Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Abstract: A system that measures the motion of a camera traveling over a living subject by reference to images taken from the camera, while measuring the subject's shape, pose and motion. The system can segment each image into pixels containing the subject and pixels not containing the subject, and ascribe each pixel containing the subject to a precise location on the subject's body. In one embodiment, a computer connected to a camera and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) provides estimates of the camera's location, attitude and velocity by integrating the motion of the camera with respect to features in the environment and on the surface of the subject, corrected for the motion of the subject. The system corrects accumulated errors in the integration of camera motion by recognizing the subject's body shape in the collected data.

Abstract: A system that measures the motion of a camera traveling over a living subject by reference to images taken from the camera, while measuring the subject's shape, pose and motion. The system can segment each image into pixels containing the subject and pixels not containing the subject, and ascribe each pixel containing the subject to a precise location on the subject's body. In one embodiment, a computer connected to a camera and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) provides estimates of the camera's location, attitude and velocity by integrating the motion of the camera with respect to features in the environment and on the surface of the subject, corrected for the motion of the subject. The system corrects accumulated errors in the integration of camera motion by recognizing the subject's body shape in the collected data.

Abstract: A system that measures the motion of a platform traveling over water by reference to images taken from the platform. In one embodiment, the invention is comprised of a computer connected to a camera and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) which provides estimates of the platform's location, attitude and velocity by integrating the motion of the platform with respect to features on the water's surface, corrected for the motion of those features. The invention measures the motion of the water features according to equations of surface water wave celerity to measure motion of features across the water, and by measuring the feature motion shear across images or the discrepancy between the navigation estimates and the observed water feature motion to detect boundaries of water currents. The invention is also capable of measuring water depth, wave motion, sea state and current present in the water, whether affixed to a navigating platform or to a stationary reference point.

Abstract: A fluidic dispensing device includes a housing having an exterior wall and a chamber. The exterior wall has a first opening. The chamber has an interior space and has a port coupled in fluid communication with the first opening. A stir bar is located in the chamber. The stir bar has a rotational axis. A guide portion is located in the chamber. The guide portion includes a confining member having a guide opening that defines an interior radial confining surface that engages the stir bar, wherein the guide opening facilitates a radial movement of the stir bar in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a fluidic dispensing device includes providing a fluidic dispensing device having a fluid reservoir containing fluid, the fluid reservoir being defined in part by a base wall, and having a stir bar located in the fluid reservoir adjacent to the base wall, and having a fluid ejection chip having a fluid ejection direction; positioning the fluidic dispensing device at a predetermined orientation, wherein the fluid ejection direction is oriented in a range of upward vertical, plus or minus 90 degrees; and rotating the stir bar in a first rotational direction starting with a first rotational speed and increasing rotational velocity from the first rotational speed to a second rotational speed.

Abstract: A fluidic dispensing device includes a housing having an exterior wall and a chamber. The exterior wall has a first opening. The chamber has an interior space and has a port coupled in fluid communication with the first opening. A stir bar is located in the chamber. The stir bar has a rotational axis. A guide portion is located in the chamber. The guide portion includes a confining member having a guide opening that defines an interior radial confining surface that engages the stir bar, wherein the guide opening facilitates a radial movement of the stir bar in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A fluidic dispensing device includes a housing having an exterior wall and a fluid reservoir. The exterior wall has a chip mounting surface defining a first plane and has a first opening. The fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the first opening. An ejection chip is mounted to the chip mounting surface. The ejection chip is in fluid communication with the first opening. The ejection chip has a plurality of ejection nozzles oriented such that a fluid ejection direction is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. A stir bar is moveably confined within the fluid reservoir. The stir bar has a plurality of paddles and a rotational axis, with each of the plurality of paddles having a free end tip that intermittently faces toward the first opening that is in fluid communication with the ejection chip as the stir bar is rotated about the rotational axis.

