Abstract: Electromechanical systems using magnetic fields to induce eddy currents and generate lift and/or thrust are described. Magnet configurations which can be employed in the systems are illustrated. The magnet configuration, rotation, and/or tilt can be used to generate lift and/or thrust. Arrangements of hover engines, which can employ the magnet configurations, are described. Further, vehicles, which employ the hover engines and associated hover engines are described.

Abstract: A solar panel assembly is selectively positionable by a user to collect solar rays from a sun. The solar panel assembly comprises a first solar panel, a second solar panel, and a flexible, first connector. The first solar panel and the second solar panel are configured to collect solar rays from the sun. Additionally, the first connector mechanically and electrically connects the first solar panel to the second solar panel so that the first solar panel and the second solar panel are selectively movable between an open configuration where the solar panels are positioned substantially side-by-side in a planar array and a closed configuration where the solar panels are stacked substantially on top of one another. The first connector can include a perforated metal conductor that is coupled to and extends between the first solar panel and the second solar panel.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for, and a method of, detecting the location of the tip of a tubular element, in particular a needle, within a region, in particular one of the epidural space and the peritoneal cavity.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for, and a method of, detecting the location of the tip of a tubular element, in particular a needle, within a region, in particular one of the epidural space and the peritoneal cavity.

Abstract: A power source that is powered by a user to generate electrical energy includes a generator assembly and a fluid source. The generator assembly includes a rotor, a stator, and a fluid driven motor that is coupled to the rotor. Movement of the rotor relative to the stator results in the generation of electrical energy. The fluid source is manually powered by the user to direct pressurized fluid to the fluid driven motor to move the rotor relative to the stator. The fluid source can include a first fluid pump that is powered by the user to generate the pressurized fluid and a second fluid pump that is powered by the user to generate the pressurized fluid. One or both of the fluid pumps can include a fluid bellows that is powered by the user to generate the pressurized fluid. Alternatively, one or both of the fluid pumps can include a cylinder and a piston that is moved within the cylinder by the user to generate the pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A dual stage, head stack assembly (15) for a disk drive (10) having a storage disk (32) is provided herein. The head stack assembly (15) includes an actuator arm (18), a coarse positioner (22), a transducer assembly (20), a base plate (26) and a fine positioner (24). The coarse positioner (22) moves the actuator arm (18). The transducer assembly (20) includes a load beam (50), a flexure (52) and a data transducer (54). The base plate (26) includes at least one positioner cavity (66) which receives the fine positioner (24). A control system (17) directs current to the coarse positioner (22) to move the actuator arm (18) to position the data transducer (54) at or near a target track (36) on a storage disk (32). The control system (17) also directs current to the fine positioner (24) to precisely position and maintain the data transducer on the target track (36). Because the fine positioner (24) independently moves only the transducer assembly (20), a higher system band-width is achieved.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for, and a method of, detecting the location of the tip of a tubular element, in particular a needle, within a region, in particular one of the epidural space and the peritoneal cavity.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for, and a method of, detecting the location of the tip of a tubular element, in particular a needle, within a region, in particular one of the epidural space and the peritoneal cavity.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for, and a method of, detecting the location of the tip of a tubular element, in particular a needle, within a region, in particular one of the epidural space and the peritoneal cavity.

Abstract: A portable power source (10) includes a housing (12), a stator component (20), a rotor component (18), a crank assembly (14), and a control system (24). The stator component (20) is secured to the housing (12), the rotor component (18) rotates relative to the stator component (20) and the crank assembly (14) is coupled to the rotor component (18). The crank assembly (14) is rotated by the user relative to the housing (12). As provided herein, rotation of the crank assembly (14) by the user results in rotation of the rotor component (18) relative to the stator component (20). In one embodiment, the control system (24) controls the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14). For example, the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14) is varied according to the rotational position of the crank assembly (14).

Abstract: A portable power source (10) includes a housing (12), a stator component (20), a rotor component (18), a crank assembly (14), and a control system (24). The stator component (20) is secured to the housing (12), the rotor component (18) rotates relative to the stator component (20) and the crank assembly (14) is coupled to the rotor component (18). The crank assembly (14) is rotated by the user relative to the housing (12). As provided herein, rotation of the crank assembly (14) by the user results in rotation of the rotor component (18) relative to the stator component (20). In one embodiment, the control system (24) controls the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14). For example, the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14) is varied according to the rotational position of the crank assembly (14).

Abstract: A portable power source (10) includes a housing (12), a stator component (20), a rotor component (18), a crank assembly (14), and a control system (24). The stator component (20) is secured to the housing (12), the rotor component (18) rotates relative to the stator component (20) and the crank assembly (14) is coupled to the rotor component (18). The crank assembly (14) is rotated by the user relative to the housing (12). As provided herein, rotation of the crank assembly (14) by the user results in rotation of the rotor component (18) relative to the stator component (20). In one embodiment, the control system (24) controls the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14). For example, the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14) is varied according to the rotational position of the crank assembly (14).

