A circuit connectable to a microcontroller having an address bus, a data bus, a read line and a write line including a programmable logic device (PLD) array, at least one input pin and at least one databus macrocell. The input pin is connected to the PLD array and is connectable to the address bus. The databus macrocell is connected to the PLD array and to an external unit and is also connectable to the data bus, the read line and the write line. The databus directly accesses the databus macroce...

A service that maintains a minimum criteria level for service providers to be listed and available for public access. It can list not only the service provider's credentials and insurance support (with monitored expiration dates), but may also provide a current up-to-date rating system by the users themselves, as to the satisfaction level of the quality and reliability of the work performed. It can also offer a double-check of the credentials by customer verification input. Furthermore, the exam...

An autonomous scanner is disclosed for sequentially scanning a plurality of scan points to detect changes in state and to ascertain the new functional status indicated by any change of state. A plurality of shift registers form a memory to store status and timing information for the scan points in the same sequence in which the scan points are scanned. The number of stages in each shift register is equal to the number of scan points, and corresponding stages in each shift register store informat...

A lay-in ceiling system that has easily removable ceiling panels plus the feature of panels that may not be readily raised and removed from position. The support gridwork is placed in a kerf structure in the panels and obscured by the front face of the panels due to the use of a ship-lap joint. The joint is modified so that one board edge can be raised upwardly from the gridwork while the other board edge cannot be raised. The gridwork is provided with tabs that prevent the board, which will rai...

Address information is optically stored in the form of Fraunhofer holograms n successive frames of a film. During search, while any part of the Fraunhofer hologram of a rapidly moving frame is in the readout coherent light beam, the reconstructed image of the address of that frame remains stationary and superimposed over the matrix of light sensing elements employed to read the stored addresses.

The present invention is a random accessible signal filing system containing magnetic discs, at least two buffer memories and a circuit for controlling the buffer memories in such a way that the write-in and read-out of at least two of the buffer memories may be alternately performed, whereby through random access, the required signals are selected and read out so as to be outputted as a series of signals. In this system, during the outputting of the signals, the signals coming from the magnetic...

A process for allowing non-programmers to generate customized formats for computer printouts according to user specifications. The process allows a user to create a report or other formatted representation of data by responding to a sequence of prompting stimuli. Each stimulus is presented to the user by a computer processor in combination with a menu of command choices or in combination with instructions for responding by alphanumeric command or designation. The sequence of prompting stimuli is...

An externally accessible adjuster and latch having a biasing means such as a leaf spring for preventing inadvertent rotation of the adjuster.

A control system is disclosed for switching on or off appliances or other electrical devices at predetermined or preselected times. The timing or sequencing of switching on or switching off any appliances can be set or changed as desired by telephoning the system from a remote telephone and providing appropriate encoded instructions through the telephone lines. The system includes a central clock driven controller and one or more remote addressable switching means which communicate with the cent...

A rotatable member is held within a closure cap by a circumferential ridge. Both the closure cap and the rotatable member carry inwardly projecting studs. Ribs on stepped cylindrical surfaces of the container neck are provided with channels that permit axial passage of the studs when properly aligned. Proper alignment is achieved by means of stops on the rotatable member and the closure cap which, when engaged during rotation, align the studs circumferentially with the channels. The rotatable me...