Abstract: An adjustable dental device for use with a CPAP system in the treatment of sleep apnea and snoring is comprised of an upper bite block, a lower bite block having one or more tongue retainers, means for adjustably connecting the upper bite block to the lower bite block, and means for connecting the dental device to a CPAP system. The adjustable dental device is compatible with a variety of CPAP systems, including systems that utilize nasal inserts and systems that utilize a nasal mask.

Abstract: A trailer mounted proportional brake controller for a towed vehicle and a method of controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle is described. The brake control unit may control the brakes of a towed vehicle. The brake control unit may include a power control unit and a hand control unit. The power control unit may be connected to the brakes of the towed vehicle and the power control unit may be capable of selectively controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle based on a set of braking parameters. The hand control unit may be configured to remotely communicate with the power control unit. The hand control unit may be capable of transmitting information to the power control unit to adjust at least one of the braking parameters and receiving information from the power control unit.

Abstract: A transducer senses sounds produced by a talker or other source and measures acceleration of air. Enhancement of acceleration is accompanied by reduction of the portion of the sound energy that escapes from the regions around the transducer. The result is a high sensitivity transducer, with increased privacy for use in communication systems, especially cell phones and in a multi-person environment. A pressure sensor array with a weighted output is sensitive to sound from a source talker only, and not to acoustic background noise, and not to a local loudspeaker. The weighted signal is a source sum pressure signal. The array produces a signal (using a different weighting) that corresponds to an estimate of a derivative of pressure. The derivative signal is proportional to the volume velocity fluctuations produced by the source. This signal is enhanced, rather than reduced. A local loudspeaker is driven to make the source sum pressure signal as small as desired.

Abstract: A visually perceptible target area is provided on the reflective surface of a side view mirror of a vehicle which the eye can compare and easily correlate to the image of a trailing vehicle reflected in the mirror. The target area can be provided by a view frame, which can be adhered to, suspended in front of, or etched into the mirror's reflective surface. Alternatively, the target area can be a visually perceptible, reflective area on the mirror's reflective surface, such as a colored or tinted area. The target area is sized and shaped such that the reflected image of a vehicle of normal size will very approximately correspond in size and shape to the size and shape of the target area when the trailing vehicle is at a defined trailing distance behind the vehicle to which the mirror is attached. The target area is reflective, and is preferably bounded by substantially rectilinear sides to preferably provide for a box-shaped target area.

Abstract: A bone-conduction transducer in the form of a band encircling around a head carries piezoelectric elements that excite the head with signals that correspond to speech and/or audio. The head vibrates according to its modes of vibration, primarily of the skull. Direct connection to bones of the skull, such as by implant or extreme pressure, is not needed. Thus, comfort is enhanced, and so is effectiveness. The incoming signal is segmented into frequency bands, one for each of the modes of vibration of the head of interest. For each frequency band, the signal is processed to pass signals to the piezoelectric elements in a particular way to excite the relevant mode of vibration. Thus, sound is sensed by the user through vibration of the head. A head band carrying transducer elements may also be used to sense spoken sound, as a microphone.

Abstract: A water feeder controller for a boiler monitors a low water cutoff sensor in a boiler and uses a feed timer to feed water to the boiler for a predetermined feed period of time. The feed timer brings the water level in the boiler well above the low water cutoff sensor. The feed timer supplies water to the boiler only if the low water cutoff sensor continues to indicate a low water level for a delay period of time measured by a delay timer. A resettable display indicates the quantity of water supplied by the water feeder to the boiler based on a feed counter incremented during water feeding. A manual feed button allows water to be manually fed to the boiler. The quantity of water manually supplied to the boiler is also shown on the display. The feed timer and delay timer are preferably implemented in software in a microcontroller in the water feeder controller. A lockout loop in the software prevents overfeeding of water to the boiler in the event of a failure of the low water cutoff sensor.

Abstract: A flammability tester for samples in the milligram range. A tube with a lower pyrolyzing region, or pyrolyzer, contains a sample that is heated to thermally degrade in the absence of oxygen, or pyrolyzed, to produce fuel gases. An inert gas carries the fuel gases to an upper combustion region, or combustor, where oxygen is measured into the gas flow containing the inert gas and fuel gases. Combustion of the fuel gases occurs at a temperature where the reaction time for almost all of the fuel gases is at or below 10 seconds. Under these conditions, the combustor volume need for complete combustion is small, permitting the fuel gases to be oxidized as they are liberated and travel from the pyrolyzer into the combustor in what is essentially sequential flow.

