Abstract: The present invention provides a prosthetic foot that provides both energy storage capabilities and stability. The prosthetic foot of the present invention provides medial-lateral rotation as compared to the slight tilting or rocking in the medial-lateral plane of the prior art devices. Furthermore, the prosthetic foot of the present invention provides a true hinge in the ankle joint region that may be adapted so that the degree of rotation is controlled.

Abstract: A display retract mechanism for moving a display between a retracted position and a deployed position is disclosed and explained. The display retract mechanism is useful, for example, in mounting a liquid crystal display within the cabin of a passenger vehicle, such as an aircraft or bus. A geared chain drive supplies torque necessary for rotating a pivot shaft on which the display is attached. The display is biased toward a retracted position by a gas spring with a substantially linear force curve between the retracted position and the deployed position. Also disclosed are an infrared sensor for detecting when the display is in the deployed position, a solenoid latch for holding the display in the retracted position, and an electromechanical clutch for maintaining the display in a particular position.

Abstract: An insulation displacement plug assembly includes a plug housing, a pair of insulated conductors and a pair of electrical terminals. Each electrical terminal includes a crimp flange, a pair of insulation piercing knives and a blade. The crimp flange has a pair of upwardly and outwardly flared opposite side portions and an arcuate-shaped bottom portion extending between and interconnecting the side portions.

Abstract: An automatic guidance system and method are provided for a gantry crane to permit accurate tracking along a path, including a curved path. The position of the crane is determined from two spaced apart GPS receivers fixed to the crane. A guidance controller determines a plurality of error measurements from respective front, center and rear points of the crane relative to a current tracking line, which is a line tangent to the path at a current position of crane. In an embodiment, the system includes a base station that can be used to transmit data to the crane to specify a particular destination location of the drive path, or to transmit data representing the drive path itself.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image-forming optical system. The image-forming optical system according to the present invention contains, in order from an object side: an iris diaphragm; a first lens having a positive refractive power and at least one aspheric surface; and a second lens having a negative refractive power and at least one aspheric surface. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an image-forming optical system for cameras using an image pickup device that has a small number of lenses to easily realize the compactness and satisfies a requirement for a high optical performance.

Abstract: A Trie-type associative memory is used for an analysis of binary strings situated at defined locations of data packets. An analysis tree is established, which comprises stages associated with the locations, and paths each arriving at an action attributed on the basis of the values of the binary strings read from a data packet. The tree is then transcribed into the Trie memory.

Abstract: A method and system for bidirectional data and power transmission are shown and described. An exemplary embodiment comprises a current receiver, including a microprocessor and a driver, and a plurality of nodes connected to the current receiver through a plurality of wires that allow both power supply and bidirectional data transfer between the current receiver and the plurality of nodes. The use of the plurality of wires for both power and data transmission offers significant advantages over the prior art in terms of weight reduction and system modularity.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for jointly decoding and equalizing a digital signal protected by a trellis-defined code and transmitted though a channel. The method consists in carrying out a maximum likelihood estimate of each current bit xn by minimizing the quadratic error between the observed symbol Vn and the current symbol in the channel output zn, the quadratic error being calculated (1002) from the set of observed symbols based on the branch metric of the last transition en1(X)?en(X) according to the relationship (I); wherein k represents the rank of the coefficients of transverse filtering introduced by the radioelectric channel. The branch metric is calculated by backtracking through the successive states and the error propagating process is inhibited (1003) while backtracking through the successive states by storing at each node S survivors and by updating each survivor at the next time.

Abstract: A device for converting joystick controller generated analog and digital signals into Universal Serial Bus (USB) format, or for converting imported pulse position modulated (PPM) encoded signals from an external radio control (RC) transmitter into USB format data. The device is used, in an embodiment, for controlling simulated RC model aircraft as displayed, for example on a personal computer screen through the use of computer software. In an embodiment, the device includes a pair of two-axis gimbals, an auxiliary channel control potentiometer, and various control key switches to generate analog and digital joystick type signals as a result of direct manipulation by a user. The device also includes microcontroller circuitry for importing PPM signals, such as PPM signals generated by a commercially available model aircraft RC transmitter, to a USB port signal for interface with a computer.

Abstract: A chair or seat, for use in theaters and/or stadiums, having a back member, a seat member, an armrest construction, a pivot assembly comprising an aperture on an arm or frame of the chair, a pivot member associated with a chair seat, and a bearing member which can act as a bearing for the rotation and a buffer at the extremes of the rotation whilst ultimately retaining the pivot assembly together, and a counterbalance to enable rotation about a pivot point, whereby the rotational movement is controlled. The chairs are made from a moulded plastics material with core recesses to impart substantial rigidity to the chair, and can readily be connected to a surface such as a beam, a riser or a tread via a connection means which is connected to the back of the chair.

