Abstract: A ball point pen has a retractable ink container (13) and writing tip (12) that are releasably held in the extended position by a locking element (19) freely movable in a transparent enclosure (18) at the remote end of the barrel (11). The locking element (19) may have the appearance of a football or golf ball. In another embodiment the locking element is elongated and has flat sides that may carry advertising or promotional markings.

Abstract: A rock boring device (10) including a rotary disc cutter (11). The disc cutter (11) is driven in an oscillating manner and also driven or free to nutate, and the device includes a mounting section (22) for the rotary disc cutter and a driven section (21), and wherein the mounting section (22) is angularly offset from the axis of the driven section whereby the rotary disc cutter will both oscillate and nutate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide adjustments of the depiction of a user interface upon a computing environment's change in state.

Abstract: In some embodiments an apparatus includes an acoustic analyzer to identify received ambient audio and a content parser. The content parser is to select content associated with the identified audio for presentation of the content to a user. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An adjuvant crop oil concentrate comprising a polyalphaolefin and a surfactant. A method of using the crop oil concentrate in conjunction with a pesticide. A method of reducing or eliminating undesired plants by post-emergence application of a crop oil concentrate comprising a polyalphaolefin and a surfactant in conjunction with an herbicide.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a modular communication system to be installed in a motor vehicle. The communication system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a base unit and a removable unit. The base unit is provided with a cavity to insert the removable unit. The communication system is rendered inoperable when the removable unit is removed from the base unit. The removable unit is provided with two surfaces that perform different function. In particular when the removable unit is inserted into the base unit and the first surface is exposed then the communication system operates as a radio player. The removable unit is capable of being reversed such that second surface is exposed, then the communication system operates as a telephone unit.

Abstract: A light pipe illuminator 1 comprises a looped light pipe 3 defining an endless light path, the looped light path 3 including a substantially planar front surface 5 and a faceted back surface 7 comprising a series of angled facets 9 arranged about the loop and arranged to reflect light towards and through the planar front surface 5, and a light input port 11, 13 through which light is fed into the light pipe 3 substantially along the light path, the walls 15, 17 of the light pipe 3 arranged such that light entering the light pipe 3 travels about the loop such that the loop is illuminated through the front surface 5.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a modular communication system to be installed in a motor vehicle. The communication system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a base unit and a removable unit. The base unit is provided with a cavity to insert the removable unit. The communication system is rendered inoperable when the removable unit is removed from the base unit. The removable unit is provided with two surfaces that perform different function. In particular when the removable unit is inserted into the base unit and the first surface is exposed then the communication system operates as a radio player. The removable unit is capable of being reversed such that second surface is exposed, then the communication system operates as a telephone unit.

Abstract: A light pipe illuminator 1 comprises a looped light pipe 3 defining an endless light path, the looped light path 3 including a substantially planar front surface 5 and a faceted back surface 7 comprising a series of angled facets 9 arranged about the loop and arranged to reflect light towards and through the planar front surface 5, and a light input port 11, 13 through which light is fed into the light pipe 3 substantially along the light path, the walls 15, 17 of the light pipe 3 arranged such that light entering the light pipe 3 travels about the loop such that the loop is illuminated through the front surface 5.

Abstract: A flexible integrated circuit mounting apparatus and method for mounting a chip on a printed circuit board directed to the reduction of stresses within the mounting or interconnection medium, caused principally by a mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion between the chip circuit and the printed circuit board, and thus reduction of the likelihood of interconnection failure between the chip and the particular surface or device to which an interconnection is made.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of detecting underwater objects and an apparatus therefor, and is particularly concerned with such methods and apparatus for use in conjunction with a helicopter.A buoyant structure houses a sonar body in a stowed position, and is suspended on a cable from a releasable attachment on a helicopter. Means are provided for lowering and raising the buoyant structure relative to the helicopter and for lowering and raising the sonar body relative to the buoyant structure.The cable is provided with flotation and sea anchor means to deploy the cable across the water surface when it is released from the helicopter during one stage of operation, means being provided on the helicopter to recover the cable from the water to facilitate recovery of the apparatus.