Abstract: A medical sleep disorder arrangement integrates into current diagnosis and treatment procedures to enable a health care professional to diagnose and treat a plurality of subjects suffering from insomnia. The arrangement may include both environmental sensors and body-worn sensors that measure the environmental conditions and the condition of the individual patient. The data may be collected and processed to measure clinically relevant attributes of sleep quality automatically. These automatically determined measures, along with the original sensor data, may be aggregated and shared remotely with the health care professional. A communication apparatus enables the healthcare professional to remotely communicate with and further assess the patient and subsequently administer the treatment. Thus, a more accurate diagnosis and more effective treatment is provided while reducing the required clinician time per patient for treatment delivery.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device having a distal tip for creating a lesion on tissue includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are parallel for the delivery of RF energy to tissue. A sensor electrode is provided parallel to and spaced away from the first electrode a different distance than the second electrode. When the sensor electrode and at least one of the first and second electrodes are in contact with tissue. The electrosurgical device can perform at least one of the following: ablating tissue, and sensing at least one selected from the group of voltage, tissue impedance, electrical conduction, conduction time, conduction velocity, and signal phase angle.

Abstract: A robotic mapping method includes scanning a robot across a surface to be mapped. Locations of a plurality of points on the surface are sensed during the scanning. A first of the sensed point locations is selected. A preceding subset of the sensed point locations is determined. The preceding subset is disposed before the first sensed point location along a path of the scanning. A following subset of the sensed point locations is determined. The following subset is disposed after the first sensed point location along the path of the scanning. The first sensed point location is represented in a map of the surface by an adjusted first sensed point location. The adjusted first sensed point location is closer to each of the preceding and following subsets of the sensed point locations than is the first sensed point location.

Abstract: A ripper pitch hold system and method for a ripper that includes pitch and lift cylinders. The system includes operator pitch and lift inputs, operator pitch hold input, cylinder position inputs, and a controller. The controller processes the inputs and generates pitch and lift cylinder commands that maintain the ripper pitch angle at a pitch hold setting. The controller can update the pitch hold setting with and maintain the pitch angle at the latest operator pitch input. Alternatively, the controller can cease to process operator pitch inputs, and maintain the pitch angle at the pitch hold setting. The pitch hold input can include an activation control, and pitch selector. The pitch angle and pitch hold setting can be set to the angle selected by the pitch selector. The pitch selector can include operator adjustable and fixed pitch settings. Operator adjustable executing operator pitch commands and fixed ignoring operator pitch commands.

Abstract: Disclosed is a means for stabilizing quality of a semiconductor device by preventing projections from being formed in the bottom of a through hole. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a process of forming a through hole reaching a metal nitride layer through an interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor wafer on which the wiring layer, the metal nitride layer formed on the wiring layer, and the interlayer insulating layer covering the wiring layer and the metal nitride layer are formed. The through hole forming process includes: a first etching step of etching the interlayer insulating layer by an anisotropic etching method with the semiconductor wafer set to a first temperature; and a second etching step of etching an upper surface of metal nitride layer by an anisotropic etching method with the semiconductor wafer set to a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

Abstract: A wireless data transmission method includes providing a plurality of radio frequency transmitters. A receiver is provided to receive transmissions from the transmitters. A data format including a plurality of transmission time slots is defined. A first subset of the plurality of transmitters that are apt to send the transmissions simultaneously is determined. Each of the transmitters in the first subset is assigned to a different one of the time slots. A second subset of the plurality of transmitters that are apt to send the transmissions non-simultaneously is determined. Each of the transmitters in the second subset is assigned to a same one of the time slots. The transmitters are used to transmit the transmissions to the receiver in accordance with the assigning steps.

Abstract: A method is provided for selecting between economy mode and performance mode shift schedules for a transmission in a motor vehicle. A desired vehicle acceleration profile is specified, and a cumulative net tractive force of the vehicle is determined over the desired vehicle acceleration profile. A change in vehicle speed over the desired vehicle acceleration profile is also determined. A vehicle mass-based shift schedule breakpoint is computed as a function of the cumulative net tractive force of the vehicle and the change in vehicle speed over the desired vehicle acceleration profile. The vehicle mass-based shift schedule breakpoint is compared to a current vehicle mass indicator, and one of the economy mode and performance mode shift schedules is selected for operation of the transmission based on the comparison. Shifting between gear ranges of the transmission is controlled using the selected one of the economy mode and performance mode shift schedules.

