Abstract: An electronic lock mechanism includes a solenoid driven actuator and a cam actuator ring. The cam ring interfaces with both the latch of a door lock and the door lock key cylinder. With this interfacing, the door latch can be independently operated by one of the key cylinder, the cam actuator ring or a door lock push bar or paddle. With this independent operation, the ability to open a door can be maintained during power or lock mechanism failures for purpose of egress from the area secured by the door lock.

Abstract: A system for supplying water from a bottle to a faucet and an auxiliary device on demand. The inventive device includes a water bottle for storing a quantity of fresh water. A demand pump fluidly communicates with the water bottle and creates a pressurized output of water from the bottle. The demand pump is responsive to a drop in output pressure such as occurs during opening of a faucet or operation of a refrigerator ice-maker so as to supply water from the water bottle to such devices.

Abstract: An improved magnetostrictive wire based position transducer that has applications in both liquid level measuring systems and in position indicating systems. A cylindrically structured and circularly polarized piezoelectric element directly measures the torsional acoustic waves in the magnetostrictive wire as they are received by the sensor. The cylindrical structure of the sensor eliminates many of the inadvertently detected acoustic and electrical pulses within the wire that are not indicative of the passage of the torsional wave of concern. The present system provides an improved sensor configuration which is selectively sensitive to torsional waves while being insensitive to vibrations in alternate planes. This improved piezoelectric sensor in combination with the electrical configuration allows placement of the magnetostrictive wire apart from the liquid whose level is being measured or from the indicator whose position is of concern.

Abstract: This invention provides a compound comprising:(1) a polypeptide moiety havinga) an identifying number of amino acids for SPAAT,b) an elastase binding activity; and(2) an extracellular matrix protein bound to the polypeptide moiety.Also provided is a method of inhibiting an elastase comprising contacting the elastase with a polypeptide moiety having:(1) an identifying number of amino acids for SPAAT;(2) a collagen binding activity; and(3) elastase binding activity.

Abstract: A flexible cord and antenna is paid out at a controlled rate from a radiosonde as it is lifted into the upper atmosphere by a balloon. The cord is knit into a tubular body and folded into a compartment in the radiosonde. The extended end is wrapped around the rotor of a centrifugal brake which limits the pay out rate. The knit tubular body unravels as the cord and antenna are paid out.

Abstract: An improved transducer amplifier includes a first operational amplifier having low drift of its input offset voltage characteristic and having a first output of a transducer connected to its positive input and a second output of the transducer connected by means of an input resistor to its negative input. The gain of the first operational amplifier is set by a feedback resistor. A second operational amplifier having low current drain is connected as a voltage follower with its input connected to the first transducer output. A differential signal produced between the voltage follower output and the output of the first operational amplifier is applied to a conventional differential to single ended converter circuit with precisely matched input and feedback resistors to eliminate the common mode voltage component of the differential signal and to reference an amplified error signal component of the differential signal to ground.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter employs resonant switching to turn switching power devices on and off at zero current. Two series resonant circuits are formed by two inductors connected in series between a voltage source and a power switch and a capacitor connected between the junction of the two inductors and a source of reference potential. The values of the two inductors are chosen so that the natural resonant frequency of the second inductor and the capacitor is high compared to the natural resonant frequency of the first inductor and the capacitor. The power switch may be a semiconductor switch, such as a silicon controlled rectifier or a junction transistor. Both non-isolated and isolated outputs may be provided in buck or boost conversion. The converter can be used as a voltage regulator by the addition of output sensing, comparison with a reference voltage, and suitable on-off control.