Abstract: A wide-angle projection lens includes, in order from an object side: a first lens group including four lenses and having a negative refractive power; and a second lens group including a cemented lens and having a positive refractive power. The first lens group includes an aspherical lens and a spherical lens having a positive refractive power. The wide-angle projection lens further includes an iris diaphragm located after the first lens of the second lens group from the object side, and satisfies the following conditional expressions fb/f>3, ?2.0<D12/f1<?1.3, and 0.8<Lr/Lf<1.2 where f denotes the focal length of the projection lens; fb denotes the retrofocal length of the projection lens; f1 denotes the focal length of the first lens group; Lf denotes the thickness of the first lens group; Lr denotes the thickness of the second lens group; and D12 denotes the distance between the first and second lens groups.

Abstract: In order to detect and iteratively decode encoded and interleaved symbols, prior to any iteration, a linear estimation (A) of the transmission channel ?(z)1 is run on the basis of specific transmitted symbols. Then, by iterations, equalization (B) and decoding (C) process are subjected to an exchange of a priori information (D2) on the symbol bits resulting from the decoding process (C) in the case of the equalization process (B) and on the encoded bits (D1) resulting from the equalization process (B) in the case of the decoding process (C) and an updated iterative re-estimation (G,E2) of the transmission channel is run on the basis of the information resulting from the equalization (B) and decoding (C) process.

Abstract: A system and method for providing optimum wireless communication spreading code selection such that communication channel interpath interference is minimized. In Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum, the autocorrelation properties of a spreading code greatly affects the inherent ability of a system to resist multipath. Low/spreading gain codes (or “short” codes) associated with high data rates do not perform well where large-amplitude multipath is present. The system and method presented herein overcomes this problem by selecting spreading codes in such a way that interference caused by multipath is minimized. The system and method does so by determining the characteristics of the radio-frequency link in order to select a spreading code that will minimize interpath interference.

Abstract: An empennage assembly for a model aircraft. The empennage assembly includes a fuselage having a bottom portion with an opening and a housing positioned in the opening in the bottom portion of the fuselage. The housing has a first end defining an opening and a second end. A rod extends from an underside of a vertical stabilizer, and a horizontal stabilizer having a hole is aligned with the opening in the bottom portion of the fuselage, the housing and the rod, whereby the rod is positioned within the opening in the first end of the housing to secure the vertical and horizontal stabilizers to the fuselage. A method and device for attaching an empennage assembly to a model aircraft are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a congestion optimized address resolution protocol (ARP) for a wireless ad-hoc network. The system and method enables a node in the wireless ad-hoc network to issue an ARP request without the need to broadcast the request to all of the nodes in the wireless ad-hoc network, to thus minimize radio traffic on the wireless ad-hoc network for handling the ARP request. The node includes an address resolution protocol module which is adapted to generate an ARP request for a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to an Internet protocol (IP) address, and a transceiver which is adapted to transmit the ARP request for delivery to an access point of a network portion, such as a core LAN of the network, without broadcasting the ARP request to a plurality of other nodes in the wireless ad-hoc network. The transceiver can transmit the ARP request to the access point directly or via other nodes in the wireless ad-hoc network.

Abstract: A manually operable standing wheelchair includes an actuator for moving an occupant from a sitting position to a standing position. The manually operable standing wheelchair has a lifting mechanism, including, for example, a ratchet, cable, pulley, and telescopic tubes, which the occupant may manually operate to shift from the sitting position to the standing position. There is also a drive system to enable the occupant to manually move himself or herself in and the wheelchair from the sitting position to the standing position, or in any position in between. For example, the drive system may include adjustable lever drive arms with friction pads adapted for allowing the occupant to move in any position. In an embodiment, the wheelchair is equipped with a set of spring loaded anti-tip wheels that automatically deploy when the manual wheelchair begins to lift from the sitting position to the standing position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hand-held striking tool that has a head disposed forward of the centerline of a handle. The hand-held striking tool of the present invention may further include a flange positioned beneath the head of the tool, the flange functioning as a second area of contact so that the effect of overstrike may be controlled. The present invention also provides a hand-held striking tool that isolates the striking head of the tool from the handle such that the effect of vibrations caused by using the tool are reduced.

Abstract: A system is provided for dispensing pharmaceuticals or other material dispensed in prepackaged containers. The container includes a symbol such as a barcode to identify the contents of the container. The system uses a label having a first portion having an outer edge and a second portion that extends out from one side and above the top of the first portion. The second portion includes an indicium such as a barcode that is printed on the second portion that describes the desired contents of a container on which the label is intended. The symbol and the indicium are electronically read after the label is affixed to the container to determine if the label is on a container having the identified contents.