Abstract: A floatation system for attachment to a helicopter landing skid includes a girt dimensioned to be attached to a landing skid and a plurality of floats attached to the elongate girt, wherein the plurality of floats are adapted to be converted from a packed configuration to an deployed configuration, and wherein at least one of the plurality of floats extends beneath the elongate girt when the plurality of floats is in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: A switching device has an S (Superconductor)-N (Normal Metal)-S superlattice to control the stream of electrons without any dielectric materials. Each layer of said Superconductor has own terminal. The superlattice spacing is selected based on “Dimensional Crossover Effect”. This device can operate at a high frequency without such energy losses as devices breaking the superconducting state. The limit of the operation frequency in the case of the Nb/Cu superlattice is expected to be in the order of 1018 Hz concerning plasmon loss energy of the normal metals (Cu; in the order of 103 eV).

Abstract: An implantable device comprising: a stepper motor; a moveable member, moveable by the stepper motor; and an oscillator, wherein the oscillator is influenced by a signal derived from or supplied to the stepper motor to enable information on the moveable member to be fedback to an external controller by passive telemetry.

Abstract: A receiving unit of a receiving device receives a signal arriving thereto through a transmission path as a reception signal. A delay unit outputs a delay signal obtained by delaying the reception signal by a predetermined delay time. An estimation unit estimates a transmission path characteristic. An equalizer/demodulator compensates for the delay signal with the transmission path characteristic, demodulates the compensation result, and outputs the demodulation result as a transmission signal. A replica unit compensates for the reception signal with the transmission path characteristic, demodulates the compensation result, modulates the demodulation result, and outputs the modulation result as a replica signal. The estimation unit estimates a transmission path characteristic by comparing the reception signal with the replica signal. The predetermined delay time is equal to or smaller than a time required for the processes by the replica unit and the estimation unit.

Abstract: An implantable fluid management device, designed to drain excess fluid from a variety of locations in a living host into a second location within the host, such as the bladder of that host. The device may be used to treat ascites, chronic pericardial effusions, normopressure hydrocephalus, hydrocephalus, pulmonary edema, or any fluid collection within the body of a human, or a non-human mammal.

Abstract: A modular rail system for holding a panel includes individual components that can be mixed and matched making it easy to customize to fit any length and provides for the use of an array of accent materials. The modular rail system includes at least first and second columns and first and second rails extending between the columns, wherein the columns and first rail each includes a recess for securing one edge of the panel.

Abstract: A securing apparatus that releasably secures two or more mechanical elements is provided. The securing apparatus may be attached to one mechanical element and include abutment surfaces that abut at least one additional mechanical element. Forces exerted by the at least one additional mechanical element and the securing apparatus on each other serve to maintain the securing apparatus in a locked position. The securing apparatus may include a locking member that includes a protruded portion that extends at least partially beneath the securing apparatus and at least one mechanical element. A pull-ring may be provided to rotate the locking member and release the mechanical elements being secured. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transducer for converting between mechanical vibration and electrical signal, the transducer comprising a housing enclosing a substantially cylindrical permanent magnet and a coil, the magnet having a side-to-side polar orientation. The transducer may be used as sensor that is part of a sensor array for detecting vibrations from a hollow-bodied musical instrument and converting the vibrations into electrical signals for amplification.

Abstract: A connector for releasably attaching a pair of conduits includes male and female components having proximal and distal ends and a lumen, and a swivel connection releasably connecting the male and female components. The swivel connection permits fluid communication between the male and female components and also permits free rotation between the male and female components.

Abstract: Apparatus for outputting a sequence of vectors includes a first storage that stores vector x having a dimension of at least 1. A first calculator calculates vector function x?=f(x) which utilizes a first rational vector map f to which the stored vector x is input. A second storage stores vector y having a dimension of at least 1. A second calculator calculates vector function y?=g(x, y) which utilizes a second rational vector map g to which the stored vectors x and y are input. An output outputs vector z? which is an association of the resultant vectors x? and y?. A first update updates the first storage by storing the resultant vector x? and a second update updates the second storage by storing the resultant vector y?.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for distributing content such as audio, video, and text files to users over a communications network such as the Internet. Content owners may store content items at content provider computers. A catalog provider computer may be used to host a catalog that lists the various content items available from the content owners. Vendors having vendor websites operating on vendor computers may view the content information in the catalog to determine which content items to offer on the websites. Users may select a desired content item to purchase at a vendor's website. When a user clicks on an appropriate purchase option, a micropayment service provider computer handles the purchase transaction. The purchased content item may then be delivered to the user from an appropriate one of the content provider computers.

Abstract: An improved treatment apparatus and method of using in which the device has plural protruding contact elements, each preferably having an undulating contact surface with one or more peaks. In one preferred embodiment, a plurality of contact elements are positioned spaced apart from one another in columns. In another device an elongated single column is provided. Mounting brackets are provided that enable a user to position the device easily and to adjust mounting straps and/or belts to a particular body shape. In one example, the device may include bracket apertures into which mounting brackets can be positioned. In another aspect of the invention, adjustable buckles and/or binders are provided can be used to adjust the length of the straps and secure the device to the wearer in use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conducting electronic commerce using electronic tokens are described. The electronic tokens are issued and maintained by a vendor, who also provides products and services that can be purchased or rented using the electronic tokens. The electronic tokens may be purchased from the vendor either on-line, using a credit card, or off-line, using a check, money order, purchase order, or other payment means. Because the vendor is the issuer of the electronic tokens, there is no need for transactions to be handled by a third party, such as a bank or other organization. This reduces the overhead involved in conducting electronic commerce, and provides the vendor with a greater amount of control. Additionally, the vendor maintains total control over the price of the electronic tokens at any time. For vendors who offer software products for sale or rental, use of electronic tokens makes a variety of rental arrangements practical.

Abstract: Provided is a bi-directional optical module package having an optical module unit comprising a substrate member, an optical filter installed on the substrate member to be inclined with respect to an optical fiber, a first holder supported by the substrate member on one side of the optical filter and having a laser diode and a lens for transmitting an optical signal to the optical fiber through one side of the optical filter, and a second holder supported by the substrate member on the other side of the optical filter and having a photodiode and a lens for receiving the optical signal received through the optical fiber through the optical filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electromagnetic pickup comprising a bobbin, a single coil wound around the bobbin and at least one pole piece coupled to the bobbin. The pickup is adapted for use with a stringed musical instrument including a body portion, a neck portion and a plurality of strings. In operation, the pickup is disposed between the neck and body portions of the musical instrument such that the pickup is substantially invisible to a user of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A memory device, performs fast data renewal and erasure, and is not easily degraded. In the memory area of a flash memory, each block is divided into physical pages and each physical pages is divided into logical pages. A redundancy portion is provided for each physical page. When supplied with to-be-written data and the logical address of a write destination, a CPU writes this data in an empty logical page and allocates the supplied logical address to this logical page. An old data flag in the redundancy portion in that physical page which includes a logical page having old data stored therein is changed in such a way as to indicate that data in this logical page is invalid. New data writing is done in that logical page to which a logical address is not allocated. At the time of flash-erasing a block, data which is stored in that logical page which is indicated by the old data flag is not transferred.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stringed, musical instrument where the instrument strings are grounded by a string ground circuit, and wherein the string ground circuit includes a circuit breaker having a current path that defines a portion of the string ground circuit between the strings and a ground.