Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user-guidable robot appendage provides haptic feedback to the user.

Abstract: An intumescent composition which comprises a polymer selected from a silane-terminated polyurethane or a silane-terminated polyether, a plasticizer that is compatible with the polymer and an intumescent ingredient. Processes of forming a cured intumescent substance, and methods of fire protecting a building are also provided.

Abstract: An in-wall retractable water hose assembly for retracting and storing a water hose, having a housing located within a dwelling and an insulated front access door for providing access to the hose from outside the dwelling. A reel assembly is mounted within the housing on which the water hose is spooled, and a motor connected to the reel assembly effects rotation of the reel. A power box is positioned within the housing and has a power switch in communication with the motor. A movable casing is mounted on the reel assembly, the casing having a channel for accommodating the water hose. Movement of the casing along the reel assembly determines the positioning of the hose and maintains an even distribution of the hose along the reel. A stabilizing bar prevents wobbling of the casing during retraction of the water hose.

Abstract: A ferroelectric motor comprises a single layer of ferroelectric material electrically excited by an array of electrical contacts and an electrical excitation source for supplying phased electrical signals to the contacts thereby creating a travelling wave of mechanical deformation in the ferroelectric layer and actuating an actuator. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the actuator may be linear or rotary. The motor may be fabricated on a single integrated circuit die, in which case the layer of ferroelectric material may be a thin film of PZT. In other embodiments a motor may comprise two dies which are sandwiched together by wafer to wafer bonding. Portions of a die may be removed to permit a linear actuator to project beyond the die.

Abstract: An electrical device comprises a three-dimensional body formed from an organic polymer and a plurality of electrical elements attached to the body. The body has a regular pattern of sockets in its surface, and the electrical elements have barbed appendages, or, alternatively, the body has appendages and the electrical elements have sockets. The elements are affixed to the body by insertion of the appendages into the sockets. Electrical connections between the electrical elements are formed by selective deposition of tungsten onto the surface of the body with a scanning laser beam. A miniature ("gnat") robot can be constructed using those constructional techniques.

Abstract: An infrared sensor operable without cooling and thus usable at room temperature comprises a substrate supporting thin films of pyroelectric material and switched capacitor control circuitry. The control circuitry compares the absolute capacitance of a reference thin film to that of a sensor thin film, thereby sensing infrared radiation without the use of a chopper device. The reference thin film is thermally coupled to the substrate, and the sensor thin film is thermally insulated form the substrate. To increase the fill factor, the sensor thin film is placed directly above the control circuitry. In another apsect, the sensor is adpated to sense visible and infrared light by adding a CCD sensor and appropriate control circuitry to the substrate.

Abstract: A discriminator circuit for use with a scintillation detector, wherein the scintillation detector output is fed to a time discriminator and the output of the time discriminator is fed via a short precision delay device to one input terminal of a transmission gate device. The detector output signal is also fed to a fast energy discriminator whose output is furnished as an enable signal to the other input terminal of the transmission gate device, providing time output pulses. Timing pulses from the transmission gate device are furnished to a long non-precision delay device and then to one input terminal of a transmission gate. The detector output signal is also fed through a slow energy discriminator and an enable line to another input terminal of the last-named transmission gate, providing energy output pulses in an energy output line which are furnished to the subsequent portion of the system.

Abstract: A positron emission tomographic scanner is provided with cross-slice event data handling capability by adding only a coincidence detector and register in common to the circuitry for two adjacent planar detector arrays and adding an OR gate to the circuitry for each array. The improvement permits the same circuitry to be utilized for both cross-slice event processing and intra-slice event processing. Selection of the identification code for a detector is determined by a first coincidence detector in the case of an intra-slice event and the added coincidence detector in the case of an inter-slice event.

Abstract: A gamma ray coincidence analysis system for a multichannel nuclear imaging device of the type employing scintillation detectors in ring-like arrays, with the detectors arranged in quadrants of the rings. The scintillation detectors in a ring have output circuits including respective timing discriminators and OR gates, and respective energy discriminators providing delayed energy pulses, and wherein timing pulses from the respective quadrants are fed via the OR gates to the inputs of a four-input coincidence detector without any delay except for a small delay internal to the discriminators and the very small delay of the OR gates. The delay of the energy pulses at the energy discriminators is for an energy validation period of 500 nsec. The output pulse from the coincidence detector is subsequently delayed for a similar period for verification of the energy levels of the two channels causing the coincidence.

Abstract: A dual-energy detector system for use in computer assisted tomography. This system produces two independent sets of information from one scan, namely, high-energy and low-energy data. The system employs two cooperating detectors. The first one responds primarily to low-energy photons, allowing most high-energy photons to pass through. The second detector lies behind the first and detects the remaining photons. Thus, two electrical signals are generated which contain information in two different energy ranges, which signals can be computer-processed. The attenuation coefficients at these two energies are sufficiently different so that differential diagnosis and chemical identification may be aided. The computer-processed signals may be employed to provide any of (a) beam-hardening correction, (b) chemical identification and composition of tissues, such as lesions, bone, etc., (c) localization of injected contrast material, or (d) attenuation coefficients for radiation therapy planning.