Abstract: A cable tie with an elongated tongue with two ends and two broad sides, a tip at one end of the tongue, a set of ratchet teeth extending along one broad side of the tongue, and a locking head at the other end of the tongue, the locking head having sides defining an opening for receiving the tip of the tongue, and a movable pawl that is hinged at one side of the opening, with another side of the opening defining an abutment wall that is across the opening from the pawl. The pawl engages with one or more of the ratchet teeth when the tongue has been inserted through the opening with the set of ratchet teeth facing the pawl. The abutment wall defines at least one protruding cross member, to strengthen the abutment wall.

Abstract: Methods of creating tooling designs for, and the production of, one or more polarizer groups on a workpiece. Each such group includes an optically transmitting substrate with one or more discrete polarizer pixels thereon. The polarizer groups are used with optical instruments having a number of optical channels. In the method, one or more physical characteristics of at least one optical channel of the optical instrument are measured. Based on the determined physical characteristics, one or more discrete polarizer groups to be created on the substrate are defined, by defining for each such group a location on the substrate for the group, the size, shape and location within the group of each polarizer pixel of the group, and the polarization orientation for each such polarizer pixel of the group. The area of each polarizer pixel is then filled with tooling information that will establish its polarization orientation.

Abstract: A portable Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging Time (CFIT) system for use in determining plant health. The system includes an enclosure for placement around a plant to be imaged in-situ. There is a controlled light source that controllably provides to the plant light of a desired wavelength range, to controllably irradiate the plant within the enclosure. The chlorophyll fluorescence emitted from the plant both spatially and temporally is captured, and the captured fluorescence information is analyzed to provide plant health information.

Abstract: A handheld instrument that accomplishes non-contact infrared (IR) temperature measurement, and the measurement of movement of an object. The instrument has a case, and a movement-sensing device coupled to the case and operable to be directed toward or placed against an object being measured, for generating an output signal based on the sensed movement. An IR detector, also carried by the case, senses IR energy emitted from a surface being measured along an IR-sensing axis that extends from the case, and generates an IR output signal. The sensed IR energy is converted to a temperature value, and the output signal from the current-sensing device is converted to at least a measured current value. A display device in the case displays instrument measurements to the user.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treating erectile dysfunction. The methods include the step of placing within the fossa navicularis of the patient an effective erection-inducing amount of a vasoactive prostaglandin composition of a semi-solid consistency. The composition comprises a vasoactive prostaglandin, a penetration enhancer, a shear-thinning polysaccharide, a lipophilic compound, and an acidic buffer system. The penetration enhancer is an alkyl-2-(N-substituted amino)-alkanoate ester, a (N-substituted amino)-alkanol alkanoate, or a mixture of these enhancers. The lipophilic compound may be an aliphatic C1 to C8 alcohol, aliphatic C2 to C30 ester, an aliphatic C8 to C30 ester, or a mixture of these. The composition includes a buffer system providing a buffered pH value for said composition in the range of about 3 to about 7.4.

Abstract: A method for displaying otherwise unseen objects and other data using augmented reality (the mixing of real view with computer generated imagery). The method uses a motorized camera mount that can report the position of a camera on that mount back to a computer. With knowledge of where the camera is looking, and its field of view, the computer can precisely overlay computer-generated imagery onto the video image produced by the camera. The method may be used to present to a user such items as existing weather conditions, hazards, or other data, and presents this information to the user by combining the computer generated images with the user's real environment. These images are presented in such a way as to display relevant location and properties of the object to the system user.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism for selectively lifting a computer monitor, and particularly a flat screen computer monitor, from below a desktop to a position on the desktop includes a stationary member including a linear slide mechanism, a vertically slideable support member sized and dimensioned to receive a computer display monitor and coupled to the linear slide mechanism, and a latch member. The vertically slideable support member is further coupled to a stored mechanical energy source such as a constant force compression spring, and is retained in a position below the desk by application of the latch member. When the latch member is released, the stored mechanical energy source causes the vertically slideable support member to move upward along the linear slide, through an aperture in a desk, until the computer monitor rests on a plane equivalent with the desktop.

Abstract: A compliant electrical probe device. The device has an anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) material-based layer defining two opposing faces, and having a series of conductive pathways extending between the faces. The device further includes at least two flexible circuit elements, each flexible circuit element defining two opposing faces, one face of one of the flexible circuit elements in electrical and physical contact with one face of the ACE-based layer, and one face of the other flexible circuit element in electrical and physical contact with the other face of the ACE-based layer, the other face of each of the flexible circuit elements carrying one or more electrically-conductive pads that define the device contacts, the flexible circuit elements each further comprising a series of conductive pathways extending between its faces. The ACE-based layer and the flexible circuit elements make up the device.

