Abstract: A remote battery terminal expander for electrically connecting a plurality of appliances to a vehicle battery is disclosed that includes an electrical terminator assembly having a permanent electrical communication with a wire, where the terminator is adapted for electrical connection to the positive terminal of a battery and this terminator assembly is permanently attached to a conductive metal terminal block. The terminal block has a multi-sided block shape, usually with a rectangular shape. The plurality of appliances are in electrical communication with the electrical terminator assembly by use of alternating threaded apertures in each of the sides for receiving threaded fasteners to electrically secure the appliance wires from the plurality of appliances desired to be hooked to the vehicle battery for its power requirements.

Abstract: A remote battery terminal expander for electrically connecting a plurality of appliances to a vehicle battery is disclosed that includes an electrical terminator assembly having a permanent electrical communication with a wire, where the terminator is adapted for electrical connection to the positive terminal of a battery and this terminator assembly is permanently attached to a conductive metal terminal block. The terminal block has a multi-sided block shape, usually with a rectangular shape. The plurality of appliances are in electrical communication with the electrical terminator assembly by use of alternating threaded apertures in each of the sides for to receiving threaded fasteners to electrically secure the appliance wires from the plurality of appliances desired to be hooked to the vehicle battery for its power requirements.

Abstract: A mobile transmitter transmits a transmission signal from a vehicle to beacons. An estimator determines elapsed times for corresponding propagation paths between the vehicle and the beacons. Each propagation path includes at least one of a first propagation duration of a transmission signal and a second propagation duration of a return signal. A compensator compensates for noise or measurement error associated with a corresponding propagation path by invoking a linear fit scheme. The linear fit scheme applies a generally linear fit over fixed intervals of noisy measurements such that the noisy position measurements generally conform to a linear portion of a path plan of a vehicle. A data processor estimates a position of a vehicle at a confluence or intersection of the position curves or temporal curves based on elapsed times for the propagation paths.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the position of a vehicle comprises a transmitter or transceiver for transmitting a transmission signal from a vehicle to beacons associated with the work area. A data processor determines an elapsed time including at least one of a first propagation duration and a second propagation duration. The first propagation duration refers to a propagation time of the transmission signal from the vehicle to the particular beacon; the second propagation duration refers to a propagation time of a return signal from the particular beacon to the vehicle. A compensator compensates for the following associated with the transmitter and the particular beacon: bias delay, noise, and measurement error. A data processor processes the elapsed times into corresponding position curves or temporal curves to estimate a position of a vehicle at a confluence or intersection of the position curves or temporal curves.

Abstract: A time estimator determines a first aggregate elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a first beacon and receipt of a return signal, a second aggregate elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a second beacon and receipt of a return signal, and a third aggregate elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a third beacon and receipt of a return signal. A bias compensator compensates for bias delay associated with at least one of the first transmitter, the first beacon, the second beacon and the third beacon. A converter converts the first aggregate elapsed time, the second aggregate elapsed time, and the third aggregate elapsed time into position curves. A data processor estimates a position of the vehicle at a confluence or intersection of the position curves.

Abstract: A transmitter at a lead vehicle transmits a first transmission signal toward a first beacon and a second beacon associated with a following vehicle. A data processor or estimator determines a first propagation time associated with the first transmission and the first beacon and a second propagation time associated with the first transmission and the second beacon. A vehicle controller controls a heading of the following vehicle to maintain a first distance substantially equal to a second distance (i.e., first propagation time substantially equal to a second propagation time) or a first distance that deviates from the second distance by a predetermined maximum amount.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for a combined use of a local positioning system, a local RTK system and a regional, wide-area, or global differential carrier-phase positioning system (WADGPS) in which disadvantages associated with the local positioning system, the RTK and the WADGPS navigation techniques when used separately are avoided. The method includes using a known position of a user receiver that has been stationary or using an RTK system to initialize the floating ambiguity values in the WADGPS system when the user receiver is moving. Thereafter, the refraction-corrected carrier-phase measurements obtained at the user GPS receiver are adjusted by including the corresponding initial floating ambiguity values and the floating ambiguity values are treated as well known (small variance) in subsequent processes to position the user receiver in the WADGPS system.