Abstract: A fluidic dispensing device includes a housing having an exterior wall and a fluid reservoir. The exterior wall has a chip mounting surface defining a first plane and has a first opening. The fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the first opening. An ejection chip is mounted to the chip mounting surface. The ejection chip is in fluid communication with the first opening. The ejection chip has a plurality of ejection nozzles oriented such that a fluid ejection direction is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. A stir bar is moveably confined within the fluid reservoir. The stir bar has a plurality of paddles and a rotational axis, with each of the plurality of paddles having a free end tip that intermittently faces toward the first opening that is in fluid communication with the ejection chip as the stir bar is rotated about the rotational axis.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a fluidic dispensing device includes providing a fluidic dispensing device having a fluid reservoir containing fluid, the fluid reservoir being defined in part by a base wall, and having a stir bar located in the fluid reservoir adjacent to the base wall, and having a fluid ejection chip having a fluid ejection direction; positioning the fluidic dispensing device at a predetermined orientation, wherein the fluid ejection direction is oriented in a range of upward vertical, plus or minus 90 degrees; and rotating the stir bar in a first rotational direction starting with a first rotational speed and increasing rotational velocity from the first rotational speed to a second rotational speed.

Abstract: A fluidic dispensing device includes a housing having an exterior wall and a fluid reservoir. The exterior wall has a chip mounting surface defining a first plane, and has an opening in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. An ejection chip is mounted to the chip mounting surface of the housing and is in fluid communication with the opening. The ejection chip has a plurality of ejection nozzles oriented such that a fluid ejection direction is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. A plurality of stir bars are moveably confined within the fluid reservoir. Each of the plurality of stir bars has a respective plurality of paddles, each having a free end tip. The free end tip of the respective plurality of paddles of at least one stir bar intermittently faces toward the opening as the plurality of stir bars rotate.

Abstract: A system for ensuring Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) integrity of an aircraft includes a designated aircraft interrogation area, an ADS-B receiver, and an alerting mechanism. The ADS-B receiver is configured to receive ADS-B data from the aircraft when the aircraft is located in the designated area and to send a signal to the alerting mechanism indicating that the aircraft is in the designated area.

Abstract: A system for ensuring Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) integrity of an aircraft includes a designated aircraft interrogation area, an ADS-B receiver, and an alerting mechanism. The ADS-B receiver is configured to receive ADS-B data from the aircraft when the aircraft is located in the designated area and to send a signal to the alerting mechanism indicating that the aircraft is in the designated area.

Abstract: Small, hermetically sealed pans are leak tested after subjecting the finished device to an environment of trace gas such as helium. During the testing process the pans may lose their helium charge by rapid escape due to massive gross leaks. These cases demand pre-helium mass spectrometer leak detector gross leak testing procedure. The non-helium expansion technique, used in conjunction with a helium mass spectrometer leak detector, provides a reliable and automatic gross and fine leak testing of the pans by a single apparatus. The test pan is placed in a sealed test fixture, and a valve between the test fixture and an expansion chamber is opened. The pressure in the expansion chamber is measured after the valve is opened. When the measured pressure is less than a reference pressure, a leaking test pan is indicated. When a sealed test pan is indicated, a helium mass spectrometer leak test is performed to determine the presence of fine leaks in the test part.

Abstract: A gyroscope is firmly held against the back side of the human hand to reduce or eliminate the effect of naturally occurring tremors such as essential tremor or other tremor. The gyroscope is driven by an electric motor energized by batteries. The batteries are mounted near the periphery of the gyroscope to enhance the gyroscopic action. In a modified form of the invention the motor is not mounted on the back side of the hand but is a separate unit to which the gyroscope can be readily coupled and uncoupled.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic element has current passed through it either by direct electrical connections or by induction. The current through the ferromagnetic element may be far greater than is necessary to heat the element above its effective Curie temperature. As the element is heated and is passing through its effective Curie transition (that is its temperature is rising from below its effective Curie temperature to, or above, its effective Curie temperature) the change in permeability of the element is sensed and the current through the element is cut off. The element then cools. When the temperature falls below the effective Curie temperature, the full current is restored. The heating and cooling process repeats itself indefinitely. The result is that the element is maintained at its effective Curie by a pulsating current fed to the element.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic element has current passed through it either by direct electrical connections or by induction. The current through the ferromagnetic element may be far greater than is necessary to heat the element above its effective Curie temperature. As the element is heated and is passing through its effective Curie transition (that is its temperature is rising from below its effective Curie temperature to, or above, its effective Curie temperature) the change in permeability of the element is sensed and the current through the element is cut off. The element then cools. When the temperature falls below the effective Curie temperature, the full current is restored. The heating and cooling process repeats itself indefinitely. The result is that the element is maintained at its effective Curie by a pulsating current fed to the element.