Abstract: A single piece co-cured composite wing is disclosed. The wing has a flying surface and structural members. In one embodiment the structural members may be a plurality of spars. The spars may have various shapes to increase the buckling strength. The spars may be wave shaped, such as a sinusoidal shape. The flying surface and the structural members are co-cured in order to form a single piece, integral wing structure. A process for manufacturing a single piece co-cured wing is also disclosed. The process may include laying out composite sheets for the flying surface of the wing. Then, the composite material of the spars is arranged around a plurality of pressurizable forms. Finally, the composite material is cured in a clamshell frame.

Abstract: An enhanced catheter introducer and method for making the same are disclosed. The catheter introducer may have a splittable sleeve assembly configured to be inserted into a blood vessel with a cannula. The cannula may then be removed, and a catheter may be inserted into the sleeve assembly. The sleeve assembly may be removed from the catheter by pulling handles of the sleeve assembly in different directions to split the sleeve assembly into two pieces. The sleeve assembly may have failure zones that enable the sleeve assembly to be easily split; the failure zones may take the form of thinned regions running along the length of the sleeve assembly. The sleeve assembly may be injection molded with a single step by injecting flows of molten plastic into a cavity of a mold such that the flows converge into an even distribution about the circumference of the sleeve. The mold may have a core pin designed to fit into the cavity.

Abstract: A method for monitoring compliance with recommended hand-washing practices is disclosed. The method involves detecting the occurrence of an event that is specified in a hand-washing rule. The method also involves determining whether a person who is involved in the event complies with the hand-washing rule. If the person does not comply with the hand-washing rule, the method may involve triggering a reminder alarm. The method may also involve determining whether the person washes his or her hands within a period of time subsequent to the reminder alarm. Compliance data that is related to compliance with the hand-washing rule may be updated.

Abstract: A bicycle storage apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus may have a collar within which a core member is rotatably engaged. A pair of locking arms is pivotally attached to the core member such that each of the locking arms has an open position designed to permit insertion or withdrawal of a bicycle wheel and a closed position designed to block withdrawal of the wheel. Rotation of the core member locks the locking arms in the closed position. A bicycle can be stored in the apparatus by elevating the front wheel above the rear wheel, inserting the front wheel into engagement with the locking arms, and rotating the front wheel from a substantially vertical plane to lock the locking arms in the closed position. The collar and the core member may be designed such that they can be formed by blow molding with a simple, two-plate mold system.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing system allows a movable body to be positioned to a point of substantial equilibrium in an axial direction after a system shutdown. A sensor measures the axial position of the movable body to produce an displacement output. That output is then adjusted to account for a sensor offset. The adjustment is stored and can be used to position the movable body during regular operation of the system or when the system reboots or restarts. The adjusted displacement output is converted into a force for positioning the movable body. The movable body may be a rotor in a heart pump apparatus.

Abstract: An airbag module having a gas generator (14), an airbag (13), a housing (10), and a retaining part (20) for fixing the airbag fabric against the housing (10), whereby the gas generator (14), which is positionally fixed to the housing (10), and the retaining part (20) are arranged inside the airbag (13). The retaining part (20) is arranged without a force-absorbing fixation between the gas generator (14) and the housing (10) and, during deployment of the airbag (13), is pressed against the gas generator (14) by the airbag fabric extending between the retaining part (20) and the housing (10).

Abstract: A system for optimizing network bandwidth based on subscription rates from a plurality of requestors is disclosed as including a provider that provides provider data. The system also includes a first requestor that has requested the provider data at a first subscription rate and a second requestor that has requested the provider data at a second subscription rate. The second subscription rate is higher than the first subscription rate. The system further includes a plurality of intervening access nodes. Each intervening access node includes request information specifying any provider data being sent through the intervening access node and a corresponding subscription rate. The plurality of intervening access nodes are configured to decrease the rate to an adjacent node when a requestor decreases a requestor subscription rate such that all the rates along a common transmit path from the provider to an end requestor are optimized to maximize available bandwidth.

Abstract: The adjustable sprinkler riser includes an outer and an inner telescoping member that telescopically interface with each other. A protrusion is spaced from a proximal end of the outer telescoping member. A first joint member slidably interfaces with the outer telescoping member, and a second joint member slidably interfaces with the inner telescoping member. The second joint member may be selectively secured to the first joint member to restrict movement of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member. In such a condition, areas of vulnerability to breakage in the joint members and inner telescoping member are offset from each other to provide greater strength to the adjustable sprinkler riser. In addition, manufacturing the adjustable sprinkler riser is simple because the first and second joint members may be conveniently placed on the telescoping members, and there is no need to form threads or other intricate structures on the telescoping members.

Abstract: A golf club which includes an adjustable shaft, in which the shaft comprises an inner shaft part, an outer shaft part which receives an end of the inner shaft within it in a telescoping arrangement, and an internal tube which is fastened within the outer shaft part and which extends along the inside of the outer shaft to engage the inner shaft part in a telescoping arrangement. One of the internal tube and the inner shaft part is split at its end. The club includes a locking mechanism by which the inner shaft and the internal tube can be locked together against relative axial and rotational movement, comprising an expander which can be withdrawn into the split end to cause it to become splayed, to engage the internal surface of the other of the internal tube and the inner shaft part. The expander can be withdrawn into the split end to cause its end to become splayed by the action of a resiliently deformable spring, which biasses the expander towards the locking position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved high-performance permeable concrete obtained by spreading and compacting a mixture which comprises 1,500-1,850 kg/m3 of aggregates; 320-400 kg/m3 of Portland cement; 28-35% of the cement (90-140 kg/m3) of water; 2-5% of the cement (6-20 kg/m3) of a pigment; and 3-10% of the cement (10-40 kg/m3) of charcoal dust, 7-15% of the cement (22-60 kg/m3) being substituted for particulates of blast furnace slag, and having the compressive strength of 120-300 kgf/cm2 and the permeability coefficient of 2×10?2 cm/sec or more. The permeable concrete according to the present invention is environmental friendly and has excellent strength and permeability.

