Abstract: A chisel includes an elongate shank portion composed of a first steel, and a working end portion composed of a second steel that is different than the first steel. The working end portion is joined to the shank and configured to chisel a workpiece. The joined shank portion and working end portion has been heat treated to cause the first steel of the shank portion to adopt a first microstructure comprising bainite, the second steel of the working end portion to adopt a second microstructure comprising martensite, and the working end portion to have a greater hardness than the shank portion.

Abstract: A point chisel includes a substantially cylindrical shank and a working end region that tapers to a point. The working end region has at least three converging substantially planar surfaces, each with a protruding elongate rib extending along at least part of its length. Adjacent surfaces meet along at least part of their length at substantially straight edges between adjacent ribs. A flat chisel includes a substantially cylindrical shank and a working end region with a pair of converging substantially planar surfaces that include a plurality of protruding elongate ribs extending along at least part of its length. Each rib has, along the majority of its length, a substantially constant height above the surface from which it protrudes. Each chisel is made from steel, with the shank having a bainitic microstructure and the working end region having a martensitic microstructure.

Abstract: A chisel includes an elongate shank portion composed of a first steel, and a working end portion composed of a second steel that is different than the first steel. The working end portion is joined to the shank and configured to chisel a workpiece. The joined shank portion and working end portion has been heat treated to cause the first steel of the shank portion to adopt a first microstructure comprising bainite, the second steel of the working end portion to adopt a second microstructure comprising martensite, and the working end portion to have a greater hardness than the shank portion.

Abstract: A combination drill bit for use in both hand held drills and stationary drill presses has a shanking end, a working end and a helical flute portion between the shanking and working ends. The helical portion has a helix length (L) of L = ( D × ? tan ? ? ? ) . The drill bit has a core that is tapered from the working end to the shanking end. A web thickness length at the working end is 10% to 35% of the diameter and the thickness length at the junction of the shanking end is 70% to 90% of the diameter. The drill bit is manufactured from a high speed steel including at least 5% by weight of cobalt.

Abstract: A point chisel includes a substantially cylindrical shank and a working end region that tapers to a point. The working end region has at least three converging substantially planar surfaces, each with a protruding elongate rib extending along at least part of its length. Adjacent surfaces meet along at least part of their length at substantially straight edges between adjacent ribs. A flat chisel includes a substantially cylindrical shank and a working end region with a pair of converging substantially planar surfaces that include a plurality of protruding elongate ribs extending along at least part of its length. Each rib has, along the majority of its length, a substantially constant height above the surface from which it protrudes. Each chisel is made from steel, with the shank having a bainitic microstructure and the working end region having a martensitic microstructure.

Abstract: An inertial sensor-based pointing device 10 is compatible with a removable USB pod 14 having a digital flash memory 32 and an integrated radio transceiver 30. Flash memory 32 can be used by a user to store software that enables a user to auto load software applications into compatible computers. Pointing device 10 is adapted to receive USB pod 14 resulting in a combined memory/transceiver and pointing device system that can be conveniently carried as a single unit in a pocket or via a belt clip.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for explaining credit scores, for example in connection with a credit score explanation service, in which consumers can identify the sources of information used to establish their credit score, supply their credit report and credit score information in connection with their application for credit-related products and services, such as loans, and determine the effect on their credit score and cost for credit-related products and services based upon various hypothetical changes in their credit behavior.

Abstract: A cutting head for a drill bit has a body with an overall cruciform shape. One pair of opposing arms defines a main cutting edge. The other pair of opposing arms defines an auxiliary edge. The main cutting edge is defined by rake surfaces and relief surfaces. Each rake surface and relief surface is defined by a plurality of facets. The main cutting edge includes a chisel edge. A first pair of planar rake facets, one on each end of said chisel edge, and a first pair of planar relief facets, adjacent said chisel edge, defines a portion of the cutting edge. A remaining portion of the main cutting edge is defined at the apex of a plurality of curved rake facets and curved relief facets. The auxiliary edge is defined by a plurality of curved surfaces.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: A cutting head for a drill bit has a body with an overall cruciform shape. One pair of opposing arms defines a main cutting edge. The other pair of opposing arms defines an auxiliary edge. The main cutting edge is defined by rake surfaces and relief surfaces. Each rake surface and relief surface is defined by a plurality of facets. The main cutting edge includes a chisel edge. A first pair of planar rake facets, one on each end of said chisel edge, and a first pair of planar relief facets, adjacent said chisel edge, defines a portion of the cutting edge. A remaining portion of the main cutting edge is defined at the apex of a plurality of curved rake facets and curved relief facets. The auxiliary edge is defined by a plurality of curved surfaces.

Abstract: An ethanol production system includes a feedstock distributor and a micro-refinery. The feedstock distributor can pre-ferment and pre-distill the feedstock so that the ethanol content can be between 15% and 50%. This processing can improve the ethanol production efficiency because less waste material is transported from the distributor to the micro-refineries and less time is needed by the micro-refineries to produce ethanol.

Abstract: An ethanol and electrical power supply system includes a micro refinery that produces ethanol, an engine that runs on the ethanol produced by the micro-refinery and a generator that converts energy from the engine into electrical energy. The micro-refinery ferments feedstock to produce water and ethanol. Heat from the engine is transferred to the micro-refinery and used to vaporize the ethanol during the distillation process.

Abstract: A micro refinery produces ethanol that is distilled in a distillation tube. A sensor detects the liquid level within the distillation tube. The sensor includes a guide wire mounted within the distillation tube, a float mounted around the guide wire and an external magnetometer circuit mounted to an external surface of the distillation tube. The float includes a magnet and as the float rests on the upper surface of the fluid in the distillation tube, the external magnetometer circuit detects the position of the float and provides information about the liquid level in the distillation tube.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: A combination drill bit for use in both hand held drills and stationary drill presses has a shanking end, a working end and a helical flute portion between the shanking and working ends. The helical portion has a helix length (L) of L = ( D × ? tan ? ? ? ) . The drill bit has a core that is tapered from the working end to the shanking end. A web thickness length at the working end is 10% to 35% of the diameter and the thickness length at the junction of the shanking end is 70% to 90% of the diameter. The drill bit is manufactured from a high speed steel including at least 5% by weight of cobalt.

Abstract: A carbon credit coupon system is used to provide incentives to micro refinery operators to produce ethanol and reduce the CO2 emissions by replacing gasoline with ethanol. The distribution of carbon credit coupon is based upon an accurate and quantifiable reduction in the emissions of CO2 gas based upon the difference in emissions between gasoline and ethanol. The carbon credit coupons are distributed to micro refinery operators based upon the predicted or actual ethanol produced. The carbon credit coupons can be redeemed from vendors for good used to produce ethanol, corporate sponsors or entities in need of carbon credits in order to comply with government mandates to reduce carbon emissions, etc.

Abstract: A vertical gyroscope is adapted for use as a pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on the display of a computer. A motor at the core of the gyroscope is suspended by two pairs of orthogonal gimbals from a hand-held controller device and nominally oriented with its spin axis vertical by a pendulous device. Electro-optical shaft angle encoders sense the orientation of a hand-held controller device as it is manipulated by a user and the resulting electrical output is converted into a format usable by a computer to control the movement of a cursor on the screen of the computer display. For additional ease of use, the bottom of the controller is rounded so that the controller can be pointing while sitting on a surface. A third input is provided by providing a horizontal gyroscope within the pointing device. The third rotational signal can be used to either rotate a displayed object or to display or simulate a third dimension.