Abstract: A tensor for use with a surgical navigation system is provided. The tensor comprises a first bone engaging member engageable with a first bone and a second bone engaging member engageable with a second bone. A force-applying mechanism is configured to forcibly move the first and second bone engaging members relative to one another and a sensor detects the value of the force applied by the force-applying mechanism. A transmitter communicates a parameter associated with the tensor to the surgical navigation system.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including: plural first output pads formed along one edge of an outer periphery of a substrate; plural second output pads formed along at least one of an edge at an opposite side of the substrate from the one edge, and an edge adjoining the one edge; plural internal circuits, each of which is provided with an output terminal connected with an output pad of one of the first output pads and the second output pads; plural first lines, each of which connects one of the output terminals of the internal circuits with one of the plurality of first output pads; and plural second lines, each of which connects one of the output terminals of the internal circuits with one of the plural second output pads, resistance values per unit of wiring length being lower in the second lines than in the first lines.

Abstract: A surveillance camera arrangement includes a substantially spherical enclosure having a substantially round optical region. The optical region has better optical qualities than a remainder of the enclosure. A camera is disposed within the enclosure. The camera has a lens with an optical axis extending approximately through a midpoint of the optical region. An actuatable mechanism is coupled to the enclosure and to the camera. The mechanism pivots both the enclosure and the camera in both pan and tilt directions such that the optical axis of the camera remains substantially aligned with the midpoint of the optical region.

Abstract: A net or barrier has strategically located pocket(s) attached to the net over holes(s) in the net/barrier in order to catch a ball or projectile that passes through the hole(s). A computer-assisted method displays information, more particularly advertisement, onto a net or barrier. The computer-assisted display is viewable by a TV or video audience.

Abstract: An automobile hinge repair tool comprising: (a) a base having a substantially planar top surface; and, (b) a cylindrical insert extending generally perpendicularly from the base, the cylindrical insert including an outer circumferential surface extending longitudinally and having a substantially constant radial diameter, where the substantially planar top surface of the base extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical insert at least a predetermined distance and, where the cylindrical insert and the base cooperate to create an automobile hinge repair mold.

Abstract: A method of operating a loudspeaker includes providing a digital audio signal and identifying a target transfer function to be applied to the signal. At least one coefficient of an FIR filter is generated. The generating includes performing Heyser spiral curve fitting, and fitting a three-dimensional curve based on a magnitude and phase of a target transfer function. The digital audio signal is filtered through the FIR filter. The filtered signal is inputted into the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A method of placing a surveillance camera in a known reference orientation as a result of panning and tilting movements includes coupling the camera to a fixed structure such that the camera may perform the panning movements about a first axis and may perform the tilting movements about a plurality of second axes. Each of the second axes is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. An optical emitter is fixedly attached either to the fixed structure or to the camera. An optical receiver is fixedly attached to the other one of the fixed structure and the camera. The tilting and panning movements are performed with the camera until the emitter and receiver are in a predetermined position relative to each other as determined from a signal that is output by the receiver in response to receiving optical energy from the emitter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a demineralized bone carrier matrix which is tolerant of bending, stretching and compression. The material comprises a carrier base material cross-linked with a multifunctional polymer. Demineralized bone matrix may be dispersed with the carrier matrix. The demineralized bone carrier matrix may be used as a bone graph substitute. Methods for making the carrier matrix are also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating a freight trailer stabilizer comprising: (a) positioning a trailer stabilizer underneath a parked freight trailer at a loading dock so the trailer stabilizer is between the parked freight trailer and the ground, the trailer stabilizer including a first powered jack; and, (b) utilizing power from a portable vehicle to reposition the first powered jack between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the raised position does not have the first powered jack in direct contact with the ground and wherein the lowered position does have the first powered jack in direct contact with the ground.