Abstract: A carbon-filled fuel vapor filter system, including a polymer housing, the polymer housing including a hose inlet, a hose outlet, and a formed block of carbon pellets or granules with a polymer binding between the carbon pellets or granules contained within the fuel filter housing.

Abstract: A neural network provides automatic control of a windshield wiper. A rain sensor generates sensing signals indicating a rain pattern, and the neural network generates wiping demand signals indicating a wiping action desired by the driver. A training unit uses manually generated wiping supervision signals to create weight factors for the neural network.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt webbing retractor (10) includes a frame (40) and a spool (32) on which belt webbing (16) is wound. The spool (32) has a longitudinal axis (64) about which the spool rotates in a belt withdrawal direction (86) and in an opposite belt retraction direction (88). A shaft (34) supports the spool (32) on the frame (40) for rotation about the axis (64). The shaft (34) has at least a pair of tubular portions (154, 156) which extend parallel to the axis (64) and which are longitudinally coextensive along the axis. The tubular portions (154, 156) extend between spaced side walls (48, 50) of the frame (40). The tubular portions (154, 156) provide increased bending strength for the shaft (34).

Abstract: In a video editing apparatus, picture-representing data are stored in an area of a RAM, with a section of the data being selected to be transferred to form a display picture. When a command is supplied for cutting-out a region of the display picture, to replace the cut-out region with other data, the corresponding data region of the RAM area is stored in memory. If the user subsequently designates that the original data of the cut-out region are to be temporarily replaced in the display picture, the position of the cut-out region is calculated with respect to the data region that is currently being selected from the RAM area, the position with respect to the display picture is thereby obtained, and the cut-out data region is then read out of memory and inserted into the display picture at the obtained position.

Abstract: A device for exercising the fingers, hands, wrists and forearms of a user. The device incorporates flexible resilient rods made of a material such as a composite. The flexural strength of the rods creates the exercising resistance. The rods extend parallel to the hand of the user and therefore allow the user to perform other functions with his or her hands while wearing the device. The rods and the device may incorporate antimicrobials to prevent the spread or growth of microorganisms.

Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter or other balloon-type member and for monitoring, displaying and recording inflation or deflation data when the syringe system is used to inflate or deflate the balloon of the catheter or other balloon-type member. A syringe having a barrel and a syringe plunger is selectively operable to increase fluid pressure applied to the balloon catheter or other balloon member by sliding the plunger further into the barrel. Positive pressure applied to the balloon catheter or member is released by withdrawing the syringe plunger towards the rear of the barrel. A piezoresistive semiconductor transducer placed in fluid communication with the fluid pressure applied by the syringe, senses the fluid pressure and outputs an electrical signal representative of that pressure. The electrical signal is received by a RF transmission module that is permanently mounted to the syringe barrel.

Abstract: In an optical correlator system having reflective and transmissive optical components positioned along a folded and segmented optical axis or path, one or more optical path extenders are provided for selected optical path segments that require operative path length adjustment so that an electromagnetic radiation beam, which traverses the folded optical path with selected information imparted into and detected from the beam, can be imaged upon a defined and maximum usable area or region both on the reflective components and on an end detector component.

Abstract: A display sign includes a matrix of LED lights which are energized from an unregulated power supply during periodic duty cycles. The duty cycles are adjusted by a programmed microprocessor such that the power supply is not overloaded when a large number of LEDs are energized, and such that excessive power is not applied to the LEDs when a small number of LEDs are energized and the power supply voltage increases.

Abstract: A method and system that provides several pre-defined user templates that may be combined in various ways to represent all known network configurations of a digital cross-connect network. The system interrogates the user concerning the network configuration. The results of the interrogations determine the type of network monitor and control system configuration templates that the user will see. The system creates a database as a result of the combination of the templates and places on line the user templates and associated software to represent of the entire digital cross-connect network. This monitoring system can be used to not only vividly display the node from which a component error comes, but can illustrate the specific sub-component that provides the error and a representation of the various error lights that appear on the sub-component.

Abstract: A flow control valve is provided of the type useful for positioning in a fluid system between a high pressure pump and a fluid gun. The valve preferably includes a body having first and second flow paths therein, and first and second valve members for controlling the fluid flow through the respective flow paths. The first valve member is biased towards engagement with the first seat, and the second valve member serves to substantially restrict fluid flow through the second flow path to maintain a high pressure level upstream from the valve when the gun is deactivated. The second valve seat member may be easily replaced through an access port provided in the body, and adjustment of the second valve member to control the restricted orifice in the second fluid path is obtained with a rachet mechanism.

