Abstract: A light detector which includes a housing having front and rear walls, a light receiving section disposed on the front wall, and displays disposed on the front and rear walls for showing the location of received light relative on the light receiving section. Also disclosed is a laser level including a motor, a shaft driven by the motor, a housing fixedly disposed on the shaft, the housing having a bore therein, a barrel pivotally connected to the housing, a laser diode module disposed within the barrel, and a screw disposed on the housing and contacting the barrel for adjusting the pivotal position of the barrel.

Abstract: Absorbent composites suitable for incorporation into the absorbent core of disposable absorbent articles. The absorbent composites include at least one particle of a superabsorbent material covered with a coating of particles. The absorbent composites are adapted to exhibit an improved Gel Bed Permeability.

Abstract: A method for scheduling manufacture of an order in a factory which includes planning a time for manufacturing an order so as to have the manufacture of the order complete during a desired shipping window and determining the desired shipping window so as to allow the order to be shipped via a lower cost shipping method while arriving at a destination. A method manufacturing an order in a factory which includes synchronizing production of the order with a desired routing schedule and determining the desired routing schedule so as to allow the order to be routed via lower cost shipping method while arriving at a destination.

Abstract: A method for scheduling work and delivery of material for items in a factory which includes obtaining a customer order, determining a current state of an available inventory of material from a plurality of material sources, generating a material request plan for producing the item using the customer order and the current state of the available inventory and executing the material request plan. The customer order includes an item ordered by a customer and the item has an associated quantity of a material to produce. The customer order also includes a desired shipping schedule. The generating a material request plan includes scheduling based upon the desired shipping schedule. The executing the material request plan takes into account the desired shipping schedule.

Abstract: A method for scheduling manufacture of an item in a factory which includes planning a time for manufacturing an item so as to have the manufacture of the item complete during a desired shipping window, determining the desired shipping window so as to allow the item to be shipped via a lower cost shipping method while arriving at a destination as if shipped via an expedited shipping method, and determining a carrier service for shipping the item so as to enable the item to be shipped via a lower cost shipping method while arriving at a destination as if shipped via an expedited shipping method.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite absorbent member is provided that includes:

Abstract: A composite absorbent member containing layers that have a controlled pore size distribution is provided. For example, in some embodiments, the composite absorbent member has an inner layer and two outer layers, in which the inner layer has a higher weight percentage of pulp fibers than the outer layers and also contains smaller pores than the outer layers. In this embodiment, the resulting composite member can have a fast intake rate, less leakage, reduced rewetting, and reduced bunching and twisting.

Abstract: A system for on-line enrolment includes an application server for controlling and communicating with an end-user and an institution with which the end-user desires to enroll. The application server has an evaluation service for providing workflow and logic in accordance with the institution's business criteria. When initiated by an end-user a management server determines and downloads appropriate client software to the end-user, which includes a signing agent, that allows the end-user to digitally sign the business agreements needed to complete an account enrolment with an institution such as a bank, stock broker or other financial institution. A verification service authenticates information provided by the end-user. A certificate service sends a digital certificate to an end-user. An evaluation service receives a digitally signed electronic business agreement from the end-user to complete enrolment of the end-user and forms a complete enrolment package.

Abstract: An electronic card which is a composite of various materials, including an optically sensitive digital storage section which is capable of being formatted and having digital binary data stored within its surface. The card is capable of being erased and having new data written and of being easily carried on a person in a wallet or purse. An optical screening reader/writer drive is capable of formatting the storage media, writing data onto the card, erasing data from the card and rewriting data onto the same card.

