which a socket has an opening at a portion thereof and a spherical face on an inner side thereof and is integrally formed with a stem on a side opposed to the opening, a head has a spherical portion fit to the spherical face via the opening and is integrally formed with a stem extending outwardly from the opening and a sheath for surrounding the stem of either of the socket and head is provided and the stem is movable slidably in an axial direction by adhering and fixing the sheath to a narrow cavity at a nearly disposed portion or a remotely disposed portion whereby the joint prosthesis is matched with motional characteristic of finger.

Abstract: A device for carrying out motional training by continuously flexing and extending a joint of the body comprises a mounting piece for mounting the device in the vicinity of a joint, a drive unit arranged on the mounting piece including a reversable rotation motor having a motor output shaft, a manual switching clutch connected to the motor output shaft, a power transmission connected to the motor output shaft and a transmission output rotating shaft, a swinging arm having a base portion mounted on the mounting piece, and a free end portion of the device including another mounting piece for mounting the free end side of the device to a portion of the shaft body in front of a joint. The swinging arm is coupled to the transmission output rotating shaft and subjected to a reciprocating swing motion during regular and reverse rotation of the transmission output rotating shaft. A movable range setting copying mechanism sets the first swing end and the second swing end of the swing arm.

Abstract: A stackable ball grid array module in which a chip select decoder is used to reduce the number of busses required for communication between modules. Additional modules may be added without requiring additional interconnect lines in the array. Cooling of the individual modules may be accomplished using a support member made from an enhanced heat transfer material or placing an enhanced heat transfer material layer between the modules. The devices on the module may be encapsulated, and the modules may be constructed in a chip first or cavity-down configuration. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted laser spotlight system employs a coherent/incoherent spotlight as a light source to produce an eyesafe light dispersion pattern to illuminate an ambient environment. The laser spotlight system includes an integrated laser unit having an integrated laser, power supply and control unit for selectively transmitting coherent light. A fiber optic cable optically couples the laser unit to a spotlight which receives the coherent light from the laser and transmits a beam of coherent light into the ambient environment. An incoherent light transmitter selectively transmits a beam of incoherent light coincident with the beam of coherent light. A converter module may be disposed intermediate the laser and the spotlight to convert the frequency and wavelength of the coherent light.

Abstract: A receiver carrier synchronization apparatus and method for carrier synchronization with a received signal having a known data pattern preamble uses a "punctured" preamble for making carrier synchronization estimates thereby reducing the number of receivers required. The known data pattern preamble of the received signal is processed with a local reference signal and a differentiated replica of the known data pattern preamble to generate an error signal. The error signal is selectively sampled in the time domain in accordance with a puncture scheme, and the sampled error signal is used to generate the local reference signal in a closed loop. The received signal is processed with the local reference signal and a replica of the known data pattern preamble to generate a synchronization estimate signal.

Abstract: An identification document and a method of placing personalized data (variable text and color image) directly on the identification document having a data receiving page. The method comprises the steps of: printing personalized data directly onto a silicone release coat of a release sheet; positioning the release sheet with the side containing fused toner adjacent to the adhesive of an adhesive side of a security laminate; passing the release sheet and the security laminate through a laminator to transfer the personalized data to the adhesive of the security laminate; removing the release sheet leaving the personalized data on the security laminate; and passing the security laminate and the data receiving page through a laminator to seal personalized data between the security laminate and the data receiving page.

Abstract: There is described a tape format and a method for formatting a length of magnetic tape with a number of system zones. Each system zone contains an area for mechanical load/unload operations or threading operations and an area containing volume format information for the entire magnetic media.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying non-gravitational pressure to a surface includes a frame structure having a longitudinal axis, a pair of connecting members coupled to the frame structure along parallel axes normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure, vacuum fasteners coupled to the connecting members to secure the frame structure on an underlying surface, a vacuum pump mounted on the frame structure for activating the vacuum fasteners and a positive pressure pump mounted on the frame structure for inflating a collapsible diaphragm to apply pressure to the underlying surface. The apparatus is useful for applying doublers to aircraft components to repair localized damage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluation and inspection of a composite-repaired structure generates a frequency-varying electrical signal to test and evaluate the composite-repaired area. The electrical signal is converted into a mechanical signal and transmitted through the composite-repaired area of the structure. The transmitted mechanical signal is received and converted into an electrical signal for processing. The processed signal is compared with a baseline reference signal to determine whether the composite-repaired area is damaged or undamaged. The baseline reference signal is obtained at the time of the composite repair of the structure.

Abstract: A dual band, stacked microstrip antenna produces circular polarization. A two-layer, 90.degree. microstrip coupler is mounted to a hi-band patch and a lo-band patch and provides two inputs to the antenna to excite two orthogonal linearly polarized radiation patterns in quadrature. The coupler outputs are connected to the antenna by two conducting pins that connect directly to the groundplane of the lower patch. The coupler uses the hi-band patch as a groundplane and is transparent to the radiation from the antenna. An antenna input connector is connected to the coupler input by means of a coaxial line through the center of the antenna. The isolation port is terminated in a surface mounted 50-ohm resister to ground through a quarter wave length open transmission line.

Abstract: A computer, responsive to user input, controls the presentation of an audio-visual work to a user. Through the selection of several interactive learning options, support and reinforcement of the learning process is provided. In particular, the computer interacts with the user to challenge the user's understanding of the audio-visual work. In connection with the presentation of foreign language works, the user interacts with the computer in role playing, transcription, translation, fill-in-the-blanks and speech repetition activities designed to teach the user to speak the foreign language. Furthermore, as the audio-visual work is presented, a computer generated transcription or translation is displayed for user contemplation, and the user may interact with the computer by requesting the display of grammatical, cultural and geographic notes the further assist in the learning process.