Abstract: A water feeder controller for a boiler monitors a low water cutoff sensor in a boiler and uses a feed timer to feed water to the boiler for a predetermined feed period of time. The feed timer brings the water level in the boiler well above the low water cutoff sensor. The feed timer supplies water to the boiler only if the low water cutoff sensor continues to indicate a low water level for a delay period of time measured by a delay timer. A resettable display indicates the quantity of water supplied by the water feeder to the boiler based on a feed counter incremented during water feeding. A manual feed button allows water to be manually fed to the boiler. The quantity of water manually supplied to the boiler is also shown on the display. The feed timer and delay timer are preferably implemented in software in a microcontroller in the water feeder controller. A lockout loop in the software prevents overfeeding of water to the boiler in the event of a failure of the low water cutoff sensor.

Abstract: A water feeder controller for a boiler monitors a low water cutoff sensor in a boiler and uses a feed timer to feed water to the boiler for a predetermined feed period of time. The feed timer brings the water level in the boiler well above the low water cutoff sensor. The feed timer supplies water to the boiler only if the low water cutoff sensor continues to indicate a low water level for a delay period of time measured by a delay timer. A resettable display indicates the quantity of water supplied by the water feeder to the boiler based on a feed counter incremented during water feeding. A manual feed button allows water to be manually fed to the boiler. The quantity of water manually supplied to the boiler is also shown on the display. The feed timer and delay timer are preferably implemented in software in a microcontroller in the water feeder controller. A lockout loop in the software prevents overfeeding of water to the boiler in the event of a failure of the low water cutoff sensor.

Abstract: A system for assembling wire harnesses with their connectors utilizes a compact computer-based system that is linked to an engineering data base. The data base contains component information, such as harness number, associated wires, and pin location to connector. An integrated tool contains a light panel that is linked to a dummy connector. The dummy connector has a mating end for the connector being pinned. The connector is mated to the dummy connector such that pin holes in the connector align with the light rods in the dummy connector. The wires are identified by voice recognition, bar code, and/or optical character recognition. Once a wire has been identified, the system illuminates the appropriate pin location on the selected connector, thereby providing a visible point of light in which the selected wire is to be terminated.

Abstract: An end-effector precisely marks location lines (or dispense fluids) on surfaces as part of an automated part marking system. The automated part marking system that includes a multi-axis gantry robot, a calibration stand, vision or location system(s), and a series of fluid dispensing (inkjet) end-effectors to accomplish the marking task. The end-effector use a pick shaped stylus coupled to a fluid supply and metered by a high-speed pulsed valve to precisely deliver fluids provides within geometrically confined spaces.

Abstract: A vertical color filter sensor group formed on a substrate (preferably a semiconductor substrate) and including at least two vertically stacked, photosensitive sensors, and an array of such sensor groups. In some embodiments, a carrier-collection element of at least one sensor of the group has substantially larger area, projected in a plane perpendicular to a normal axis defined by a top surface of a top sensor of the group, than does each minimum-sized carrier-collection element of the group. In some embodiments, the array includes at least two sensor groups that share at least one carrier-collection element. Optionally, the sensor group includes at least one filter positioned relative to the sensors such that radiation that has propagated through or reflected from the filter will propagate into at least one sensor of the group.

Abstract: A water feeder controller for a boiler monitors a low water cutoff sensor in a boiler and uses a feed timer to feed water to the boiler for a predetermined feed period of time. The feed timer brings the water level in the boiler well above the low water cutoff sensor. The feed timer supplies water to the boiler only if the low water cutoff sensor continues to indicate a low water level for a delay period of time measured by a delay timer. A resettable display indicates the quantity of water supplied by the water feeder to the boiler based on a feed counter incremented during water feeding. A manual feed button allows water to be manually fed to the boiler. The quantity of water manually supplied to the boiler is also shown on the display. The feed timer and delay timer are preferably implemented in software in a microcontroller in the water feeder controller. A lockout loop in the software prevents overfeeding of water to the boiler in the event of a failure of the low water cutoff sensor.

