Abstract: A building module for housing purposes comprises a rigid, rectangular, three-dimensional truss formed with four steel end columns and steel beams extending between the columns. Each module includes a floor panel extending between the four end columns, wall panels, and a roof panel extending from two of the end columns, parallel to the forward column and terminating a spaced distance from the two end columns. A first rectangular folding panel has one end hingedly attached to the edge of the roof panel termination and a second rectangular folding panel, larger than the first rectangular folding panel, has one end hingedly supported between the two end columns. The first and second rectangular folding panels may be folded into positions parallel to their roof panel with their edges overlapping to form a compact module.

Abstract: The invention provides sensor, preferably biosensor devices and method of fabrication. The devices have significant advantages over the prior art methods having compatibility with future trends in clinical diagnostics and chemical detection. The underlying principle involves the integration of nanometer diameter, micron long metal or semiconductor rods onto a substrate to form a suspended nanomechanical cantilevers. The cantilever rods are rigidly attached to the substrate on one or both ends, and resonate at a characteristic frequency depending on the diameter, length, and stiffness of the rod. The metal or semiconductor rods are integrated onto the substrate using electrofluidic or fluidic assembly techniques. A receptor coating is placed on the metal or semiconductor rods prior to or following rod alignment using self-assembly chemistries.

Abstract: A barrel internal combustion engine includes a drive shaft assembly, a monoblock, a plurality of piston assemblies, and a valvetrain. The driveshaft assembly has a central drive shaft and a cam plate extending therefrom. The one piece monoblock has a longitudinal central axis with a central longitudinal opening receiving the drive shaft, the one piece monoblock further defines a plurality of combustion chambers, a coolant system, a plurality of intake passages and a plurality of exhaust passages. The combustion chambers each have an axis parallel to the central axis and are defined in a circle concentric with the longitudinal axis. Each chamber has a generally cylindrical side wall, a first closed end and a second open end, an intake valve opening and an exhaust valve opening being defined in the first closed end of each combustion chamber. The coolant system includes a plurality of coolant passages.

Abstract: Foot impression generating apparatus comprising impression platforms including buns of open-cell sponge material bonded to an supporting non-porous skins formed of non-blown sponge material is utilized for making foot impressions by a consumer. The sponge material comprises a blended mixture of elastomeric thermosetting material and low melting temperature thermoplastic material chosen such that the buns and skins are respectively flexible and then become rigid when heated and then cooled above and below the plastic temperature range of the thermoplastic material. The consumer steps into heated impression platforms to form the foot impressions and then they are cooled and “frozen” in place. Next, scanning means are used to create a digital contour map of the foot impressions. Then a digitally controlled milling machine is utilized for forming shoe inserts in conformance with the digital contour map.

Abstract: A convertible vehicle comprising a moving roof that includes a main pillar which projects upwardly from a window breast line and is movable rearwardly and downwardly around a bearing on the opening of the roof is configured such that the bearing is transposed upwardly with respect to the closed position at least during a part of the roof opening movement.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an isolated and purified DNA sequence which encodes a lantibiotic, mutacin I, is disclosed. The nucleic acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID No: 1 and the amino acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID No: 2.

Abstract: A molding compound formulation is provided that includes a unsaturated polyester, a low profile additive, and high surface area conductive carbon black particulate. The carbon black is dispersed in at least one of the unsaturated polyester and the low profile additive to produce a cured panel having a surface resistivity value of between 1×105-108?, and a Diffracto analysis D number of less than 100 when cured against a mold platen having a Diffracto analysis D number of 25. A process for producing such a molding compound panel is also provided that includes mixing through rotary mechanical stirring the high surface area conductive carbon black particulate into one side of the molding compound formulation under conditions that satisfy: ln(viscosity)??0.82{ln(RPM)}+12.734??(I) where viscosity is in Centipoise and RPM denotes revolutions per minute.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to produce a bone material which is enriched with bone growth factors and whose bone growth factors are released in a delayed manner after surgically applied in the body. To this end, the invention provides a method according to which the bone material is loaded with a bone growth factor or with a mixture of bone growth factors and is then coated with a reabsorbable substance.

Abstract: A control system controls the movement of a convertible top, decklid, and tonneau cover to minimize the overall cycle time of the system. The top is pivotally coupled to a vehicle body for movement between an extended position covering a passenger compartment and a retracted position disposed in a storage space. The decklid is pivotally coupled to the body for movement between a closed position covering the storage space and an open position to accommodate movement of the top into the storage space. The tonneau cover moves between a use position extending outwardly from an end of the decklid to conceal the convertible top in the retracted position and a stowed position disposed beneath the decklid. The control system is preprogrammed to begin movement of the tonneau cover to the use position when the decklid reaches a predetermined angle as the decklid moves between the closed and open positions.

