Abstract: An operating system which utilizes a multi-functional wall station for a motorized barrier includes an operator for controlling movement of a barrier between various positions. The operator may receive signals from a wireless or wired wall station transmitter, a wireless keyless entry device and/or a portable remote transmitter device. The multi-function wall station provides for selective concealment of certain switches or buttons which are not commonly used in the day-to-day operation of a wall station. For example, the up/down switch may be actuated by a hinged cover which conceals other selected operational buttons and wherein those operational buttons are only accessed upon opening of the hinged cover. The wall station also provides a periodic lighting element so as to easily direct the user to push the hinge cover to initiate up/down movement of the barrier.

Abstract: A stretching machine that can be used for rehabilitation, medical treatment and fitness for paraplegics and athletes. The stretching machine is comprised of a stretching bar and a base. The stretching machine allows the user to stretch while in a seated or standing position. The telescoping stretching bar includes a mechanism for allowing the user to sit and fully extend his arms either directly in front of his torso, directly above his head, or any angle in between. Positioning the telescoping stretching bar to either side of the user allows for arm and shoulder stretching. In addition, the telescoping stretching bar can pivot to an angular orientation with respect to the user's waist. By changing the angle of the telescoping stretching bar and the position of the bar, with respect to the seated user, the target muscle groups change. Because of its open design the stretching machine can be easily operated by the user or easily assisted by a therapist or trainer.

Abstract: A termite bait station for installation in the ground includes a tubular outer housing and a tubular inner bait cartridge inserted into the housing, each having circumferentially elongate apertures therethrough to allow termites to access bait in the cartridge. Each aperture in the cartridge is disposed between a pair of spaced, parallel ribs that extend in the circumferential direction. The ribs reduce the radial gap that must be traversed by a termite passing from the outer housing to the bait cartridge. The ribs also form circumferentially extending channels for producing a channeling effect tending to lead termites into the apertures in the cartridge.

Abstract: A termite bait station for installation in the ground includes a tubular outer housing and a tubular inner bait cartridge inserted into the housing, each having circumferentially elongate apertures therethrough to allow termites to access bait in the cartridge. Each aperture in the cartridge is disposed between a pair of spaced, parallel ribs that extend in the circumferential direction. The ribs reduce the radial gap that must be traversed by a termite passing from the outer housing to the bait cartridge. The ribs also form circumferentially extending channels for producing a channeling effect tending to lead termites into the apertures in the cartridge.

Abstract: A component for a door of a motor vehicle comprises a rod movable within the door, and a flocking along at least a portion of the length of the rod.

Abstract: A lubricating grease composed of a base oil combination comprising 10 to 35% of one or more poly &agr;-olefins, 3 to 15% of one or more synthetic organic esters, 20 to 30% of one or more naphthenic oils, the remainder of the combination being one or more paraffinic oils, the percentages being by weight of the total base oil combination and the ratio of the weight of the ester(s) in the combination to the weight of the poly &agr;-olefin(s) therein being not greater than 1:3; between 2 and 15 % by weight of the total grease of a lithium soap thickener, between 1 and 5% by weight of the total grease of a molybdenum dithiophospbate; between 1 and 5% by weight of the total grease of a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate; between 1 and 5% by weight of the total grease of a sulphur-free friction modifier, and some or all of the normal grease additives such as anti-oxidants, corrosion inhibitors, extreme pressure additives and tackiness agents.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a motor vehicle door operative for selectively releasing a latch mechanism. The handle assembly includes a mounting portion attached to the motor vehicle door and a handle proper adapted to be manually grasped. The handle proper is translatable between a first position and a second position for releasing the latch mechanism. In a preferred form, the handle proper is biased to the first position by a coil spring.

Abstract: A digital down converter is provided. The digital down converter includes an input adapted to receive an input signal, a mixer circuit coupled to the input to down convert the input signal, and a decimation circuit, coupled to the mixer. The decimation circuit is adapted to decimate the down converted signal by a factor selected based on a characteristic of the input signal. The digital down converter further includes a signal conditioning circuit, coupled to the output of the decimation circuit, that conditions the decimated signal, an interpolator, coupled to the decimation circuit, that increases the number of samples in the conditioned signal, and a second mixer circuit, coupled to the interpolator, the second mixer circuit adapted to modulate a carrier with the conditioned signal.

Abstract: A spectrum analyzer is provided. The spectrum analyzer includes an input adapted to receive an input signal and a mixer, coupled to the input. The mixer is adapted to produce a down converted signal from the input signal. The spectrum analyzer further includes an adjustable decimation circuit, coupled to the mixer, that selectively decimates the down converted signal, a decoder, coupled to the adjustable decimation circuit, that measures power in the decimated signal, and a control circuit, coupled to the mixer, that selectively controls the frequency of the down converted signals from the mixer to measure power over a frequency spectrum of the input signal.

