Abstract: A heater with a visual flame display is described. The heater may include a top portion and a base, separated by concentric cylinders. The innermost cylinder houses a flame element, which may be spun into a vortex. The cylinders may be constructed from transparent materials such that the flame element is visible to an observer. The base provides heat at or near ground level for efficient heat distribution.

Abstract: Underwater LED lights with enhanced cooling to allow the use of substantial numbers of high power LEDs. In all embodiments, the majority of the heat given off by the LEDs is transferred to the housing of the underwater light by heat transfer techniques other than by convection of the air or other gases within the enclosure, providing direct heat conveyance from the LEDs to or through the light enclosure walls, by conduction through a thermal conductor or by or as augmented by heat pipes to the inside wall of the enclosure or through the wall of the enclosure to the water. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A display where lights may be programmed to randomly flash is described. The randomness may be changed by changing the mode of flashing. The lights may extend along strings that are powered by a power supply that may itself be plugged into a socket that had previously served as a light socket. The display may be added to existing displays to enhance existing visual effects. The display may be submerged and the lights may remain upright because of their buoyancy.

Abstract: Underwater LED lights with enhanced cooling to allow the use of substantial numbers of high power LEDs. In all embodiments, the majority of the heat given off by the LEDs is transferred to the housing of the underwater light by heat transfer techniques other than by convection of the air or other gases within the enclosure, providing direct heat conveyance from the LEDs to or through the light enclosure walls, by conduction through a thermal conductor or by or as augmented by heat pipes to the inside wall of the enclosure or through the wall of the enclosure to the water. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The tape head of the present invention has a substrate and a closure separated by a gap. The tape head is of the type having a flat closure module. The gap layers disposed in the gap include a recording track layer and a patterned gap layer. The recording track layer has a nonplanar topography along said gap that is defined by at least one of a read track and a write track. The patterned gap layer is disposed over substantially an entire surface of the gap side surface of the closure. The patterned gap layer is etched so as to selectively define a topography along said gap that inversely corresponds to the nonplanar topography of the recording track layer. As a result, the patterned gap layer fills any localized air space that would otherwise exist in the gap due to the nonplanar topography of the recording track layer. By filling the localized air space in the gap, microchipping is reduced and/or eliminated in the tape head of the present invention.