Abstract: A pre-vaporized fuel system for use in fueling an internal combustion engine is provided with a dynamic infrared sensor. The infrared sensor senses the hydrocarbon content of the vaporized fuel which information is used by the engine control module to control engine fueling to minimize emissions. The infrared source is operated to maintain the pre-vaporized fuel below its lower explosive limit and the thermopile detector electronics is synchronized with the light pulse frequency to develop fast signal responses suitable for fueling control.

Abstract: An improved fire detector is obtained by combining a conventional smoke particle sensor with a fire radicals odor sensor; the latter being an electronic nose tuned to respond to the presence of a family of radicals, produced by most fires, that is responsible for the odor associated with a fire. The conventional smoke particle sensor is prevented from producing an alarm signal unless the tuned electronic nose senses that the fire-produced radicals are increasing at a rate that exceeds a preset threshold rate. In another aspect of the invention, the smoke particle sensor is provided with a second, lower, threshold connected to a timer so that an alarm will be produced if the lower threshold is exceeded, without interruption, for a preset time. The improved fire detector, using the combined sensors, has greater sensitivity and a lower false alarm rate.

Abstract: A collapsible golf cart that is capable of carrying a fully-loaded golf bag includes an A-frame formed by telescoping members pivotally connected at their upper ends and having removable wheels at their lower ends. The cart includes a swinging V-shaped support stand that is attached at its upper ends to the telescoping frame members. The swinging lower end of the stand includes a spike extending downward from its front side and includes an auxiliary wheel at its rear side. When the cart is parked, the stand is in its rearmost position and the spike digs into the ground. When the cart is in motion, the stand is swung to a forward position in which the auxiliary wheel rolls on the ground. The spike also provides good electrical grounding for the cart. The cart also includes a telescoping lightning rod, the effectiveness of which is enhanced by the grounding provided by the spike.

Abstract: A fire detector is equipped with a smoke detector and electrical circuitry for declaring a fire alarm if a smoke concentration based fire detection criteria is satisfied. A CO.sub.2 detector is included in the fire detector for forming an a priori estimate of the probability of the existence of a fire. If the a priori probability rises above a predetermined level, the smoke concentration base fire detection criteria of the smoke detector are altered to allow the more rapid detection of a fire.

Abstract: A collapsible luggage cart characterized by left and right telescoping members having top sections and bottom sections, the top sections being pivotally connected so that when the cart is extended for use the telescoping members provide an A-frame back for the cart, each bottom section having an axle on which a wheel is mounted, and each bottom section having a forwardly-extending arm pivotally connected to it, so that when the cart is to be collapsed, the arms are swung upwardly into the bottom sections, the telescoping members are then pivoted together until they are side by side, and finally the telescoping members are collapsed into the bottom sections, the exterior surfaces of which together then substantially enclose the collapsed cart.

Abstract: In a kaleidoscope having an object chamber containing a fluid and containing a number of objects, the objects are caused to move by setting in motion the fluid within the object chamber, using energy derived from a source mounted on the kaleidoscope. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid in the object chamber is set in motion by a small electrically powered pump that is powered by a battery mounted on the kaleidoscope under control of a microprocessor that relates the operation of the pump to the production of lighting effects and sound effects produced within the kaleidoscope. The apparatus results in a display of persistently moving patterns, even when the object chamber remains stationary, and requires no intervention by the user.

Abstract: One type of kaleidoscope has an object cell that contains a multitude of small objects immersed in a viscous liquid. By inverting the object cell, a user can enjoy a continuous ever-changing display of pleasing and colorful symmetrical images as the objects cascade through the viscous liquid under the influence of gravity. Eventually the objects settle to the top or bottom of the object cell as determined by their densities, and the viewer needs to invert the object cell again. It is desirable to prolong each cascade so as to reduce the frequency with which the object cell must be inverted. Several ways of accomplishing this are disclosed. The walls of the cell may converge and may be provided with bumps or other surface irregularities. The movement of the objects may be impeded by the provision of fixed obstacles within the object cell. In another approach, an upwelling and circulation of the viscous liquid is produced by a simple pump that is mobilized by inverting the object cell.

