Abstract: A self-contained, optical hand-held diagnostic device is provided with a body having a pocket-sized form factor sized and shaped for engagement by a user's hand. The body includes an integral power supply and an integral display. A channel receives reagent sample media in an indexed fit. The sample media has a plurality of spaced test areas which change color according to an amount of a constituent or property in the sample. Imagers are located within the body so that each of the imagers is superposed with one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within the channel, to capture an image thereof. A processor is coupled with the imagers to analyze the captured images. The processor also derives a diagnosis value from the analysis, and generates an output corresponding thereto. The display is configured to receive and display the output.

Abstract: A modular robotic teaching tool including a plurality of modules that may be operated, for example, to play robot soccer, for introducing principles of mechanical engineering and robotics to prospective students. The teaching tool includes a modular robot that may be assembled in a plurality of configurations. The modular robot includes a body portion, first and second motors, first and second motor mounts, at least three wheels, two of which are mountable to the motors, at least one flipper module, and a remote control module for actuating the motors and the flipper module. The modular robot is advantageous in that it provides for an inexpensive, challenging, and entertaining introduction to some of the principles of robotics and mechanical engineering.

Abstract: In order to provide a containment boom capable of functioning as a barrier for certainly preventing the containment of oil spill in no concern to momentary violent movements of waves and currents, the containment boom comprises a plurality of float units and a coupling portion by which adjacent float units are coupled to one another. Each of the float units comprises a housing having an oil shielding surface perpendicular to sea level, a float portion having a buoyant force, and a plummet portion positioned under the float portion. In addition, the float portion and the plummet portion are adjusted so as to locate a water line to approximate middle position of vertical length of the oil shielding surface. Furthermore, the coupling portion is a flexible coupling portion for varying a relative position between the adjacent float units.

Abstract: An electronic compass comprises a saturable core sensor (2) with a core (3) made of ferromagnetic material surrounded by an electric winding (3?), a first couple of electric windings (4, 5) around the sensor (2) having reciprocally orthogonal turns, a second couple of electric windings (8, 9) around said first couple (4, 5) having reciprocally orthogonal turns. The gap between the winding (3?) and the first couple of windings (4, 5) and between the first couple of windings (4, 5) and the second couple of windings (8, 9) is filled with a material having a low thermal expansion coefficient, preferably epoxy fiberglass reinforced plastic, supporting the windings of said first (4, 5) and second (8, 9) couple of windings. It is also provided an electronic control circuit (20, 21, 22).

Abstract: Abrasive grinding wheels having an irregular (i.e., gapped) perimeter shape and/or holes extending therethrough permit one to view the surface of a workpiece being ground in conventional surface finishing, snagging and/or weld blending operations. The grinding wheels may each include one or more gaps disposed in spaced relation about the otherwise circular perimeter of the wheel. Holes also may be provided in addition to, or in lieu of, the gaps, and similarly spaced equidistantly about the wheel. The gaps and/or holes may be configured in many diverse shapes. Gap and hole positions may be selected so as to retain the balance of the wheel. Advantageously, when the wheels are rotated about their axes, one is able to monitor the condition of the surface of the workpiece as it is being abraded, without removing the grinding wheel from the surface.

Abstract: A drive mechanism is provided for omnidirectional and holonomic motion control of a vehicle. The drive mechanism may be used in a wide variety of applications where omnidirectional vehicles are advantageous, such as forklifts, aircraft maintenance platforms, robotic systems, wheelchairs, and recreational vehicles. The drive mechanism includes at least one wheel assembly rotatably coupled to a vehicle chassis, the wheel assembly including at least two wheels coupled to a wheel assembly chassis. The drive mechanism further includes a wheel constraint module configured to control the orientation of the wheels and a power module configured to rotate the wheel assembly. Vehicle motion may be controlled by actuation of the wheel constraint and power modules.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating an abrasive article having porosity. The method includes blending a mixture of abrasive grain, bond material, and pore inducer, in which the pore inducer is soluble in a supercritical fluid, and the abrasive grain and bond material are substantially insoluble in the supercritical fluid. The mixture is pressed into an abrasive laden composite and exposed to the supercritical fluid for a period of time suitable to dissolve at least a portion of the pore inducer. The composite is thermally processed.

