Abstract: Transducers and resonators are embedded in body support structures in contact with a user to for the purpose of conveying musical sound energy to a user's body at selected frequencies and in selected patterns. Body support structures comprise beds, pillows, chairs, and other structures typically used to support people. The sound may be audio tones and/or music. The transducers and resonators may be incorporated into a foam component or in a coil spring component of the body support structure. Latex-type foams and beds made with springs are candidate body support structures for receiving transducer's and resonators. Electro-active polymers are also used as transducers.

Abstract: An electronic system includes a power delivery support structure having a power delivery surface with first and second conductive regions. An electronic device includes a plurality of contacts arranged so at least one of them engages the first conductive region and at least another of them engages the second conductive region independently of the orientation of the device relative to the power delivery surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the power consumption of one or more disk arrays are described. Power consumption information for various hardware components of the array, especially that for the disk drives since these consume more than 90% of the required power, are stored in a static data table in a database which may be controller firmware. Through inspection of this table and the chosen state of the individual disk drives as directed by a controller, one may determine the power use of the array.

Abstract: Disclosed is an LED light string that uses parallel connected bypass components that are connected across the leads of the LEDs and are disposed in the socket of the LED lamp holder. The use of parallel connected bypass components across the leads of the LEDs greatly enhances the reliability of the light string. Bypass components are also included in the LED lamp structure, both internally to the LED lamp proxy and externally across the leads of the LED lamp element. A resistive wire can also be connected between conductors in an LED socket structure inside a lamp holder. Using the bypass components, twinkle lamps can be inserted in series wired LED light strings.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for non-contact ultrasonic detection of features on or within the walls of hollow pipes are described. An air-coupled, high-power ultrasonic transducer for generating guided waves in the pipe wall, and a high-sensitivity, air-coupled transducer for detecting these waves, are disposed at a distance apart and at chosen angle with respect to the surface of the pipe, either inside of or outside of the pipe. Measurements may be made in reflection or transmission modes depending on the relative position of the transducers and the pipe. Data are taken by sweeping the frequency of the incident ultrasonic waves, using a tracking narrow-band filter to reduce detected noise, and transforming the frequency domain data into the time domain using fast Fourier transformation, if required.

Abstract: A method and apparatus integrates differential pressure measurements and absolute pressure measurements to provide a continuous absolute pressure profile over a wide range of pressures on a single integrated scale. The absolute pressure measurements and differential pressure measurements are obtained, and a correlation factor between the absolute pressure measurements and the differential pressure measurements is determined. The correlation factor is used to normalize the differential pressure measurements to virtual absolute pressure values on a common absolute pressure scale with the absolute pressure measurements. An absolute pressure profile over a wide pressure range includes the absolute pressure measurements in a portion of the range where the absolute pressure measurements are accurate, and it includes the virtual absolute pressure values in another portion of the range where the differential pressure measurements are accurate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for simulating wind interaction with wind turbines. A turbine blade is divided into radial sections. The effect that each of these radial sections has on the velocities in Eulerian computational cells they overlap is determined. The effect is determined using Lagrangian techniques such that the calculations need not include wind components in the radial direction. A force on each radial section of turbine blade is determined. This force depends on the axial and azimuthal components of the fluid flow in the computational cell and the geometric properties of the turbine blade. The force on the turbine blade is fed back to effect the fluid flow in the computational cell for the next time step.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for storing a value in a process register of an electrical circuit, which indicates a strength of a process in which the circuit was fabricated, and adjusting an input delay applied to data signals received by a synchronous storage element of the electrical circuit based on the stored value.

Abstract: Ablation of holes having diameters as small as 82 nm and having clean walls was obtained in a poly(methyl methacrylate) on a silicon substrate by focusing pulses from a Ne-like Ar, 46.9 nm wavelength, capillary-discharge laser using a freestanding Fresnel zone plate diffracting into third order is described. Spectroscopic analysis of light from the ablation has also been performed. These results demonstrate the use of focused coherent EUV/SXR light for the direct nanoscale patterning of materials.