Abstract: A fire detector with a maximum average response time of less than 1.5 minutes is obtained by combining a smoke detector with a CO.sub.2 detector that uses NDIR sensor technology. The smoke detector is used to detect smoldering fires and to help prevent false alarms attributable to the CO.sub.2 detector. The CO.sub.2 detector is used to rapidly detect fires by measuring the rate of change of CO.sub.2 concentration. A signal processor generates an alarm signal when a smoldering fire is detected or alarm logic indicates that a fire has been detected.

Abstract: A method for providing secure credit card transactions over the Internet generates a personal charge number from a user account number by inserting a user key into the user account number in accordance with an algorithm that uses a user insertion key and a permutation variable. After the personal charge number is used, the permutation variable is changed, and a new personal charge number is generated. A money source repository verifies the validity of the personal charge number by using the personal charge number and a user identifier to access a file with the user account number, the user key and the user insertion key, taking into account which permutation variable is valid at a given point in time. Alternatively, the money source repository could generate a string of valid personal charge numbers for a user which are sequentially accessed according to usage.

Abstract: A fire detection system combines a CO.sub.2 gas detector with a smoke detector. Logic circuitry combines the outputs of both detectors to minimize false alarms and provide a rapid response time. In a preferred embodiment the need for periodic cleaning is reduced. In a further preferred embodiment, two alarms indicative of two different types of fires, for example flaming fires and nonflaming fires are available. A map of flaming fire and smoke may be assembled by the system to guide the firefighters. In a yet another preferred embodiment, a tentative fire alarm indication disables a local air conditioning system thereby helping to isolate and control any existing fire.

Abstract: A system and method for pseudo cash transactions allows a portion of the pseudo cash to be refunded through use of a credit back indicator which is used by a record adjuster to adjust the file associated with a pseudo cash unit which can then be accessed by the user with a user identifier to obtain a refund or credit.

Abstract: Totally anonymous or effectively anonymous cash-like transactions are accomplished by using a pseudo cash data package converter for inserting a user key into a pseudo cash preliminary data packet through the use of a user insertion key to generate a pseudo cash unit with a fixed monetary value that can be used to purchase goods or services via the Internet. A pseudo cash repository facilitates the cash-like transactions and maintains a record of the pseudo cash units and their fixed monetary value. Depending upon the level of anonymity selected by a purchaser, the pseudo cash repository can either transmit pseudo cash preliminary data packets or pseudo cash units to a first entity. If the first entity loses an effectively anonymous pseudo cash preliminary data packet, it can be replaced by the pseudo cash repository without risk of loss.

Abstract: A method for use in mass-producing, from a plane sheet of metal, a three-dimensional structure consisting of plane mirrors and plane structural members, said three-dimensional structure of a type in which each mirror or structural member has at least one edge that is collinear with an edge of another mirror or structural member, whereby said three-dimensional structure can be formed by bending the sheet of metal along various edges, the method including the steps of: producing masks bearing images defining the location of bending grooves, shallow grooves, separation grooves and holes for indexing pins, selecting a mask, applying a coating of photoresist to both sides of the sheet of metal, transferring the images on the selected mask to the coating of photoresist, removing those portions of the coating of photoresist to which the images were transferred, etching the sheet of metal where the portions of the coating of photoresist were removed, removing the remaining photoresist from the sheet of metal, and rep

Abstract: A portable instrument for locating leaks through the wall of a chamber uses a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) type detector. The instrument includes a gas sampling probe into which a continuous sample of gas is drawn by a small suction pump. The sample is conducted from the probe through a flexible conduit and through a gas sample chamber. The gas sample chamber contains a source of light or infrared radiation and a detector. A narrow pass band filter is interposed between the source and the detector, and the pass band of the filter is centered on an absorption band of the test gas that is to be detected. When the test gas is present, it absorbs some of the radiation. The detector produces an electrical signal representative of the concentration of the test gas. The detector is connected to a signal processing circuit that responds to rapid changes of test gas concentration but ignores slow changes in concentration, thereby reducing the false alarm rate.