Abstract: A payment administration system includes a system administrator, customer and merchant interfaces, and a database. The payment administrative system also includes bank interfaces, credit agency interfaces to facilitate automatic, paperless transactions rapidly. The customer is permitted to set a number of purchase and payment parameters, such as hours of use, goods or services category, and daily limits. The payment administration system generates real-time notification of any action occurring on the customer's account and permits continuous monitoring of the status of each transaction in real time.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating dry matter from liquid includes an enclosed separation environment capable of being pressure regulated. Within the enclosed separation environment, a suspension is brought into contact with at least one filter so as to accumulate dry matter on the at least one filter. The filter with the dry matter passes through at least one set of rollers such that liquid is removed from the dry matter on the at least one filter to form a substantially dry filter cake. Thereafter, the substantially dry filter cake is removed from the at least one filter. The above steps are performed in the enclosed separation environment either under vacuum or overpressure. The invention may be used in various fields such as the food industry.

Abstract: A process for producing a trivalent metal ion compound is provided. The process combines a trivalent metal organo-oxide M-(OR1)3 with a dione under reaction conditions to yield a reaction product where R1 in each occurrence independently is a C1-C8 alkyl, C6-C12 cycloalkyl, or C6-C14 aryl; R2 in each occurrence independently is H, C1-C8 alkyl, C6-C12 cycloalkyl, or C6-C14 aryl; M is a trivalent main group or lanthanide metal ion of Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Zr, or Lu, and n is 3 with the proviso that when M is Zr n is 4. The reaction product has impurity levels of the order of tens of parts per million by weight when formed from reagent grade M-(OR1)3. The reaction product is isolated and freeze-dried without need for washing to preclude wash solution contamination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position of an object relative to a moving vehicle. While the vehicle is moving in a first direction, successive sensor pulses are transmitted from a vehicle sensor and toward the object. The echo or reflection from the sensor pulse is then received while a processor determines the transit time between the transmission of each pulse and the receipt of its echo. An angle factor is then calculated which represents the difference between the elapsed time of two sequential sensor pulses and the distance traveled by the vehicle between those two pulses. Whenever the absolute value of the angle factor exceeds a preset threshold, an angle is selected from a predefined lookup table contained in memory. Conversely, when the absolute value of the factor is less than the preset threshold, the angle is calculated as a function of the factor.

Abstract: A sample is divided into a series of aliquots with the aliquots being subjected to at least two successive parallel separation steps in order to resolve protein or viral components thereof. The separation steps are performed not only on a sample but subsamples each containing a prelabeled tag to afford comparisons between subsamples. The parallel separation is amenable to high throughput and automation.

Abstract: A transponder-equipped ID tag is provided, deriving its power from an incoming interrogating optical signal. The invention relates to a transponder-equipped ID tag that is able to extract power from the incident corresponding interrogation signal and temporarily store it in an internal energy storage device. Optionally, optical transmission is used as either a transmission mode only into the tag or a transmission mode only away from the tag. The inventive optical means of transmission may be combined with either RF transmission into the tag and/or RF transmission away from the tag.

Abstract: A headliner for preventing an assist grip located proximate a curtain side airbag (CSA) from detaching from a motor vehicle frame during deployment of the CSA is provided. The headliner can include a substrate layer with an assist grip aperture dimensioned such that an assist grip attachment end can extend through the substrate layer and attach to sheet metal located adjacent to a back side of the headliner. Proximate to the assist grip aperture is a weakened region within the substrate layer that affords for headliner to bend and/or tear around the assist grip during deployment of the CSA. In addition, a fabric layer attached to and extending across the substrate layer is provided wherein the fabric layer covers the weakened region within the substrate layer.

Abstract: A system and accompanying method produces cartons for randomly sized and shaped objects or groups thereof by automatically measuring minimum bounding dimensions and transferring these dimensions to an automatic carton-making system. The system for determining the dimensions of an object to be packaged preferably includes a conveyor for moving the object, a vertically oriented light curtain to determine the height of the object, a horizontally oriented light curtain to determine the width of the object, and a tachometer synchronized to the conveyor enabling at least one of the light curtains to determine the length of the object. A computerized interface between the measurement apparatus and carton-making system may include an algorithm for virtually rotating the object to produce a carton just large enough to fit the object. The carton may be a corrugated carton or non-corrugated carton, and the carton-making system may be supplied with a continuous feed of “fanfolded” raw material or it may be sheet-fed.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus are described for digitally synthesizing a signal for FM transmission. A complex variable frequency digital IF signal is generated for use by a digital modulator in transmission of a signal with an integrated circuit. In some examples, the integrated circuit includes various baseband processing blocks, an up-sampler, a summer, a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) and a complex rotator, all arranged in cooperation with one another. The complex variable frequency digital IF signal can be used by a digital quadrature modulator for generation of the synthesized analog RF transmission signal, and optionally for use with an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme.

Abstract: A controller for a plant having a fixed-weight recurrent neural network with at least one external input signal representative of a desired condition of the plant and actual condition of the plant, and an output connected as a control signal to the plant. The fixed recurrent neural network includes a set of nodes with fixed weight interconnections between the nodes and at least one feedback input interconnecting an output from at least one of the nodes to an input of at least one node. These nodes collectively determine the value of the output from the neural network as a function of the input signal and the feedback input. The controller also includes an adaptive neural network having a plurality of nodes with variable weight interconnections between the nodes. A cost input from the plant is connected to the adaptive neural network while an output from the adaptive neural network is coupled as a processed feedback signal to nodes of the fixed-weight recurrent neural network.