Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic commutator circuit for use with a stator winding of an electrical machine. The stator winding of the electrical machine includes a number of coils linked by the same number of points of common coupling. The electronic commutator circuit comprising the same number of switching stages, each switching stage being connected between a respective one of the points of common coupling and first and second dc terminals. Each switching stage further includes a first reverse blocking semiconductor power device (such as a Reverse Blocking Gate Turn Off Thyristor (RB-GTO 1) capable of being turned on and off by gate control having its anode connected to the first dc terminal, and a second reverse blocking semiconductor power device (RB-GTO 2) capable of being turned on and off by gate control having its cathode connected to the second dc terminal.

Abstract: A garden tool wherein the leading edge of the tool head has a leading edge coated with a hardness enhancing material.

Abstract: A processor includes a first field programmable gate array (FPGA) having a first central processing unit (CPU) core programmed to perform a first function, and first programmable hardware logics (PHLs) programmed to perform a second function. A second FPGA includes a second CPU core programmed to perform a third function, and second PHLs programmed to perform a fourth function. A communication interface is between the first and second CPU cores. The first and second FPGAs are diverse. A portion of the first function communicates first information from the first CPU core to the second CPU core through the interface. A portion of the third function communicates second information from the second CPU core to the first CPU core through the interface, and, otherwise, the first function is substantially the same as the third function. The second function is substantially the same as the fourth function.

Abstract: A manually operable weed remover consists of a cluster of pivotable and rotatable spikes attached to a handle. When positioned over the center of a weed and downward pressure is applied, either by pushing on a bar handle or stepping on a foot rest, a bottom flange is forced up by the ground surface as the spikes are forced into the ground around the weed. The spikes are directed through apertures in the moveable flange and movement of the flange causes the spikes to close around the root of the weed. The insertion motion of the spikes further causes the spike mounting device to rotate relative to the handle and the weed. Thus, as the spikes are being inserted into the ground, the spikes rotate thereby separating the weed root from the adjacent ground. The weed may then be pulled from the ground by upward pressure on the tool.

Abstract: A portable urinal that includes a container defining a liquid reservoir and a spout extending therefrom. The spout has an inlet for receiving a liquid. A valve assembly is disposed within the spout. The valve assembly has an interior region and an exterior region. The valve assembly includes a sidewall and one or more sealable openings for permitting flow of a liquid into the reservoir, while resisting undesired flow of the liquid out of the reservoir. The openings defining the line between the interior region and the exterior region. The valve assembly sidewall has a shaped contour structured to direct liquid flow into the openings.

Abstract: A hand tool for cutting includes a first handle, a second handle pivotably connected to the first handle, and a cutting head including a fixed first blade and a pivotable second blade to provide cutting action with the first blade. The first and second handles are movable between a fully retracted configuration and a fully extended configuration to selectively adjust the length of the handles. The cutting head is selectively rotatable about a central longitudinal axis and carries the blades upon rotation of the cutting head to move the blades between a plurality of different orientations relative to the first and second handles. The cutting head includes a connector operably connecting the second handle and the second blade so that pivoting motion of the second handle moves the second blade relative to the first blade to provide cutting action therebetween.

Abstract: A method for viewing a full image of a server stored original attachment on a portable electronic device including: building a graph structure within the server representing a map of the original image, downloading and displaying a re-sized image from the server to the portable electronic device, the original image exceeding an image size limit of the portable electronic device indicative of screen size of the portable electronic device, calculating width and height parameters of the full image, sending a request from the portable electronic device to the server to enlarge the image displayed on the device based on the width and height parameters, the request including the image size limit, retrieving and traversing the graph structure within the server to locate a separate image component constructed for the image size limit, collecting image binary data from the separate image component and modifying the image binary data based on the width and height parameters to create the full image of the original imag

