Abstract: A transparent haptic overlay device, system and method are provided. The transparent haptic overlay device (10) includes a transparent overlay (22) for transmitting the force of the user to a display (20), an actuator (24) for generating forces corresponding to haptic effects and imparting these forces to the user's finger and a controller (28) for simulating the haptic effects. The display (20) may be a touch sensitive display, which has a functionality of sensing the position of the user. Through the overlay (22), the user receives the haptic effects in response to the motion relative to the image of the objects (14) on the display (20).

Abstract: A method of creating a system for haptically and graphically rendering one or more scenes. The method includes generating one or more haptic targets for haptically rendering the scene as a virtual scene. The scene is haptically rendered as the virtual scene. The method also includes providing one or more graphics targets for graphically rendering the scene as a graphical scene, generating an initial data packet for the scene, and transmitting the initial data packet to the graphics target. The method also includes loading the initial data packet on the graphics target to create the graphical scene.

Abstract: Connection system to connect a plurality of communication channels to an electronic apparatus such as a personal computer, a PC-cluster or suchlike, and expansion card to manage the communication channels on the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus has a chassis. The system consists of a first printed circuit, which supports first connectors for managing a first pair of communication channels on the electronic apparatus and connection members for assembling at least a second printed circuit. The second printed circuit supports in turn second connectors for managing a second pair of communication channels on the electronic apparatus. The first and the second printed circuit develop at least partly outside the chassis.

Abstract: Multilayer expansion card for connecting an apparatus or device to an electronic apparatus, particularly for association to a mother card (15) of a Personal Computer. The card comprises a first part (12), intended principally for connection, having a thickness coherent with the requirements of size for connection to the standard slots (14) of the mother card (15), and a second part (13), intended principally for the management of the card functions and for processing, and hence the electronics, having a greater thickness with respect to the first part (12) in order to contain a correspondingly greater number of layers (11, 16) intended for the management of a high density of electronic-type signals.

Abstract: A Hard Real Time Control Center (HRTCC), comprised of hardware, software and firmware, with time synchronisation and time delay compensation methodologies that allows Application Hardware and/or User Input Devices to be networked together on any communications network as if there were negligible network delays in the system, is disclosed. This will allow Application Hardware and/or User Input Devices (connected to an HRTCC at one location (node) on the network) to control or operate Application Hardware and/or User Input Devices connected to another HRTCC at a remote location without the detrimental effects of network time delays. The time synchronisation of the various HRTCCs on the network can be enabled using hardware (e.g. a global positioning system (GPS)) or any other software method (e.g. Network Time Protocol). Using time stamps from the time synchronisation, the time delay of the signals (data) transferred over the network can be determined.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seat, especially a vehicle seat, and preferably an air passenger seat, comprising a seat element and a seat element carrier (12), a backrest (10) which can be adjusted in terms of the incline thereof, and at least one armrest (14), said armrest being pivotably joined to the backrest (10). The armrest (14) is continuously moved with the increasing or decreasing incline of the backrest (10) by means of an adjustment mechanism (20), said adjustment mechanism (20) for the armrest (14) comprising at least four articulation points (22, 24, 26, 28). A parallelogram articulation of the armrest is thus achieved by which means said armrest can lower itself. The aim of the invention is to be able to practically bring the backrest into a horizontal position in which the so-called parallelogram geometrically follows a fictitious line in an average incline position of the backrest, the four articulation points of the parallelogram lying on one line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seat, especially a vehicle seat, and preferably an air passenger seat, comprising a seat element and a seat element carrier (12), a backrest (10) which can be adjusted in terms of the incline thereof, and at least one armrest (14), said armrest being pivotably joined to the backrest (10). The armrest (14) is continuously moved with the increasing or decreasing incline of the backrest (10) by means of an adjustment mechanism (20), said adjustment mechanism (20) for the armrest (14) comprising at least four articulation points (22, 24, 26, 28). A parallelogram articulation of the armrest is thus achieved by which means said armrest can lower itself. The aim of the invention is to be able to practically bring the backrest into a horizontal position in which the so-called parallelogram geometrically follows a fictitious line in an average incline position of the backrest, the four articulation points of the parallelogram lying on one line.

Abstract: A navigation controller and method for performing navigation control are provided. According to the method, a time varying prediction model is determined based on a predictor having a model component and a correlation processor component. The time varying linear prediction model is then used to formulate a predictive controller or to update the controller in use. The controller is then used to control navigation. Because of the correlation processor, the predictor is better adapted to compensate for shortcomings in the model thus making the automated navigation control superior. In use, the method controls vessel navigation in any of a number of predefined modes such as cruising and turning modes. Moreover, through the selection of the operational scenario, the controller can be made to adapt to differing control objectives—for example tight tracking or increased operational efficiency of the vessel.