Abstract: A water feeder controller for a boiler monitors a low water cutoff sensor in a boiler and uses a feed timer to feed water to the boiler for a predetermined feed period of time. The feed timer brings the water level in the boiler well above the low water cutoff sensor. The feed timer supplies water to the boiler only if the low water cutoff sensor continues to indicate a low water level for a delay period of time measured by a delay timer. A resettable display indicates the quantity of water supplied by the water feeder to the boiler based on a feed counter incremented during water feeding. A manual feed button allows water to be manually fed to the boiler. The quantity of water manually supplied to the boiler is also shown on the display. The feed timer and delay timer are preferably implemented in software in a microcontroller in the water feeder controller. A lockout loop in the software prevents overfeeding of water to the boiler in the event of a failure of the low water cutoff sensor.

Abstract: A focusing method and apparatus, for use with digital cameras having an electronic viewfinder with less display resolution than in the image generated by the camera's photocell array, uses a uniformly subsampled representation of the entire image for focusing, rather than displaying a selected portion of the higher resolution image. The focusing is assisted by the exaggerated discontinuities produced by subsampling. Introducing flicker enhances focusing sensitivity by repetitively displaying, on the electronic viewfinder, a prescribed set of different reduced-resolution images obtained by subsampling the same high-resolution image at different sampling locations. Each subsampled image of the set of reduced resolution images uses a different set of substantially uniformly distributed pixels.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a supply of a synthetic combustible gas having enhanced combustion properties by providing a fluid containing a carbonaceous material, creating an electric arc between spaced electrodes under the fluid to generate a combustible gas, and collecting the gas to obtain the supply of the combustible gas. An apparatus for obtaining a supply of a combustible gas having enhanced combustion properties includes a fluid containing a carbonaceous material, a vessel for retaining the fluid, spaced electrodes positioned in the vessel below the fluid, means for creating an electric arc between the spaced electrodes to generate a combustible gas, and means for collecting the gas for obtaining the supply of the gas.

Abstract: A water feeder controller for a boiler monitors a low water cutoff sensor in a boiler and uses a feed timer to feed water to the boiler for a predetermined feed period of time. The feed timer brings the water level in the boiler well above the low water cutoff sensor. The feed timer supplies water to the boiler only if the low water cutoff sensor continues to indicate a low water level for a delay period of time measured by a delay timer. A resettable display indicates the quantity of water supplied by the water feeder to the boiler based on a feed counter incremented during water feeding. A manual feed button allows water to be manually fed to the boiler. The quantity of water manually supplied to the boiler is also shown on the display. The feed timer and delay timer are preferably implemented in software in a microcontroller in the water feeder controller. A lockout loop in the software prevents overfeeding of water to the boiler in the event of a failure of the low water cutoff sensor.

Abstract: The mobile scaffold vehicle has a motorized base with an upper surface and a first frame member and a second member. The first and second fame members are pivotally mounted near respective opposite ends of the upper surface. The first frame member is movable independently of the second frame member from an inoperative storage position near the upper surface and a generally vertical operative position. The second frame member is movable independently of the first frame member from an inoperative storage position near the upper surface and a generally vertical operative position, so that in their operative positions, the first and second fame members are generally paralel with one another and located near opposite ends of the upper surface. A platform is attachable with the frame members in the operative position and a plurality of anchor arrangements for anchoring the frame members in the operative position, thereby to permit a operator to stand on the platform.

Abstract: A cycle control system for use with a boiler having a fluid therein and a method of monitoring a boiler to determine the presence of an adequate level of fluid therein. The cycle control system includes a timing circuit producing a burner control signal having alternating on and off states corresponding to on and off period timers to allow foam to settle so that a probe can accurately check the fluid level in the boiler. A burner monitor circuit monitors when a demand controller turns the burner on and off responsive to demand. The on-period timer is reset whenever the burner monitor circuit indicates the demand control circuit has turned off the burner for a length of time sufficient for the probe to accurately check the fluid level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for securing a security tag to an article. In one embodiment, the main body portion of the security tag is fixtured in a head while the fastener portion of the security tag is positioned within a fastener-driving unit. The fastener-driving unit is actuated to drive the fastener through the article and into locking engagement with security tag main body portion. In one embodiment, the fastener-driving unit is powered by a solenoid. Another form of the apparatus for securing a security tag to an article utilizes a pivoting lever to drive the security tag main body portion into locking engagement with the fastener portion of the security tag.