Abstract: The graphical integration for layout and design which utilizes a series of rulers, lines, curves, and grids in the design and manufacturing of goods, including but not limited to quilts, clothes, upholstery, and other sewn items. The pattern can be applied to any desired surface required by the product being manufactured. The preferred material application is that used for ironing boards or ironing board covers.

Abstract: A magnetically engageable latch assembly used for display cases and the like for secure closure that has a male protrusion and a female cavity. Either the male protrusion or the female cavity will have a permanent magnet while the other will have a metal conductor that will attract the permanent magnet due to its magnetic field. The female and male connection prevents movement of the latch assembly in the lateral direction. Alternatively disclosed is a male and female connection that each contains permanent magnets. A plastic stop within the cavity is also disclosed that prevents deterioration of the female cavity.

Abstract: A method of making and an etchable wafer substrate for use in making optical fiber array plates includes forming a progressively increasing series of metrology holes when the plate holes are formed. The variation between designed plate hole diameter and actual plate hole diameter is determined by sequentially inserting a probe of known designed diameter into the metrology holes to determine the two size-adjacent metrology holes variation. The plate hole diameter can be determined by comparing one of the size-adjacent metrology hole diameter with the respective art work metrology hole diameter. Plate hole diameters can then be corrected for variation with further processing.

Abstract: A method of making and an etchable wafer substrate for use in making optical fiber array plates includes forming a progressively increasing series of metrology holes when the plate holes are formed. The variation between designed plate hole diameter and actual plate hole diameter is determined by sequentially inserting a probe of known designed diameter into the metrology holes to determine the two size-adjacent metrology holes variation. The plate hole diameter can be determined by comparing one of the size-adjacent metrology hole diameter with the respective art work metrology hole diameter. Plate hole diameters can then be corrected for variation with further processing.

Abstract: Humidity within the workspace of a cryogenic aerosol spray cleaning system is controlled by circulating the workspace atmosphere through a dehumidifier. Advantageously, the need for purging of the workspace atmosphere prior to each cleaning cycle is eliminated. A system and method are thereby provided for cleaning of large workspaces. The system amd method of the invention are especially well-suited, economical, and practical for cleaning operations in which a dry air or inert gas purge of a large volume cleaning chamber would be impractical.

Abstract: Humidity within the workspace of a cryogenic aerosol spray cleaning system is controlled by circulating the workspace atmosphere through a dehumidifier. Advantageously, the need for purging of the workspace atmosphere prior to each cleaning cycle is eliminated. A system and method are thereby provided for cleaning of large workspaces. The system and method of the invention are especially well-suited, economical, and practical for cleaning operations in which a dry air or inert gas purge of a large volume cleaning chamber would be impractical.

Abstract: A system for detecting a low battery power condition and providing an audible warning of such a condition to a user of an electronic device such as a hearing aid is disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery output voltage is monitored and compared to a first threshold voltage at specified sampling intervals. When a battery output voltage measurement below the first threshold voltage is detected, this measurement is verified by a rule specifying that a low battery condition is not deemed to exist unless a predetermined percentage of voltage measurements within a predetermined time interval indicate that the battery output voltage is below the first threshold voltage. If the low battery condition is verified, an audible warning is generated, which is repeated at specified warning intervals. This audible warning affords an opportunity to the user for replacing the batteries in the device before loss of operation or degraded sound quality are experienced.

Abstract: In a serial interface for a programmable hearing aid, no address is provided for the data transferred to or read from the hearing aid, rather, for each instruction, the number of data words being transferred pursuant to each instruction and the beginning word are known in the controlled device. In the serial interface, the data is clocked into and out of the hearing aid on a serial data pin by a serial clock. Because no addresses are sent along with the data to the controlled device, the amount of data transferred to the hearing aid is significantly reduced, and no circuitry is required to save the address.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer testing fixture facilitates burn-in testing of multiple wafers, whereby individual wafers have an array of individual die or integrated circuit chips with their own test circuitry. The wafer has Vcc and Vss buses provided thereon which are coupled to the individual integrated circuit chips and test circuitry. The fixture has a housing sized to accommodate multiple semiconductor wafers in a selected orientation. The wafers are supported within the housing on corresponding shelves, which provides a back bias voltage to the wafer. The fixture has first and second conductive arms for supplying selected voltages to the Vcc and Vss buses for imparting test cycling of the integrated circuits. The first arm has multiple hands which engage the Vcc buses on the wafers supported on corresponding shelves. Likewise, the second arm has multiple second hands which engage the Vss buses on the wafers supported on corresponding shelves.

