Abstract: A flood control device bases a valve closure decision on a plurality of sensed parameters. The parameters may be sensed by both a mechanical and an acoustic flow sensor. An adaptive parameter evaluation algorithm and fuzzy logic decision making may be used to reduce errors in triggering flow shut-off.

Abstract: A dental video camera includes a housing which has an elongated cavity with a distal end and a proximal end, an adjustably focusing lens, a CCD camera system which is disposed within the elongated cavity of the housing, a fixed focusing lens system and an electrically adjustable iris. The adjustably focusing lens provides a focusing adjustment between a near field o:f focus and a far field of focus. The CCD camera system is optically coupled to the adjustably focusing lens and and is disposed in the elongated cavity of the housing adjacent to the distal end thereof. The electrically adjustable iris is optically coupled to the adjustably focusing lens and CCD camera system. The adjustable iris is adjusted between a nearly closed opening and a wide open opening in response to the focusing adjustment between the near field of focus and the far field of focus.

Abstract: A power supply for an incandescent lamp by which sufficient power is supplied to the lamp to enable the lamp to reach its desired color temperature without exceeding the break over voltage of its filament even though the peaks of the alternating current voltage applied to the power supply exceed the break-over voltage of the filament of the lamp. This is achieved in a preferred embodiment by full-wave rectification of the alternating current voltage applied to the power supply to produced an unfiltered voltage comprising a series of half-cycle sine waves of a particular polarity. This voltage is applied to the lamp. However, when the voltage of each half cycle is above the breakover voltage of the lamp, the lamp is switched out of the circuit, so that only those portions at the beginning and end of each half cycle which are below a particular voltage are actually applied to the lamp.

Abstract: An incandescent lamp includes a base, a first stiff lead-in wire and a second stiff lead-in wire, a connector, a filament and a non-opaque tubular envelope. The base is formed out of a non-conductive material. The first and second stiff lead-in wires, respectively, extend from the base. The connector is electrically coupled to the first and second stiff lead-in wires and mechanically coupled to the base. The filament has a first end and a second end which are electrically coupled to the first and second lead-in wires, respectively. The filament is formed out of a conductive wire in the shape which provides a radiation area which is similar to the illumination area of the bundle of optical fibers so that the radiation fills the illumination area within the geometric boundaries imposed. The non-opaque tubular envelope has an open end and a closed end and is mechanically coupled to the base at the open end. The base press-seals the non-opaque tubular envelope to form an enclosed chamber.

Abstract: A self-contained manually triggerable thermal energy pack includes a flexible enclosure containing a supercooled solution capable of being triggered to begin crystallization and a triggering structure including a single close turn helical metallic spring having sufficient stiffness to maintain its cylindrical shape and sufficient resiliency to allow bending by the application of manual pressure normal to its axis.

Abstract: A thick-film incubator is used with a temperature control circuit and a mounting member on which the thick-film incubator is disposed. The thick-film incubator includes a ceramic substrate which has a first pair of conductive pads disposed at opposite ends thereof and a second pair of conductive pads disposed opposing each other thereon. A first layer of resistive ink is deposited on the ceramic substrate so that an open rectangular field is formed. The layer has a first end and a second end which are electrically coupled to each of the first pair of conductive pads, respectively, so that current can flow through the first layer in order to heat the ceramic substrate. A second layer of temperature-dependent resistive ink is deposited on the ceramic substrate adjacent, but not contiguous, to the layer of resistive ink.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas insufflation apparatus which is used with an arthroscopic attachment having a gas inlet. A cylinder contains gas at a high pressure. A single stage regulator is fluidly coupled to the cylinder in order to regulate the inlet pressure of the gas. The gas insufflation apparatus includes a filter, an inlet relief valve and an inlet pressure gauge. The filter is fluidly coupled to the single stage regulator. The inlet relief valve insures that the inlet pressure of the gas does not exceed a predetermined pressure. The inlet pressure gauge reads the inlet pressure. The gas insufflation apparatus also includes a control valve and a flow meter. The control valve turns the flow of the gas through the gas insufflation apparatus on and off. The flow meter measures the flow of the gas through the gas insufflation apparatus. The gas insufflation apparatus further includes a first regulator and a second regulator.

Abstract: The present invention is a ceramic voice coil assembly for use in a loudspeaker system which includes a ceramic voice coil form which is formed out of a high temperature ceramic material such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, BeO or glass and which has an outer surface and an inner surface. The ceramic voice coil assembly also includes transducer windings having a first end and a second end which are formed by a molybdenum-manganese metallization which is disposed on either the outer surface or the inner surface of the voice coil form and lead wires which are mechanically and electrically coupled to the first and second ends of the transducer windings. The lead wires are either brazed or welded to the ends of the transducers windings. The lead wires may be electrically coupled to either an amplifier or a servo drive circuit of a voice coil linear motor.