Abstract: A multi-beam tool is disclosed which can perform square, plumb, and level function which may be required in a construction environment. The tool can generate in a preferred embodiment up to five orthogonal beams with two beams being plumb and three beams being leveled. Combinations of two level beams, or a level and a plumb beam in orthogonal arrangement can produce a square alignment set of beams. The tool includes in a preferred arrangement a self-leveling pendulum to which a laser and quad-mirror arrangement is secured. The self-leveling pendulum is dampened in order to allow the tool to settle down and provide alignment after the tool is positioned as desired.

Abstract: An alignment device provides one or more references, such as laser lines and planes in horizontal and vertical orientations. One version of the alignment device includes an optics mounting assembly situated in a pivot socket on a frame to provide an output beam. A spring system and one or more alignment assemblies align and secure the optics mounting assembly in the socket. As a result, the output beam has a desired orientation with respect to true level. The spring system holds the optics mounting assembly in communication with the alignment assemblies to reduce system backlash. One implementation of the pivot socket has a surface in the form of a sphere's interior surface. A set of support members on the optics mounting assembly rest on the pivot socket's spherical surface—causing the output reference beam to extend from the center of a sphere including the socket's spherical surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for leveling at least one output light beam in a construction tool. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a laser optical assembly for producing output light beams that define plumb, level, and right angle beams for use in construction applications. The optical assembly is mounted on an optical platform which permits tilting about “slip-stick” joints that define two perpendicular axes of rotation. Such joints allow the optical platform to change its angle of tilt in response to an applied torque and to maintain the changed angle of tilt until further torque is applied. Also, the “slip-stick” mechanism prevents substantial movement or oscillation of the optical platform in the absence of the applied torque. The embodiment further includes a sensor element for determining whether the output beams are level.

Abstract: A multi-beam tool is disclosed which can perform square, plumb, and level function which may be required in a construction environment. The tool can generate in a preferred embodiment up to five orthogonal beams with two beams being plumb and three beams being leveled. Combinations of two level beams, or a level and a plumb beam in orthogonal arrangement can produce a square alignment set of beams. The tool includes in a preferred arrangement a self-leveling pendulum to which a laser and quad-mirror arrangement is secured. The self-leveling pendulum is damped in order to allow the tool to settle down and provide alignment after the tool is positioned as desired. The quad-mirror, the magnetic damping, and the coiled wire allowing power to be provided to the laser assembly, each separately, and also in combination, provide for a compact tool.

Abstract: A tool operates with a guide system to identify the orientation of a tool on a work piece. In one implementation, the tool identifies its orientation with respect to a guide signal supplied by the guide system. In an alternate embodiment, the tool determines its absolute orientation, such as a (x, y) coordinate. The tool includes an action component adapted to alter the work piece, such as a cutting head in a router. A guide detector in the tool detects a position of a guide signal from the guide system. A location detector in the tool receives the position data and employs it to determine the tool's orientation. Based on the detected orientation, the tool decides whether any tool adjustments are necessary. Examples of tool adjustments include the following: adjusting the position of the action component, enabling or disabling the action component, and providing operating indicators to direct a tool operator's use of the tool.

Abstract: A tool is employed in conjunction with alignment, depth, and level detectors. The tool can use all or some of these detectors. The alignment detector provides an orthogonal laser line grid on an incident surface when the detector has a predefined relationship with the surface. The depth detector emits two sets of parallel laser planes that converge with each other. When the laser planes impact on an incident surface two sets of lines are formed. The laser lines from one laser plane set move closer to the lines from the other laser plane set as the depth detector moves closer to the surface—showing changes in depth or distance. The level detector employs two converging laser planes. An operator positions the level detector above an incident surface, so the laser planes' line of intersection appears on the surface if the surface is level. If the surface is not level, lines separate from each laser plane appear on the surface—signaling the need for a level adjustment.

