Abstract: An engine with an output shaft extending through the engine block and generally parallel to the piston, the engine includes a boost piston cylinder integral to the cylinder, and a boost piston for producing compressed air so as to supercharge the engine. The engine further includes an energy translation mechanism translating linear movement into rotary movement, an energy translation mechanism for reducing the side force that the piston exerts against the inner wall of the combustion chamber, an energy transforming member working in concert with an engine torque absorbing/motion control torque reaction device to eliminate the lemniscate motion from being translated to the piston and to absorb all engine torque to case ground through a rolling element bearing, and a port time control system having a shaft phaser to adjust the phase of the pistons or the position of the air control valve.

Abstract: A storage compartment for mounting on a trim panel of an automobile door. The trim panel includes an aperture configured to receive a speaker assembly. The storage compartment includes a rear wall, a side wall bounding the rear wall to define a storage cavity and having a perimeter which is complementary in shape to the aperture. A retaining wall having a shape which is substantially similar to a portion of the aperture is attached to a portion of the side wall which is adjacent to the bottom end of the rear wall by a living hinge. The living hinge allows the retaining wall to hinge relative to the rear wall so as to cover a portion of the storage cavity.

Abstract: A brake pedal assembly, for use in a vehicle, includes a support bracket, a first and second side walls extending outwardly from the support bracket. The first side wall includes an integral switch portion having a pair of generally parallel arcuate slots. A pedal arm, having a pair of contact posts positioned to extend through the pair of arcuate slots, is pivotally mounted between the first and second side walls. A conductive strip interconnects each of the pair of contact posts. The support bracket further includes a switch cover plate enclosing the integral switch portion of the first side wall. An electronic switch is disposed on an inside surface of the cover plate, and comes into electrical communication with the conductive strip as the contact posts travel within the arcuate slot in response to movement of the pedal arm, to send an electrical signal to an associated vehicle component.

Abstract: A throttle position sensor having a housing and a body rotatably mounted within the housing. An alignment clip is attached to the body so that the alignment clip rotates in unison with the body. This alignment clip, furthermore, is adapted to receive an end of a throttle shaft at a predetermined angular position and aligned body to the throttle shaft. A sensor is also mounted to the housing and generates an output signal representative of the rotational position of the body relative to the housing.

Abstract: A rotisserie cooking device for use in an oven includes a food holding member. At least one motor is operatively linked with the food holding member. At least one thermopile is associated with the motor. The at least one thermopile provides energy for driving the at least one motor for rotating the food holding member.

Abstract: An inserter and associated method improve the placement of a fastener into a bone. Although ideally suited to the placement of a pedicle screw into a vertebral body (VB), the apparatus and method are applicable to other bones and fasteners, pins, and the like. The apparatus includes cannulated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a threaded section therebetween. The proximal end is shaped for rotational tightening by a wrench or other tool, and the distal end including a perforated nozzle so that cement and/or biologics may be injected into the bone through the cannulated body. The proximal end includes a Lur-loc or other appropriate fitting to receive a cement-filled syringe. The device is also preferably disposable using, for example, clear plastic construction. The inserter may further including a member for sealing the nozzle relative to a bone. Such a member may be composed of a silatstic or other compressible material, or may be inflatable.

Abstract: An autogenously welded structure is provided that includes a first face sheet, a plurality of individual stiffener elements, and a second face sheet. The stiffener elements each have a first edge disposed against the first face sheet and an opposed second edge. Each stiffener element has a central portion extending between the opposed edges. The central portion is disposed at an angle to the first face sheet. The stiffener elements include at least some stiffener elements that are disposed at an angle to at least some of the other stiffener elements. The second face sheet is disposed against the second edges of the stiffener elements and the first and second face sheets are autogenously welded to the edges of the stiffener elements.

Abstract: A body structure for an automotive vehicle includes a side member, an outer back panel and an inner back panel. The side member extends generally vertically and defines a rear pillar of the vehicle. The side member has an inner flange. The outer back panel has a middle wall extending generally transversely in the vehicle. The outer back panel has a connecting wall extending from the middle wall. The inner back panel has a center wall extending generally transversely in the vehicle. The inner back panel has a connecting flange extending from the center wall. The inner back panel is spaced apart from the outer back panel to define a cavity in which a rear window is disposed. The connecting flange, connecting wall and inner flange are fixedly secured to each other to define a longitudinally extending seal that prevents liquid from passing between the cavity and an inside region of the vehicle.

Abstract: A polyfluorinated compound is provided inclusive of at least one 18F atom having a formula: CF3(CF2)nR1??(I) where R1 is —C(O)OR2, —C(O)N(R3)2, C—N(R3)2, —C(NR3)R2, C-QR3, -QR3, —N+(R3)3, X, C1-C30 alkyl, C1-C30 haloalkyl, C1-C30 alkoxyl, or C1-C30 perhaloalkyl; R2 is MZ+, H, C1-C12 alkyl, C1-C12 alkyl, C1-C12 perhalo alkyl, C6-C30 aryl, C6-C30 perhaloaryl, and a substituted form thereof where one or more protons or halogens is replaced with a plasma solubility enhancing moiety of —N+(R3)3, —SO3H, —SO2N(R3)2, or -QR3; R3 is independently in each occurrence MZ+, —SO3H, —SO2N(R3)2, or -QR3; Q is O or S; MZ+ is a cation that forms a net neutral compound with an anionic (CF3(CF2)nC(O)O?)Z and is an alkali metal cation, an alkali earth cation, a transition metal cation, ammonium, and aluminum cations; Z is an integer value of between 1 and 3 inclusive; X is a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom; halo denotes a replacement of at least one and not all protons with X; perhalo denotes a replacement of all pro

