Abstract: Location detection systems are provided for determining the location of patient handling devices in a healthcare facility. In one embodiment, the location detection system comprises a locator fixed in each zone of each room in the facility. The locator includes at least one infrared transmitter for transmitting a unique location identifier to a receiver mounted on the patient handling device. A communication module transmits the unique location identifier from the patient handling device to a network utilized by the healthcare facility for the management of patient, personnel, and equipment information. A processing station located on the network processes the unique location identifier to ultimately determine the room and zone location of the patient handling device. The processing station may include a graphical user interface on a touch-screen display for reviewing and manipulating the location information.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle includes a bezel and a mirror element located behind the bezel and viewable through an opening formed by the bezel. A backplate, formed by molding and having a first pivot element integrally formed on a side thereof, is securely fixed to a rear portion of the mirror element by direct attachment at least at a central region of the mirror element. A support bracket for attaching the interior rearview mirror assembly to a portion of the interior cabin of a vehicle includes a second pivot element that connects with the first pivot element of the backplate to form a pivot joint that enables angular adjustment by the driver of the rearward field of view provided by the mirror element. Circuitry is supported by the backplate and a housing, principally serving as a cosmetic shroud, connects with the bezel.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system and method of communicating data from a vehicle, such as for inspecting or diagnosing a vehicle, includes providing a plurality of vehicle units each including a vehicle wireless communication transceiver and a memory. Data, such as vehicle data from a vehicle diagnostic system, is stored in the memory. A communication system is provided for two-way wireless communication with the vehicle units. The communication system is made up of one or more mobile wireless communication transceivers. Vehicle data is communicated from the memory to one of the mobile wireless communication transceivers that is in the vicinity of that vehicle unit. The transporting of the mobile wireless communication transceiver increases interaction between the communication system and the vehicle units.

Abstract: A retractor assembly for engaging a sheet on which a patient is disposed includes a transverse member and a pair of tethers coupled to the transverse member and extending from the transverse member for coupling to a winding assembly. A pair of sheet clamps are mounted to the transverse member, which are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the transverse member in a fixed spaced relationship for engaging a sheet at two points spaced along the longitudinal axis. The transverse member maintains the sheet clamps in their fixed spaced relationship whereby the sheet clamps resist inward migration toward each other when being used to handle a patient on a sheet.

Abstract: A method for making an articulatable window assembly suitable for use as a side window or a rear lift gate window of a vehicle includes providing a curved tempered glass sheet and at least one mounting member for attachment to the glass sheet. At least one layer of primer is applied to a portion of the inner surface of the glass sheet. A flange of an attachment portion of the mounting member is maintained positioned offset from the primed portion of the inner surface of the tempered glass sheet and with a viscous adhesive disposed therebetween for at least a time period sufficient for the viscous adhesive to achieve an at least partial cure. The offset distance between the flange of the attachment portion of the mounting member and the primed portion of the inner surface of the glass sheet is greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3 mm.

Abstract: An exterior mirror suitable for use in a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element having a light transmitting substrate with a mirror reflector having a metallic reflective layer coated thereon. A visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of the light transmitting substrate and actuated to emit light when powered. Light emitted by light sources of the display passes through the light transmitting substrate so as to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the reflective mirror element. The mirror element has portions of the metallic reflective layer at least partially removed by laser scribing to establish at least partially light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector so that light emitted by light sources, when powered, passes through the respective at least partially light transmissive portions to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of the reflective mirror element.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a transparent glass substrate with a transflective reflector established at a surface thereof. The transflective reflector includes at least three thin film layers, which include at least one metallic layer. The transflective reflector exhibits a substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with the mirror assembly. A backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is disposed behind the transflective reflector. Display information passes through the glass substrate and the transflective reflector for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle. At least one silicon photo sensor is configured to detect ambient light at the vehicle, and the display intensity is adjustable responsive to a sensing of ambient light by the least one silicon photo sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting traffic cones from a surface to a vehicle, or dispensing traffic cones onto the surface from the vehicle, includes a conveyor disposed in use between the vehicle and the surface for transferring cones therebetween. The apparatus further includes means for actuating the conveyor in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular with the direction of movement of the vehicle during use. This allows the apparatus to lift and lay cone tapers.

Abstract: A foot support and abduction assembly includes an abductor-mounted foot support configured for pivotal attachment proximate a foot end of a maternity bed. A calf support assembly, for mounting to the foot support, includes a housing for removably attaching the calf support to the foot support. The housing includes a spring-biased pin for releasably securing the housing to the foot support and at least one mounting stud configured for insertion into a keyhole aperture on the foot support. A calf support portion is adjustably mounted to the housing by a ball-type pivot mount. An adjustment mechanism is provided for selectively fixing the position of the calf support portion relative to the housing. The adjustment mechanism includes a slidable sleeve for locking the ball-type pivot, and a threaded rod or a cam shaft arranged to shift the slidable sleeve.

