Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include one or more sensors and a solar panel. Electricity produced by the solar panel may be supplied to the sensors of the sensing unit. The sensing unit may provide output to the computer system that is a function of the received sunlight. The computer system may assess solar insolation as a function of the output from the sensing unit. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed solar insolation. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing solar insolation from output provided by a solar panel near or in a zone to be irrigated and controlling irrigation at least partially based on the assessed solar insolation.

Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The computer system may include regional evapotranspiration. The sensing unit may assess climatological conditions and provide output that is a function of the climatological conditions to the computer system. The computer system may assess zonal evapotranspiration at least partially based on the output provided by the sensing unit. The computer system may assess an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing climatological conditions, assessing zonal evapotranspiration based at least on the assessed climatological conditions, and controlling irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration.

Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a solar panel. Electricity produced by the solar panel may be supplied to the sensing unit. The sensing unit may assess climatological conditions in or near a zone to be irrigated. The sensing unit may be elevated at least 2 meters above the computer system. The sensing unit may communicate wirelessly with the computer system to provide output that is a function of the assessed climatological conditions to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the output from the sensing unit. A method of controlling irrigation may include allowing the computer system to control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed climatological conditions.

Abstract: This invention allows for an electronic doll-house to be constructed at a reasonable cost that provides the ability to identify the location of a number of figures that a child may manipulate in a play space. By use of IR communications and the characteristics of such a communications link, a doll-house is provided that combines the ability to be built at a relatively low cost with the advantages of not requiring physical contacts, special purpose RFID chips and transceiving arrangements, or other expensive sensing methods. In brief, the invention makes use of an IR transmitter that sends a unique ID code upon user activation which allows for power savings, the elimination of contact points or RF components, the localization of the signal to a room in a doll-house, and by use of reflecting paths, allows relative independence of orientation.

Abstract: A tip for a plasma arc torch includes a ridge for improved electrical contact with a starting member.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) communication device for audible sound communication over an infrared beam. The IR communication device includes an IR receiver, an IR transmitter, a speaker, and a microphone 210. The IR receiver receives the incoming IR beam. The IR transmitter 206 generates the IR output beam. A pair of IR communication devices form an IR communication system with a pair of IR communication channels. Simplex and full duplex IR communication may be provided over one or a pair of IR communication channels.

Abstract: An oscillating hair dryer nozzle assembly attaches to a hand held electric hair dryer. An oscillating nozzle is pivoted back and forth by forced air generated by an electric motorized fan within the hair dryer. A propeller receives the forced air and rotates a propeller shaft which is coupled to a gear reduction assembly. The gear reduction assembly converts the rotational motion of the propeller shaft into repetitive pivotal movement of the oscillating nozzle. The oscillating nozzle automatically redirects the air flow in a plane. In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly is rotatably attached to the output barrel of a hair dryer body so that the oscillating nozzle can be rotated to pivot and redirect air flow in a different plane.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for dispensing chocolate. Solid chocolate is heated to its melting point within a chamber in order to form a liquid chocolate that is viscous and can flow out an opening in a nozzle at one end when pressure is exerted at another end. The chocolate dispenser is portable and has a housing or case that holds a heating chamber and a heater. The heater heats solid chocolate in the heating chamber into liquid chocolate. A nozzle is snapped or screwed into a dispensing end of the dispenser. A plunger has a piston inserted into the heating chamber to apply pressure to liquid chocolate in order for it to flow out of an opening in the nozzle. A children's playset for use with the chocolate dispenser includes a support structure to support the chocolate dispenser over a dispensing area. One embodiment of the playset includes a turn table and a tapper. A cooling tray may be included in the playset to cool the melted chocolate to its solid form.

Abstract: A positioning system that includes a transceiver (hereafter termed a Positioning-Unit Device) that receives one or more reference positioning signals from other Positioning-Unit Devices and/or from other qualified reference positioning signal sources. Each of the received reference positioning signals preferably has a carrier component, a pseudo-random code component, and a data component. The Positioning-Unit Device generates, in response to the received reference positioning signals and their known locations, a unique positioning signal. The unique positioning signal has a carrier component chronologically synchronized to one or more of the carrier components of the received reference positioning signals, a pseudo-random code component chronologically synchronized to one or more of the pseudo-random code components of the received reference positioning signals, and a data component chronologically synchronized to one or more of the data components of the received reference positioning signals.

Abstract: Rechargeable battery pack and battery pack charger mechanisms to assure safe charging. The rechargeable battery pack includes an opening to allow a temperature sensor to directly sense the temperature at a terminal case of a rechargeable battery cell, one or more key slots along a rear edge in order to distinguish it from other battery pack types, rectangular guide tabs to be backward compatible with former battery pack chargers and former battery operated devices. Battery pack charger includes one or more key tabs in a door and rectangular guide tabs to differentiate rechargeable battery packs that can be safely charged. Closure of the door switches on a safety switch mechanism to activate safe charging of a rechargeable battery pack with matching one or more key slots. The combination of the one or more key tabs with the one or more key slots provides a safety mechanism to assure that the appropriate rechargeable battery pack is inserted which can be safely charged.

