Abstract: Surface textures embossed in a substrate such as plastic include surface depressions or cones having equally-spaced, reflective terraced steps to support coherent reflections of incident light. A desired color or bandwidth of coherent reflected light off the terraced steps is produced by adjusting the index of refraction of a material in communication with the terraced steps of the substrate. Preferably, the index of refraction of each zone of terraced steps is controlled based on an applied electric field. Accordingly, light reflected from a plurality of controlled zones can be used to produce an image for an observer.
Abstract: An electrical connector for separably, electrically interconnecting an electrical device to a main circuit board using anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) as part of the interconnect, the electrical connector comprising an adapter board coupled to the main board on one side, the other side of the adapter board defining connecting lands; a layer of ACE on the other side of the adapter board, the other side of the ACE in contact with the device; and a mechanical compression structure coupled to the adapter board, and that provides a compressive load on the device, the ACE and the adapter board, to accomplish a separable electrical connection between the device and the main board, through the ACE and the adapter board.
Abstract: The planarization of inductive components by reducing standard coiled designs to single turn, open ended designs from which the required parameters are obtained by scaling the length. Single turn designs having magnetic material encircling the conductors along their full length enable the thinnest form. The single turn, open ended form also enables the inductive component to be routed according to any shape in the plane or on any conformal surface. The single turn inductors do not need to coil hence there is no overlap necessary in the plane. The planar form allows integration of inductive components with integrated circuits. These inductive components can be embedded in other materials. They can also be fabricated directly onto parts.
Abstract: A toy which emits sounds as it is moved, comprising: a toy body; and a plurality of mechanically-operated sound tubes carried within the toy body, each sound tube including a sliding whistle which moves along the tube by the force of gravity, and each sound tube lying along a longitudinal axis, in which the axes are transverse to one another, so that the sound tubes emit sound when the toy is moved along various axes.
Abstract: A modular skate park system comprising one or more platform portions, and one or more ramp members. The ramp members are connectable to the platform portions, and the platform portions can be connected to one another along their edges to accomplish an enlarged platform with one or more ramps providing access to the platform.
Abstract: A universal printed circuit board fixture for a flying probe test machine that has opposed clamps, comprising a pair of members, at least one such member being movable relative to the other member, the members defining protruding portions that are adapted to be held in the opposed clamps of a flying probe test machine, and one or more engagement structures carried by each member, each such engagement structure adapted to be coupled to a portion of a printed circuit board. One or more of such engagement structures are adjustable along the length of a member, to allow the accommodation of boards of different size and shape.
Abstract: The waveform generator includes a free-running ring oscillator, an algebra module, a switching module and an output module. The free-running ring oscillator includes a plurality of delay elements connected in a loop and a plurality of taps disposed between the delay elements, with each tap providing a uniquely phased, oscillating transition signal. The algebra module generates an output signal indicating a first rising edge of the arbitrary waveform in response to an input signal. The switching module includes a switch input port in electrical communication with the algebra data output port, a plurality of switch tap input ports in electrical communication with the free-running ring oscillator taps and switch output port. At the switch output port, the switch module provides a first transition signal selected from one of the plurality of free-running ring oscillator taps in response to the signal indicative of a first rising edge received at the switch input port.
Abstract: A method for purifying high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, comprising the steps of providing one or more raw hyaluronic acid sources; extracting hyaluronic acid from the source; precipitating hyaluronic acid extracts; dissolving extract precipitates in water; extracting enzyme inhibitors from the dissolved precipitates with chloroform, and centrifuging to isolate an aqueous portion; adding one or more protein hydrolyzing enzymes to the aqueous portion in a reactor; adding a solution of CPC and NaCl to the reactor; filtering reactor contents through at least one membrane filter; filtering membrane filtered solution through at least one diafilter having a molecular weight cutoff of about 30 kDa; precipitating the diafiltered solution and isolating purified hyaluronic acid precipitate; and formulating isolated precipitate to about 10 mg/ml hyaluronic acid.
