Abstract: An evacuation assistance apparatus for indicating a route within a building or other structure is disclosed. Multiple housings contain laser light line sources for producing a beam of laser light as a linear line. Adjusters are used to alter the laser light line so that the line starts substantially vertically below said housing. The adjusters also allow the line to be directed on to a portion of the wall to highlight an exit doorway. The apparatus is provided as a modular system including multiple sensors making it suitable for installation in many buildings and providing feedback information to prevent or determine the cause of a fire.

Abstract: An evacuation assistance apparatus for indicating a route within a building or other structure is disclosed. Multiple housings contain laser light line sources for producing a beam of laser light as a linear line. Adjusters are used to alter the laser light line so that the line starts substantially vertically below said housing. The adjusters also allow the line to be directed on to a portion of the wall to highlight an exit doorway. The apparatus is provided as a modular system including multiple sensors making it suitable for installation in many buildings and providing feedback information to prevent or determine the cause of a fire.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for distressing a wooden plank give the plank an antique, aged appearance. The preferred method includes four independent steps. The plank is run through an inventive machine operative to impart a random saw blade distressing on the plank. This step is preferably carried out as a single stream in a machine having a plurality of saw arbors, each driven by its own rotating cam. To impart the most random pattern, each cam preferably has a different shape and rotates at a different speed. The plank is preferably fed into a roller having raised portions operative to produce random dents and impressions into the plank. This step is preferably carried out in multiple streams using a machine having a large roller or drum with protrusions affixed thereto. The plank is then fed into a profile sander having one or more wire wheels operative to apply a surface texture to the plank, then sanding and smoothing the plank with abrasive wheels.

Abstract: A dual-sided circuit board module designed for an operating position that is not perpendicular to a system motherboard will be coupled to the motherboard by leads having at least two different lengths. Because leads of differing lengths have differing associated inductance, the operating characteristics of the leads and therefore the devices coupled to the leads will differ. In order to improve the operating characteristics of the module, integrated circuit packages are selected based on the inductive (and possibly other) qualities of the leads to which the respective packages are coupled. In one embodiment, leads having a larger inductance are coupled to integrated circuit (IC) packages having a smaller inductance and vice versa, which allows the inductive characteristics of the various components of the module to have more closely matching inductive characteristics than would otherwise be possible.

Abstract: A dual-sided circuit board module designed for an operating position that is not perpendicular to a system motherboard will be coupled to the motherboard by leads having at least two different lengths. Because leads of differing lengths have differing associated inductance, the operating characteristics of the leads and therefore the devices coupled to the leads will differ. In order to improve the operating characteristics of the module, integrated circuit packages are selected based on the inductive (and possibly other) qualities of the leads to which the respective packages are coupled. In one embodiment, leads having a larger inductance are coupled to integrated circuit (IC) packages having a smaller inductance and vice versa, which allows the inductive characteristics of the various components of the module to have more closely matching inductive characteristics than would otherwise be possible.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for distressing a wooden plank give the plank an antique, aged appearance. The preferred method includes four independent steps. The plank is run through an inventive machine operative to impart a random saw blade distressing on the plank. This step is preferably carried out as a single stream in a machine having a plurality of saw arbors, each driven by its own rotating cam. To impart the most random pattern, each cam preferably has a different shape and rotates at a different speed. The plank is preferably fed into a roller operative to produce dents and impressions into the plank. This step is preferably carried out in multiple streams using a machine having a large roller or drum with protrusions affixed thereto. The plank is then fed into a profile sander having one or more wire wheels operative to apply a surface texture to the plank, then sanding and smoothing the plank with abrasive wheels. Finally, a surface finish is applied to the plank which simulates an antique wood floor.