Abstract: An electrical device for treating problem skin areas, including warts, has an electrode and a power source coupled to the electrode for generating an arc over a gap between a distal end of the electrode and a patient's skin when the electrode is placed in spaced proximity to the patient's skin. The power source provides electricity to the electrode with a frequency of at least 100 kHz, an open-circuit voltage of less than 2 kVRMS, and a total power of less than 2 W.

Abstract: An auxiliary lighting control circuit and method for a lighting system having a HID lamp as the primary light source and an auxiliary light source for providing light when the HID lamp is extinguished or below full brightness but power remains available to the circuit. The circuit senses the HID lamp current and activates a relay to a conductive state using a solid state controller when the HID lamp current is below a predetermined current magnitude to effect the lighting of the auxiliary light source.

Abstract: A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage at a utility meter which is adapted for use with a pit set utility meter located in a pit having a cover and an opening therein for supporting the meter transmission unit and a method of installing the meter transmission unit. The meter transmission unit includes a tubular housing having a detachable flange at one end thereof for supporting the meter transmission unit on the pit cover and includes an annular collar having vertical adjustment means extending through the annular collar for engaging with the bottom of the pit cover to pull the flange tightly toward the top surface of the pit cover.

Abstract: A coin acceptance mechanism and a method of determining an acceptable coin includes a pair of spaced apart coils between which a coin is passed. A signal is generated in one of the coils and induced in the other coil when a coin passes between the coils. The peak amplitude of the signal induced in the other coil and the peak phase difference between the signals in the pair of coils are both compared to a range of acceptable values stored in a memory to determine if a coin is acceptable and to assign a value to the coin deemed acceptable. The coin acceptance mechanism has a program mode in which it can be programmed to recognize coins of various values and coins or tokens from various countries.

Abstract: Control circuitry for a multi-speed, rotational, direct current motor can include a means to select one of a plurality of discrete circuits to select a desired speed of the motor, each circuit being activated by a separate analog switch which can complete the circuit to select a potentiometer voltage which then becomes a speed reference voltage output; a motor encoder which generates a pulse train proportional to motor speed and is converted to a proportional voltage by means of a frequency-to-voltage converter; an error amplifier, connected to the outputs of the speed reference voltage and the motor speed voltage such that when the speed reference voltage differs from the motor speed voltage, an error signal is produced; a pulse width modifier circuit which is driven by the error signal and which adjusts motor logic outputs so as to adjust the speed of the motor to produce an essentially zero error; a power supply circuit to feed voltage to the controlling circuitry and motor.

Abstract: A method for communicating utility usage-related information from a plurality of meter modules to a plurality of data accumulator units, each of which periodically transmits data to a control computer, including the steps of periodically transmitting from each meter module a first signal indicative of utility usage-related information and wherein the first signal includes a flag for self-configuring the communications network when the meter module is initially installed. The signal strength of the first signals from a meter module received at a data accumulator unit are measured and ranked by the control computer based on received signal strength. The ranking based on signal strength is utilized to enable only a limited number of data accumulators (those which received the strongest first signals) to receive, record and store data from a particular meter module.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of counting dispensing events or washes in a fluid dispenser in which an activator is moved from a starting position to a dispensing position and back to dispense material includes a counter which is indexable to record a dispensing event and which can only be indexed again after dispensing pressure is totally relieved from the activator for a predetermined period of time. The counter is activated by a switch carried on the activator that initiates a timer when the activator leaves the dispensing position. The timer is reset if the activator is returned to the dispensing position prior to the predetermined period of time elapsing. Only after elapse of this period of time can the counter be activated again.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating utility usage information at a utility usage location to a utility usage registering device includes a utility usage registering module adapted to be located at a utility usage location to provide a first signal indicative of the utility usage information, a transmitter responsive to said first signal for periodically transmitting at a pseudo-random transmission intervals, a second signal indicative of utility usage, a receiver located remote from the utility usage location for receiving the second signal, and a utility usage registering device associated with the receiver for storing the second signal indicative of utility usage information. A tamper detector is provided to detect the occurrence of a tamper event and generates a tamper signal which is directed to the utility usage registering module. The tamper signal is indexed upon the tamper detector sensing the occurrence of each tamper event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actuating a direct source exhaust gas capture system for capturing and exhausting exhaust from a vehicle tailpipe which automatically starts when the ignition system of the vehicle is actuated prior to the engine starting, and which is operable to automatically restart when the vehicle returns to the vehicle storage facility.

Abstract: A DC power supply for a gas discharge lamp includes a high voltage starting circuit for supplying high voltage pulses to effect initial energization of a gas discharge lamp, a lower voltage running circuit for supplying a desired average lamp operating current at a substantially constant current to the gas discharge lamp, and a transformer having a primary connected in the high voltage starting circuit and a secondary connected in the lower voltage running circuit. The transformer provides an inductance which acts as a current source inductor to supply current to the gas discharge lamp.

