Abstract: A transdermal medication delivery device (20) for the remote controlled administration of medications (68, 70, 72) for absorption through the skin of a patient (22) includes a tubes (62) containing the medications (68, 70, 72). Tubes (62) are in fluid communication with valve inlets (76, 82, 88) of valves (74, 80, 86) formed on a micro-electro-mechanical-system-based (MEMS-based) valve chip (64, 162). A medication delivery component (26, 176) in fluid communication with valve outlets (78, 84, 90) of valves (74, 80, 86) has a surface (66, 178) adapted to be in contact with the skin of the patient (22) when in use. A controller (92) is configured to control a flow of the medications (68, 70, 72) through the valves (74, 80, 86), and a wireless communication interface (94), in communication with the controller (92), is configured to receive a medication control message (96) from a remote location (32).

Abstract: A protective device for minimizing fire danger in the use of electrical circuits comprises a unit having a mechanically biased conductive element in series with the circuit, and maintained in position under tension by a fusible material such as a Cerro alloy having a yield point at a selected temperature threshold. When overheating at some other point in the circuit results in a rise of temperature at the protective device, the yielding of the fusible material allows the conductive element to spring free, opening the circuit and cutting off the current. This arrangement is useful in a male plug integral to or separate from an extension cord or power cord, in conjunction with circuit breaker systems, in a in-circuit device, and in electrical appliances and devices.

Abstract: A computer network (20) includes a first processor (22) for maintaining a Web page (34) having an embedded first code module (36) and accessible through a Web address (38). A second processor (24) supports a Web browser (52) for downloading the Web page (34) and executing the first code module (36). When executed, the first code module (36) issues a first command (93) to retrieve a second code module (90) from a server system (26). The server system (26) includes a database (68) having a service response (162, 176, 186) associated with the Web address (38). A processor (62) assembles the second code module (90) having the service response (162, 176, 186). When the second code module is retrieved, the first code module (36) issues a second command (106) to initiate execution of the second code module (90) to provide added function to the Web page (34).

Abstract: A carriage house garage door (20) is formed from first, second, and third wood overlay sections (22, 24, 26). Each of the wood overlay sections (22, 24, and 26) includes first and second layers of sheet metal (46, 48) and an insulating core (50). The first layer of sheet metal (46) is bonded to a first side (52) of the insulating core (50) and the second layer of sheet metal (48) is bonded to the second side (54) of the insulating core (50). Wood siding (30) is coupled to the first layer of sheet metal (46) by bonding the wood siding (30) to the first layer (46) using an adhesive and by stapling the wood siding (30) to the first layer (46).

Abstract: Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data (118) of a target (108) is collected (12) over a substantially circular arc (128), wherein a.chord (130) of the arc (128) establishes (20) a radar aperture (102) having a substantially perpendicular construct baseline (104) through the target (108). The radar aperture (102) is partitioned (26) into first and second partial apertures (120) having substantially the construct baseline (104). First and second points (150) substantially vertically coincident with the construct baseline (104) are then determined (38) at means (152) of the first and second partial apertures (120), and first and second vectors (106) from the target (108) are established (40) by the first and second points (150), respectively. First and second portions (148) of the SAR data (118) are accumulated (32) over the first and second partial apertures (120), respectively, and first and second vector complex image data (164) of the target (108) is derived (54) in response thereto.

Abstract: A tilted single-axis tracking system (20) for collecting solar energy includes a structure (22) for supporting an array (26) of photovoltaic (PV) modules (24) above a surface (28). The structure (22) includes a frame (34) having first and second legs (40, 42) configured to extend upwardly from the surface (28) and join at an apex (54). A base tensioning member (44) of the frame (34) is interposed between the first and second legs (40, 42). A torque tube (36) is pivotally retained by the frame (34) at the apex (54) and is configured for attachment of the array (26) of PV modules (24). A foot member (38) pivotally retains a tube end (60) of the torque tube (36) and is configured to rest on the surface (22). A first tensioning member (106) is coupled between the foot member (38) and the first leg (40), and a second tensioning member (108) is coupled between the foot member (38) and the second leg (42).

Abstract: A high-concentration photovoltaic assembly (24) for use in a utility-scale solar power generation system (20) is configured to couple to a supporting tracking structure (22) of the system (20). The assembly (24) incorporates a frame (38) substantially centered in a plane (44), a plurality of substantially parallel longitudinal members (80) substantially centered in the plane (44) and coupled to the frame (38), two substantially parallel transverse members (82) substantially centered in the plane (44) and coupled to the longitudinal members (80) substantially at ends thereof, a plurality of bulkheads (90) coupled between adjacent ones of the longitudinal members (80) and configured to divide the assembly (24) into a plurality of chambers (94), a plurality of photovoltaic modules coupled to the chambers (94) upon a first side (48) of the plane (44), and a plurality of lenses (98) coupled to the chambers (94) upon a second side (46) of the plane (44).

Abstract: A raised panel door section (22, 54, 64) for an overhead garage door (20, 50, 60) includes a sheet metal layer (32, 56, 66) formed from sheet metal stock (74) that is embossed to produce a raised panel design by an automated method that selects one of a first die set (84) and a second die set (90) in response to a predetermined embossment style, installs the selected one of the first and second die sets (84, 90) into an embossing press (36) and embosses the sheet metal stock (74) with the predetermined embossment style. The predetermined embossment style includes one of a vertical raised panel design (30), a horizontal raised panel design (52), and a horizontal long raised panel design (62). An overhead garage door (20) includes three of the raised panel door sections (22) having the sheet metal layer (32) embossed with the vertical raised panel design (30).