Abstract: A grinding tool and method is provided for shaping an edge of sheet glass. The grinding tool includes an arbor and a wheel being of a unitary construction and including an axis of rotation. The grinding tool further includes a recess extending along a periphery of the wheel, with a bonded abrasive being disposed therein. The bonded abrasive is sized and shaped for being profiled, to shape an edge of a glass sheet upon rotation of the tool about the axis. The bonded abrasive may further be sized and shaped for being re-profiled after use. The grinding tool of this invention may provide for both improved quality and reduced cost sheet glass.

Abstract: A dial indicator, method, and kit for upgrading a dial indicator to provide both local visible and remote indication of a measured physical parameter is provided. A magnetic rotary pointer is provided by coupling a magnet to a pointer, or by providing a replacement pointer having an integral magnet, so that the magnetic rotary pointer is rotatable in response to a change a measured physical parameter. A potentiometer is magnetically coupled to the magnetic rotary pointer, and is fastened to a front side of the dial indicator.

Abstract: A bimetallic switch comprising a bimetallic element having an outer edge and being adapted to snap between an open mode and a closed mode; a movable contact disposed on the bimetallic element; a first terminal in electrically conductively coupled to the movable contact; a fixed contact disposed adjacent the movable contact such that, when the switch is in a closed position, the fixed contact and the movable contact are in engagement with one another, and when the switch is in an open position, the fixed contact and the movable contact define an open contact gap therebetween; a second terminal electrically conductively coupled to the fixed contact; a step disposed adjacent the outer edge of the bimetallic element such that a clearance is defined therebetween when the bimetallic element is in its closed mode, the clearance being positioned and dimensioned such that, when the outer edge of the bimetallic element deforms prior to a snapping open thereof, the clearance isolates a deformation of the outer edge ther

Abstract: Provided are methods of determining the cardiac contractility of a cardiovascular system, which methods comprise a step of utilizing values representing stroke volume, preload, and afterload to calculate the cardiac contractility. Most preferably, the calculation of cardiac contractility utilizes a mathematical relationship where the stroke volume is represented by the volume of a tetrahedron, the preload is represented by a length of the base of the base triangle of the tetrahedron, the afterload is represented by the height of the base triangle of the tetrahedron, and the cardiac contractility is represented by the height of the tetrahedron. Also provided are measurement systems for determining the cardiac contractility of a cardiovascular system that utilize such methods of determining cardiac contractility.

Abstract: An improved respirator filter assembly includes an integral fit seal check mechanism easily controlled by the user. Upon release, the seal check mechanism permits free airflow through the filter assembly. The seal check mechanism includes an air passageway having a sealing rim and a blocking member which is selectively movable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the sealing rim. A spring element is disposed to releasably maintain the blocking member in the disengaged position during filter assembly operation, wherein a user may actuate the blocking member against the bias of the spring element to move the blocking member into the engaged position to substantially prevent entry of air into the air passageway during seal checking.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an optical shutter comprising an organic free compound, preferably a radical cation or a radical anion, wherein the organic free radical compound forms a reaction product having a change in absorption in a near-infrared or a wavelength region as a result of a photo-induced reaction of the free radical compound. Preferably, the photo-induced reaction occurs in less than 0.1 nanoseconds after absorption of photons by the free radical compound. Also, preferably, the change in absorption is reversible, and the optical shutter is reversibly imaged in less than 10 milliseconds to regenerate the free radical compound. Provided is an optical shutter for use as an optical switch in fiber optic communications, and, alternatively, for use in a laser protection device, a security protection system, and an eyewear device. Also provided are optical switch arrays, optical buffers, optical routers, and tunable optical gain filters comprising such optical shutters.