Abstract: This invention allows for an electronic doll-house to be constructed at a reasonable cost that provides the ability to identify the location of a number of figures that a child may manipulate in a play space. By use of IR communications and the characteristics of such a communications link, a doll-house is provided that combines the ability to be built at a relatively low cost with the advantages of not requiring physical contacts, special purpose RFID chips and transceiving arrangements, or other expensive sensing methods. In brief, the invention makes use of an IR transmitter that sends a unique ID code upon user activation which allows for power savings, the elimination of contact points or RF components, the localization of the signal to a room in a doll-house, and by use of reflecting paths, allows relative independence of orientation.

Abstract: Rechargeable battery packs include one or more key slots along a rear edge in order to distinguish it from other battery pack types and rectangular guide tabs to be backward compatible with former battery pack chargers and former battery operated devices. Battery pack chargers include one or more key tabs in a door and rectangular guide tabs to differentiate rechargeable battery packs that can be safely charged. Door closure switches on a safety switch to activate safe charging of a rechargeable battery pack with matching one or more key slots. The one or more key tabs and the one or more key slots provide a safety mechanism to distinguish rechargeable battery packs which can be safely charged. Rectangular guide tabs on sidewalls of an inner housing allow rectangular guide tabs of the rechargeable battery packs to slide under and further differentiates those that can be safely charged.

Abstract: A water resistant audible toy, such as a toy water gun, includes a speaker having a water resistant speaker cone. The water resistant audible toy includes a switch to activate the speaker to generate sounds. The water resistant audible toy may further include a light to generate lighting effects and a motor to generate a vibration. A pressure equalizer may be further included in the water resistant audible toy. Seals may be provided as part of the water resistant audible toy. The toy water gun includes a trigger to actuate the switch. The speaker may be part of a water resistant sound effects module.

Abstract: An organic or organoelement, linear or branched, monomeric or polymeric composition of matter having a Raman-active component in the form of particles. The particles having a maximum dimension of 50 &mgr;m. The Raman-active compound is applied to a substrate. When the Raman-active compound is exposed to a laser light wavelength which is batochromically well beyond a spectral region of maximum absorbance of said Raman-active compound, Raman scattering can be detected.

Abstract: A contact start plasma torch and method of starting the torch includes a negatively charged cathode body and a positively charged anode body. A conductive element in the torch is constructed of an electrically conductive material and is free from fixed connection with the cathode body and the anode body. The torch is operable between an idle mode wherein the conductive element provides an electrically conductive path between the cathode body and the anode body and an pilot mode wherein a pilot arc is formed between the conductive element and at least one of the cathode body and the anode body. The pilot arc is blown by working gas flowing through the torch toward an exit orifice of the torch whereby the working gas is exhausted from the torch in the form of an ionized plasma.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method, apparatus, and system to synchronize timers or clocks of toys. A play-set includes a first toy having a first timer and a start button. The first toy can be designated as a master when the start button is depressed. After being designated as the master, the first toy sends a synchronization signal to begin synchronization. The play-set also includes a second toy communicatively linked to the first toy. The second toy has a second timer, and synchronizes the second timer to the first timer of the first toy in response to the synchronization signal. After timer synchronization, scripts are selected and a script start signal synchronizes the beginning of script play.

Abstract: A tip for a plasma arc torch includes a ridge for improved electrical contact with a starting member.

Abstract: Rechargeable battery packs include one or more key slots along a rear edge in order to distinguish it from other battery pack types and rectangular guide tabs to be backward compatible with former battery pack chargers and former battery operated devices. Battery pack chargers include one or more key tabs in a door and rectangular guide tabs to differentiate rechargeable battery packs that can be safely charged. Door closure switches on a safety switch to activate safe charging of a rechargeable battery pack with matching one or more key slots. The one or more key tabs and the one or more key slots provide a safety mechanism to distinguish rechargeable battery packs which can be safely charged. Rectangular guide tabs on sidewalls of an inner housing allow rectangular guide tabs of the rechargeable battery packs to slide under and further differentiates those that can be safely charged.

Abstract: Rechargeable battery packs include one or more key slots along a rear edge in order to distinguish it from other battery pack types and rectangular guide tabs to be backward compatible with former battery pack chargers and former battery operated devices. Battery pack chargers include one or more key tabs in a door and rectangular guide tabs to differentiate rechargeable battery packs that can be safely charged. Door closure switches on a safety switch to activate safe charging of a rechargeable battery pack with matching one or more key slots. The one or more key tabs and the one or more key slots provide a safety mechanism to distinguish rechargeable battery packs which can be safely charged. Rectangular guide tabs on sidewalls of an inner housing allow rectangular guide tabs of the rechargeable battery packs to slide under and further differentiates those that can be safely charged.

Abstract: An organic or organoelement, linear or branched, monomeric or polymeric composition of matter having a Raman-active component in the form of particles. The particles having a maximum dimension of 50 &mgr;m. The Raman-active compound is applied to a substrate. When the Raman-active compound is exposed to a laser light wavelength which is batochromically well beyond a spectral region of maximum absorbance of said Raman-active compound, Raman scattering can be detected.