Abstract: An illumination system for diascopic microscopy comprises a computer (610) with memory (625), a graphics program (605), a display driver (615), and graphical display (600). The display is positioned between a microscope's light source (105, 704) and condenser (110). When activated, the illumination system causes the display to display a predetermined pattern which the light source projects onto the condenser and is then focused by the condenser on a subject (125) to be examined. In conjunction with the microscope's light source, the illumination system emulates the illumination techniques of bright field, dark field, oblique, polarized, monochrome, modulation contrast and phase contrast illuminations.

Abstract: An aesthetically designed sink (100) comprises a plurality of orifices (110, 115, 120, 125) that deliver different water flow profiles for washing, rinsing, and drinking. Hot and cold water supplies (1110, 1115) supply water to the sink. A series of touch and sliding-touch controls (130-180) regulate the temperature and flow of water from the orifices. A logic circuit (1105) controls all operations, i.e., orifice selection, flow rate, and temperature. In one aspect water flowing from an orifice forms a sheet-shaped stream that arcs over the bowl for ease of washing and drinking. The stream can be illuminated by bi-color light-emitting diodes (121) in colors indicative of the selected temperature of the water flowing through that orifice. Alternatively an orifice is replaced by a removable fixture (900) in a cavity (905) in the sink, which is connected to the water supply (910).

Abstract: An illumination system for diascopic microscopy comprises a computer (610) with memory (625), a graphics program (605), a display driver (615), and graphical display (600). The display is positioned between a microscope's light source (105, 704) and condenser (110). When activated, the illumination system causes the display to display a predetermined pattern which the light source projects onto the condenser and is then focused by the condenser on a subject (125) to be examined. In conjunction with the microscope's light source, the illumination system emulates the illumination techniques of bright field, dark field, oblique, polarized, monochrome, modulation contrast and phase contrast illuminations.

Abstract: One embodiment of a nasal dilator comprises a pair of pads (100), supported by arms (110, 112) surrounding an air passage (115). Each arm has a bend portion (120) and a pad (121) that grips a wearer's septum (615). Leg portions (125, 125?) extend down from the arms and are connected by a bight that surrounds the wearer's columella (620). The dilator is installed by gripping an optional handle (130) or the bight and inserting the pads and the arms into both nostrils. The dilator is urged upward and inward until the inner side of the bight touches the wearer's columella. To remove the dilator, the user grips the handle or bight and gently pulls downward until the dilator is removed. In an alternative embodiment, optional cushions (102, 122) soften the contact points between the dilator and the user's nasal structures and can supply medications through the user's nasal membranes.

Abstract: A rotary pad printing system comprises a compressible pad wheel (105), one or more inkjet or other image applicator heads (400), optional treatment stations (500), a shaft encoder (535), a control unit (540), and an image source (565). The image applicator heads apply an image to the wheel and the treatment stations can supply treatments such as heat, gas, light, overcoats, and undercoats. The image is then transferred to a receiving surface (532). An optional cleaning station (510) cleans the rotary pad prior to application of the next or a continuous image. Each image can be different and can be applied to a moving surface. Since the rotary pad can continuously receive updated image information, the area printed can range from a single pixel to an image of indefinite length. In an alternative embodiment, a domed pad is used. In another alternative embodiment, a flexible belt (1000) is used instead of a rotary wheel. In another alternative embodiment, a segmented pad (2205) is used.

Abstract: A system (100, 600, 700) for fastening objects to a wall or ceiling (120) comprises a rear, wall-anchor section (105, 607, 705) with a bore, and a front, pivotable section (110, 602, 604, 720), rigidly abutted together with no gap, aligned by a projection (135), and connected by a “living” hinge, strap, flap, lanyard or other type of connector (115). The pivotable section has a sharpened tip (112, 630, 635, 725) for penetrating the wall while the fastener is forced into the wall by a hammer or other driving tool or device, or manually by hand. The two sections of the fastener have a tapered, elliptical cross-section (111) which both prevents rotation of the fastener and locally reduces load-responsive pressure in the wallboard. To install, the axes of the wall-anchor and pivotable sections of the fastener are first aligned. The fastener is forced into the wall one of the above means. Then a pin (140) is manually inserted into the bore of the wall-anchor section.

Abstract: In one aspect of a first embodiment, a rotary pad printing system comprises a controller (400), an image source (498) that provides an image to the controller, a rotary pad (200) that is urged to rotate by a first motive source, a monochrome or color ink source or applicator such as an inkjet (215), and an actuator (235, 730). The system has the ability to print onto a flat or uneven surface (410). The controller actuates the ink source, causing it to deposit an ink image (202) onto a rotating pad wheel (200). As the surface moves, the wheel is held in contact with the surface by an actuator (235) or arm (705). As the wheel turns in contact with the surface, the ink image comes into contact with the surface and transfers to it, thereby printing the ink image onto a flat or uneven surface.

