Abstract: An improved frangible skeet target is provided. The skeet target has an aerodynamic structure and is constructed to retain structural integrity upon being thrown. The skeet target is biodigestible and comprised of finely ground food grains or seeds in a molasses binder cold pressed to form the hardened skeet target.

Abstract: A removable footbed is provided which circulates air and provides shock absorption. The footbed is constructed from a layer of moldable material molded with a concave bump in the heel area and a number of concave, intersecting channels in the remainder of the footbed. Both the concave bump and the channels have perforations which extend completely through the footbed and allow for the circulation of air in a shoe. The layer of moldable material is topped with a layer of anti-microbial foam for cushioning and bacteria prevention and which in turn is topped with a sock-contacting layer. The ventilation holes perforate the anti-microbial foam layer and the sock-contacting layer. A disc or cylindrically shaped open-celled foam sits within the concave bump to bias the bump in an upright position and a layer of shock absorbing material extends underneath the bump and the open-celled foam.

Abstract: A textile machine with an apparatus for recognizing and correcting deviations of sequences of movements of an element (31) driven by a driving element (33). A device (51) acquires the arrival time (t.sub.4) of the driven element (31) and corrects the start time (t.sub.1) of the driving element (33) within a predefined time window (t.sub.1u -t.sub.1o) until the arrival time (t.sub.4) of the driven element (31) lies within a predefined time window (t.sub.2u -t.sub.2o) again.

Abstract: A programmable data acquisition system including a plurality of input signal channels for receiving a respective input signal during a normal mode of operation is provided. Individual test circuits are used for selecting respective ones of the plurality of channels to receive predetermined reference signals during a test mode of operation while uninterruptedly providing the normal mode of operation in any remaining unselected channels in the data acquisition system. An analog-to-digital (A/D) converter system, such as delta-sigma modulators and decimation filters having a selectable decimation ratio, allows for supplying quantized electrical signals at a predetermined rate. The A/D converter is responsive to any signals carried in the plurality of signal channels as selected by the individual test circuits. A control unit allows for supplying respective control signals to the test circuits and to the converter system.

Abstract: A satellite communications system is disclosed. One of the embodiments of the present invention includes six to fourteen satellites (12) which operate in a single Equatorial orbit (14). These satellites (12) are capable of providing communications services to locations on the Earth (E) which are within thirty degrees of the Equator (16). Another embodiment of the invention utilizes both the single Equatorial orbit plane (14) in combination with other satellites (12) moving in polar or inclined orbits (60, 63, 210). The embodiment that combines satellites (12) in Equatorial (14), polar (60) and inclined (63, 210) orbits will provide a wide variety of data services to virtually any point on the globe. In the preferred embodiments, the satellites (12) are designed to operate in a circular low Earth orbit at an altitude of from 800 to 1852 kilometers.

Abstract: A selective low power clocking apparatus and method is used to reduce power consumption by an electronic system or integrated circuit that is coupled to an external system via a system bus which is configured to selectively transmit or receive signals from the electronic system or integrated circuit. The electronic system or integrated circuit includes a plurality of sub-circuits or functional blocks. Each sub-circuit or functional block is configured to operate under control of a clock signal and further includes an apparatus for holding or rejecting the clock signal. Once each sub-circuit within the electronic system or integrated circuit rejects the clock signal, the clock signal to that sub-circuit is disabled. The arbiter circuit continuously monitors the system bus. Upon detecting that the external system needs to transmit or receive signals from the electronic system or integrated circuit, the arbiter re-enables the clock signal to the sub-circuits which are required for the transmission or reception.