Abstract: A miniaturized NDIR gas sensor is manufactured using semiconductor micromachining techniques from a semiconductor material such as Si or GaAs. The NDIR gas sensor comprises an optical waveguide, a light source at one end of the waveguide, at least one light detector at the end of the waveguide opposite the light source, a diffusion type gas sample chamber formed within the waveguide and interposed in the optical path between the light source and light detector so that the light source and light detector are thermally isolated from the gas sample, and a separate bandpass filter interposed between the light source and each light detector. A miniaturized NDIR gas sensor is also provided in which the light source and light detector are located on the same end of the optical waveguide is also provided. Because the NDIR sensor is fabricated out of a semiconductor material, the source driver and signal processing electronics may be added directly to the sensor using integrated circuit fabrication techniques.

Abstract: A fire detector having a greatly reduced frequency of generating false alarms. An AND gate is responsive to outputs from first and second fire detector modules that are responsive to the detection of first and second characteristics of a fire, respectively, to signal the detection of a fire if both of these characteristics have been detected. At least one override path is included to enable the occurrence of a particular type of fire to be signaled that would not otherwise be signaled by the output of said AND gate.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting leaks in pneumatic tires includes a source of pressurized carbon dioxide gas that is used to partially re-inflate the flat tire, so that a strong concentration of carbon dioxide gas will be present in any gas that leaks out of the tire. In the vicinity of the leak, the concentration of carbon dioxide gas is greatly enhanced above the normal atmospheric concentration of 300 to 800 parts per million. The enhanced concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the vicinity of the leak is detected by a gas sampling system that includes an audible alarm that alerts the user when the location of the leak has been found.

Abstract: A retractable and extendable handle for a piece of luggage is provided at its distal end portion with a distal jaw, and spaced from that, a proximal jaw. These jaws facilitate loading the luggage into an overhead luggage compartment. The jaws may be integral parts of the handle, or they may be parts of an attachment that is affixed to an existing handle. With the handle fully extended, the distal jaw is brought up and over the lip of the floor of the overhead luggage compartment, and then with the proximal jaw pushing against the underside of the lip, the luggage is lifted to force the handle to retract into the luggage. Next, the luggage is pivoted upward about the tip of the distal jaw so that the proximal jaw clears the lip of the floor of the compartment. Thereafter, the luggage is pushed horizontally into the compartment.

Abstract: A fire detector with a maximum average response time of less than 1.5 minutes is obtained by combining a smoke detector with a CO.sub.2 detector that uses NDIR sensor technology. The smoke detector is used to detect smoldering fires and to help prevent false alarms attributable to the CO.sub.2 detector. The CO.sub.2 detector is used to rapidly detect fires by measuring the rate of change of CO.sub.2 concentration. A signal processor generates an alarm signal when a smoldering fire is detected or alarm logic indicates that a fire has been detected.

Abstract: A miniaturized NDIR gas sensor is manufactured using semiconductor micromachining techniques from a semiconductor material such as Si or GaAs. The NDIR gas sensor comprises an optical waveguide, a light source at one end of the waveguide, at least one light detector at the end of the waveguide opposite the light source, a diffusion type gas sample chamber formed within the waveguide and interposed in the optical path between the light source and light detector so that the light source and light detector are thermally isolated from the gas sample, and a separate bandpass filter interposed between the light source and each light detector. A miniaturized NDIR gas sensor is also provided in which the light source and light detector are located on the same end of the optical waveguide is also provided. Because the NDIR sensor is fabricated out of a semiconductor material, the source driver and signal processing electronics may be added directly to the sensor using integrated circuit fabrication techniques.