Abstract: A paperboard sheet and a method of using the paperboard sheet is provided in which a surface of the paperboard sheet provides a pattern of indentations, the indentations reducing the surface area between adjacent sheets to facilitate the transfer of a top sheet from a stack of similar sheets.

Abstract: Analog and digital power control switching circuits and power strips for use with various electronic devices and electrically operated appliances all enable a first device to control the powering or start-up of other devices. A smart power strip variation enables a user to energize all computer peripherals simply by turning the computer on or off. All embodiments comprise a sensing subcircuit that monitors AC current passed through the device or appliance plugged into a sensing outlet, which, in turn, generates a conditioned DC monitoring signal. A related control subcircuit driven by the monitoring signal powers suitable relays or transistors for activating downstream devices or appliances. All sensing subcircuits comprise a transformer primary, a capacitor, and at least one pair of anti-parallel diodes all connected in parallel. The stepped-up transformer output is rectified and filtered, yielding a DC monitoring signal delivered to the control subcircuit.

Abstract: A remote vapor concentration measurement system comprising a unitary, single-fixed wavelength laser to heat the background surface behind a vapor or gas cloud, the constituents of which are to be detected and measured. A heated background acts as a broad band infrared source for measuring absorption characteristics of the gas or vapor constituents. A spectrally responsive receiver, which for example may be a spectrometer or radiometer having filters at selected wavelengths corresponding to the absorption characteristics of the specie of gas or vapor being detected, is also provided. This receiver measures the relative absorbance of infrared energy at selected wavelengths over a relatively broad infrared range to measure the absorbance characteristics of the specie of gas or vapor of interest. The system also comprises a range finder positioned adjacent the receiver for measuring the distance between the receiver and the background surface along two different paths.