Abstract: A free floating modular concrete footing system uniformly secures concrete forms without the need to secure vertical rods into the soil. A rigid form of a predetermined length spans atop a desired footing width to capture and secure opposing panels creating the footing form. Panels capable of supporting a concrete or similar matrix, are aligned on edge to create the desired form. The lower edge of a first panel form is in contact with the soil surface while the upper edge resides within a first channel of a modular concrete footing device.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a communication link, wherein the system includes a communications unit (60, FIG. 3) having a vocoder (62) for providing user-specific voice data in the form of a unique set of speech characteristic model parameters for each authorized user. The method (200, FIG. 8) includes the steps of providing user-specific voice data via a connection training method (FIGS. 5, 6, or 7), collecting a sample of speech characteristics from a user desiring to access the communication unit (206, FIG. 8), comparing the sample with the user-specific voice data (212), granting the user access to the communication unit to establish a communication link with another communication unit if the sample is comparable with the user-specific voice data (215), and denying the user access to the communication unit if the sample is incomparable with the user-specific voice data (220).

Abstract: A form gap filling device for filling or blocking form gaps in construction forms used to fabricate foundations, walls and similar structures. The form gap filling device is comprised of an elongated member having an elongated support centrally and longitudinally formed thereon, angled main portions formed on the elongated support and extending outward from the elongated support, angled sealing portions formed on the main portions and extending outward from the main portions and at least one spring biased rotatable handle rotatably attached to the elongated member. The at least one spring biased rotatable handle is medially positioned on and removably contacts a support surface of the elongated support. The at least one spring biased rotatable handle acts in concert with the sealing portions to removably engage adjacent spaced apart form elements thereby filling or blocking construction form gaps.

Abstract: A device for placing elongated objects transversely onto a conveyor is disclosed. A preferred device is adapted for moving ears of corn. The preferred device includes a vibratory trough feeder which arranges and moves the ears substantially end to end and into a plurality of lanes, a plurality of drop gates for dropping a group of ears onto a receiving conveyor below, an eccentric conveyor for moving the ears from the lanes into the drop gates, a mechanism for actuating the drop gates, and a receiving conveyor capable of traveling in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lanes, and located beneath the drop gates.

Abstract: A product produced by the process of forming an ice glazing within the canopy of broccoli florets to preserve the floret structure and reduce fines loss is disclosed. The process includes the steps of individually freezing the broccoli florets, and immersing the florets in water at a water temperature and for an amount of time sufficient to form an ice glazing within the structure of the floret. The floret is then refrozen. The product has a glazing which preserves the structure of the floret during processing and subsequently handling. A frozen broccoli floret having an ice glazing within the crevices of the floret is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming an ice glazing within the canopy of broccoli florets to preserve the floret structure and reduce fines loss. The steps include individually freezing the broccoli florets, and immersing the florets in water of a temperature and for an amount of time sufficient to form an ice glazing within the structure of the floret. The method of glazing preserves the structure of the floret during processing and subsequent handling and reduces fines loss.

Abstract: A multi-rate TDMA communication system includes a baseline TDMA network and at least one auxiliary TDMA network oprating through the same satellite repeater. The baseline and auxiliary networks may each include a plurality of ground stations, the baseline network stations operating at a bit rate different from the bit rate of the auxiliary network. To maintain orderly communications, a station synchronized with the baseline frame reference burst (FRB) transmits a sub-frame reference burst (SFRB) which latter burst is at a bit rate common to the auxiliary network stations. The auxiliary network stations synchronize to the SFRB.

Abstract: A time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system has a plurality of geographically separated stations including a first group of stations, each of which can communicate with any other station in the first group through a first transponder in a predetermined portion of a TDMA frame (intra-group traffic), and a second group of stations, each of which can communicate with any other station in the second group through a second transponder in a predetermined portion of a TDMA frame associated with the second transponder (intra-group traffic). The TDMA frames of the first and second transponders are synchronized and inter-group traffic, i.e., communications between a station in the first group and a station in the second group, takes place in another predetermined portion of each of the frames which is exclusive of the predetermined portion of both frames used for intra-group traffic.

Abstract: A time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system has a plurality of geographically separated stations including a first group of stations, each of which can communicate with any other station in the first group through a first transponder in a predetermined portion of a TDMA frame (intra-group traffic), and a second group of stations, each of which can communicate with any other station in the second group through a second transponder in a predetermined portion of a TDMA frame associated with the second transponder (intra-group traffic). The TDMA frames of the first and second transponders are synchronized and inter-group traffic, i.e., communications between a station in the first group and a station in the second group, takes place in another predetermined portion of each of the frames which is exclusive of the predetermined portion of both frames used for intra-group traffic.

Abstract: A stuff decision code word of multiple bit length is transmitted over a number of frames equal to the number of bits per stuff decision code word. Advantage is made of a unique word used for burst synchronization wherein a common code word is used for both stuff decision and burst synchronization. A hierarchy of bursts is established to identify the particular channel of information to which the stuff decision is associated.