Abstract: An electronic system which includes a power delivery surface that delivers electrical power to an electrical or electronic device. The power delivery surface may be powered by any electrical power source, including, but not limited to: wall electrical outlet, solar power system, battery, vehicle cigarette lighter system, direct connection to electrical generator device, and any other electrical power source. The power delivery surface delivers power to the electronic device wirelessly. The power delivery surface may deliver power via a plurality of contacts on the electrical device conducting electricity from the power delivery surface. The electrical device may be mobile device. Each contact may be shaped to improve power delivery reliability. The power delivery surface may further include circuitry to protect against accidental electrocutions.

Abstract: A multiple heater control system includes cables, connectors, and junction boxes for user-friendly daisy chain connections of heater controllers and heaters in various configurations or combinations of individually controlled heater series and/or master and slave heater series. The heater controllers include process control of AC power to the heaters and upper-limit safety shutoff that is substantially independent from the process control. The heater controllers also have variable levels of control, adjustment, display, and communications functionality in a base module that is expandable to various levels with expansion modules that are attachable to and detachable from the base module. Connector, cable, and junction configurations, adapters, and latch features enhance user friendliness.

Abstract: A system and method of manufacture providing reinforced structurally functional load-bearing members, including but not limited to using thermoplastic materials, such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP), reinforced such as with an aluminum alloy, glass-reinforced polyurethane (foamed or unfoamed), or carbon fiber core element. Among its possible uses, the present invention has application for provision of structural support members, such as an illustrative I-joist product having a vertical center member preferably comprising a thermoplastic material, and top and bottom flanges having structurally meaningful reinforcement. The center member and flanges preferably comprising a thermoplastic material provides a relatively hard, durable, substantially weather-resistant structure. Certain embodiments of the present invention include reinforcing members having a plurality of lobes or arms.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for increasing the error correction capabilities of a receiver circuit that receives a data stream of encoded data symbols that are encoded with a linear block code. Analog and digital comparator circuits are used to detect laser clipping or analog to digital converter overloading. Corrupted symbols are detected by comparing in-phase and/or quadrature phase baseband signals with pre-determined threshold limits that indicate that the in-phase and quadrature phase signals have exceeded the normal signal trajectory of an unimpaired signal. Corrupted symbols may also be detected by determining that the laser has been clipped. Corrupted symbols are marked for erasure prior to decoding and error correction. Erasure of corrupted signals increases the error correction capabilities of the decoder circuit.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for reducing abnormal vertebral orientation using a fixation plate that is used in conjunction with a positioning tool to reduce spinal deviation and properly position and secure adjacent vertebrae for fusion of the spine. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful in minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laterally performed anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for computer signal processing data and command transfer over an interface and more particularly to a communication between peripheral firmware and a host processor or Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) on a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. In one embodiment, a device and method for reducing the load on the PCI Bus is described. In yet another embodiment, a device and method is described for constructing a variable length command block comprising message frames and aligning all message frames for a particular command block that are contiguous in memory.

Abstract: An artificial spinal implant for placement between adjacent vertebrae to replace disk material and to stabilize the involved vertebrae is described. The artificial disk may be disassembled for installation and/or removal for repair, replacement or adjustment, and may be assembled from the front of the spine as individual component parts, thereby permitting alignment of the spine during the assembly process, and the stabilization of the involved vertebrae once assembly has been completed. Further, the components may be chosen from a set of similar components having different sizes, thereby enabling the implant to be tailor fit to the requirements of the patient.

Abstract: A movable boring assembly and a boring tool positioner for drilling a plurality of holes in a well casing and jetting a well production zone through the plurality of holes. All of the holes can be drilled in the casing at different angular positions, as well as different levels within the casing. The drilling tool can then be removed and a perforation jet can be reliably and accurately reoriented into the drilled holes to perforate a production zone in multiple directions and at multiple levels.