Abstract: An absorbent barrier sheet (10) includes an integral fabric web (12) and a vinyl barrier material (14) intimately connected to and across the integral fabric web (12). The web (12) includes an upper portion (16) and a lower portion (18), with the upper portion including a plurality of hydrophobic first yams (20) and the lower portion including a plurality of fluid-retaining second yams (22). In addition, the web (12) has a middle portion (24) which includes a set of ground yarns (26) and parts of the hydrophobic and fluid-retaining yarns (20),(22), with the ground yarns (26) integrating the hydrophobic and fluid-retaining yarns (20), (22) of the upper and lower portions (16), (18), thereby forming the integral fabric web (12). The vinyl barrier material (14) is intimately connected to and across the fluid-retaining lower portion (18) of the integral fabric web (12).

Abstract: A transformer over-voltage protection circuit shuts down a resonant inverter when high voltages occur at the output of a transformer. The high voltages can be caused by a broken or removed display tube. The system is designed to be used in display system, such as, an active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD). The system senses the voltage at the output of the transformer by utilizing a tickler or a tertiary winding. The signal from the tertiary winding is rectified and compared to a threshold. If the signal from the tertiary winding is greater than the threshold, the inverter is shut down for a period of time.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) system is for use in avionic applications. The system includes an integral cathode fall indicator. The indicator relies on a gas fill mixture to provide an orange glow when the cathode fall region has an abnormally high potential across it. During normal operation, the gas fill mixture provides a light blue glow. The gas mixture includes helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon.

Abstract: One embodiment of the fabric (10) of the present invention includes an upper portion (12), middle portion (20) and lower portion (14), with the upper portion (12) having raised surface construction hydrophobic first yarns (16), the lower portion having hydrophilic (18) second yarns and the middle portion (20) being a region in which ground yarns (22), hydrophobic first yarns (16) and hydrophilic second yarns (18) are integrated. The upper portion (12) further includes at least one channel (24), which is a region free of raised surface construction hydrophobic first yarns (16).

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp drive circuit is disclosed. The fluorescent lamp drive circuit includes first filament drive circuitry coupled to the filaments of the lamp for driving the fluorescent lamp with a first waveform having sufficient amplitude such that gases in the fluorescent lamp are not allowed to extinguish during a prolonged period of operation. The fluorescent lamp drive circuit also includes second filament drive circuitry coupled to the filaments of the lamp for adjustably driving the fluorescent lamp with a second waveform during the prolonged period of operation. The second waveform has an amplitude which is adjustable over a wide range of voltages to achieve a wide range of fluorescent lamp luminance levels. Synchronization circuitry provides an input to the second filament drive circuitry to automatically facilitate the efficient transfer of power from the second filament drive circuitry to the fluorescent lamp over a wide range of lamp pressures and operating temperatures.

Abstract: An infant T-shirt (10) is provided with an improved crotch panel (14) having an absorbent layer (50) and a barrier layer (52) to retain fluids. The absorbent layer (50) may have an upper hydrophobic surface (54) and a lower hydrophilic surface (56). The barrier layer (52) may have a fluid barrier ply (60) and a fabric ply (62) to support the fluid barrier ply (60). The fabric ply (62) may define the outer surface of the crotch panel (14). Alternatively, an extension (80) of the T-shirt material may define that outer surface with the barrier layer (52) overlying the extension (80).

Abstract: A quick-attach absorbent pad 14 for use with a panty 10 is provided with an upper surface 16 and a lower surface 18, the pad 14 being sized to fit against a crotch panel 12 of a panty 10 with the lower surface 18 of the pad 14 adjacent the crotch panel 12. The pad 14 further includes a plurality of hook fasteners 20 associated with the pad lower surface 18, which enables the pad 14 to be readily attached to the undergarment 10, and which prevents the pad 14 from shifting during use. Also provided is a panty 10 having a thin yet absorbent crotch panel 12. In a preferred embodiment of the panty 10, the crotch panel 12 includes a fluid absorbent layer 38 overlying a fluid barrier 40. The fluid absorbent layer 38 preferably is made of a single-ply fabric having a hydrophobic upper surface 42 facing toward the user and a hydrophilic lower surface 44 facing away from the user.

Abstract: A system for tracking costs of medical procedures by monitoring the movements of personnel, supplies and equipment and processing data on these movements to produce detailed and accurate cost accounting records associated with particular services rendered. Transponder tags are associated with each person and object for which costs are to be tracked. The detected movements of the tags are combined with scheduling, procedure and cost information to build detailed records of activities and the costs thereof in a manner permitting a wide variety of statistical and other analyses.

Abstract: A preferred protective current limiter comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor which automatically assumes a relatively high impedance state quickly enough to prevent venting of flat plate lead acid batteries under adverse charging conditions. For example, a fast charger with unlimited current and sixteen volt DC output (such as may be provided by a faulty vehicle electrical system) is found to cause venting without the limiter, while a PTC resistor selected according to the present disclosure safeguards the battery against venting while yet conducting a sufficiently high current to essentially equalize the charge condition of the battery cells within five minutes or less. Preferably a bypass resistor shunts the PTC resistor to avoid any problem which might arise if the PTC resistor became sufficiently heated to assume a current blocking state.

Abstract: A current carrying wire is provided with a tubular shield construction which essentially covers the wire with conductive material, and preferably emulates a classical Faraday shield. The shield is formed of a multiplicity of insulated shield wires for minimized eddy current loss. When such a shielded wire construction is formed into a primary winding of a power transformer for a switching power supply, the secondary circuit is protected from electric shock hazards while enabling use of a gap free toroidal core for close coupling between primary and secondary windings. In another embodiment, such shields are used on both the primary and secondary windings of a matching transformer and are arranged for common mode rejection of noise associated with low power data signals.

Abstract: In a point of sale terminal it was desired to incorporate a variety of input/output devices, e.g. CRT display, disk drives and a printer in a compact hosuing, e.g. about 16 inches wide by 12 inches in depth (without frontally projecting keyboard) by about 11 inches high. The illustrated switching power supply occupies a rectilinear space of less than 155 cubic inches and has the capability of operating from either 110 or 220 VAC, 50 or 60 hertz, or from battery power, with essentially constant volt-second product, while supplying a maximum average output power greater than 120 watts, and a peak output power of greater than 280 watts.