Abstract: A method of making a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer cell is provided. The method includes providing a carrier substrate, where the carrier substrate comprises glass. The step of providing the glass substrate may include forming vias in the glass substrate. Further, the method includes providing a membrane such that at least one of the carrier substrate, or the membrane comprises support posts, where the support posts are configured to define a cavity depth. The method further includes bonding the membrane to the carrier substrate by using the support posts, where the carrier substrate, the membrane and the support posts define an acoustic cavity.

Abstract: A pulse width modulated solenoid control valve is described, wherein the valve includes a polymer fluid control body. The body includes a segmented fluid flow path for providing strength to the fluid control body assembly. Stand off ribs are provided to improve assembly into a control manifold. A casing forms an integral flux tube. A tapered push rod is used to reduce flux shorting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beam splitter that comprising a body having at least one substantially flat surface. The surface has surface regions arranged to receive radiation at respective incidence angle ranges. At least some of the incidence angle ranges of the radiation received by the respective surface regions differ from one another and each surface region has a respective optical property such that the influence of the respective incident angle range on the wavelength range of reflected and/or transmitted radiation is reduced.

Abstract: A system comprising a transmitter periodically transmitting a packet via electromagnetic radiation. The packet may be encoded with information and have a length measured in time. The system may further include a receiver comprising an antenna converting incident electromagnetic radiation to an analog electrical current, an analog-to-digital converter receiving the analog electrical current and producing a digital representation thereof, and first and second buffers. Each of the buffers may have a capacity of at least two times the length of the packet. The first and second buffers may store respective first and second copies of the digital representation. The first copy may be offset in time from the second copy by at least the length of the packet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of orienting perforating gun strings conveyed on a tool string. One embodiment of the present invention provides an orienting weight provided in a portion of the perforating device, such as the shaped charge, the loading tube or the gun housing. An adapter is provided intermediate the tool string that facilitates conveyance of the gun string downhole. Additionally, the adapter enables the gun string to rotate independent of the tool string.

Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (cMUT) cell is presented. The cMUT cell includes a lower electrode. Furthermore, the cMUT cell includes a diaphragm disposed adjacent to the lower electrode such that a gap having a first gap width is formed between the diaphragm and the lower electrode, wherein the diaphragm comprises one of a first epitaxial layer or a first polysilicon layer. In addition, a stress reducing material is disposed in the first epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A method and system for providing distributed web server authentication of a user in web servers using a shared secret key. The method and system include receiving a request to connect a user to a web server, creating a user password cookie using a shared secret key and transmitting the user password cookie in response to the request to connect. An implementation of the method and system includes establishing a connection between the web server and a second user using a second user password cookie and the shared secret key. Another implementation of the method and system includes establishing a connection between the user and a second web server using the user password cookie and the shared secret key.

Abstract: A device comprising an array of sensors and a multiplicity of bus lines, each sensor being electrically connected to a respective bus line and comprising a respective multiplicity of groups of micromachined sensor cells, the sensor cell groups of a particular sensor being electrically coupled to each other via the bus line to which that sensor is connected, each sensor cell group comprising a respective multiplicity of micromachined sensor cells that are electrically interconnected to each other and not switchably disconnectable from each other, the device further comprising means for isolating any one of the sensor cell groups from its associated bus line and in response to any one of the micromachined sensor cells of that sensor cell group being short-circuited to ground. In one implementation, the isolating means comprise a multiplicity of fuses.

Abstract: A method for dynamically adapting a radio signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold level of a subscriber radio in two-way radio communications includes determining pre-assigned subsystem site type (211) by a subscriber radio upon attempted registration with a subscriber radio subsystem site. The RSSI threshold level within the subscriber radio is then dynamically adjusted based on the subsystem site type. A predefined set of operational criteria is used by the subscriber radio to identify each subsystem site type and maintain predefined communication standards by either remaining within the subscriber radio subsystem site or being excluded from the subscriber radio subsystem site.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having an improved cleat configuration is provided. Various cleats are positioned for improved heel to toe transition and cleat pressure distribution as well as improved take-off and braking and side to side control for a wide variety of sports.

Abstract: The present technique provides for the manufacture and/or use of an ultrasound probe configured to acquire non-imaging data in addition to imaging data. In particular, the ultrasound probe includes a micro-machined ultrasound transducer formed on the surface of a substrate using micro-electric mechanical systems techniques or other techniques associated with semiconductor processing. Non-imaging sensors are formed on the substrate, either on the surface or the interior, or on a substrate proximate to the substrate upon which the transducer is formed. The non-imaging sensors may be used to acquire non-imaging data in conjunction with the acquisition of imaging data by the transducer.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having an improved cleat arrangement is provided. An angled or v-cleat is provided near the first metatarsal region to provide improved traction for a wide variety of sports. In some embodiments, cleats forming an obtuse angle opened towards the medial side of the shoe are also provided for improved forward and lateral traction.

Abstract: A device comprising an array of sensors that are reconfigurable by means of a switching network. The sensors may be optical, thermal or pressure sensors or ultrasonic transducers.

Abstract: A curved sensor device, such as an ultrasonic transducer array, is fabricated from a flat micromachined sensor (such as cMUT or pMUT) array constructed using micromachined electromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques. The device comprises: a support structure comprising a spine having a profile that is generally curved and a multiplicity of teeth extending from one side of the curved spine; and a multiplicity of sensors built on the support structure. The spine can be bent forward or backward and attached to a curved front face of a support member, thereby causing the sensors to adopt a curved array.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a body assembly of a refuse vehicle includes forming a first, second and third components of the assembly. A first and second locating constructions are formed in the first component. The second component is formed so as to have a first mating structure which is adapted to mate with the first locating construction in the first component so as to uniquely locate the second component with respect to the first component. The third component is formed so as to have a second mating structure which is adapted to mate with the second locating construction in the first component so as to uniquely locate the third component with respect to the first component.

Abstract: A fine-pitch acoustic transducer array that has a backing made of acoustically attenuative material. The backing material is prepared by homogeneously combining a matrix component and filler components having an average particle size less than one-fifth (preferably less than one-tenth) of the smallest dimension of the elements making up the array. In certain embodiments, the acoustically attenuative material comprises 25-45 wt. % tungsten particles, 15-35 wt. % silicone particles and 40-60 wt. % epoxy.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having an improved cleat arrangement is provided. An improved cleat having a v-shape is also provided. An angled or v-cleat is provided near the first metatarsal region to provide improved traction for a wide variety of sports.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having an improved cleat arrangement is provided. An angled or v-cleat is provided near the first metatarsal region to provide improved traction for a wide variety of sports. In some embodiments, cleats forming an obtuse angle opened towards the medial side of the shoe are also provided for improved forward and lateral traction.

Abstract: The reconfigurable ultrasound array disclosed herein is one that allows groups of subelements to be connected together dynamically so that the shape of the resulting element can be made to match the shape of the wave front. This can lead to improved performance and/or reduced channel count. Reconfigurability can be achieved using a switching network. A methodology and an algorithm are disclosed that allows the performance of this switching network to be improved by properly choosing the configuration of the switching network.

Abstract: A micromachined ultrasonic transducer array that focuses in the elevation direction. A curved lens is used to narrow the beam width in the elevation direction so that contrast resolution is improved and clinically relevant. Alternatively, a curved probe is formed by bending a micromachined substrate to have a predetermined curvature. The invention is further directed to methods of manufacturing such transducers.