Abstract: A method for operating an output buffer for reducing a power/ground bounce noise while maintaining high transmission rate is disclosed. The method includes steps of providing a plurality of driving current paths to an output end of the output buffer when an output end of the output buffer is switched from a low level to a high level, turning off a portion of the driving current paths when the output end of the output buffer is kept at the high level, providing a plurality of discharging current paths to the output end when the output end of the output buffer is switched from a high level to a low level, and turning off a portion of the discharging current paths when the output end of the output buffer is kept at the low level. In addition, an output buffer with both low power/ground bounce noise and high transmission rate is also disclosed.

Abstract: A security device for monitoring personal property using a wireless interface to a communication network is presented. The device is comprised of a security module that interfaces with a wireless transceiver such as a cellular telephone. The security module includes a detection monitor the alarms upon a condition and initiates a dialing command to the wireless telephone. The wireless telephone includes a preprogrammed number of a user and is readily reprogrammable to other numbers. Once the communication link is established, the user may listen to the audible conditions around the security device and determine the legitimacy of the alarm. Optional enhanced interrogation of the security device is also contemplated. The security device further includes a location identifier, an example of which is a tracking transmitter that emits a beacon signal for tracking by the user or others.

Abstract: An assembly for converting a catamaran into a trimaran, the assembly comprising a center hull, left and right side linkage members, with each linkage member having front and rear lateral portions and an interconnecting longitudinal portion, and a plurality of adaptors with each adaptor having a bottom surface which is adapted to be located in a catamaran hull tops surface recess for a cross piece and a top surface for receipt of the longitudinal portion, wherein each longitudinal portion is adapted to be connected to forward and rear ends of respective catamaran hulls by a coupling means.

Abstract: A mounting mechanism for mounting a enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails disposed so as to define an equipment storage region is disclosed. The mounting mechanism includes a first portion configured to be attached to the enclosure-mountable device, and a second portion configured to be attached to one or more of the vertical mounting rails. The first and second portions are configured such that the enclosure-mountable device may be disposed in a first position outside the equipment storage region and a second position outside the equipment storage region.

Abstract: A device and a method are used for generating a selection signal provided for a multiplexing circuit. The multiplexing circuit generates an output signal from a plurality of source signals in response to the selection signal. The device includes an operational circuit and a toggle control circuit. The method includes steps of: performing an OR operation of the plurality of source signals to obtain an operational output signal; and latching the operational output signal in an active low manner in response to a selection command to obtain the selection signal. By prohibiting the selection signal from toggling when any of the plurality of source signals is at an output-enabled state, the accuracy of the selection signal can be improved.

Abstract: A device for verifying frequency of a clock signal generated from a clock signal generator includes a reference signal generator, a frequency divider and a comparative detector. A reference clock signal and a reset signal are provided by the reference signal generator. The frequency divider in communication with the reference signal generator and the clock signal generator receives and frequency-divides the clock signal into a bi-level divided clock signal in response to the reset signal. Then the comparative detector in communication with the frequency divider and the reference signal generator detects a level of the bi-level divided clock signal in response to the reset signal and the reference clock signal, and verifies frequency of the clock signal according to a period deviation range Te when the bi-level divided clock signal is detected to be a first level from the first to the (p?q)th detected points but a second level at the (p+1)th detected point.

Abstract: An optical fiber multiplexer having a fixed plate and a rotating plate. A plurality of fiber-optic channels are coupled to the fixed plate in a circumferential arrangement. One fiber-optic channel is coupled to the rotating plate. Each fiber-optic channel may include one or more separate optical fibers. A servo motor rotates the rotating plate. Switching between channels occurs by rotating the rotating plate and aligning the optical fibers on the fixed plate and the rotating plate. Lens-to-lens coupling is used to transmit optical signals between the rotating and fixed plates. An adjustment device, such as a gimbal mount, may be used to adjust the horizontal and vertical axial alignment of the optical fibers coupled to the fixed plate so that optimum light signal transmission can occur. A control unit controls the operation of the servo motor.

Abstract: A roller conveyor has three-phase synchronous motors and feed rollers. The three-phase synchronous motors are operationally coupled to the respective feed rollers. The three-phase synchronous motors are driven by a three-phase AC voltage supplied from a three-phase AC power supply and the three-phase synchronous motors output a torque. Each feed roller is caused to roll to convey a work by the torque output from the corresponding three-phase synchronous motor. This structure provides an inexpensive roller conveyor which is easy to maintain.

Abstract: A method of ordering a translation of an electronic communication, such as a web page or an email, using a one-click translation component displayed on the web page or in the email. Clicking the one-click translation component automatically requests a translation of the selected communication and returns the communication to the user. The method is controlled by a translation manager that obtains the translation and directs transmission of the translation to the user. A single-click translation system for working the method is also described.

Abstract: The 16-bit process receives synchronized data from a hooked data function. As memory becomes available in a shared memory buffer, the 16-bit process writes the synchronized data to the buffer. The 16-bit process then signals the 32-bit process that synchronized data is ready to be transmitted over the network. The 32-bit process reads the synchronized data, stores it in a send buffer to free the shared memory buffer, then signals the 16-bit process that the shared memory buffer has been read. The 32-bit process then sends the synchronized data out over the network. In this way, a “thunk” that improperly releases the mutual exclusion semaphore is avoided. There can be more than one shared memory buffer, to allow the 16-bit process and the 32-bit process to read and write synchronized data to the shared memory buffers at the same time.