Abstract: A sensing device for capturing acoustic heart sounds has a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material which generates excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory energy outputs. The sensing device includes metallization layers on the diaphragm for receiving and transmitting the excitation signals to an output display device via associated electrical contacts and electrical leads and also includes a layer of adhesive material for coupling the sensing device to the subject. The sensing device further includes snap connectors for allowing the device to be quickly disengaged from electrical leads and discarded. A patch sensor device is disclosed which enables acoustic outputs to be triangulated and pinpointed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acoustic sensor device for capturing internal body sounds. The acoustic sensor device is designed to sense the flexing of a patient's skin that is a result of the localized nature of internal body sounds, especially the patient's heart sounds, and generate an electrical signal analogous to the flexure of the skin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensing device for capturing acoustic heart sounds. The sensing device has a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material which generates excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory energy outputs. The sensing device includes metallization layers on the diaphragm for receiving and transmitting the excitation signals to an output display device via associated electrical contacts and electrical leads and also includes a layer of adhesive material for coupling the sensing device to the subject. The sensing device further includes snap connectors for allowing the device to be quickly disengaged from electrical leads and discarded. A patch sensor device is disclosed which enables acoustic outputs to be triangulated and pinpointed.

Abstract: A process for beneficiating particulate titanium-bearing ore containing iron oxides is disclosed. The first step of the process entails prereducing the ore to convert about 20-90 percent of the iron oxides in the ore to metallic iron. Next, the prereduced ore is introduced into a mechanical reduction kiln and contacted with HCl and particulate carbonaceous reducing material. The turning and cascading of the materials in the kiln, in the presence of HCl and the reducing material, converts at least some remaining iron oxide in the ore to metallic iron and causes metallic iron to be liberated from the ore grains. Particulate metallic iron having a particle size of at least 50 microns is thereby formed. Finally, the particulate iron is separated from the ore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved device and method for separating a first component in a solution from a second component in the solution. The device comprises a centrifuge for applying centrifugal force to the solution and at least one transducer for emitting a sonic energy force such as an ultrasonic wave into a container of the solution while the centrifuge is rotating. The method of the present invention broadly comprises the steps of applying a centrifugal force to the solution to separate the first component from the second component and simultaneously applying a sonic energy force to the solution to speed up the separation of the first component from the second component. A tool for removing transducers from the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensing device for capturing acoustic heart sounds. The sensing device has a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material which generates excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory energy outputs. The sensing device includes metallization layers on the diaphragm for receiving and transmitting the excitation signals to an output display device via associated electrical contacts and electrical leads and also includes a layer of adhesive material for coupling the sensing device to the subject. The sensing device further includes snap connectors for allowing the device to be quickly disengaged from electrical leads and discarded. A patch sensor device is disclosed which enables acoustic outputs to be triangulated and pinpointed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a process for detecting, assessing, grading and diagnosing heart conditions in human beings. The system includes a device for providing or generating an acoustic blood flow signal and a signal representative of the electrical activity of a subject's heart. The device for providing the acoustic blood flow (MCG) signal may be a transducer or microphone attached to the patient, or in the alternative, an acoustic signal stored in a storage device. The device for providing the electrical activity (ECG) signal may be an electrocardiogram device attached to the subject or a stored ECG signal. The ECG signal is conditioned in a conditioning circuit to provide a timing or calibration signal having QRS spikes at the onset of each systolic portion of a heart cycle. The MCG signal passes through its own conditioning circuit to filter out unwanted noise and to amplify low frequency sounds.

Abstract: A method for making a reinforced fibrous mat having a net layer between two fibrous layers and the reinforced fibrous mat made therefrom is disclosed. The net layer improves handleability of the fibrous mat. The fibrous mat may be used as is or it may be molded to form a molded product. A thermoplastic binder such as latex or starch is used in forming the fibrous layers. A thermoset binding agent such as a phenolic resin is added to the fibers if the reinforced fibrous mat is molded.

Abstract: A molded product is made having uniform strength throughout the product. The molded product is made by mixing together fibrous materials such as cellulosic fibers and a heat-fusible binding agent such as a phenolic resin to form an admixture. The admixture is then sprayed with a binding agent such as starch as it is dispersed to form a fibrous molding preform. Heat and pressure are applied to the molding preform to form a molded product.