Abstract: A dictation system is disclosed which includes circuitry for eliminating or substantially reducing the effect of uncontrollable ambient noise typically found in a passenger compartment of a moving vehicle. The system utilizes or incorporates, for example, the vehicle's radio receiver and can be used to record local dictation or reception of audio from a remote location by means of a cellular telephone. One feature includes compression of speech during dictation to minimize transmission time from the vehicle to a remote base location for transcription.

Abstract: A whirling toy includes a weighted object such as a small bag filled with sand attached to one end of a string. Advantageously, streamers or other means are used to stabilize the toy while it is whirled prior to release into an upward trajectory. A target pattern or tape measure is used to determine the distance of the toy, after it has fallen to the ground, from the point of release. The toy may optionally be provided with means for producing an audible sound when the whirling toy velocity reaches a preselected threshold value. Such audible sound assures, if the toy is played competitively between two or more players, that all players have the same advantage since they all release the toy when it produces the audible sound and, therefore, reaches the preselected threshold velocity.

Abstract: An alarm transmitter device includes a storage element which stores electrical charge and which energizes an output transmitting circuit upon the occurrence of an alarm condition. To maintain the storage element at full charge or in ready standby mode, a trickle charging circuit is provided which includes an energy conversion device for converting solar energy, broadcast electromagnetic energy, heat energy or the like into an electrical current suitable for trickle charging the storage element. After the storage element is substantially discharged, subsequent to an occurrence of an alarm condition, a battery or other source of electrical energy is connectable to terminals connected to the storage element for initially rapidly recharging the storage element to the fully charged state.