Abstract: A socket lid for a semiconductor test socket which uses a plurality of pneumatic cylinders integrated into the socket lid to facilitate the application of a controlled and variable force to multiple zones of an electronic circuit device carried by the test socket. The socket lid includes a cylinder casing with multiple independently sealed pressure chambers, each of which incorporates a plurality a pneumatic cylinders which bear against separate and independently movable compression plates that engage different areas of the electronic circuit device carried by the semiconductor test socket, thus providing an adjustably variable force to multiple zones of the electronic circuit device under test.

Abstract: A test socket for an electronic circuit device with protruding circuit contacts, the test socket including an underlying PCB substrate with an overlaying electrically insulative housing, where the PCB substrate includes an array of electrically conductive vias extending therethrough, and the housing includes an array of socket apertures which align with the PCB vias and contain resiliently compressible electrically conductive compression contacts therein that connect electrically with the conductive vias of the PBC substrate. The socket apertures each have peripheral retention flaps which engage and retain the protruding circuit contacts of the electronic circuit device in electrical engagement with the conductive compression contacts within the socket apertures during testing.

Abstract: An electrical spring pin contact having dual counter-rotating telescoping coaxial spring coils, where the inner spring coil has a smaller cross-sectional area than the outer spring coil, and the turns ratio of the coils has been adjusted to cancel the magnetic flux of one another, thus increasing the performance of the pin by effectively eliminating all additional inductance created by the springs. The spring pin is entirely compliant with no rigid or wearable sliding contact structure extending between ends, thereby improving durability by providing a continuous internal contact and increasing the overall compressible range of the pin.

Abstract: A gas appliance monitoring apparatus for automatically detecting and alerting to a “gas-out” condition of a gas appliance during operation, and/or for alerting to the presence of prolonged “gas-on” conditions of an appliance. The apparatus utilizes a highly sensitive low loss and low flow gas flow indicator with multiple flow sensors to monitor the gas flow characteristics of the appliance during use. A gas flow analyzer and alarm timing mechanism analyzes the gas flow characteristics and sounds an alarm at the appliance or wirelessly at a remote location upon detection of either of the above conditions. A biasing attraction magnet is incorporated in the fluid flow indicator to offset either the force of gravity or a return spring in low flow/low pressure applications. The piston is sealed for use in high pressure/low flow applications, and provided with a vent hole for residual gas bleed-off upon a stoppage of gas flow.

Abstract: A gas appliance monitoring apparatus for automatically detecting and alerting to a “gas-out” condition of a gas appliance during operation, and/or for alerting to the presence of prolonged “gas-on” conditions of an appliance. The apparatus utilizes a highly sensitive low loss and low flow gas flow indicator with multiple flow sensors to monitor the gas flow characteristics of the appliance during use. A gas flow analyzer and alarm timing mechanism analyzes the gas flow characteristics and sounds an alarm at the appliance or wirelessly at a remote location upon detection of either of the above conditions. A biasing attraction magnet is incorporated in the fluid flow indicator to offset either the force of gravity or a return spring in low flow/low pressure applications. The piston is sealed for use in high pressure/low flow applications, and provided with a vent hole for residual gas bleed-off upon a stoppage of gas flow.

Abstract: A highly sensitive low loss and low flow fluid flow switch is coupled with an automatic timer and/or optional transmitter to indicate the flow of gas to an appliance and to automatically start a reminder timer to turn the appliance off. After a preset time limit has expired, the timer either sounds an alarm or wirelessly triggers an alarm in a remote location. The receiver portion of the wireless timer may be mounted directly to the appliance (grill handle), so that the timer automatically resets when activity (cover opening or closing) is detected, indicating the appliance is still in use. An alarm can also be configured to sound when the grill is attempted to be ignited with the cover closed, thereby avoiding a potential explosion. A biasing attraction magnet is incorporated in the fluid flow switch to offset either the force of gravity or a return spring in order to extend performance to low pressure and low flow applications.