Abstract: A device for drilling and for removing material using a laser beam comprises: a rotating image rotator (2); a beam manipulator (1) which, when viewed in the beam direction, is arranged in front of the image rotator and which serves to adjust the angle and position of the beam relative to the rotation axis of the image rotator; and a focusing device (3) located on the output side of the image rotator. A compensating device (3, 13, 14, 15) is placed between the image rotator and the focusing device and rotates with the image rotator in the same direction of rotation and with the same rotational frequency. The compensating device has a parallel displacement unit (15) and an angle changing unit (13, 14), and the compensating device, in a basic setting, is adjustable in its rotating position relative to the image rotator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the flight of an aircraft in the event of an in-flight emergency is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for disabling on-board pilot operation of an aircraft and transferring aircraft operation to an alternate source of control. The aircraft has at least one manually actuated control device for controlling at least one mechanical actuator, with the actuator causing movement of an aircraft attitude control surface or an aircraft engine throttle. The control device is mechanically connected to the actuator(s). The alternate source of control may be one or more of an autopilot, a flight control system and an off-aircraft human pilot. The method and apparatus for disabling on-board pilot operation provides for (a) receiving a signal indicative of an emergency condition requiring the disabling of on-board pilot control of the aircraft; (b) disconnecting the one or more control devices from their respective actuator(s) in response to the receipt of the emergency condition signal; and (c) connecting the actuator(s) to the alternate source of control.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided for radioimaging a region of interest (ROI) of a subject. The system includes a housing, a support structure, which is movably coupled to the housing, and at least one motor assembly, coupled to the housing and the support structure, and configured to move the support structure with respect to the housing. The system also includes at least two detector assemblies, fixed to the support structure, and comprising respective radiation detectors and angular orientators. A control unit drives the motor assembly to position the support structure in a plurality of positions with respect to the housing, and, while the support structure is positioned in each of the plurality of positions, drives the orientators to orient the respective detectors in a plurality of rotational orientations with respect to the ROI, and to detect radiation from the ROI at the rotational orientations. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Diet evaluation gastric apparatus (18) is provided, which detects when a patient (10) swallows, and detects the type and amount of matter ingested. The apparatus includes electrodes (74, 100) adapted to be coupled to the fundus and antrum of the patient and to measure electrical and mechanical activity therein, and a control unit (90) to analyze such electrical and mechanical activity and optionally apply electrical energy to modify the activity of tissue of the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for: 1) displaying all vital central station (CS) information and controls on a single screen; 2) linking peripheral central stations (pCSs) to a master central station (mCS); 3) operating the system disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 10/460,458, without medical professionals (MPs) in the mCS or without any mCS; 4) linking a remote controlled defibrillator (RCD™) unit to an arrest sensor; 5) operating an RCD unit in a motor vehicle and linking an RCD unit to a vehicle communications system; 6) linking an RCD unit to a CS through a network of: a) non-vehicle-based stationary units (SUs), b) vehicle-based SUs/vehicle communication systems, or c) non-vehicle-based SUs and vehicle-based SUs/vehicle communication systems; 7) using an RCD unit with a chest compression device; 8) using the network of RCD units and MPs for disaster monitoring; and 9) monitoring and treating hospital patients and motor vehicle passengers.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein describes a device allowing even people with severe disabilities (physical and/or mental) to control the generation of sound and music, using controls adapted to their capabilities. The device is to be used primarily in therapeutic, educational and training contexts. The device comprises of pressure-sensitive controls, a programmable control device and a sound/music output mechanism.

Abstract: A method for policing and managing the operation of a flying, unmanned aircraft in the event of usurpation of control of, malfunction of, or ill-intentioned use of, this aircraft includes the steps of (a) detecting inappropriate operation of the aircraft; (b) transmitting a takeover command to the aircraft to interrupt control of the operation of this aircraft by a first pilot and relinquish control of the aircraft to a second pilot; and (c) transmitting control commands to the aircraft to control its operation by the second pilot, until the need for alternate pilot control of the aircraft has ended or until the aircraft has landed safely.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus system and method for power harvesting on roads and highways using piezoelectric generator. The invention is to provide a system and a method for power harvesting comprising a plurality of piezoelectric devices embedded in a road and configured to produce electrical power when a vehicle traverses their locations. The system includes a power conditioning unit and electrical conductors connecting said piezoelectric to said power conditioning unit. Harvested energy may be used locally in proximity to the energy generation location, stored for later use or transferred to be used in remote location.

Abstract: A chair-type massage machine is provided which comprises a seat, backrest and leg portion having a plurality of preset reclining angles for giving an effective massage to the user in various postures. The massage machine comprises a seat pivotally movably supported by a base, a backrest pivotally movably supported by the seat at the rear end thereof, a leg portion pivotally movably supported by the seat at the front end thereof, control means for controlling seat moving means, backrest moving means and the leg portion moving means and a manual controller. The control means has stored therein a plurality of preset reclining angles with respect to the angle of the seat, backrest and the leg portion. The manual controller has reclining selection buttons for selecting one of the reclining angles and an initial position button.

Abstract: A method of making a metal-terephthalate polymer from polyester ethylene terephthalate includes reacting polyester ethylene terephthalate with a metal compound in a non-aqueous melt environment at an elevated temperature. The elevated temperature will be greater than 270° C., and preferably rises to a temperature of about 520° C. The method is preferably carried out at a low pressure. The method may be used in the recycling of passenger vehicle tire shreds to produce a carbon black rrich ppowder that is enriched in the metal-terephthalate polymer.