Abstract: A system and method for determining a location. The system employs encoded information devices dispersed through the environment, each having a non-unique code associated therewith. The codes from the encoded information devices are acquired as a reading device passes nearby, and stored. The codes from a proximate set of information devices are correlated with a map or mapping relation to determine one or more consistent positions within the environment. The information devices are preferably passive acoustic wave transponders, and the mapping relation may be a pseudorandom sequence or a defined map.

Abstract: A metal-working water or a metal-working composition which has excellent cooling and lubricating properties and does not exert a harmful influence on the environment. A metal-working water containing sodium ion and one or more kinds selected from the group consisting of fluoride ion, hydrogencarbonate ion and silicon and being adjusted to pH 6.0 to pH 10 can be used as a substitute for a conventional cutting oil. A metal-working composition including a metal-working water with such additive as a rust-preventive agent and being adjusted to pH 6.0 to pH 10 can also be used.

Abstract: A device for sealing a gap between two members. The device comprises at least one elastically expanding hose accommodated in a groove (2) in the wall of the gap. The hose can be expanded by a compressible fluid introduced through a rigid opening such that the hose cannot be displaced in relation to the opening. To provide a device that is easy to install and remove and that requires no straps to secure it, the hose (1) is inserted into the opening (3) and has one end loose and the other end secured by supports.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing element for connecting component parts, in particular plastic paneling, to sheet-metal, in particular parts of the chassis of a motor vehicle. Said fixing element comprises a plastic body which has a base configured for insertion into a U-shaped retaining element of the component part, and a head which, when assembled, projects through an opening in the metal sheet and carries latch springs which form an acute angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the plastic body and, when assembled, lock behind the edges of the opening in the metal sheet.

Abstract: A mobile communications device comprising a location sensing system, producing a location output; a memory, storing a set of locations and associated events; a telecommunications device, communicating event and location information between a remote system and said memory; and a processor, processing said location output in conjunction with said stored locations and associated events in said memory, to determine a priority thereof.

Abstract: A thermoforming tool employed for wrap-around lamination of a sheet to at least one edge (3) of a molding (2) loosely resting on the tool's lower half. The tool comprises a sheet-stretching frame (4) that is positioned over the molding and lowers a thermally plasticized sheet (5) tensioned therein at its edges into a holding position below the edge of the molding, a device for sealing the sheet off from the lower half of the tool, and a device for applying a suction in the subsequent lamination process. The suction device includes an evacuatable depression (9) in the lower half of the tool and below the edge of the molding. The object is to provide smoother lamination. The lower half (1) of the tool has a sealing lip (8) at the level of a conceptual plane below the edge of the molding. The lip parallels the edge of the molding and demarcates the depression.

Abstract: In a photon detector wherein material of light-dependent conductivity is disposed between electrically conductive connections, the material is nanocrystalline composite material, said nanocrystalline composite material, in the process of making it, being applied to a substrate by corpuscular-beam-induced deposition, organo-metallic compounds being used as starting materials, said organo-metallic compounds being adsorbed on the surface of the substrate owing to their high vapor pressure.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having an external trip indicator, having a circuit breaker housing, a trip mechanism within the housing, sensing a trip condition and being responsive thereto to mechanically break an electrical circuit, an indicator, having a selectively operable retaining mechanism and being biased outward from the circuit breaker housing, and a linkage, sensing a trip condition of the trip mechanism and selectively releasing the selectively operable retaining mechanism to allow the indicator to move outwardly from the housing. The external trip indicator is operated by sensing an overcurrent condition with the trip mechanism, breaking the electric circuit in response to the overcurrent, sensing a mechanical movement of the trip mechanism, and thereby releasing a positional restraint on the mechanical indicator; and allowing the mechanical indicator to protrude from the housing.

Abstract: A water-soluble cutting fluid which is characterized by excellent cooling and lubricating properties and does not exert a harmful influence on the environment. A solution containing hydrogencarbonate ion, bromide ion, carbonic acid ion, and, if necessary, fluoride ion, and being adjusted to a pH of 7.0 to 11.5 can be used as a substitute for a cutting oil. A water-soluble cutting fluid further including additives such as rust-preventive agents and the like can be also used as a substitute for conventional cutting oil.

Abstract: An acoustic touch panel or “touch screen” utilizes acoustic waves within a sensor substrate to determine the position of touch. The substrate is made of a temperable glass having an attenuation coefficient of less than or equal to about 0.6 dB/cm as determined at the substrate surface for 5.53 MHz Rayleigh waves as measured by the slope of a plot of amplitude versus distance for a signal through a pair of facing 0.5-inch wide wedge transducers mounted on a sample of the glass type under test having sufficient thickness to support Rayleigh wave propagation. An acoustic touch panel with a tempered low-acoustic-loss glass substrate. This makes possible large tempered acoustic touch panels. A glass substrate of the touch sensor comprises SiO2 as the main component with a total content of Na2O, CaO and MgO of 20% by weight or less and a total content of Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, B2O3, Y2O3, SnO2, PbO2, In2O3 and K2O of 5% by weight or more.