Abstract: A highly sensitive low loss and low flow fluid flow switch is coupled with an automatic timer and/or optional transmitter to indicate the flow of gas to an appliance and to automatically start a reminder timer to turn the appliance off. After a preset time limit has expired, the timer either sounds an alarm or wirelessly triggers an alarm in a remote location. The receiver portion of the wireless timer may be mounted directly to the appliance (grill handle), so that the timer automatically resets when activity (cover opening or closing) is detected, indicating the appliance is still in use. An alarm can also be configured to sound when the grill is attempted to be ignited with the cover closed, thereby avoiding a potential explosion. A biasing attraction magnet is incorporated in the fluid flow switch to offset either the force of gravity or a return spring in order to extend performance to low pressure and low flow applications.

Abstract: A display apparatus having a pair of polarizers with an optical rotator therebetween, one of the polarizers being a variable polarizer which is independently operated to alternate between substantially orthogonal states of polarization and cause the display to rapidly alternate between a normal positive and inverted negative image, creating a combined neutral image that in indecipherable to the naked eye. Shutter eyewear synchronized with the variable polarizer is used to extract the positive image for viewing by an intended viewer. In another embodiment, both polarizers of the display apparatus are independently variable, which allows for viewing of the desired image using passive polarized eyewear or eyewear incorporating synchronized variable polarizing rotators. Faster independent operation of the variable polarizers provide for flicker-free viewing of the desired image and convenient switching between normal and secure modes of operation, without physical alteration of the display.

Abstract: A highly sensitive low loss and low flow fluid flow switch is coupled with an automatic timer and/or optional transmitter to indicate the flow of gas to an appliance and to automatically start a reminder timer to turn the appliance off. After a preset time limit has expired, the timer either sounds an alarm or wirelessly triggers an alarm in a remote location. The receiver portion of the wireless timer may be mounted directly to the appliance (grill handle), so that the timer automatically resets when activity (cover opening or closing) is detected, indicating the appliance is still in use. An alarm can also be configured to sound when the grill is attempted to be ignited with the cover closed, thereby avoiding a potential explosion. A biasing attraction magnet is incorporated in the fluid flow switch to offset either the force of gravity or a return spring in order to extend performance to low pressure and low flow applications.

Abstract: A highly sensitive low loss and low flow fluid flow switch is coupled with an automatic timer and/or optional transmitter to indicate the flow of gas to an appliance and to automatically start a reminder timer to turn the appliance off. After a preset time limit has expired, the timer either sounds an alarm or wirelessly triggers an alarm in a remote location. The receiver portion of the wireless timer may be mounted directly to the appliance (grill handle), so that the timer automatically resets when activity (cover opening or closing) is detected, indicating the appliance is still in use. An alarm can also be configured to sound when the grill is attempted to be ignited with the cover closed, thereby avoiding a potential explosion. A biasing attraction magnet is incorporated in the fluid flow switch to offset either the force of gravity or a return spring in order to extend performance to low pressure and low flow applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing confidential viewing of a fundamental image on an image display device utilizing spatial multiplexing image modification, whereby fundamental image components of the fundamental image are spatially multiplexed or combined with appropriately determined inverted image components thereof, and aligned with adjacent display regions/pixels of an image display device so as to neutralize the fundamental image and generate a combined image that appears substantially featureless to the naked eye. The display pixels aligned with the fundamental image components are cross-polarized relative to the adjacent pixels aligned with the inverted image components, thereby providing for extraction of the fundamental image by an authorized viewer wearing appropriate eyewear polarized to correlate with the state of polarization of the pixels aligned with the fundamental image components.

Abstract: An image altering apparatus which provides confidential viewing of a video display by means of time multiplexing the fundamental display image with a color-inverted image thereof on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Electronic circuitry and/or software are utilized to modify the fundamental image signal by time multiplexing its color data components with corresponding inverse color data components to generate a compound image signal which is representative of a substantially featureless image. Different multiplexing sequences of color data components and inverse color data components may be utilized at varying duty cycles to generate a compound image which is highly confidential and secure from unauthorized viewing.