Abstract: A tuning mechanism for a superconducting radio frequency particle accelerator cavity, wherein the cavity comprises a number of axially aligned cells held by a frame, with at least one active cell that is axially stretchable to tune the resonant frequency of the cavity. The tuning mechanism comprises a lever arm having a center of rotation, one or more mechanical members coupling the lever arm to an active cell, and a motor adapted to move the lever arm, to thereby move the active cell through the mechanical members.
Abstract: A method of forming an interconnection component with integral conductive elastomeric sheet material, comprising providing a connector frame defining an opening, casting uncured elastomeric conductive polymer interface (ECPI) material onto the connector frame spanning the opening, and curing the ECPI in the presence of a magnetic field, to integrally couple the ECPI to the connector frame, and create a series of spaced conductive columns through the ECPI thickness.
Abstract: Self-contained wrap for a gift comprising, a first panel; a second panel, having a perimeter, fixed to the first panel along a first portion of the perimeter, so that a cavity is formed between the first panel and the second panel which is adapted to enclose the gift therein, and so that at least one opening to the cavity is defined along a second portion of the perimeter which is adapted to allow the gift to be passed through the opening into the cavity; and at least one flap, fixed to the second panel, which is adapted to fold over the opening and to adhere to the front panel; and method for using the wrap.
Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, which is adapted to be applied circumferentially about a phallus, having a perimeter, and to facilitate intracavernosal anesthesia, generally comprises: a strip having a length at least slightly greater than the perimeter of the phallus, and a first end and a second end; and a hook and loop closure for releasably fixing at least a portion of the strip proximate the first end to a second portion of the strip
Abstract: A catapult device for a catapult game, including a projectile-throwing mechanism, and a projectile catch member. The projectile release angle of the mechanism, and the projectile throw force of the mechanism are adjustable. The throwing mechanism is automatically released upon the impact with sufficient force of a projectile on the projectile catch member. Also disclosed is a game system and a game playing method using a number of such devices.
Abstract: A method is presented for calculating a force to apply to components in a computer simulation to simulate the effect that an extinguishing agent stream (e.g., water or foam from a nozzle) should have on airflow in the vicinity of the stream, thereby affecting the movement of other components of the simulation. The method is designed to work in real-time as part of a virtual reality, augmented reality, or other real-time 3-D graphics simulation. In addition to the preferred embodiment of calculating forces to apply to a fire and smoke plume, the invention also contemplates calculation of a force to apply to aerosols and particles that are not part of a fire and smoke plume.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2001
Date of Patent:
September 9, 2003
Assignee:
Information Decision Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
John Franklin Ebersole, Jr., Todd Joseph Furlong
Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for instrumentation of a firefighter's vari-nozzle for motion tracking and measurement of pattern selector and bail handle positions. In the embodiment presented here, brackets and associated hardware attach (1) a position tracking device to the nozzle to measure its 6-DOF (Degrees of Freedom) position and orientation, and (2) potentiometers to measure the angular positions of the two main, moving components (the bail handle and the pattern selector) of the nozzle. The mounts are attached to the brass nozzle with holes drilled into the main body of the nozzle.
One application of this instrumentation is control of an augmented reality or virtual reality water stream, or other extinguishing agent. The electronic signals from potentiometers in the instrumentation permit a computer to calculate and display graphical representations of water flow from the nozzle for virtual reality and augmented reality applications.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 5, 2001
Date of Patent:
August 19, 2003
Assignee:
Information Decision Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
John Franklin Ebersole, Jr., Todd Joseph Furlong
Abstract: This invention features a disc refacing system, comprising a rotatable platter for holding a disc thereon, a grinding pad assembly, and a polishing pad assembly. Each pad assembly can be rotated at high speed. Each pad assembly can be alternately engaged with the disc on the platter. The platter and a pad assembly can be alternately engaged and disengaged, to allow a disc to be loaded and unloaded from the platter. There is a source of grinding compound, which can be applied to the grinding pad assembly.
Abstract: A surgical radiofrequency needle point electrode for delivering both coagulating and cutting currents, comprising, at least one housing member; at least one needle point electrode having a surgically active region that is adapted to deliver both coagulating and cutting currents; and a telescoping member for at least temporarily maintaining the surgically active region of the electrode in the housing member.