An expansible object includes a body simulating in shape an animate object, such as an insect. The body has an access port formed in the center portion thereof and an internal pouch which extends substantially traversely over the inside of the body. A plurality of small objects are retained within the pouch, and a closure device is affixed to the access port for sealably retaining items contained within the pouch. In use, the expansible object may serve as a plaything, as an educational tool, as...

Disclosed is an object carrier comprising a combination of a strap member and a hook-and-fabric-type fastener. The fabric element of the hook-and-fabric-type fastener covers substantially the entire external surface of the strap member. A ring is attached to one end of the strap member and the hook element of the hook-and-fabric-type fastener is attached to the other end. There is a handle on the external surface near the ring. The strap member is wrapped tightly about an object to be carried, w...

An elongate main body section of the manipulator has its opposite ends respectively connected to a base section and an object support section. The main body section consists of elongate flexible rod members extending in generally parallel spaced relationship to each other and to the central axis of such section. The lower end portions of the rods are driven by drive mechanisms within the base section to selectively cause the main body section to undergo extension/retraction, bending and/or twist...

The present invention discloses a technique for processing input objects to generate output objects. Initially, an input object is received. The received input object contains input data and one input function. A type of the received input object is determined. Based on the determined type, it is ascertained whether the received input object satisfies one or more predefined requirements. When it is ascertained that the input object satisfies each predefined requirement, the input function is exe...

An economical holder for solid objects such as audio cassettes, cartridges, compact disks, or the like is provided which is designed to couple with the sun visor or a vehicle in order to store solid objects for convenient access by the vehicle occupant. The preferred holder comprises a sheet of flexible material having closable pairs of holder pockets arranged thereon and coupling strips attached to opposed edges of the sheet. In use, the sheet is placed about the sun visor with coupling strips ...

A method of sequentially positioning different regions of a semiconductor wafer, onto each of which regions an image is to be transferred at a transfer station, the method comprising the steps of: detecting, at a non-transfer station, positions of the different regions of the wafer with respect to a reference mark; detecting, at the transfer station, a position of the reference mark with respect to a standard mark; detecting positions of the different regions of the wafer with respect to the sta...

The present invention discloses a technique for processing input objects to generate output objects. Initially, an input object is received. The received input object contains input data and one input function. A type of the received input object is determined. Based on the determined type, it is ascertained whether the received input object satisfies one or more predefined requirements. When it is ascertained that the input object satisfies each predefined requirement, the input function is exe...

A device will detect man-made objects by using a polarizer mounted to a video camera. The polarizer rotates about an axis in front of a lens array of the video camera. The rotation of the polarizer alternately polarizes light received in proportion to the speed of rotation. This produces flashing in intensity for detecting the object as well as background rejection due to its lack of polarization. A man-made object having both horizontal and vertical surfaces of a type that will reflect light th...

A device will assist in detecting man-made objects by using a liquid crystal retarder and a stationary polarizer. The liquid crystal retarder shifts impinging light 90 degrees between a nonrotated and a rotated mode. In the nonrotated mode, the retarder is essentially transparent, with the light passing through the retarder and through the polarizer. In the rotated mode, the impinging light will be rotated 90 degrees. An observer viewing the light passing through the polarizer will detect a diff...

A search light employs variable polarization angles to enhance target identification. The search light shines a beam of light which may be directed across terrain. The beam of light is alternated in polarization angles at a rate of about five to twelve cycles per second. The alternating contrast in polarization angles produces flashing to an observer viewing certain targets struck by the beam of light. The flashing appears when striking man-made objects which tend to have a differential in polar...