Abstract: A pressure sensor having a tubular member partially filled with a ferrofluid column and partially filled with air, with an electrically conductive coil wrapped around the tubular member. When in use, the coil has alternating current running therethrough and the voltage across the coil is monitored. Physiologic pressure variations result in proportional variations in the position of the ferrofluid/air interface relative to the coil. This results in proportional changes in the coil voltage due to the change in coil inductance. The pressure sensor is compact and can be incorporated into many devices including a guide wire.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for cleaning one or more of the rollers used in printing presses. Typically, the printing press features manual or automated devices for supplying cleaning solvent to the press during a washing operation. A blade assembly is pivotally disposed for engagement with the press roller. The blade assembly features a blade unit for scraping solid and liquid debris from the roller, and a receptacle trough for collecting used solvent as well as solid and liquid debris. In the improvement, a sheathing system is provided to supply protective sheath material to cover the blade assembly to keep the blade assembly clean during the washing operation. The sheath material preferably has a low coefficient of friction to prevent wearing of the components and is relatively thin to maintain the blade geometry for effective cleaning of the roller.

Abstract: A physical-biochemical process system and apparatus for removal of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other organics from contaminated groundwater or wastewater is described. This process system involves influent pumping groundwater or wastewater treatment by air stripping, biological oxidation and powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption in an enclosed gas stripping bioreactor, air purification by granular activated carbon contactor, and recycling of GAC-purified air for further groundwater or wastewater treatment. The bioreactor effluent is processed processed by a clarifier, a filter and a disinfection unit. The clarifier sludge is partially recycled to the bioreactor and partially wasted. The process system is cost-effective and eliminates the problem of secondary air contamination caused by conventional gas stripping tower and coventional biological treatment processes.

Abstract: A personal communications system is described which includes components of software and hardware operating in conjunction with a personal computer. The user interface control software operates on a personal computer, preferably within the Microsoft Windows.RTM. environment. The software control system communicates with hardware components linked to the software through the personal computer serial communications port. The hardware components include telephone communication equipment, digital signal processors, and hardware to enable voice, fax and data communication with a remote site connected through a standard telephone line. The functions of the hardware components are controlled by control software operating within the hardware component and from the software components operating within the personal computer.

Abstract: A universal controller for controlling a plurality of types of continuous passive motion (CPM) devices includes a control panel. Input keys are located within the control panel and provide input parameters which define the limits of operation and modes of operation for a particular CPM device. A microprocessor processes the received input parameters and controls the operation of the particular type of CPM device. Sensors located within the CPM device determine the instantaneous state of the particular CPM device and determine the specific type of CPM device. CPM operating parameters associated with the particular CPM device are stored within a data retention area of the microprocessor. A timer determines time measurements for time dependent calculations.

Abstract: A simple, compact and inexpensive chassis dynamometer capable of performing a multiplicity of tests and of simulating a variety of conditions, including wind resistance, weight of the vehicle and grade or slope of a road, includes first and second pairs of rolls for supporting the tires of a vehicle to be tested. An electric drive motor is connected with the rolls to drive them, and a single flywheel and associated eddy current motor are connected with the rolls to impart various levels of apparent inertia to the rotational movement of the rolls for thereby simulating the various conditions encountered by a vehicle travelling on a road. The frame is of open construction and the drive motor, eddy current motor, flywheel, rolls and associated components are confined within the periphery of the frame. The open construction of the frame simplifies the apparatus and enables maintenance and repair to be performed in situ.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an array of plural imaging elements each of which is responsive to incident light flux to provide an output signal. Each of the imaging elements includes provision for conducting a variable time integration of incident light flux, and alternatively, also for selecting a time interval during which each of the imaging elements simultaneously conducts such a time integration of incident light flux (i.e., takes a snap shot of an image scene). The imaging device includes provision for random access of each image element or group of image elements in the array so that output signals indicative of all or of only selected parts of an imaged scene can be processed for their image information, if desired.

Abstract: A process and structure wherein a film comprised of a perovskite or a spinel is built epitaxially upon a surface, such as an alkaline earth oxide surface, involves the epitaxial build up of alternating constituent metal oxide planes of the perovskite or spinel. The first layer of metal oxide built upon the surface includes a metal element which provides a small cation in the crystalline structure of the perovskite or spinel, and the second layer of metal oxide built upon the surface includes a metal element which provides a large cation in the crystalline structure of the perovskite or spinel. The layering sequence involved in the film build up reduces problems which would otherwise result from the interfacial electrostatics at the first atomic layers, and these oxides can be stabilized as commensurate thin films at a unit cell thickness or grown with high crystal quality to thicknesses of 0.5-0.7 .mu.m for optical device applications.

Abstract: A thick film hydrogen sensor element includes an essentially inert, electrically-insulating substrate having deposited thereon a thick film metallization forming at least two resistors. The metallization is a sintered composition of Pd and a sinterable binder such as glass frit. An essentially inert, electrically insulating, hydrogen impermeable passivation layer covers at least one of the resistors.

Abstract: A rotary oven conveyor apparatus is provided for receiving a continuous flow of articles such as can ends and for conveying the articles in an on-edge, spaced apart condition for a selectable predetermined period of time, to facilitate a treatment such as oven curing of a coating previously applied to the articles. The rotary oven conveyor comprises an enlarged wheel structure defining an axis and having a diameter many times the cross-sectional dimensions of the articles and mounted for rotation about its axis. A drive rotates the wheel structure about its axis. An article-receiving area is defined about an outer periphery of the wheel structure and is configured for partially surroundingly recieving the articles.