Abstract: In an own-medium controlled magnetic valve (2) actuatable by an electromagnetically controlled pilot vale (46) for controlling liquids, having a main valve member (50) in the form of a differential piston and means to suppress pressure surges during the closure of the main valve (12) implying the cooperation of an overflow channel (68, 80, 82) with a limited passage cross section between both sides of the main valve member (50). The overflow channel consists at least partly of an elastic-walled choke channel (80) which can be increasingly narrowed by squeezing during the closure of the main valve (12). This ensures that the closing movement takes place rapidly and with enduring precision despite gentle closing.

Abstract: Ergonomic systems which provide medical therapy, comfort and enhanced function are provided. Surfaces are provided with adjustable contour, transient force damping and temperature. The technologies are applied to footwear, seating surfaces an cryotherapy devices. The cooling and cryotherapy system employ an evaporator in close proximity to skin, and therefore employ methods to reduce risk of frostbite. Advanced control and power supply options are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a molded body, in accordance with three-dimensional CAD data of a model of a molded body, by depositing layers of a metallic material in powder form. Several layers of powder are successively deposited one on top of the other, whereby each layer of powder is heated to a specific temperature by means of a focused laser beam applied to a given area corresponding to a selected cross-sectional area of the model of the molded body, before deposition of the next layer. The laser beam is guided over each layer of powder in accordance with the CAD cross-sectional data of the selected cross-sectional area of the model in such a way that each layer of powder is fixed to the layer below it.

Abstract: A grinding barrel has a grinding barrel body with a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the peripheral wall defining an open top, a grinding barrel lid closing the open top and a grinding disk in the hollow interior of the barrel. The bottom wall has an upper surface, the grinding disk has a downwardly facing undersurface, and the upper surface and the undersurface are formed with mutually interengaged recessed and protruding surface portions shaped to allow the grinding disk to slide across the upwardly facing surface to the peripheral wall and to interfit with one another along a line of contact at central surface portions of the and the bottom wall and also at the periphery of the disk, thereby improving the grinding efficiency of the grinding barrel.

Abstract: A laser energy microinscribing system, comprising a semiconductor excited Q-switched solid state laser energy source; a cut gemstone mounting system, allowing optical access to a mounted workpiece; an optical system for focusing laser energy from the laser energy source onto a cut gemstone; a displaceable stage for moving said gemstone mounting system with respect to said optical system so that said focused laser energy is presented to desired positions on said gemstone, having a control input; an imaging system for viewing the gemstone from a plurality of vantage points; and a rigid frame supporting said laser, said optical system and said stage in fixed relation, to resist differential movements of said laser, said optical system and said stage and increase immunity to vibrational misalignments. The laser energy source is preferably a semiconductor diode excited Q-switched Nd:YLF laser with a harmonic converter having an output of about 530 nm.

Abstract: A flexible shipping container (100), particularly for bulk material, is disclosed. The container consists of a cylindrical or cube-shaped carrying bag (2) made of a fabric of synthetic fiber or synthetic thread. On one upper side panel edge (4), the carrying sack is provided with a lid section (5), where the lid section (5) is connected to the carrying sack (2) with a zipper (7) at least around a portion of its circumference. In this manner, it is possible to open or remove entirely the lid section simply by pulling open the zipper. The interior of the carrying sack is then freely accessible for cleaning or repair work, or to insert an inner sack made of synthetic foil. After the work is finished, the lid section is reconnected to the carrying sack using the zipper and the container is ready for renewed use.

Abstract: An acoustic wave identification transponder device, having a substrate, an electroacoustic transducer generating an acoustic wave in said substrate and a set of encoding elements disposed in a path of the acoustic wave for modifying the acoustic wave, having elements which reflect portions of the acoustic wave having a component orthogonal to the incident wave. The reflectors may be, for example, trackchangers or reflective arrays compressors (RAC). The wave may be phase-amplitude modulated for increased efficiency expressed in bits per tap. Such phase amplitude modulation is preferably imposed by partial beam width phase delay elements disposed within an acoustic beam path.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of operating a laser diode (2) producing a beam (9) whose intensity is controlled by a control signal and which is directed along a first beam path (10) at the target surface (5), stray reflections from the target surface (50 which are unstable with respect to the diode (2) in time and/or space acting on the diode (2). An element (19, 28, 31, 37, 38) which is stable in time and with respect to the diode (2) in space is used to feed part of the light emitted by the diode back along a second beam path (11) to the active zone (42) of the diode (2) so that the diode (2) is kept in a state of coherence collapse.