Abstract: A capacitance probe including a spacer for separating an inner conductor from an outer conductor. The spacer has a member that substantially surrounds the outer conductor and includes a number of spacing elements that extend inwardly through apertures in the outer conductor to position the inner conductor concentrically with the outer conductor. The spacers advantageously are installable from the outside of the outer conductor through apertures in the outer conductor to simplify production of the capacitance probe. The spacers also allow material to fill and drain easily between the conductors, and allow more of the material being measured to make contact with the conductors improving linearity and gain of capacitance measurement.

Abstract: Provided are a measurement apparatus and a measurement system comprising sample and reference microresonators, such as sample and reference quartz crystal microbalances; sample and reference heat flow sensors; and a heat sink coupled thermally to the heat flow sensors. These may be used to measure changes in one or more properties, such as mass, due to a liquid sample on a surface of a sample microresonator and also to measure heat flows from the sample on the surface of the sample microresonator by utilizing the heat flow sensors, which are coupled thermally to the corresponding sample or reference microresonators. Also provided is a method for measuring one or more properties, such as mass, of a liquid sample and the flow of heat from the sample to the heat sink by utilizing such apparatus.

Abstract: An electrochemical cathode includes a porous metal foam substrate, formed with a network of interconnected pores. An active layer and a hydrophobic microporous gas diffusion layer are both disposed on one or more surfaces of the metal foam substrate. The metal foam substrate serves as the current collector of the cathode. The microporous layer is a plastic material such as a fluoropolymer (i.e., PTFE). The cathode also includes a particulate microstructure reinforced by relatively strong bonding provided by sintering a polymeric binder within the three-dimensional interconnected porosity of the metal foam substrate. The reactive layers are preferably fabricated from the same material as binder. This advantageously enables a single roll pressing operation to simultaneously impregnate the binder into the substrate and form the reactive layers thereon.

Abstract: Provided is a media-fluid material set which comprises a media with a support that bears a hydrophilic receiving surface together with a fluid material comprising a liquid carrier medium and a reactive transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid. After application of the fluid material to the hydrophilic receiving surface, the reactive complex reacts to form an ink-releasing layer. Such a media-fluid material set can be advantageously used in preparing waterless lithographic printing plates with ink-releasing layers comprising such fluorinated reaction products. Also provided are imaged waterless lithographic printing plates with such ink-releasing layers made by an ink jet printing application or by laser-induced thermal ablation, and methods of making such waterless lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating composite nonlinear optical (NLO) organic films that are suited for use in NLO device applications. The highly NLO properties of these films arise from the vector alignment of ‘guest’ NLO molecules in a self-ordered nano-structured liquid crystal ‘host’ film. Field-poling is used to remove the centro-symmetry. The ‘guest’ concentration is increased by film processing to incorporate oriented nonlinear nano-crystallites to increase nonlinearity. NLO devices based on such films are of low cost and permit fast switching in a compact device format.

Abstract: An electrical device (20), in particular an energy regulator or infinite switch, comprises a body portion (22) with one or more electrical elements (33, D, B, C, 47) mounted thereto. The body portion (22) and the electrical element(s) (33, D, B, C, 47) mounted thereto define an assembly having a minimum dimension which is termed the “thickness” of the assembly. At least one terminal (25, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63) is also mounted to the body portion. The terminal has a mounting portion (27) and a contact portion (26) with the mounting portion (27) extending transversely to the thickness dimension to thereby result in a low-profile electrical device.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element comprising a biopolymer having an oriented structure and a photoresponsive compound, such as a photochromic compound, wherein at least a portion of the photoresponsive compound is incorporated within the oriented structure of the biopolymer and wherein the oriented structure is laminar with the planes of the laminar orientation being aligned perpendicular to a surface of the optical element. Preferably, the biopolymer is a liquid crystal polypeptide, such as ferroelectric liquid crystal poly(&ggr;-methyl-L-glutamate), and the photochromic compound is bacteriorhodopsin. Such optical elements may be utilized in a holographic grating, in an optical correlator system such as for pattern recognition, in a dynamic holographic recording system, and in an optical switch.