Other

University of California

Robert N Hamburger

Ruibo Wang

Jien-Ping Jiang

Donald F Kaminski, Deceased

Mark A Castracane

A system and method of attaching a flag display to a mailbox in a manner that enables the flag display to hang below the mailbox. The system includes a flag display that has a length equivalent to the sum of the combined lengths of the two sides of the mailbox and the front of the mailbox. The top edge of the flag display attaches to the exterior of the mailbox, near its base. The flag display attaches to the mailbox using hook and loop material or some other equivalent fastening means. The flag display hangs down from the base of the mailbox while maintaining the generally rectangular configuration of the mailbox base. At the bottom of the flag display, the flag display is either weighted or anchored to the mailbox post.

Device and method for suspending a flag display from a mailbox

An allergen particle detecting apparatus has a sample area through which environmental air is directed. A light beam is directed through the air sample so that portions of the beam will be scattered if any particles are present in the path of the beam. A beam blocking device on the opposite side of the air sample is arranged to block all light except light scattered in a predetermined angular range corresponding to a predetermined allergen particle size range. Light transmitted through the blocking device is detected by a light detector and an alarm output signal is produced if the detected amount of light is above a predetermined level.

Allergen detector system and method

A light beam is directed from a light source through an air sample so that portions of the beam will be scattered if any particles are present in the path of the beam. A beam blocking device on the opposite side of the air sample is arranged to block all light except light scattered in a predetermined angular range corresponding to a predetermined allergen particle size range. A light focusing lens in front of the light source is arranged to focus the unscattered part of the light beam onto the blocking device. Light transmitted through the blocking device is detected by a light detector and an alarm output signal is produced if the detected amount of light is above a predetermined level. The signal may be used to activate filtering or air conditioning devices.

A sensor system includes an optical fiber sensor element which is connected to a light source at one end and a detector at the opposite end. The sensor element is an optical fiber which has a light transmitting core, a cladding layer surrounding the core, and an outer protective layer. The outer protective layer is removed along at least part of the length of the fiber to expose a portion of the cladding layer, and the exposed portion of the cladding layer is roughened to produce a plurality of surface scratches extending through at least part of the thickness of the cladding layer. The exposed, roughened portion of the cladding layer forms a sensor region through which light is lost from the core, and is exposed to a medium to be monitored so that the amount of light lost will be dependent on the refractive index of the medium.

Fiber-optic sensor device and method

An allergen particle detecting apparatus has a passageway through which environmental air is directed. A light beam is directed across the passageway so that portions of the beam will be scattered if any particles are present in the path of the beam. A beam blocking device on the opposite side of the passageway blocks any non-scattered portion of the beam while transmitting any scattered portions of the beam along a light path in the apparatus. Any light scattered by allergen size particles will be traveling in a predetermined angular range, and a pinhole device is positioned in the light path so as to transmit only light traveling in that angular range. Light transmitted through the pinhole device is detected by a light detector and an alarm output signal is produced if the detected amount of light is above a predetermined level.

An allergen detector and allergen detection method for sampling the environment where the detector is located and providing an alarm indication when allergen particulates exceed a predetermined level. The invention comprises a housing having a passageway formed therethrough with a fan disposed in the passageway that is responsive to a flow control signal for creating air flow in a first direction through the passageway. At least one filter is disposed in the passageway for removing particulates larger than allergen particulates in air flowing through the passageway in the first direction. An allergen particulate detector is disposed in the passageway downstream of the filter, with respect to air flow in the first direction, for detecting allergen particulates in the air flowing through the passageway and for providing a corresponding detection signal. A controller is disposed in the housing and coupled to the fan and the allergen detector for generating, at periodic time intervals for a predetermined time period, the flow control signal. The controller is responsive to the detection signal for generating an alarm signal when the detection signal reaches a predetermined level indicative of a condition of excessive allergen particulates present in the environment. An alarm disposed in the housing and coupled to the controller receives the alarm signal and provides an indication of the condition of excessive allergen particulates present in the environment.

Method and apparatus for detecting airborne allergen particulates

A group of relatively low molecular weight polypeptides having from 3 to 10 amino acids block the allergic response. These 'blocking' polypeptides have amino acid sequences corresponding to amino acid sequences appearing in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th domains of the epsilon chain of IgE. Specific active 'blocking' polypeptides are disclosed and the synthesis and use thereof are described.

Polypeptide agents for blocking the human allergic response

A group of relatively low molecular weight polypeptides having from 3 to 10 amino acids block the allergic response. These 'blocking' polypeptides have amino acid sequences corresponding to amino acid sequences appearing in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th domains of the epsilon chain of IgE. Certain derivatives of such polypeptides also exhibit 'blocking' activity. Specific active 'blocking' polypeptides are disclosed and the synthesis and use thereof are described.

Growing community of inventors

La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Robert N Hamburger