Abstract: A method apparatus for determining the length of a roll of sheet material, including a side surface at which the edge of each of the plurality of layers of sheet material is exposed wherein the side surface of the roll of sheet material is exposed to a source of radiation and the radiation reflected from the edges of the roll is scanned in a radial direction to establish a first signal indicative of the reflected radiation and the number of edges of layers of sheet material. The length of the roll of sheet material is calculated using the sensed number of layers of sheet material in the roll. The method and apparatus are similarly adapted to determine the number of layers of sheet material in a stack of sheet material.

Abstract: A medical pumping system has a supply tube (2), an outlet tube (6), a readily sterilizable, disposable cassette (3) connected to the tubes and engaged with the pump, and means (22,24) such as a motor-driven piston, for intermittently applying pressure to the cassette. The pumping system features a display and switch means (9, 10) on a front panel thereof, a pressure sensor (28), an optical fluid presence sensor (19), and a microprocessor (20) metering the volume of fluid pumped through said cassette (3), monitoring output signals from said sensors (18, 28), controlling the motor-driven piston in accordance with settings entered via said switch means (9,10), and directing output data to said display means (8). The microprocessor has a stored program for performing SET RATE, RUN, HOLD, VOLUME FED, and CLEAR VOLUME functions.

Abstract: A system and method for actuating a device from a remote location includes a signal generator for establishing a signal indicative of a desire to actuate the device, detector means for sensing the signal indicative of a desire to actuate the device and for actuating a switch means for actuating the device. A feedback signal is provided indicative of actuation of the device.

Abstract: A medical pumping system has a supply tube (2), an outlet tube (6), a readily sterilizable, disposable cassette (3) connected to the tubes and engaged with the pump, and means (22,24) such as a motor-driven piston, for intermittently applying pressure to the cassette. The pumping system features a display and switch means (9, 10) on a front panel thereof, a pressure sensor (28), an optical fluid presence sensor (19), and a microprocessor (20) metering the volume of fluid pumped through said cassette (3), monitoring output signals from said sensors (18, 28), controlling the motor-driven piston in accordance with settings entered via said switch means (9,10), and directing output data to said display means (8). The microprocessor has a stored program for performing SET RATE, RUN, HOLD, VOLUME FED, and CLEAR VOLUME functions.

Abstract: A system for actuating an electrical valve from a remote location with a battery includes an energy storage means for actuating the valve, a charging circuit for charging the energy storage means from the battery to a sufficient potential to actuate the valve, detector means for sensing a signal indicative of a desire to actuate the valve and for actuating said charging circuit and switch means for connecting the energy storage means to the valve to actuate the valve when the energy storage means is charged to a sufficient potential.

Abstract: Trip devices are disclosed for attachment to existing utility meters to detect revolutions of a dial arm of the meter. Two embodiments are disclosed, each including a spring-biased shaft extending through a base and a shoe on the end of the shaft. As the dial arm rotates, it catches and deflects the shoe, thus rotating the shaft. The shoe then slips off of the dial arm and returns to its original position under the urging of the spring. In one embodiment, shaft rotation is detected using a magnet and reed switch arrangement. In the other a mercury switch is instead used.

Abstract: Electrostatic air cleaner apparatus is disclosed for use in conjunction with existing space conditioning apparatus which includes a transformer providing a low voltage (typically 24VAC) power signal. The apparatus includes a power supply which is adapted to be coupled to the output of the transformer for providing a low voltage DC power signal. A high voltage generator and regulator is included which is powered by the low voltage DC power signal. The generator and regulator includes a flyback transformer arrangement which generates a high voltage DC signal suitable for energizing the collector and ionizer stages of an air cleaner assembly. The generator and regulator also includes closed loop feedback for regulating the amplitude of the high voltage DC signal so that it remains at or near the optimum amplitude regardless of variations in the amplitude of the low voltage power signal supplied by the existing low voltage transformer.

Abstract: Retrofit apparatus (38) for attachment to a utility meter (10) to detect revolutions of a dial arm (34) of the utility meter. A piezoelectric crystal (42) is provided against which a striker arm (52) abuts. The striker arm is rotatable on an axle (50) and is therefore movable relative to the piezoelectric crystal. A spring (54) is tensioned so as to resiliently bias the striker arm against the crystal. A shoe (62) is also mounted on the axle and is disposed in the path of rotation of the dial arm so that once each revolution the dial arm engages, deflects, and releases the shoe, thereby causing the striker arm to withdraw from and then snap back against the piezoelectric crystal. The crystal produces an electrical pulse in response. The pulses are counted by a counter (82) to provide a count indicative of utility usage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for communicating utility usage information from a utility usage location to a portable utility usage registering device (22). A utility usage detection circuit (10) is provided at the utility usage location. The circuit is connectable to a conventional utility meter (12), e.g., a natural gas meter, and provides an electrical signal indicative of utility usage. This signal is applied across a first inductive coil (23), which is mounted at the utility usage location such that the resulting magnetic field is accessible. A matching coil (36) is associated with the portable utility usage registering device and is housed such that it may be positioned within the magnetic field produced by the first inductive coil. When thus positioned the electrical signal produced by the circuit (10) is induced in the matching coil as a result of mutual inductance between the two coils.