Abstract: The size of a driving apparatus to be mounted in a mobile terminal is desired to be reduced. In a driving apparatus according to the present invention, an arm member supports a member to be driven in a slidable manner. A first biasing member has a predetermined spring constant and biases the member to be driven via the arm member. A second biasing member has a spring constant that is smaller than the spring constant of the first biasing member and, by biasing the member to be driven in a direction that goes against the first biasing member, supports the member to be driven along with the arm member. A shape-memory alloy swings the arm member against the first biasing member by contracting when a drive current is supplied. The member to be driven is slid, when the arm member swings, by the second biasing member while keeping contact with the arm member.

Abstract: An appearance inspection apparatus for inspecting a board is provided with multiple imaging units for capturing respective images of the board. Multiple slave personal computers respectively provided for the multiple imaging units inspect the board by referring to data of images of the board captured by the respective imaging units. Each of the multiple slave personal computers transmits, to other slave personal computers, shared data that are necessary for inspection by other slave personal computers. The shared data is acquired by each of the slave personal computers from data of an image of the inspection piece captured by an associated imaging unit. Each of the slave personal computers inspects an appearance of the board by referring to the shared data received from another slave personal computer.

Abstract: An image interpolation method and apparatus by which to quickly generate and display motion pictures using a small amount of data. An image input unit inputs a first image and a second image. A matching processor computes a pixel matching between those images so that a corresponding point is obtained on the second image with respect to a lattice point of a mesh on the first image. The matching processor stores the matching results recorded as a corresponding point file. An intermediate image generator generates an intermediate image between the first image and the second image based on the corresponding point file. In particular, in generating the intermediate image, an attribute of the pixels on one image may be used as such without the attribute being interpolated between pixels of each image. Thus, when generating intermediate images, only one image and a smaller corresponding point file can be used.

Abstract: Stanchion and clamp assemblies which are moveable along a track system in a cargo storage area and which are extendably adjustable relative to cargo or dunnage after being fixedly secured to the track system to thereby permit positive engagement of the stanchion and clamp assemblies with the cargo or dunnage and thus prohibit cargo dunnage shifting.

Abstract: A fuse-holder clip including two lugs designed to define a space for receiving a fuse cartridge with circular cross-section. The lugs are folded along lines parallel to a central axis of the cartridge when the cartridge is placed in the clip such that each lug forms two electrical and mechanical lines of contact for engaging and supporting the cartridge with the two lines being globally parallel to the axis.

Abstract: A building evacuation system in which at least one vertical evacuation chute is provided for each floor of a building to be evacuated. A plurality of collapsible buckets are stored on each floor and, after loading, are slid along horizontal rails to the vertical chute where they engage a plurality of vertical guide tracks. The guide tracks are provided with tapered brake pads so as to provide progressively increasing braking force on the falling buckets. A sloping slide is provided adjacent a lower open end of the chute to slidably transfer the bucket and evacuee to the ground.

Abstract: An articulating tray assembly for mounting on a support member, such as a wheelchair side frame member, which can be self stored and moved from the storage position to an operating position either inside or outside of the support member by manipulation of a single clamping knob. Forward and rearward movement of the tray is controlled by a second clamping knob.

Abstract: A multiple axis connector for securing a connecting rod of a spinal implant to a vertebra anchor wherein the connector includes a first element for securing to the vertebra anchor and a second element for receiving the connecting rod and which elements are joined by a ball joint member which permits relative angular adjustment therebetween.

Abstract: A chiller comprises a vessel for coolant and an endless conveyor having transverse flights. The conveyor passes in a loop from one side to another of the vessel. An arrangement is provided to alter the path of the conveyor so as to shorten and lengthen the loop. In use, when the loop is lengthened articles are tumbled in the coolant by the flights, and when the loop is shortened articles are conveyed out of the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the thickness of arterial walls is disclosed. Ablation of the exterior layer of the arterial walls is performed using mechanical or laser ablation techniques. Surveying is preferably carried out during the procedure to ensure optimal ablation. The ablation reduces the effective thickness of the arterial walls and increases flexibility so that the walls distend under normal blood pressure, thereby improving blood flow. Advantageously, the procedure is carried out without invasion of the blood vessel lumen and without damage to the inner layer of the artery wall.

