Abstract: An in-car video system and method is provided where a wireless microphone is configured with bi-directional communications capability. In response to a received RF activation signal, the wireless microphone is automatically switched on to capture (and transmit back to the in-car video system) an audio soundtrack that accompanies the images captured by the car-mounted video camera. A wireless microphone controller mounted in the car transmits the RF activation signal to the wireless microphone. The wireless microphone controller is arranged to transmit the RF activation signal when the VCR starts recording. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the wireless microphone receives information, including a confirmation that the VCR is recording, from an RF information signal received from the wireless microphone controller mounted in the car. The wireless microphone displays the information to the officer on a display screen.

Abstract: A baseball batting/hitting practice object that is shaped as a tapered cork device measuring 1½? in height and covered with PVC imitation leather. The purpose of the tapered shape is to allow the batting practice pitcher throw the cork device straight, yet by holding it in various positions allows it to slice through the air in a manner that makes it curve or change direction to a controllable degree. This movement of the cork device simulates certain pitches thrown by a pitcher in a competitive baseball game. The small size of the cork device, combined with the movement when thrown forces the hitter to increase his concentration level in order to make contact with the cork device which ultimately should improve the hitter's skills. When hit by a conventional bat, the cork device is designed to travel only approximately between 75 to 100 feet depending on the hitter's age and strength.

Abstract: An in-car video system and method are provided where a GPS speed signal is compared against a user-settable threshold value. If the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold value, an alarm is generated. The alarm is used by the in-car video system to automatically activate the record function of a video recorder. The alarm may be optionally sent to a remote location, such as a police agency's headquarters as an alert that the vehicle speed has exceeded a set threshold and that a possible high speed pursuit has commenced. Vehicle speed information from the GPS speed signal is generated into a form that is continuously displayable on an in-car video monitor or continuously recordable by the video recorder along with the video and audio information captured by the in-car video system camera and microphones.

Abstract: An in-car video system and method are provided where a vehicle speed derived from a vehicle speed sensor (“VSS”) signal is compared against a user-settable threshold value. If the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold value, an alarm is generated. The alarm is used by the in-car video system to automatically activate the record function of a video recorder. The alarm may be optionally sent to a remote location, such as a police agency's headquarters as an alert that the vehicle speed has exceeded a set threshold and that a possible high speed pursuit has commenced. Vehicle speed information derived from the VSS signal is generated into a form that is continuously displayable on an in-car video monitor or continuously recordable by the video recorder along with the video and audio information captured by the in-car video system camera and microphones.

Abstract: An inventive system and method is provided by an in-car video system that uses a type of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory known as flash memory to store video of an incident or event. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a digital video recorder and video camera are fixably mounted in a vehicle such as a police cruiser. An event of interest is captured by a camera and the resulting video stream is converted into a form that writable to a flash memory. The video recorder writes the video to flash memory to thereby store a record of the event on the flash memory as a storage medium.

Abstract: Methods for applying decalcomanias to various porous surfaces, including textile surfaces such as canvases, are disclosed, including applying a bonding agent to the porous surface, providing a water slide-off decalcomania, including a backing sheet with a water-soluble coating, a first coating layer on the backing sheet, a design layer, and a second coating layer disposed on the design layer, and applying the decalcomania to the bonding agent.

Abstract: Methods for applying decalcomanias to various porous surfaces, including textile surfaces such as canvases, are disclosed, including applying a bonding agent to the porous surface, providing a water slide-off decalcomania, including a backing sheet with a water-soluble coating, a first coating layer on the backing sheet, a design layer, and a second coating layer disposed on the design layer, and applying the decalcomania to the bonding agent.

Abstract: Ceramic decalcomania adapted to be applied to virtreous surfaces are disclosed including a back sheet, a first prefused glass flux layer which is substantially free of lead oxide and which is at least about 2 microns thick disposed on the backing sheet, a design layer including at least one ceramic oxide pigment disposed on the first flux layer, and a second prefused glass flux layer disposed on the design layer. Methods for producing these ceramic decalcomanias are also disclosed, which include offset printing the first flux layer onto the backing sheet, forming a wet ink formulation free of glass and including a liquid printing vehicle and at least one oxide coloring agent, wet printing the wet ink formulation onto the first flux layer, and depositing a second flux layer onto the design layer.

Abstract: A microwave heating utensil is provided with a microwave absorbent susceptor material which may include at least one metallic oxide and at least one metal in the reduced state. The susceptor material may be disposed in a layer on the surface of the body and a continuous cover layer overlying the susceptor material may be fused with the utensil body. The susceptor material may be formed by oxidation of a metallic susceptor-forming material in situ, on the body. Preformed layers comprising the susceptor-forming material and the cover material in particulate form may be applied to the body by transferring these layers from a decal substrate. The continuous cover layer may be formed by fusion of the particulate cover material in the same heating step as employed to oxidize the susceptor-forming material.

Abstract: A microwave heating utensil is provided with a microwave absorbent susceptor material which includes zinc and manganese. The susceptor material may be disposed in a layer on the surface of the body and a continuous cover layer overlying the susceptor material may be fused with the utensil body. A preformed layer comprising a susceptor-forming material including zinc and manganese, together with a glass moderator material, and a further preformed layer including the cover material in particulate form may be applied to the body by transferring these layers from a decal substrate. The continuous cover layer may be formed by fusion of the particulate cover material in heating, typically in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: An overglaze decalcomania is provided which includes a prefused low melting point glass flux or frit as a protective layer and is substantially resistant to both acid and alkali attack, to mechanical abrasion, and inhibits release of lead, cadmium and other toxic substances normally found in decalcomanias. The frit is comprised of increments of lead oxide, silicon dioxide, cadmium oxide and tin oxide, and optionally titanium dioxide. It can include substituents of conventional frits as well. There is also provided a method for preparing such an overglaze decalcomania.