Abstract: A first location determining receiver determines a first location estimate of a vehicle. The first location determining receiver is associated with satellite beacons. A second location determining receiver determines a second location estimate of a vehicle. The second location determining receiver is exclusively associated with terrestrial beacons. A selector selects the first location estimate of the vehicle as a preferential location in accordance with an initialization scheme for the vehicle in a work area. A filtering module applies a first weight to a first location and a second weight to the second location to derive a weighted estimate as the preferential location upon satisfactory completion of the initialization scheme.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a positioning system, a transmit element is configured to transmit at least one electromagnetic pulse having a carrier signal frequency. An antenna array with a plurality of receive elements includes at least two receive elements separated by a spacing more than a half wavelength. Each of the at least two receive elements is configured to receive a return signal over a period of time. The return signal includes a return pulse from an object within a detection area of the system. The wavelength corresponds to the carrier signal frequency of the transmitted pulse. A detector is configured to process the return signal from one receive element and the other receive element so as to isolate the return pulse received at each of the at least two receive elements and thereby determine a position of the object in relation to the system.

Abstract: A decoherence plate provides reduced field coupling or improved isolation between two or more antennas. An antenna module includes a first antenna, a second antenna and a decoherence plate having a surface. The first antenna transmits one or more electromagnetic signals. The surface of the decoherence plate is positioned in a plane perpendicular to a line connecting the first antenna and the second antenna. For each first path from the first antenna to the plane to the second antenna, in a plurality of paths having a range of path lengths, there is a corresponding second path, from the first antenna to the plane to the second antenna, that is substantially 180° out of phase for a respective wavelength in the one or more electromagnetic signals transmitted by the first antenna. In this way, the decoherence plate reduces the field coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna.

Abstract: A local positioning system using co-polarized and cross-polarized radar mapping is provided. In one embodiment of the method, at least a first electromagnetic pulse having a first polarization is transmitted. A first return signal preferentially having the first polarization is received over a respective period of time. The first return signal is processed so as to isolate a first return pulse corresponding to an object within a radar detection area of the positioning system. At least a second electromagnetic pulse having the first polarization is also transmitted. A second return signal preferentially having a second polarization is received over a respective period of time. The second return signal is processed so as to isolate a second return pulse corresponding to the object. A characteristic of the object is determined in accordance with a relative signal strength of the first return pulse and the second return pulse.

Abstract: A positioning system includes a passive, isotropic reflecting landmark at a fixed position and a device. The device transmits an electromagnetic pulse having a circular polarization and receives a return signal over a period of time. The return signal includes a reflected pulse from the reflecting landmark. The processes the return signal to isolate the reflected pulse from the return signal and to determine a range from the device to the reflecting landmark. The reflecting landmark includes a first passive reflector, a second passive reflector, and a static structure configured to statically position the second passive reflector at an angle relative to the first passive reflector. The device optionally moves in a particular direction while receiving the return signal, detects a Doppler shift in the reflected pulse portion of the return signal, and determines an angle between the particular direction and a straight line between the device and the landmark.

Abstract: A positioning system includes a device, having an antenna and a reflector with a known position proximate to the antenna, that transmits at least an electromagnetic pulse having a carrier signal frequency. The device receives a return signal over a period of time, wherein the return signal includes a return pulse from an object within a radar detection area of the device and at least one multi-path pulse. The device processes the return signal so as to isolate the return pulse and the at least one multi-path pulse from the return signal. The device determines a range from the device to the object and the position of the device relative to the object. The range is determined in accordance with a time of arrival of the return pulse and the position is determined in accordance with a time of arrival of the at least one multi-path pulse.

Abstract: A control handle for an intraluminal device includes a handle housing having a first end and a second end, the handle housing having a lumen. A roller assembly is disposed at a first end of the lumen. The roller assembly comprises a first roller and a base. The lumen is interposed between the first roller and the base. A clamp assembly is disposed at the second end of the lumen. The clamp assembly comprises a first clamp element and a second clamp element. The lumen is interposed between the first clamp element and the second clamp element. A closure mechanism is configured to effect movement between the first clamp element and the second clamp element and between the first roller and the base. The control handle further includes a turn device operably connected to the roller assembly.