Abstract: An Anisotropic Conductive Elastomer (ACE)—based electrical connector that interconnects two or more electrical circuit elements. The connector includes at least two layers of ACE separated by alternate interconnection elements that include conductive elements. The conductive elements provide void space for the ACE elastomer to move to during the interconnection process.

Abstract: A three-dimensional spacer fabric resin interlaminar infusion medium and reinforcing composite lamina for use in the vacuum-induced manufacture of fiber reinforced polymer composites is described. This use of the three-dimensional spacer fabric as a composite interlaminar component improves both the vacuum-induced resin infusion flow rate and laminate quality control and aids in the achievement of enhanced resin uniformity distribution throughout the laminate.

Abstract: A multimeter with non-contact temperature measurement capability. The multimeter is contained in a housing, and has outputs relating to measured electrical parameters. There is also an output display contained in the housing, for displaying results to a user. A non-contact optically-based temperature sensing device is coupled to the housing, and has an output related to sensed temperature. Circuitry contained in the housing processes both the multimeter outputs and the temperature sensing device output, and transmits the processed output to the output display.

Abstract: The invention disclosed instruments a firefighter's SCBA with electronic and passive equipment, and protects this instrumentation from shock and undesirable environmental pollutant penetration. The invention provides for doing this through the use of a rugged cover on the equipment as well as soft equipment mounts. The cover provides the instrumentation with protection from impact as well as protection from contamination by environmental pollutants.

Abstract: A three-dimensional spacer fabric resin infusion medium and reinforcing composite lamina for use in the manufacture of fiber reinforced polymer composites is disclosed. The use of the three-dimensional spacer fabric as a composite lamina aids in both the resin infusion rate and resin uniformity throughout the laminate.

Abstract: A lacrosse head construction comprising a frame comprising a forward scoop having a width, a rearward wall more narrow than the scoop width and two opposing sidewalls between the scoop and the rearward wall; wherein at least a portion of each sidewall comprises a material that is softer than the material of at least the scoop, to create sidewalls that help to dampen movement of a lacrosse ball into or within the lacrosse head.

Abstract: A wireless or extra-long-tethered augmented reality (AR) system and method, where the user wears some or all of the equipment necessary to perform the simulation. Various arrangements are presented that can be selected based on the needs of the system, such as the number of users and type of tracking equipment. Most of the discussion is optimized to a firefighter training system, but the disclosure is applicable to most any other application of wireless AR.

Abstract: The invention is a method for displaying otherwise unseen objects and other data using augmented reality (the mixing of real view with computer generated imagery). The method uses image parameters (such as field of view, focus, aperture, and shading) that affect the real world view as captured by a camera. The camera may have a motorized camera mount that can report the position of a camera on that mount back to a computer. With knowledge of where the camera is looking and the additional image parameters, the computer can precisely overlay computer-generated imagery onto the video image produced by the camera such that the appearance of computer-generated imagery is consistent with the image of the real world. The method may be used to present to a user such items as existing weather conditions, hazards, or other data, and presents this information to the user by combining the computer generated images with the user's real environment.

Abstract: A demountable device bracket having a bracket receiver tube adapted to be fixed to a surface, and defining an upwardly-facing opening having an opening shape. There is a bracket assembly with a bracket mounting bar having generally the shape of the opening in the bracket receiver tube, and sized to slide down into the upwardly-facing opening of the bracket receiver tube. There is also a hanger-receiving tube extending at an angle from the exposed portion of the mounting bar, defining an opening that can receive a pole or bar, and a lifting bar extending downward from the hanger-receiving tube. The bracket mounting bar can be slid into the bracket receiver tube, to allow a pole or bar that is inserted into the hanger-receiving tube and that carries an object such as a flag, banner or birdfeeder, for example, to be removably held above the ground.

Abstract: An augmented reality instrumented SCBA with electronic equipment with positional tracking equipment, airflow of both the user's breathing and electronic cooling, and a head pad that allows the unit to rest more comfortably on a user's head.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect circuit device, comprising an anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) material defining two opposing faces and a series of conductive columns extending between the faces, at least some of such pads defining an annular receiving surface. Also included is a flexible circuit element defining two opposing faces, one face of the flexible circuit element in electrical contact with one face of the ACE, the flexible circuit element defining a series of conductive pathways extending between its faces. The ACE material and flexible circuit element together provide an interconnect with low inductance.

Abstract: An implantable device and method for managing a patient's erectile dysfunction, wherein the device generally comprises: at least one power source member that is adapted to be implanted in the patient's lower abdominal wall; at least one pulse generating member that is adapted to be implanted in the patient's lower abdominal wall; and at least one electrode that is adapted to be implanted at the suprapubic level of the patient's neurovascular bundle of the phallus, is connected to said power source member and pulse generating member, and is adapted to electrically stimulate the neurovascular bundle upon selective activation by the patient.