Abstract: A low profile motor-driven transport trolley including a frame upon which a rotating plate may be mounted. The frame is supported by sets of wheels disposed on opposite sides thereof and hydraulic motors are provided to power the sets of wheels separately to obtain a differentiated drive. The motors are hydraulic and are fed by a pump to thereby control motion of the sets of wheels.

Abstract: A child-resistant unit does holder includes a blister pack having a plurality of protrusions formed in a sheet and a unit dose disposed in each of the protrusions. The pack is slidably received in a sleeve which covers the protrusions to prevent a unit dose being dispensed from the pack. A releasable detent mechanism prevents slidable removal of the pack from the sleeve, and at least one of the protrusions forms a detent of the detent mechanism.

Abstract: A multitasking optical fiber probe for collecting dosimeter information from more than one position in a sample. The basic principle of the present invention involves using one or more different sensor zones along the length of the fiber each with a different photoactive constituent having a sufficiently unique emission spectra (spectral or temporal) to enable deconvolution of the emission spectra by the computer and therefore correlation of the detected parameter with the position of the sensor zone along the length of the optical fiber. In the broadest form of the invention the probe is embodied by only one sensor zone located at some point along the length of the fiber spaced away from the end face of the fiber.

Abstract: A perpendicular-mode near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) utilizing a piezoelectric micro tuning fork as its height-sensing element is described. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for modifying and attaching an optical fiber to the tuning fork that allows the assembly to retain Q-factors up to 9000, substantially higher than those described so far in the literature for tuning-fork-based instruments. The method involves reducing the diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber down to the 17-25 &mgr;m using several chemical etching steps, before the fiber is attached to the tuning fork. A sharp upturn in the Q-factor is observed when the fiber diameter d drops below ˜25 &mgr;m. An analysis, which shows that the stretching force constant of a bent fiber is proportional to d4, is used to account for the great sensitivity of the Q-factor to the fiber diameter.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a parallel or closed loop mechanism for moving and positioning a member in space. The mechanism includes three branches each provided with at least two link members being serially connected together by a spherical elbow joint whereby the first and second link members are rotatable with respect to each other about any axis passing through a center of the first joint. The mechanism is provided with actuators for moving each branch and the first links of each branch are rigidly connected at an end portion thereof to the actuator means. The mechanism includes three revolute joints each defining a longitudinal axis of rotation. Each revolute joint is connected to an associated second link member so that the longitudinal axes of all third joints intersect at a point and the revolute joints are interconnected so that the three branches form three parallel or closed loops.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for in situ measuring thicknesses of ice buildup on airfoil. The method and device uses a probe including a high energy radioactive gamma ray source .sup.241 Am producing 60 keV photons which penetrate through the airfoil substrate and a photodetector mounted behind the source for detection of backscattered photons. The probe is mounted on the interior of the airfoil and secondary radiation is backscattered within the ice layer and back through the airfoil substrate to the photodetector. The shape and density of the source holder in addition to the geometrical arrangement of the source and detector with respect to the airfoil substrate are used to block photons backscattered in the airfoil substrate thereby favoring scattering in the ice layer over that in the aluminum.

Abstract: A global position receiver receives navigation signal from navigation satellites, in space, from a fixed location on a golf course, the location defined in stable location data. Location data derived from the navigation signals defines the fixed location in unstable location data. The stable location data and the unstable location data are compared for generating an error signal. A mobile global position receiver, on a fairway of the golf receives concurrently transmitted navigation signals from the navigation satellites from an undefined location. Location data derived from the navigation signals by the mobile unit defining the location of the mobile unit in unstable location data is combined with the error signal generating stable location data defining the undefined location of the mobile unit on the fairway. The distance and direction of a golf ball from the mobile unit, are measured.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting particulate material, such as cut tobacco, including a duct having an inlet for receiving material to be transported, an outlet for transported material, air inlet zones in the duct wall for the passage of air under pressure into the duct and air outlet zones in the duct wall wherein the inlet zones and outlet zones are positioned in the duct wall and are so dimensioned to cause an air velocity in the duct which has a first velocity component directed to urge the material transported away from the wall of the duct and a second velocity component directed to urge the material along the length of the duct.