Abstract: A method and system for enhancing speech intelligibility using wireless communication in portable, battery-powered and entirely user-supportable devices. The devices may be talker devices and receiver devices, where the audio signals input into the talker devices may be transmitted to the receiver devices to provide better quality audio to person using the receiver devices. The receiver devices may initiate and terminate communications with the talker devices. Additionally, the receiver devices may indicate to the talker devices the gain level the talker devices need to apply to the audio signals before sending them to the receiver devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting remote options to a digital telephone base. Physical and communications protocols for connections and a flexible control scheme which can be as simple or elaborate as a given option requires are provided. The digital telephone includes an option bay connection, having a hierarchical control protocol. The option bay connection makes available several types of information, including: local analog audio, analog voice, digital voice, digital data and telephone control streams.

Abstract: An apparatus which uses a sensing device for measuring gauges of elastomeric or rigid articles, or runout of elastomeric articles, has a pivoting arm which holds a means for creating a signal, and is movable relative to the object being measured. The means for creating a signal provides a signal to the sensing device, and the magnitude of the signal depends on the position of the pivoting arm relative to the object being measured. Movement of the pivoting arm, caused by changes in the dimensions of the object, can be recorded and analyzed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a programmable computing device to a digital telephone via an adapter. The digital telephone includes an option bay connection, having a hierarchical control protocol. The option bay connection makes available several types of information including local analog audio, and analog voice, digital voice, digital data and telephone control streams. The adapter passes the telephony control data to and from a programmable computing device such as a personal computer, enabling an application operating on the computing device to control or monitor the operation of the telephone. The adapter includes a microcontroller and an interface for a serial port and can thus be connected to the serial port of the programmable computing device.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an integrated circuit transponder which, upon interrogation by an external RF signal, transmits tire identification and tire pressure data in digitally-coded form. The transponder has an antenna adjacent and thereby coupled by electric or magnetic fields to an annular tensile member comprising a bead of the tire. The antenna has lead wires that preferably are positioned between the innerliner of the tire and its continuous carcass ply. The transponder thus is on the axially inner side of the reinforced carcass ply. A pressure transducer is within the transponder and is responsive, preferably through the innerliner material, to pressure within the tire. If the antenna is a coil, the coil is substantially planar in shape and parallel with the reinforced carcass ply. The transponder and pressure transducer also can be attached to the axially inner side of the innerliner.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an integrated circuit transponder which, upon interrogation by an external RF signal, transmits tire identification and/or other data in digitally-coded form. The transponder has a coil antenna of small enclosed area as compared to the area enclosed by an annular tensile member comprising a bead of the tire. The annular tensile member, during transponder interrogation, acts as the primary winding of a transformer. The coil antenna is loosely coupled to the primary winding and is the secondary winding of the transformer. The coil antenna is substantially planar in shape, and, when positioned between the innerliner of the tire and its carcass ply, the transponder may include a pressure sensor responsive to tire inflation pressure.

Abstract: A combination pneumatic tire and integrated circuit transponder for tire identification. The transponder is located within the tire structure and is capable of transmitting an identifying digital signal in response to interrogation by an R/F electric field emanating from outside the tire. The transponder then transmits the identifying signal, which is received, conditioned and demodulated. The tire has a steel-reinforced component, such as an annular tensile member in its bead or a steel-reinforced ply. The transponder has first and second electrodes, the first of which is positioned such that the average spacing of this first electrode's surface from one of the steel-reinforced tire components is substantially less than the average spacing of the second electrode's surface from such component.

Abstract: Light admitting window coverings are provided with apertures which are formed in a covering such as a vertical blind louver. The louver is formed of opposed panel portions with a transparent film or sheet sandwiched therebetween to provide for sufficient light transmission and visibility through the louvers in the closed position but without permitting convective heat transmission through the window covering. The blind louvers may be formed with an insulating air space between the opposed louver panel portions and the transparent film or sheet.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for automatically moving a set of venetian type window blinds or similar louvered window coverings or partitions between open or closed positions in response to sensing a predetermined level of solar energy imposed on the window or opening across which the covering is to be disposed.

Abstract: Strip material coming from a letoff position is wound on a supply reel by rotating the reel while at the same time providing axial movement of the reel relative to the letoff. The axial movement is stopped for a predetermined period of time when the strip reaches an end portion of the reel and before the relative axial movement is reversed to form another layer on the reel to provide a supporting edge surface for other layers and reduce the induced curl in the strip material. Each successive layer of strip material may be of a shorter length to provide a pyramid configuration to maintain the position of the windings. This method may be controlled by a microprocessor programmed with a basic sequence which can be altered by the operator to set the number of base layers, the number of pyramid layers and the duration of the interval during which there is no relative axial movement of the shell and the letoff at the end of each pass on the supply reel.

Abstract: Tooling for solid propellant casting consisting essentially of a shaped, filled polymer or copolymer article having an outer layer of cured polyvinyl butyral. The casting tooling is used extensively throughout the solid propellant industry to mold or form the solid propellant grain of rocket motors. The cured polyvinyl butyral layer provides improved mold release properties to the tooling.