Abstract: A positioning system includes a plurality of devices configured to exchange RF signals with one another. A first device periodically receives a message from each other device during time slots assigned them. The received message includes information representing a time of arrival at the other device of a respective message transmitted by the first device. A time of arrival of the message from each of the other devices is determined by the first device. The first device periodically transmits messages to the other devices, each transmitted message including information representing the determined time of arrival for at least one of the other devices. A range from the first device to each of a plurality of the other devices is determined as function of the determined time of arrival of the message from the other device and the time of arrival information in the message from the other device.

Abstract: A positioning system includes a passive, isotropic reflecting landmark at a fixed position and a device. The device transmits an electromagnetic pulse having a circular polarization and receives a return signal over a period of time. The return signal includes a reflected pulse from the reflecting landmark. The processes the return signal to isolate the reflected pulse from the return signal and to determine a range from the device to the reflecting landmark. The reflecting landmark includes a first passive reflector, a second passive reflector, and a static structure configured to statically position the second passive reflector at an angle relative to the first passive reflector. The device optionally moves in a particular direction while receiving the return signal, detects a Doppler shift in the reflected pulse portion of the return signal, and determines an angle between the particular direction and a straight line between the device and the landmark.

Abstract: A mobile transmitter transmits a transmission signal from a vehicle to beacons. An estimator determines elapsed times for corresponding propagation paths between the vehicle and the beacons. Each propagation path includes at least one of a first propagation duration of a transmission signal and a second propagation duration of a return signal. A compensator compensates for noise or measurement error associated with a corresponding propagation path by invoking a linear fit scheme. The linear fit scheme applies a generally linear fit over fixed intervals of noisy measurements such that the noisy position measurements generally conform to a linear portion of a path plan of a vehicle. A data processor estimates a position of a vehicle at a confluence or intersection of the position curves or temporal curves based on elapsed times for the propagation paths.

Abstract: The cannula handle housing includes a recessed seat, wings extending outwardly from the recessed seat in the housing for engagement with a physician's hand and a stem which extends from said housing to hold a portion of a cannula The cannula has a distal sharpened end and a proximal end secured to a Luer lock. The stylet includes a longitudinal member having a sharp tip with the other end of the stylet formed with an anvil structure which is molded into a stylet cap. The stylet cap is a housing which includes a projection portion having a complimentary configuration to the recessed seat formed in said cannula housing for interlocking with the Luer lock of the cannula housing. The stylet inserts into the cannula and with a twist, locks about the Luer lock on the proximal end of the cannula.

Abstract: A primary transceiver of a primary vehicle transmits a first transmission signal to a first transponder and a second transponder associated with a secondary vehicle. A first transponder antenna and a second transponder antenna are associated with secondary vehicular reference points. Upon receipt of the first transmission signal, the first transponder transmits a second transmission signal to a first beacon of the primary vehicle and the primary transceiver. A transmitter antenna and the first beacon antenna are associated with primary vehicle reference points. Upon receipt of the first transmission signal, the second transponder transmits a third transmission signal to the first beacon and the primary transceiver. A data processor or estimator determines propagation times associated with the first transmission signal, the second transmission signal, and the third transmission signal.

Abstract: A method for configuring a local positioning system comprises orienting a survey antenna coextensively with a primary beacon associated with a work area. A transmitter or transceiver transmits a first transmission signal from the survey antenna. A receiver or transceiver receives the first transmission at one or more secondary beacons associated with the work area. A data processor determines first elapsed times from the transmission time of the first transmission signal to at least the arrival time at respective corresponding secondary beacons. Each of the first elapsed times falls within a filtering time window, or satisfies an edge timing criteria of the coded signal, or both to reduce multi-path error. The first elapsed times are converted into a first position in at least two spatial dimensions for the primary beacon.