Abstract: Entry of a pet into a barrier region is deterred by emitting beams of compressional wave pulses from plural above ground sites in the region. The pet wears a collar with at least one transducer for converting the compressional wave beams into electrical signals. In response to pulses of the compressional wave energy being transduced, (1) an aural sound in a frequency range which can be heard by the pet is derived by a second transducer on the collar and (2) an electric shock is selectively applied to the pet by electrodes on the collar.

Abstract: Movement of an animal into a barrier region is inhibited by fitting on the animal a collar carrying a housing including battery powered circuitry for transmitting a magnetic induction wave. A compressional wave emitter in the region responds to the magnetic induction wave to emit a compressional wave that the animal senses and which inhibits its movement into the region.

Abstract: A portable personal air ionizer includes a dielectric housing small and lightweight enough to be hand carried. The housing contains a circuit for deriving a negative voltage having sufficient value to ionize air molecules, electrodes having pointed ends connected to the high voltage and a ground plane electrode. The negative ions collect airborne particulates which fall by gravity to a collecting pad beneath a stand for fully supporting the housing. Three electrodes are on each of two sheet metal strips, each having an elongated base mounted on a dielectric board. Each electrode is formed as a triangle extending upwardly from the base. The housing includes a central region having an interior wall spaced from an exterior wall. The interior wall forms a well where the circuit is located, surrounded and held in place by a potting compound. An edge of the dielectric board abuts against a dielectric wall between the ground plane electrode and the pointed electrodes.

Abstract: An electronic wristwatch having an LCD for time of day, day of month and month of year, as well as four key switches, includes a photodiode for detecting skin damaging ultraviolet, tanning radiation. The photodiode, a microcomputer, key switches, display and a battery are electrically connected to each other so that in response to activation of the key switches the microcomputer stores signals indicative of the time functions, intensity of the skin damaging ultraviolet radiation instantaneously incident on the photodiode at the time one of the key switches is activated, skin type of a subject wearing the watch, subject sun protection factor, and elapsed time from the time one of the key switches is activated, and the remaining time the subject skin can be safely exposed to the skin damaging radiation. The remaining time indication is derived independently of accumulated radiation incident on the photodiode which need not be pointed at the radiation source except when the one key is activated.

Abstract: A portable electronic flea-repelling collar for domestic animals activated by a self-contained battery comprises a printed circuit board on which are mounted an electrical to ultrasonic transducer, an integrated circuit for deriving periodic electric pulses having relatively low duty cycle and an ultrasonic carrier and leads interconnecting the battery, transducer and integrated circuit. The period, amplitude, duty cycle and carrier frequency of ultrasonic pulses emitted by the transducer in response to electric pulses derived from the integrated circuit repel fleas from the animal. The integrated circuit is sandwiched between the printed circuit board and the transducer. The printed circuit board carries a spring clip that mechanically and electrically contacts a first electrode on a first face of the battery. A second electrode on a second face of the battery is urged by the spring clip against a contact area on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The number of calories consumed by subject performing an exercise routine is approximated with a computer having a predetermined cycle time during which the distance travelled by the subject is determined. Indications of the subject weight, sex and age are entered into a memory of the computer to cause the computer to compute and store an indication of the number of calories the subject burns in traversing a predetermined distance during the computer cycle time. The calories consumed by the subject during the cycle time are calculated from the stored indication and the distance travelled during the cycle time. The indications of calculated consumed calories are accumulated over several consecutive cycle times. To determine distance travelled, signals from a pedometer are combined in the computer with a subject's stored stride length signal.

Abstract: Fleas are repelled from a four-legged animal by compressional waves derived from an electric-compressional wave transducer driven by electronic circuitry powered by a battery. The battery, circuitry and transducer are mounted in a housing carried by a collar around the neck of the animal. The housing includes a first face having an aperture covered by a dust screen. A face of the transducer positioned behind the dust screen radiates compressional wave energy through the dust screen that is reflected from the ground beneath the animal back to the underneath portions of the animal. The duty cycle and frequency of ultrasonic pulses derived by the transducer cause the fleas to be repelled. A second face, opposite from the first face, abuts against the body of the animal and carries a frangible, spring-like plate having a pair of slots through which the collar extends.

Abstract: A low duty cycle relaxation oscillator periodically gates an ultrasonic frequency relaxation oscillator into an on state. The ultrasonic frequency oscillations are supplied to an electric-compressional wave transducer by way of a push-pull driver. The duty cycle and repetition rate of the relaxation oscillator and the ultrasonic oscillation frequency are such that compressional waves derived by the transducer incident on fleas in the region where the transducer is located repels the fleas. All active elements in the oscillator and driver are CMOS devices which draw only leakage current while in quiescent bi-level states and through current from a battery during transitions between the bi-level states. The drain from the battery is reduced by connecting a high impedance between the battery and the CMOS devices during a relaxation oscillator transition.