Abstract: Artificial muscle analog 1000 is located within hollow exoskeletal bone 10. Muscle 1000 comprises inflatable bladder 120, cable 130, roller 140, anchor point 150, and connection means 160 whereby said bladder may be inflated and deflated. Bladder 120 is affixed to the interior surface of said bone. Cable 130, attached to bone 10 at point 150, passes over bladder 120 and through roller 140. Cable 130, if unobstructed and taut, takes a shortest path from point 150 to roller 140. When inflated, bladder 120 forces cable 130 to deviate from this shortest path, pulling cable 130 in through said roller, under tension. In their paired opposing muscle form 2000, the artificial muscles synergistically assist each other when used in opposition. Paired muscles 2000 may actuate a robotic arm 3000, and are easily controlled by the associated simple low-cost control systems 100a,b,c of the present invention.

Abstract: Ladder network comprises control terminals including at least ground terminal and master terminal, and slave terminals, each individually connected to ground terminal through fuse elements, respectively. The slave terminals are also sequentially linked, each to the next through antifuses, respectively. Master terminal is connected to slave terminal. By applying programming signals to control terminals, master terminal may be disconnected from ground terminal and sequentially connected to each slave terminal. Described ladder variations include segmented ladder, wherein master terminal can be sequentially connected to, and subsequently disconnected from, second conductors; hierarchical ladder network; and programmable SAW transducer. Finally, a programmable architecture based upon such ladder networks, suitable for incorporation within a configurable IC package, is described, including also a programmable contact structure if the package is stackable.

Abstract: Bag closure 100, formed from a single length of pliable, resilient substantially-tubular hose comprises a first “base” section 10 of unmodified hose, a second narrowed “neck” section 20, and a third “clamp” section 30. Clamp section 30 is a trimmed section of hose having a substantially C-shaped cross section, formed by removing a narrow strip of hose material parallel to the hose axis. Hinge 20 is a trimmed section of hose having a substantially parenthesis-shaped cross section, formed by removing a wider strip of hose material parallel to the hose axis. A bag neck may be sealed by laying the flattened bag neck across substantially-cylindrical base 10, folding the closure at its narrowed neck or hinge 20 and forcing clamp section 30 over base 10, trapping the bag neck between base 10 and clamp 30 and forming a tight seal.

Abstract: Ladder network 396 comprises control terminals including at least ground terminal 50e and master terminal 60e, and slave terminals 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, each individually connected to terminal 50e through fuse elements 12a,b,c,d,e, respectively. Said slave terminals are also sequentially linked, each to the next through antifuses 42a,b,c,d, respectively. Master terminal 60e is connected to terminal 51. By applying programming signals to said control terminals, terminal 60e may be disconnected from terminal 50c and sequentially connected to each slave terminal. Described ladder variations include segmented ladder 400, wherein terminal 60e can be sequentially connected to, and subsequently disconnected from, second conductors 51a,53a,55a,57a,59a; hierarchical ladder network 4000; and programmable SAW transducer 2000.

Abstract: Artificial muscle analog 1000 is located within hollow exoskeletal bone 10. Muscle 1000 comprises inflatable bladder 120, cable 130, roller 140, anchor point 150, and connection means 160 whereby said bladder may be inflated and deflated. Bladder 120 is affixed to the interior surface of said bone. Cable 130, attached to bone 10 at point 150, passes over bladder 120 and through roller 140. Cable 130, if unobstructed and taut, takes a shortest path from point 150 to roller 140. When inflated, bladder 120 forces cable 130 to deviate from this shortest path, pulling cable 130 in through said roller, under tension. In their paired opposing muscle form 2000, the artificial muscles synergistically assist each other when used in opposition. Paired muscles 2000 may actuate a robotic arm 3000, and are easily controlled by the associated simple low-cost control systems 100a,b,c of the present invention.

Abstract: Bag closure 100, formed from a single length of pliable, resilient substantially-tubular hose comprises a first “base” section 10 of unmodified hose, a second narrowed “neck” section 20, and a third “clamp” section 30. Clamp section 30 is a trimmed section of hose having a substantially C-shaped cross section, formed by removing a narrow strip of hose material parallel to the hose axis. Hinge 20 is a trimmed section of hose having a substantially parenthesis-shaped cross section, formed by removing a wider strip of hose material parallel to the hose axis. A bag neck may be sealed by laying the flattened bag neck across substantially-cylindrical base 10, folding the closure at its narrowed neck or hinge 20 and forcing clamp section 30 over base 10, trapping the bag neck between base 10 and clamp 30 and forming a tight seal.