Abstract: A coolant system for a vehicle engine which may retrofitted if desired, the coolant system including a coolant flow circuit which in part includes passage means through an engine block of the vehicle engine and through a heat exchanger. The coolant system further includes a coolant pump which, when operated, causes coolant flow around the coolant flow circuit, the coolant pump being driven by an electric motor independently of the vehicle engine. The coolant system still further includes a coolant temperature sensor and controller means whereby pulsed voltage levels are supplied to the motor in response to differing coolant temperature levels being sensed by the coolant temperature sensor.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a motor vehicle door operative for selectively releasing a latch mechanism. The handle assembly includes a mounting portion attached to the motor vehicle door and a handle proper adapted to be manually grasped. The handle proper is translatable between a first position and a second position for releasing the latch mechanism. In a preferred form, the handle proper is biased to the first position by a coil spring.

Abstract: An optical device for use as an amplifier or modulator comprises a semiconductor substrate with an elongate waveguide region with a light guiding boundary that extends between an input and an output for optical radiation. An optically active layer of material produces amplification of light travelling in the waveguide region. The width of the waveguide region tapers outwardly from the input to allow amplification of input optical signals, and tapers toward the output so as to concentrate the amplified light in a single mode to the output. The concentration of the amplified light in the active region may produce non-linear effects which are exploited in order to achieve data modulation or switching. Optionally, the waveguide region may include a first active region to produce optical amplification, and a second passive region for concentrating light to the output.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer peripheral having an IEEE 1284 interface controller for managing the transfer of data to the interface controller includes detecting a condition requiring the computer peripheral to control the flow of transfer of data to the interface controller and if a run length encoded data transfer to the interface controller is pending, delaying the control of flow of the transfer of data until a RLE data byte associated with the end of the pending run length encoded data transfer is received by the interface controller.

Abstract: A vacuum plate system comprises a support plate (310) formed of a plurality of support plate modules (320-380) that are supported on a base plate, and serve to transfer vacuum between vacuum apertures in the base plate and a workpiece held on the support plate (310). The support plate module (340) is formed with a plurality of circular lip seals (341) of larger size, and disposed therebetween, a plurality of lip seals (349) of smaller size. The area within each of the lip seals (341, 349) has a small hole extending through the respective support plate module, to transfer vacuum in a restricted manner. The remaining support plate modules are of a similar configuration, but with variations. In machining of a workpiece held on the support plate modules (320-280), the modules may be cut into, without risk of losing the vacuum overall holding effect on the workpiece. The specification discloses various other support plates.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas treatment method and apparatus for the treatment of exhaust gas from an electrochemical plating operation, particularly from a chromium plating operation, to remove therefrom essentially all liquid entrainment. The invention comprises containment of the vapor space over the electroplating baths and evacuating the contained vapor space, passing the gases from the vapor space through a water bath and discharging the gases from the water bath through a mist separator and a sub-micron porous filter. Preferably the mist separator and porous filter are separated by a vapor space to permit coalesced droplets to condense and separate from the gases before passing the gases through the porous filter.

Abstract: A friction clutch driven plate for motor vehicles is of the kind in which a friction facing carrier assembly is mounted for limited rotation relative to a hub, such limited rotation being controlled by damping springs and a friction damper. Centrifugal control of the friction damper is by a pendulum device in the form of eccentric collars pivoting on stop pins and engaging apertures in an intermediate plate frictionally engaged with the hub. At low rotational speeds the stop pins can move within the collars which can also tilt to allow limited relative rotation between the carrier assembly and the hub with low friction damping. At higher speeds the collars are effectively locked in place to give high friction damping. By suitable arrangement of windows for the damping springs this also has the effect of reducing relative rotation controlled by a low rate spring only required to damp transmission noise during engine idling.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate for releasable clamped engagement between opposed driving surfaces, usually an engine flywheel and a clutch cover pressure plate, is particularly suitable for a motor vehicle and includes the usual hub, friction facing carrier and annular co-axial friction facings. The friction facings are for a major part of both radially co-extensive, but the facing on one side of the carrier is of greater superficial area than the facing on the opposite side. This may be most simply achieved by making one facing of greater radial width than the other facing.

Abstract: A vibratory feeder, conveyor, separator, screen, or other vibratory equipment used in materials handling and related fields of the tuned two mass type in which one mass is an imbalance generator of the type using eccentric weights on a rotating shaft uses helical coil springs for coupling the imbalance generator to the trough or the like without clamping of the ends of the springs or constraining them to remain parallel to each other. Decoupling of the lateral oscillatory forces from the trough is achieved by using at least two pairs of collinear springs, one of each pair on each side of a wall member secured to the trough, and each held in compression between the wall member and a pair of vibrator plates held in fixed spaced apart relationship on each side of the wall member. The imbalance generator is secured to one of the vibrator plates so as to be well outside the spring system thus giving a low natural lateral frequency to the two mass system.