Abstract: A vehicular video mirror system comprises an interior electrochromic mirror having a transflective mirror reflector and a video screen disposed behind the mirror reflector so that the presence of the video screen is substantially unobservable to a driver of the vehicle until the video screen is actuated to emit light that passes through the electrochromic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle. Control circuitry receives a signal indicative of selection of a reverse gear of the vehicle by the driver and actuates the video screen in order to display video images captured by a video imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle.

Abstract: An exterior mirror sub-assembly includes a reflective element, a back plate, and a display element having a light source that is activatable to emit light. The display element attaches to a display receiving portion of the back plate and the light source is activatable to emit light through the display receiving portion. The display receiving portion may be configured to orient the display element at a predetermined angle so that light exiting the display element when the light source is activated may be directed (a) generally away from the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle so as to be principally viewed by drivers of other vehicles or (b) generally toward the driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle so as to be principally viewed by the driver of the host vehicle.

Abstract: A wireless communication system in a vehicle includes a wireless communication link in the vehicle with a mobile accessory that is a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle. The wireless communication link may be operable to carry information useful to the driver of the vehicle via at least one of (a) a PUSH communication protocol whereby information is communicated to the driver and (b) a PULL communication protocol whereby information is communicated to the driver in response to a driver selection.

Abstract: A vehicular navigation system includes a vehicle having a global-positioning system receiver operable to receive signals from satellites external to the vehicle in order to establish its geographic position. A transceiver is operable to engage in a wireless communication with a remote service provider. The transceiver is operable to receive a wireless data transmission from the remote service provider of data derived from a database accessible to a remote operator associated with the remote service provider. A voice input device is used by the driver to talk with the remote operator to input to the remote operator a destination. Responsive to input of the destination, driving instructions from the then present geographical location of the vehicle to the destination are wirelessly downloaded to the vehicle, A display viewable to the driver displays turn-by-turn instructions to the destination during the road journey that are based on the downloaded directions.

Abstract: An information display mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an interior portion of a vehicle and having a casing, a mirror support arm and a reflective element. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an information display screen disposed separate from and independent of and lateral of the reflective element at a portion of the casing closer to a seating location of the vehicle driver or at a portion of the casing further from a seating location of the vehicle driver. The information display screen may be a touch-sensitive information display screen that displays information responsive to the driver of the vehicle at least one of touching its viewing surface and positioning a finger proximate its viewing surface.

Abstract: A vehicular video mirror system comprises an interior electrochromic mirror having a transflective mirror reflector and a video screen disposed behind the mirror reflector so that its presence is substantially unobservable to a driver of the vehicle until the video screen is actuated to emit light that passes through the electrochromic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle. Common control circuit circuitry may control dimming of the electrochromic medium and actuation of the video screen. The control circuitry may receive a signal indicative of selection of a reverse gear of the vehicle by the driver and actuates the video screen in order to display video images captured by a video imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a touch screen that deposits a conductive layer or coating directly onto a surface of a sheet or ribbon or roll of thin glass material. The coated thin glass material may be cut to the desired shape or substrate for use as the outer, thin glass substrate of the touch screen device. Spacer elements and/or other functional coatings or layers or the like may also be applied to the conductive layer or opposite surface of the thin glass ribbon. Optionally, a functional coating or layer may be deposited or applied to a surface of a pre-cut thin glass substrate. The coated pre-cut thin glass substrate may be used as a top sheet for lamination as the protective top sheet of a touch screen device.

Abstract: A signal mirror system for a vehicle includes a reflective mirror element comprising a semitransparent nondichroic mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate. The visible light transmission through the reflective mirror element is in the range of from about 1% visible light transmission to about 30% visible light transmission and the visible light reflectance is in the range from 40% visible light reflectance to 80% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of the reflective mirror element. A turn signal display having at least one light emitting diode is disposed to the rear of the reflective mirror element and configured to emit light that light passes through the semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of the reflective mirror element with a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts.

Abstract: A navigation system for a vehicle includes a control and a global positioning system. The control may receive a user input and may download directional information from an external service provider to the control in response to the user input and an initial geographic position of the vehicle. The directional information may comprise at least two instructions coded or associated with or linked to a respective geographic location. The control may provide an output corresponding to each of the instructions in response to a current actual geographic position of the vehicle. The control may provide each instruction only when the then current actual geographic position of the vehicle at least generally corresponds to the particular geographic location associated with the instruction. Driver instructions may be provided audibly and/or may be displayed on a display screen visible to the driver, preferably at an interior mirror assembly of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.