Abstract: A multi-beam tool is disclosed which can perform square, plumb, and level function which may be required in a construction environment. The tool can generate in a preferred embodiment up to five orthogonal beams with two beams being plumb and three beams being leveled. Combinations of two level beams, or a level and a plumb beam in orthogonal arrangement can produce a square alignment set of beams. The tool includes in a preferred arrangement a self-leveling pendulum to which a laser and quad-mirror arrangement is secured. The self-leveling pendulum is damped in order to allow the tool to settle down and provide alignment after the tool is positioned as desired. The quadmirror, the magnetic damping, and the coiled wire allowing power to be provided to the laser assembly, each separately, and also in combination, provide for a compact tool.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting medical information includes a stand-alone monitor for storing data records comprising measured values and time stamps and for transmitting the records to a remote reporting unit over a communication system. The remote reporting unit includes a relational data base that is updated when records are down-loaded from the monitor; a report generator for generating chronological graphs of the measured values for a particular patient; and a report transmitting unit for transmitting reports to a requesting health care provider.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting medical information includes a stand-alone monitor for storing data records comprising measured values and time stamps and for transmitting the records to a remote reporting unit over a communication system. The remote reporting unit includes a relational data base that is updated when records are down-loaded from the monitor; a report generator for generating chronological graphs of the measured values for a particular patient; and a report transmitting unit for transmitting reports to a requesting health care provider.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting medical information includes a stand-alone monitor for storing data records comprising measured values and time stamps and for transmitting the records to a remote reporting unit over a communication system. The remote reporting unit includes a relational data base that is updated when records are down-loaded from the monitor; a report generator for generating chronological graphs of the measured values for a particular patient; and a report transmitting unit for transmitting reports to a requesting health care provider.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting medical information includes a stand-alone monitor for storing data records comprising measured values and time stamps and for transmitting the records to a remote reporting unit over a communication system. The remote reporting unit includes a relational data base that is updated when records are down-loaded from the monitor; a report generator for generating chronological graphs of the measured values for a particular patient; and a report transmitting unit for transmitting reports to a requesting health care provider.

Abstract: An apparatus for inflating and deflating a balloon on a dilatation catheter in order to perform an angioplasty procedure therewith. The inflation/deflation apparatus has an elongated housing with a piston disposed within a bore within the housing and a threaded piston rod connected to the piston. A threaded split collar or nut is disposed about and engaged with the threaded piston which allows the piston rod to be rotated about its axis in order to move the piston longitudinally in small increments within the bore of the housing. Flexible arms are connected to each half of the split collar or nut which when moved away from the piston rod, disengage the split collar or nut from the piston rod and allow longitudinal movement of the piston within the bore by pushing on the piston rod.

Abstract: A card apparatus having a card hopper adapted to hold from one to at least 104 cards, a card carousel having slots for holding cards, an injector for sequentially loading cards from the hopper into the carousel, output ports, ejectors for delivering cards from the carousel to any one of the output ports, and a control board and sensors, all housed in a housing. The apparatus is also capable of communicating with selectors which are adjustable for making card selections. The injector has three rollers driven by a motor via a worm gear. A spring loaded lever keeps cards in the hopper pressed against the first roller. The ejectors are pivotally mounted to the base of the housing beneath the carousel and comprise a roller driven by a motor via gears and a centripetal clutch. A control board keeps track of the identity of cards in each slot, card selections, and the carousel position. Cards may be ordinary playing cards or other cards with bar codes added for card identification by the apparatus.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer emits discrete drops of a variable volume in order to create a printed gray scale. A pulse train of packets of pulses is used to generate drops comprising packets of connected or merged droplets; the reciprocal of the pulse repetition rate is greater than the bubble collapse time and the pulse packet rate is less than the maximum single droplet emission rate of the print head. The individual droplets within the packet merge in flight to create a single drop whose volume depends upon the number of pulses contained within the pulse packet. The summing of impulses generated by the individual pulses is also useful so that drops of ink may be emitted by a resistor which is physically undersized for the particular ink being used.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer is disclosed in which ink droplets are ejected from an orifice by the explosive formation of a vapor bubble within the ink supply due to the application of a two part electrical pulse to a resistor within the ink supply. The electrical pulse comprises a precurser pulse and a nucleation pulse; the precurser pulse preheats the ink in the vicinity of the resistor to a temperature below the boiling temperature of the ink so as to preheat the ink while avoiding vapor bubble nucleation within the ink supply and the subsequently occuring nucleation pulse very quickly heats the resistor to near the superheat limit of the ink.