Abstract: A stepstool (20) configured for mounting on a tire (22) includes a support frame configured to rest against an outer surface (40) of the tire (22). An outside lower platform (34) and an outside upper platform (36) are attached to the support frame. A first retaining bar (114) is configured to rest against an inner surface (42) of the tire (22), and first linking members (104 and 106) link the first retaining bar (114) to the support frame. The stepstool (20) further includes an inside platform (38) configured to releasably couple to the first retaining bar (114) and reside proximate the inner surface (42) of the tire (22). A second retaining bar (132) is configured to rest against the outer surface (40) of the tire, and second linking members (128 and 130) link the second retaining bar (132) to the inside platform (38). The first and second linking members are directed over an upper circumferential surface (122) of the tire (22) to hold the stepstool (22) securely on the tire (22).

Abstract: An apparatus (46) for reconditioning a protective surface (30) of an optically-read digital recording disc (20) includes a turntable (48) configured to receive a center hole (24) of the disc (20) and a first motor (52), coupled to the turntable (48), for rotating the turntable (48) and the disc (20) at a first rotational speed. The apparatus further includes a buffing element (50) for removing an amount of material from the protective surface (30) as the turntable rotates the disc (20) and a second motor (54), coupled to the buffing element (50) for rotating the buffing element (50) at a second rotational speed. A timing element (56) synchronizes the first and second motors (52, 54) to substantially simultaneously cease rotation of the turntable (48) and the buffing element (50) following removal of an amount of material from the disc (20).

Abstract: A method (100) of constructing a flexible object (20) formed of a plurality of mutually conjoined layers (22) is disclosed. A first outer layer (28), four intermediate layers (36), and a second outer layer (38) of substantially a fusible polyester sheet material woven of microfibers are obtained (110,124,130). The first outer layer (28) is positioned (144) over a work surface (24), the four intermediate layers (36) are positioned (148) over the first outer layer (28), and the second outer layer (38) is positioned (150) over the first outer layer (28) and intermediate layers (36). A laser cutting head (26) is configured (158) to be fusional for all of layers (28,36,38). A periphery (50) of the object (20) is then cut (164) through each of the layers (22) by substantially simultaneously moving the laser cutting head (26) relative to the layers (22), and coincidentally fusing (166) the peripheries (50) to form the object (20).

Abstract: A digital communication transmitter (30) implements a phase constellation (40) which defines a digital communication signal stream that is subsequently compressed (50), thereby introducing distortion into a communication signal (56) transmitted to a complementary receiver (30). The receiver (30) includes a magnitude adjuster (80) which increases the magnitude component of selected phase estimates to at least partially compensate for the compression distortion. The receiver also includes a branch metrics generator (90) having a segment (138) in which branch metric transfer function peaks and valleys are not positioned in receiver phase space to coincide with ideal phase points. The branch metric transfer functions are generated in accordance with a process (102) which bases branch metric calculations upon empirically determined probabilities that characterize system-induced distortions.

Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (20, 60) is provided with a silicon (Si) base region (34, 74) that forms a semiconductor junction with a multilayer emitter (38) having a thin gallium arsenide (GaAs) emitter layer (36, 72) proximate the base region (34, 74) and a distal gallium phosphide (GaP) emitter layer (40, 66). The GaAs emitter layer (36, 72) is sufficiently thin, preferably less than 200 Å, so as to be coherently strained. In one embodiment, the GaP emitter layer includes a doped region (70) which serves as the emitter and a non-doped region (68) on which the intrinsic portion of the transistor (60) is formed.

Abstract: An integrated RF power amplifier 20 includes an on-chip input transformer (24) and an on-chip output transformer (28). Each of the transformers (24, 28) is formed from four spirals. Each primary winding (34, 42) and each secondary winding (38, 44) includes positive and negative spirals arranged so that positive current rotates in opposing rotational directions in the positive and negative spirals. The secondary winding (38) of the input transformer (24) and the primary winding (42) of the output transformer (28) each has a center tap (48, 50) located at the electrical and physical center of the winding. Positive and negative amplifiers (26) couple between the secondary winding of the input transformer (24) and the primary winding of the output transformer (28). DC biasing for the amplifiers (26) is provided through the positive and negative spirals of the center-tapped windings (38, 42) from the respective center taps (48, 50).

Abstract: In an arcade system (20), an interface circuit (38) is configured for communication with a PC (40) and one or more peripheral devices (59). The interface circuit (38) adapts a PC-based application (64), installed on and executable from the PC (40), to an automated format in order to include arcade-style features, such as video and audio cues, fee prompts, timing cues, and so forth. The interface circuit (38) includes a processor (66) in communication with a plurality of inputs and outputs on the interface circuit (38). A memory (68) is coupled to the processor (66) and includes a user-configurable control program (74) executable on the processor (66). The user-configurable control program (74) selectively translates the data received from the peripheral devices (59) to a data format that is recognized by the PC-based application (64) and selectively enables the transfer of the data from the peripheral devices (59) to the PC (40).

Abstract: A spark plug wire harness (20) for use with an ignition system (50) of an internal combustion engine (52) includes a substantially rigid body (22), plug wire mounting posts (24) coupled to an input end (30) of the rigid body (22), and terminals (26) coupled to an output end (32) of the rigid body (22). Conductors (34) are embedded in the substantially rigid body (22). Each of the conductors (34) has a first end (36) in electrical communication with one of the plug wire mounting posts (24) and a second end (38) in electrical communication with one of the terminals (26). The spark plug wire harness (20) to conveys igniting voltage received at the posts (24) from spark plug wires (56) to the terminals (26). The terminals (26) are in electrical contact with spark plugs (44) of the ignition system (50) so that the spark plugs (44) fire in sequence.