Abstract: An improved ring display box is realized by providing a holding platform made from sheet material to which the ring is attached and which is unfolded as the ring box is opened. As the sheet is unfolded by the opening of the box, a folded surface to which the ring is attached is rotated upwardly out of the box and presented at an inclination to the viewer. The sheet is multiply folded by parallel sets of folds so that the surface to which the ring is attached extends outwardly and forwardly from the hinge of the box to make a visually forward projection to the viewer.

Abstract: Sunglasses with vision directing sections comprise a frame with temples to hold the frame on the wearer's face and lenses in the frame. Each lens is tinted on its front and rear surfaces and one of those surfaces is further coated with a reflecting layer except in the area of the vision directing section. The sunglasses provide highlighted vision through the vision directing sections so that the wearer's vision is directed to that portion of their field of vision. The sunglasses are useful in a variety of activities where it is beneficial to direct attention to a select portion of a person's field of vision or where it is desirable to have a less shaded view through the sunglasses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for surface passivating stainless steel articles against the effects of corrosive materials having activities anywhere from aqueous salt solutions to corrosive gases such as hydrogen chloride and silane. Additionally, after the treatment and exposure of the article to moisture, when the article is subsequently flushed with a dry gaseous fluid, the time that the article takes to exhibit an acceptable moisture outgassing rate is reduced over an untreated article. In accordance with the present invention, the surface to be passivated is flushed with a dry gaseous fluid, chemically non-reactive with the stainless steel and containing essentially no oxygen. During such flushing, the articles is baked and cooled. The baking is accomplished at a predetermined temperature and time (preferably between about 250.0.degree. C. and about 500.0.degree. C. for about 4.

Abstract: This invention involves a system of communicating information using audio signals. In one embodiment, the information is encoded in touch tones on the sound track of a television game show. The information relates to the action of the show, and is broadcast in-band with the audio portion of the show. The show, and thus the information encoded in its audio portion, is received by an ordinary home television. A device for playing a game "listens" to the television speaker and decodes the information. The device allows home viewers to play a game based on the action of the show. The touchtones are substantially indiscernible to humans because they are quieter than most of the audio portion of the show, they are very brief, and they are masked by the show's usual sound effects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for surface passivating stainless steel articles against the effects of corrosive materials having activities anywhere from aqueous salt solutions to corrosive gases such as hydrogen chloride and silane. Additionally, after the treatment and exposure of the article to moisture, when the article is subsequently flushed with a dry gaseous fluid, the time that the article takes to exhibit an acceptable moisture outgassing rate is reduced over an untreated article. In accordance with the present invention, the surface to be passivated is flushed with a dry gaseous fluid, chemically non-reactive with the stainless steel and containing essentially no oxygen. During such flushing, the articles is baked and cooled. The baking is accomplished at a predetermined temperature and time (preferably between about 250.0.degree. C. and 500.0.degree. C. for about 4.

Abstract: The backlash spring of a fuel control linkage is enclosed by an elastomeric sleeve which absorbs the energy of multiple resonant modes stimulated in the spring by vibratory fields. Deflections of large amplitude in the spring are minimized thereby. The sleeve has a plurality of ribs which extend axially therein and which provide an interference fit with the coils of the spring. The sleeve ribs contact as many of the spring coils as possible but minimize interference of the sleeve with the motion of the spring during the normal articulation thereof.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (18) located in an enlarged flow area section (10) of a duct (12) includes a plate (14) located downstream of the exchanger for improving distribution of the duct flow.

Abstract: An aquarium filter is disclosed that provides an overflow window for indicating a blocked filter cartridge. The filter cartridge extends across the full width of the filter box and includes an overflow weir, or lip. The overflow weir forms part of the filter structure and controls the flow of water when the filter cartridge is blocked. Since the filter cartridge extends across the width of the filter box, the size of the filter for a given flow rate is reduced. The filter provides the feature of overflow indication in a more compact and efficient structure than otherwise possible.

Abstract: A blade pitch angle control system for a wind turbine includes an improved control means (95) for providing a minimum pitch angle reference signal indicative of desired blade pitch at wind velocities less than rated. The control means includes means (35 and 30) for providing signals indicative of generated (output) power or torque and the rotational frequency of the wind turbine rotor. The output and rotor speed signals are input to a function generator which, in response to such signals, provides a signal indicative of the minimum pitch angle.

Abstract: Journal and/or thrust bearings of a high speed rotary machine are mounted on a portion of the machine stator by mounts which allow limited tracking of pivotal rotor displacements by the bearings to reduce the risk of bearing damage due to nonuniform bearing pressurization from such pivotal shaft displacements. The mounts resist radial and axial shaft displacements for maintenance of sufficient shaft-stator alignment to prevent risk of rotor-stator impact.