Abstract: An anchoring fastener comprises a shaft (100) with straight and tapered portions, a tip (105) at the front, cam follower surfaces (110, 111) at the rear, a body (120) with a bore, a head (125) with a hole, and fins (115). There is a bendable region by the fins. The anchor is inserted into a wallboard (600) until the head contacts the wallboard. The fins slice into the wallboard, thereby preventing rotation during and after insertion. An activating member (900), a screw or a pin, is inserted into the hole and urged against the cam follower surfaces, thereby forcing the shaft to rotate until it comes into contact with the inner surface (615) of the wallboard. An object-holding washer (905), restrained by the activating member, is secured to the anchor which in turn is secured to the wallboard.

Abstract: A relay lens assembly (100) for use with a microscope (1400), telescope or binocular (1500), comprises a lens element (300) that is responsive to commands, conveyed from a control unit (400), via a conduit (410) between the control unit and the lens element. A computing device (810) controls operation of the lens assembly and a digital camera (805) that has an image sensor (125). The control unit causes the lens assembly to assume any of a plurality of predetermined focal lengths so that different depths of an object being imaged can be rendered in-focus on the sensor. A series of images can be taken at predetermined, computer-controlled focal depths. These images can be processed in order to create a photomontage that is in focus at a plurality of predetermined depths in a process commonly called focus-stacking. The addition of a plurality of data input and analysis units (1105) and a combiner (1115) makes rapid processing of individual images possible for photomontage at video rates.

Abstract: A twist-lock anchoring fastener comprises a head (700), a shaft (715), and a lance (720). The foot is adapted to penetrate through wallboard (105). The shaft length is approximately equal to the thickness of the wallboard so that when the foot lies on the back side (107) of the wallboard and the shaft is rotated, the foot is captured behind the wallboard, completing installation of the fastener. An optional footer (725) for the head contains raised lines (726) or bumps (727) or both to aid in seating the fastener on the wall. An optional wall plate assembly (1700) further strengthens the installation of the fastener by locally reducing pressure within the wallboard. In an alternative embodiment, the fastener comprises a wall anchor that accepts a pin (3200). In another alternative embodiment, the fastener is designed for installation in our prior-art wall anchor (100).

Abstract: An anchoring fastener comprises, in one embodiment, a shaft (100) with straight and tapered portions, a tip (105) at the front end, cam follower surfaces (110, 111) at the rear end, a body (120) with a bore, a head (125) with a hole collinear with the bore in the body, and a pair of fins (115). The shaft and the body are joined at a bendable region by the fins. The anchor is fully inserted into wallboard (600) until the head comes into contact with the outer surface of the wallboard (610). The length of the body is approximately equal to the thickness of the wall. The fins slice into the wallboard, thereby preventing rotation of the anchor during and after insertion. An activating member (900), such as a screw or a pin, is inserted into the hole and bore and urged against the cam follower surfaces, thereby forcing the shaft to rotate until it comes into contact with the inner surface (615) of the wallboard.

Abstract: A water energy conversion system for convening the potential energy of water to electrical or mechanical energy, takes water at an inlet (105) from a higher elevation source, through a conduit (110) to a lower location. Then a riser (120) conveys the water up to nearly the same elevation it had at the inlet. The riser acts as a “virtual dam”, delivering the water with nearly the same head as a dam. The water from the riser is delivered to an energy converter (100) which comprises a loop raceway (130) which constrains and guides a plurality of carriage and disc assemblies (135) connected in a continuous train by links (155). An inlet (125) at the top of the energy converter receives the water where it falls downward through a jacket (140) that is constrained by the raceway (140).

Abstract: A rotary pad for pad printing comprises a cylinder (100?) or a belt (1105). The pad can be either flat or crowned in its relaxed condition. An ink applicator (405, etc.) applies an ink image (701) to the pad for subsequent transfer to a receiving object (425, etc.). If not initially flat, the pad can be flattened during application of the ink image, then forced to bulge for transfer to a receiving object. The pad can be flattened or caused to bulge by rollers (400, etc.) or by vacuum or pneumatic pressure. In one embodiment, an ink image is temporarily applied to the outer surface (510) of a flat cylindrical pad, then as the pad rotates, the sides of the pad are squeezed by rollers (520, 525), forcing the pad to bulge during transfer of the ink image to a receiving object (600). In another embodiment, a crowned pad (100?) is flattened while accepting an ink image, then allowed to resume its original crowned shape for transfer to a receiving object (425).

