Abstract: A thermostat comprising a circuit board for controlling the thermostat, a display, a keypad, and at least one electroluminescent element. The display is operatively connected to the circuit board for displaying information concerning the thermostat. The keypad has at least one key adapted to be pressed by a user. The key is operatively connected to the circuit board in a manner to enable the user to input at least one signal to the circuit board by pressing the key. The electroluminescent element is operatively connected to the circuit board and has a first electroluminescent section and a second electroluminescent section. The first electroluminescent section is adjacent the keypad and the second electroluminescent section is adjacent the display. The first electroluminescent section and the keypad are adapted so that the first electroluminescent section illuminates the keypad.

Abstract: A thermostat for an environmental control load that includes a temperature sensor, a timer, and a controller, and a method of controlling the thermostat that allows temporary system outages including, but not limited to, outages caused by lockouts or failure of pulsed relays to operate, to be corrected automatically, by the thermostat itself. The environmental control load may include a heating system such as a heat pump or a millivolt heating system, although the thermostat and its method of operation could also be employed with cooling systems, or heating and cooling systems. The controlled load may be one that has a "lockout" mode to prevent activation when a problem is detected, such as a reduction in gas pressure. The temperature sensor detects whether, for example, a request for heat issued by the controller has been satisfied, or alternately, if the ambient temperature has risen within some period of time, usually about two hours.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a snowboard binding including a base having a toe end and a heel end, and a guide that is adapted to guide a snowboard boot back toward the heel end of the base when the snowboard boot is stepped into the binding. Another embodiment is directed to a snowboard binding including a baseplate and a heel hoop hinged for rotation relative to the baseplate. A further embodiment is directed a snowboard binding to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard boot including at least one pin extending from medial and lateral sides thereof. The snowboard binding comprises a base having medial and lateral sides; a pair of engagement cams each mounted to one of the medial and lateral sides for rotation between open and closed positions; at least one lever to move the pair of engagement cams from the closed position to the open position; and a cocking mechanism that is adapted to maintain the pair of engagement cams in the open position upon release of the at least one lever.

Abstract: A programmable digital thermostat is adapted to be powered by the conventional AC power source to which the thermostat is normally connected when installed in a dwelling. The thermostat has no provision for mounting a battery therein. Means are provided for enabling a temporary connection of a battery to the thermostat to provide power for programming the thermostat so as to enable the user to program the thermostat before installing it.

Abstract: The elastic cord tensioning and length adjusting apparatus is designed to allow the user to have much more flexibility with a single length elastic cord, rather than using a number of cords of different lengths. The apparatus can adjust, both the tension and length of elastic cords, by allowing the user to loop different lengths of the cord in a mechanism that can lock the looped section of elastic cord so that the length of the cord not in the loop is shortened and the tension is increased. The apparatus comprises a main horizontal body having two apertures designed for the cord to pass through. A locking mechanism fits into a center aperture in the main horizontal body and has two end notches to allow the elastic cord to fit into those notches. A spring tensioning device and a retaining piece maintain the lock in position.

Abstract: A torque sensor for use in a power assist steering system for sensing the applied steering torque between an input shaft and an output shaft wherein said shafts are coaxially aligned with each other and rotatable relative to each other about a common axis. The sensor includes a non-planar rotary input transformer having a stationary primary winding and a rotary secondary winding, both mounted coaxially about a common axis. A transmitter is mounted to the input shaft for rotation therewith and carries, on one axially directed face, a coil set of series connected coils arranged in an annular array about the common axis. A receiver is axially spaced from the transmitter and is mounted on the output shaft for rotation therewith about the common axis. The receiver carries, on an opposing axially directed face, first and second sets of series connected coils each arranged in an annular array about the common axis and with the coil sets being electrically displaced by 90.degree..

Abstract: An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile. The apparatus includes a shock absorber having a pressure cylinder which forms a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid. The apparatus further includes a piston assembly disposed in the pressure cylinder and having a valve body forming first and second flow passage for providing fluid communication between the first and second portions of the working chamber. The valve body forming first and second annular recesses adjacent the first and second portions, respectively, of the working chamber. The apparatus further including a first unloader disposed within the first annular recess and which is operable for controlling the flow of damping fluid through the first flow passage from the second portion to the first portion of the working chamber during compression.

Abstract: A method for reducing the tendency of a surface of a material to foul when exposed to a potential foulant comprises the step of treating the surface of the material with a plasma of a compound containing or generating hydroxyl groups to render the surface hydrophylic but substantially uncharged.The materials may be inorganic, e.g. glass, or organic, e.g. polyamide, and may be in the form of fibers, woven fabrics, membranes or plates. Suitable compounds containing hydroxyl groups include ethylene glycol and water.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile. The apparatus includes a shock absorber having a pressure cylinder which forms a working chamber and a first and second portion. A first sensor is used to generate an electrical signal in response to the pressure differential between the damping fluid stored in the first and second portions of the working chamber. A second sensor is used for determining the movement of the body on the automobile. An electrical control module is used for generating an electrical control signal in response to the outputs of the first and second sensors. Finally, the solenoid is used for regulating the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber.

Abstract: A signal conditioning circuit assembly for use with a shock absorber. The signal conditioning circuit includes a pressure sensor for sensing differential pressure between the damping fluid stored in the upper and lower portions of the working chamber. The signal conditioning circuit assembly further includes a signal conditioning circuit which is used for conditioning the output of the pressure sensor. In another embodiment, the signal conditioning circuit assembly further includes an accelerometer for sensing the velocity of the body of the vehicle, as well as a signal conditioning circuit which conditions the output from the accelerometer.

Abstract: A hand held voltage sensor in which a low impedance test lamp mode or a high impedance voltage test mode is selectable via a thumb accessed slide switch. In the high impedance mode, three light emitting elements provide indication of the value of voltage potential between a probe conductor and an associated ground conductor being above, below or pulsing above an adjustable threshold level.

Abstract: This specification discloses testing vehicle primary ignition systems by taking the integral of the primary spark plug firing voltage versus time over a time period when the spark should occur. To determine when an integration output should be evaluated, a phase locked loop circuit is used to predict the occurrence of an ignition firing pulse. To compensate for changes in engine speed and yet disregard extraneous spark plug firings, the phase locked loop circuit contains two loop filters having different response times which are automatically selected to minimize response to erroneous or missing spark plug firings and maximize response to actual engine RPM changes.

Abstract: A mobile construction vehicle comprises a frame having a transmission assembly mounted on a rearward end thereof in cantilevered relationship. The transmission assembly comprises a bell housing solely mounted on an annular support of the transmission by first anti-vibration and noise suppressing means which isolates the housing from metallic contact with the support member. If so desired, second anti-vibration and noise suppressing means may be utilized to solely mount the support member on the frame to also prevent metallic contact therebetween.