Abstract: A container has a rectangular base and side walls inwardly extending from the base to provide a truncated tetrahedron shape with an open top. Handles are on opposing side walls to enable the carrying of the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon-containing material which exhibits sufficient hydrophilicity and sufficient electropositivity to bind DNA from a suspension containing DNA and permit elution of the DNA from the material. Generally, the hydrophilic and electropositive characteristics are expressed at the surface of the silicon-containing material. Preferred silicon-containing materials of the present invention include boron silicate, aluminum silicate, phosphosilicate, silica carbonyl, silica sulfonyl and silica phosphonyl. The silicon-containing materials of the present invention are particularly useful in processes for purification of DNA from other cellular components. In these processes, a suspension of cellular components is placed in contact with the silicon-containing material, the silicon-containing material is washed to remove all cellular components other than DNA which are bound to the material, and the bound DNA is eluted from the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring multiple physiological variables of a patient at a single site on the patient can be used to facilitate assessment of the patient's well being during medical surgery as well as during ambulatory monitoring, home monitoring, procedure monitoring and similar situations. The apparatus has an infrared (IR) temperature sensor, a pulse oximeter sensor and a communication circuit for outputting information produced from the pulse oximeter and information produced from the infrared temperature measuring device. These elements are integrally placed within a mold or plug made to fit the ear of the patient.

Abstract: A dual chamber pacemaker incorporating an adaptive PVARP for breaking pacemaker mediated tachycardia episodes and adjusting the PVARP interval in a way that reduces future incidences of PMT without extending PVARP beyond what is required.

Abstract: A disposal system for stacking card-like objects neatly in a magazine. The cards enter the disposal system via a card entrance slot. A push plate located adjacent the slot pushes the cards past a pair of resilient snap elements in the sides of the magazine. A pressure plate is located behind the snap elements and biases the cards that have been pushed over the snap elements forward towards the rear of the snap elements. The cards are maintained in a stacked condition between the snap elements and the pressure plate. When a card is inserted into the card slot, the push plate is operated to an extended position, in which it pushes the card past the snap elements against the cards stacked between the snap elements and the pressure plate. The push plate then retracts, so as to enable another card to enter into the card slot. The user of the machine removes the magazine from the machine when the need arises or when the magazine is fully loaded with cards.

Abstract: A door stop includes a mounting bracket for mounting to a swingable door, a base which is connectible to the mounting bracket, and a leg pivotally connected to the base and having an end for engaging a floor in an operative condition of the door stop. In one embodiment, the mounting bracket is detachably mountable to doors of different thicknesses and the base is detachable from the mounting bracket so that the door stop can be disassembled when not in use, and the base can be used with alternative mounting brackets. The base is preferably vertically adjustable relative to the mounting bracket and the leg can be releasably locked in a range of different angular positions. The door stop may optionally not include a mounting bracket with the base being attached directly to the door.

Abstract: A novel motor belt drive mechanism which rotates a mouse or other toys to amuse, occupy, and entertain pets. The device is battery powered with a switch which can be turned on and off to attract a cat or other pet. The device has a low profile, thereby making it difficult to tip over. The device is battery operated and has no exposed dangerous voltage wires for pets to chew on. The device may be mounted in virtually any plane and in rotation may be allowed to animate other suspended devices for further variation. The rotating toy device may be locally or remotely manually oscillated to cause an erratic changing field of direction and at the same time allowing direct inter-action pet entertainment for elderly, disabled and persons with impaired senses.

Abstract: A drilling mud is converted in-situ to a cement by addition of blast furnace slag.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photographic element comprising a silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a dye-forming coupler of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X is H or a coupling-off group, R and R.sup.1 are independently selected from H and substituent groups; Y and Z are independently selected from H and alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl groups; provided that Y and Z taken together with the nitrogen atom may form a 5-10 membered heterocyclic ring group which may contain one or more further heteroatoms selected from N, O and S.

Abstract: A combustion method wherein fuel is mixed with an oxidant mixture comprising a defined concentration of argon and nitrogen and combusted resulting in reduced generation of particulate pollutants. The argon increases the mass and the nitrogen increases the volume of the oxidant improving the combustion reaction. Alternatively argon is mixed with fuel and the resulting mixture subsequently mixed with oxidant for combustion.