Abstract: A display apparatus having a pair of polarizers with an optical rotator therebetween, one of the polarizers being a variable polarizer which is independently operated to alternate between substantially orthogonal states of polarization and cause the display to rapidly alternate between a normal positive and inverted negative image, creating a combined neutral image that in indecipherable to the naked eye. Shutter eyewear synchronized with the variable polarizer is used to extract the positive image for viewing by an intended viewer. In another embodiment, both polarizers of the display apparatus are independently variable, which allows for viewing of the desired image using passive polarized eyewear or eyewear incorporating synchronized variable polarizing rotators. Faster independent operation of the variable polarizers provide for flicker-free viewing of the desired image and convenient switching between normal and secure modes of operation, without physical alteration of the display.

Abstract: A color sequential image display apparatus and method which reduces the effects of display frame crosstalk in the display apparatus by incorporating setup display frames for each color component in the color display sequence, where the display of each sequentially displayed color component is initiated and updated immediately prior to independently viewing the color component through synchronized color-filtering eyewear, thereby avoiding interference from previously viewed color components in the display sequence. The use of such setup frame sequencing has particular application in confidential viewing and three-dimensional viewing systems where sequential color encoding of the image signal is utilized.

Abstract: An image altering apparatus which provides confidential viewing of a video display by means of time multiplexing the fundamental display image with a color-inverted image thereof on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Electronic circuitry and/or software are utilized to modify the fundamental image signal by time multiplexing its color data components with corresponding inverse color data components to generate a compound image signal which is representative of a substantially featureless image. Different multiplexing sequences of color data components and inverse color data components may be utilized at varying duty cycles to generate a compound image which is highly confidential and secure from unauthorized viewing.

Abstract: An image altering apparatus which provides confidential viewing of a video display by means of time multiplexing the fundamental display image with a color-inverted image thereof on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Electronic circuitry and/or software are utilized to modify the fundamental image signal by time multiplexing its color data components with corresponding inverse color data components to generate a compound image signal which is representative of a substantially featureless image. Different multiplexing sequences of color data components and inverse color data components may be utilized at varying duty cycles to generate a compound image which is highly confidential and secure from unauthorized viewing.

Abstract: An image altering apparatus which provides confidential viewing of a video display by means of time multiplexing the fundamental display image with a color-inverted image thereof on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Electronic circuitry and/or software are utilized to modify the fundamental image signal by time multiplexing its color data components with corresponding inverse color data components to generate a compound image signal which is representative of a substantially featureless image. Different multiplexing sequences of color data components and inverse color data components may be utilized at varying duty cycles to generate a compound image which is highly confidential and secure from unauthorized viewing.

Abstract: A viewing system is presented in which both a remotely located video camera and a separate video display each incorporate an electronic compass. An electronic circuit calculates the difference between the two compass headings and displays a relative direction indicator on the display. The indicator can thus display the viewing direction of the camera relative to the viewing orientation of the display. This is especially useful in determining the viewing direction of a non-stationary remote camera in applications where the display is also non-stationary, such as in underwater viewing applications where the camera is suspended by a cable beneath a boat, and the display is located within the boat.

Abstract: A transducerless position determining system and method of using the same for determining the relative position of a mechanical member or component which is driven by an electric motor within an electromechanical system. The transducerless position determining system includes a microcontroller with a software model that simulates the acceleration, deceleration and velocity characteristics of the electric motor as a function of applied voltage thereto and the load characteristics of the electromechanical system. The applied voltage is sampled electronically to monitor its amplitude level, and microcontroller software and associated circuitry is used to accurately detect application and removal of the applied voltage to the electric motor.

Abstract: A speed measuring system for a jet-propelled watercraft which includes a pitot tube mounted within the jet intake chamber of the watercraft for measuring the dynamic water pressure therewithin. The pitot tube is linked via flexible tubing to a pressure port in the dashboard of the watercraft, which is fitted with an electronic pressure sensor. The output of the electronic pressure sensor is amplified and input to an analog-to-digital converter, where the digital data is then input to a microprocessor for calculation of the actual water speed as a function of the dynamic water pressure measured within the jet intake chamber of the watercraft. A variable linear scaling factor is applied to the digital pressure signal over different ranges of such signals to compensate for nonlinearities that are introduced in the dynamic water pressure within the intake chamber.