Abstract: A convertible top includes a plurality of panel assemblies movably coupled to each other for movement between a closed position in which the panel assemblies are arranged end to end to cover a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and an open position in which the panel assemblies are disposed in a storage space adjacent the passenger compartment. Each of the panel assemblies has an outer surface and a fabric trim cover separate from the other of the panel assemblies. The trim covers remain along the outer surface during movement of the top between the closed position and the open position.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a signal related to a position of a part comprises an exciter coil, and a receiver coil disposed proximate to the exciter coil. The exciter coil generates magnetic flux when the exciter coil is energized by a source of electrical energy, such as an alternating current source. The receiver coil generates a receiver signal when the exciter coil is energized, due to an inductive coupling between the receiver coil and the exciter coil. The receiver coil has a plurality of sections, the inductive coupling tending to induce opposed voltages in at least two of the sections. Embodiments of the present invention include linear sensors, rotational sensors, and novel configurations for improved ratiometric sensing.

Abstract: An areal metal element is described having a surface which extends from a first outside edge to a second outside edge lying opposite the first out-side edge. The region of the metal element adjoining the first outside edge forms a first edge region and the region of the metal element adjoining the second outside edge forms a second side region. Both side regions are connected to one another by a central region lying therebetween, with at least one completely bordered aperture being formed at least in one of the side regions, with its border being formed in one part by this side region and in another part by the central region. The central region includes at least two sections which each consist of two outwardly disposed part sections and a central part section lying therebetween. The outwardly disposed part sections are folded over with respect to the central section to produce the aperture.

Abstract: A gradient index lens for microwave radiation. The lens includes a plurality of electric field coupled resonators wherein each resonator has a resonant frequency. The resonators are arranged in a planar array having spaced apart side edges and spaced apart top and bottom edges. The resonant frequency of the resonators varies between at least two of the spaced edges of the array in accordance with the desired properties of the lens.

Abstract: A condom may include pouch having a wall and a frame. The pouch may have an open end and a closed end and the frame may be positioned proximate the open end. An anchoring device may be secured to the pouch proximate the closed end. Further, a harness or accessory attachment may be provided to assist in securing the condom to a user. At least one condom accessory, for stimulating at least one of the five senses, may also be positioned on or in at least one of the pouch, frame, anchor or harness using a variety of attachment methods.

Abstract: Automated surgical procedures, including procedures carried out in conjunction with image-guided surgical navigation systems, are improved using tools and techniques to refine bone modifications. A system-level embodiment of the invention includes a memory for storing information relating to a desired modification of a bone, a bone-modification tool, and tracking apparatus for determining the position and orientation of the bone and the bone-modification tool to ensure that the modification performed by the tool corresponds to the desired modification. In the preferred embodiment, the bone-modification tool is used to refine a previously resected surface by a few millimeters or a few degrees to achieve the desired modification.

Abstract: An intake airflow control mechanism for an engine includes a first valve shaft on which valve elements of intake airflow control valves are fitted in such a manner that the valve elements pivot in accordance with the rotation of the first valve shaft; a second valve shaft on which valve elements of intake airflow control valves are fitted in such a manner that the valve elements pivot in accordance with the rotation of the second valve shaft; an actuator that rotates the first valve shaft, a link mechanism that transmits the rotation of the first valve shaft to the second valve shaft, a stopper that stops the rotation of the second valve shaft when the second valve shaft is in a prescribed rotational position, and a sensor that detects the amount by which the first valve shaft is rotated by the actuator.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a microwave horn antenna in which a thermoplastic sacrificial layer is mounted to a thermoplastic horn layer. A heated horn embossing plate having at least one horn shaped embossing element is then moved into the horn layer so that the horn element penetrates through the horn layer and extends partially into the sacrificial layer thus forming a horn opening in the horn layer complementary in shape to the horn element. The horn layer and sacrificial layer are then separated from each other and the horn opening and at least a portion of the back surface of the horn layer is covered with a metal coating. A thermoplastic wave guide layer formed by embossing wave guide channels into the layer is covered with metal and attached to the back side of the horn layer to form the antenna. Alternatively, a portion of the horn and the remaining portion of a microwave channel are formed in both a first and second thermoplastic section.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing noxious gases in the exhaust emissions of an automobile is disclosed. During engine cold start, a cold start injector having a heater downstream of the injector outlet vaporizes fuel so that a leaner air-fuel mixture can be used, thereby reducing engine emissions before the engine and catalytic converter warm up. The heater includes various configurations for swirling the fuel and exposing it to large surface areas for improving the vaporization of the fuel. A tapered bore surrounding the throttle allows for precise air flow control into the cold start device during engine warm-up.

Abstract: A thin walled microtube is formed by providing a continuous elongated member having an outer surface. The member is at least partially formed of a water soluble material. A coating material is provided. The coating material may be a silicone compound that is curable such that the coating material cures into a substantial non-porous silicone. The outer surface of the elongated member is coated with a coating material so as to form a substantially uniform and continuous layer of coating material on the outer surface. The layer of coating material is cured so as to form a substantial uniform and continuous layer of substantially non-porous silicone on the outer surface. The elongated member is at least partially dissolved using water and purged from the silicone layer, such that an elongated tube of substantially non-porous silicone is formed.