Abstract: A portable power source (10) includes a housing (12), a stator component (20), a rotor component (18), a crank assembly (14), and a control system (24). The stator component (20) is secured to the housing (12), the rotor component (18) rotates relative to the stator component (20) and the crank assembly (14) is coupled to the rotor component (18). The crank assembly (14) is rotated by the user relative to the housing (12). As provided herein, rotation of the crank assembly (14) by the user results in rotation of the rotor component (18) relative to the stator component (20). In one embodiment, the control system (24) controls the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14). For example, the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14) is varied according to the rotational position of the crank assembly (14).

Abstract: A portable power source (10) includes a housing (12), a stator component (20), a rotor component (18), a crank assembly (14), and a control system (24). The stator component (20) is secured to the housing (12), the rotor component (18) rotates relative to the stator component (20) and the crank assembly (14) is coupled to the rotor component (18). The crank assembly (14) is rotated by the user relative to the housing (12). As provided herein, rotation of the crank assembly (14) by the user results in rotation of the rotor component (18) relative to the stator component (20). In one embodiment, the control system (24) controls the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14). For example, the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14) is varied according to the rotational position of the crank assembly (14).

Abstract: A portable power source (10) includes a housing (12), a stator component (20), a rotor component (18), a crank assembly (14), and a control system (24). The stator component (20) is secured to the housing (12), the rotor component (18) rotates relative to the stator component (20) and the crank assembly (14) is coupled to the rotor component (18). The crank assembly (14) is rotated by the user relative to the housing (12). As provided herein, rotation of the crank assembly (14) by the user results in rotation of the rotor component (18) relative to the stator component (20). In one embodiment, the control system (24) controls the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14). For example, the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14) is varied according to the rotational position of the crank assembly (14).

Abstract: A manufacturing fixture (11) for manufacturing a permanent magnet (24) for an actuator motor (20) of a disk drive (10) is provided herein. The manufacturing fixture (11) includes a fixture cavity (102) which receives the magnet powder (48) and an orientating device (108) which generates flux lines (110) which extend across the fixture cavity (102). The fixture cavity (102) includes a cavity axis (118), a cavity transition (116) and a cavity perimeter (124). Importantly, the flux lines (110) extend substantially transverse to the cavity axis (118) near the cavity transition (116) and the cavity perimeter (124) and substantially parallel with the cavity axis (118) intermediate the cavity transition (116) and the cavity perimeter (124). This allows for a magnet (24) having higher magnetic flux densities at the sides (54) (56) (58), and higher average magnetic flux densities in the magnet (24).

Abstract: A portable power source (10) includes a housing (12), a stator component (20), a rotor component (18), a crank assembly (14), and a control system (24). The stator component (20) is secured to the housing (12), the rotor component (18) rotates relative to the stator component (20) and the crank assembly (14) is coupled to the rotor component (18). The crank assembly (14) is rotated by the user relative to the housing (12). As provided herein, rotation of the crank assembly (14) by the user results in rotation of the rotor component (18) relative to the stator component (20). In one embodiment, the control system (24) controls the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14). For example, the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14) is varied according to the rotational position of the crank assembly (14).

Abstract: A portable power source (10) includes a housing (12), a stator component (20), a rotor component (18), a crank assembly (14), and a control system (24). The stator component (20) is secured to the housing (12), the rotor component (18) rotates relative to the stator component (20) and the crank assembly (14) is coupled to the rotor component (18). The crank assembly (14) is rotated by the user relative to the housing (12). As provided herein, rotation of the crank assembly (14) by the user results in rotation of the rotor component (18) relative to the stator component (20). In one embodiment, the control system (24) controls the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14). For example, the amount of torque required to rotate the crank assembly (14) is varied according to the rotational position of the crank assembly (14).

Abstract: A dual stage, head stack assembly (15) for a disk drive (10) having a storage disk (32) is provided herein. The head stack assembly (15) includes an actuator arm (18), a coarse positioner (22), a transducer assembly (20), a base plate (26) and a fine positioner (24). The coarse positioner (22) moves the actuator arm (18). The transducer assembly (20) includes a load beam (50), a flexure (52) and a data transducer (54). The base plate (26) includes at least one positioner cavity (66) which receives the fine positioner (24). A control system (17) directs current to the coarse positioner (22) to move the actuator arm (18) to position the data transducer (54) at or near a target track (36) on a storage disk (32). The control system (17) also directs current to the fine positioner (24) to precisely position and maintain the data transducer on the target track (36). Because the fine positioner (24) independently moves only the transducer assembly (20), a higher system band-width is achieved.

Abstract: A permanent magnet for an actuator motor of a disk drive is provided herein. The permanent magnet includes an arch shaped magnet body which is made of a magnet powder. The magnet body including a first segment and a second segment which are substantially side by side. Each segment has a north pole and a spaced apart south pole. Each segment includes a first region having a first region axis which extends between the north pole and the south pole and a second region which encircles the first region. Importantly, the magnet powder is aligned during manufacturing to form a powder pattern having first region powder lines in the first region which are substantially parallel with the first region axis and second region powder lines in the second region which are angled relative to the first region axis.