Abstract: A system for taking motion pictures of a scene with different parts at different focal lengths with a camera that normally would not have sufficient depth of field to capture all parts of said scene in focus. A computer (610) controls a high-speed, digital camera (605) and a lens (600) with rapid focus capability to produce a stack of images at different focal lengths for rapid processing into a composite serial image montage stream in motion picture output format (625). Operator controls permit continuous selection of depth of field (DOF) in the output image and enable a plurality of in-focus and out-of-focus regions over the depth of an image. An optional output port (640) provides for real-time recordation of all images in each stack for later processing. An optional remote control (1015) duplicates the main controls in the camera system (1000) so that a second person can assist in optimizing images as they are recorded, or for remote control of the camera itself.

Abstract: A compact wall fastener (200) comprises pivotably connected proximal and distal sections where the proximal section has a through hole (205). The distal and proximal sections (220, 222, 235) preferably are flat. The distal section has a cam follower surface (251), a point (240), and a raised portion (250) that has the cam follower surface. The fastener is driven into a wallboard (600) until its proximal surface is parallel to the surface (605) of the wallboard. An activating pin or screw (615) is inserted into the entry of the fastener and forced into contact with the cam follower and then past the raised portion, forcing the distal section to bend, thereby causing the distal section to rotate downward until it is in contact with the inside surface (610) of the wallboard. The result is a secure fastener with minimal damage to the wallboard. In addition, the fastener can be used to fasten layers of delicate or easily displaced materials (1305, 1306, 1307).

Abstract: An anchoring fastener comprises, in one embodiment, a shaft (100) with straight and tapered portions, a tip (105) at the front end, cam follower surfaces (110, 111) at the rear end, a body (120) with a bore, a head (125) with a hole collinear with the bore in the body, and a pair of fins (115). The shaft and the body are joined at a bendable region by the fins. The anchor is fully inserted into wallboard (600) until the head comes into contact with the outer surface of the wallboard (610). The length of the body is approximately equal to the thickness of the wall. The fins slice into the wallboard, thereby preventing rotation of the anchor during and after insertion. An activating member (900), such as a screw or a pin, is inserted into the hole and bore and urged against the cam follower surfaces, thereby forcing the shaft to rotate until it comes into contact with the inner surface (615) of the wallboard.

Abstract: A deformable pad (100) for pad printing has an initially flat side (105) and an opposite bulged side (110). An ink image (610) is applied to the flat side of the pad using an inkjet head (605) or other ink image source. The pad is then distorted using a ram (600) or hydrostatic or pneumatic source applied to a chamber (1300) so that the initially bulged side is flattened and the initially flat side bulges. After distortion, the now bulged side with the ink image is pressed against a receiving surface for transfer of the ink image to the surface. An alternative embodiment starts by deforming a pad to produce a flat surface, inking the surface with an image, then allowing the pad to relax, rendering the previously flat, image-bearing surface newly bulged. The newly-bulged surface is then temporarily urged against a receiving surface for transfer of the ink image.

Abstract: A pad printing system comprises, in one aspect, a flexible pad (100) with a front surface (125). One or more applicator heads (120, 130) applies one or more substances, including inks, paints, coatings, decals, water, varnish, solvents, catalysts, adhesives, and the like, to the front surface of the pad. The various substances can be applied in layers in any order. During or after application of the substance, applicator heads (140, 145) optionally apply treatments, such as radiative energy, gas, humidity, and the like, to the substance being applied. All components of the system are under the control of a controller (150) that derives information about the image to be printed from an image source (155). After an image and any overlying or underlying coatings are applied, the surface of the pad is urged into contact with a receiving object 200, whereupon the image and coatings are transferred from the pad to the receiving object. The pad is flat during application of substances to the pad.

Abstract: A connector system includes a plug and receptacle. The plug mates with the receptacle to connect two lengths of an Ethernet/power cable. Connector plugs and receptacles each include an insert assembly having a plurality of contacts for coupling to power conductors and network wires within the Ethernet/power cable. Contacts coupled to power conductors are shielded from contacts coupled to network wires.

Abstract: In one aspect of a first embodiment, a rotary pad printing system comprises a controller (400), an image source (498) that provides an image to the controller, a rotary pad (200) that is urged to rotate by a first motive source, a monochrome or color ink source or applicator such as an inkjet (215), and an actuator (235, 730). The system has the ability to print onto a flat or uneven surface (410). The controller actuates the ink source, causing it to deposit an ink image (202) onto a rotating pad wheel (200). As the surface moves, the wheel is held in contact with the surface by an actuator (235) or arm (705). As the wheel turns in contact with the surface, the ink image comes into contact with the surface and transfers to it, thereby printing the ink image onto a flat or uneven surface.