Abstract: An actuator assembly includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer layer disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electroactive polymer layer includes a non-vertical (e.g., sloped) sidewall with respect to a major surface of at least one of the electrodes. The electroactive polymer layer may be characterized by a non-axisymmetric shape with respect to an axis that is oriented orthogonal to an electrode major surface.

Abstract: Safety apparatus including a first monitoring device designed to be locked onto a threatening individual and including GPS apparatus. A second monitoring device designed to be possessed by a threatened victim and including GPS apparatus. A relative motion sensor included in the second monitoring device designed to compare GPS information between the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device and to provide an activating signal when the GPS information indicates closing at a speed greater than the reaction time of the second monitoring device. A rapid response system included in the second monitoring device and connected to receive the activating signal from the relative motion sensor, whereby the rapid response system is activated to send one of a pulse mode and a drive-stun mode to the first monitoring device.

Abstract: A secondary belt cleaner system for cleaning the surface of the return side of an endless conveyor belt. The system includes a plurality of blade devices that are rotatably biased against the return side surface using a respective torsion spring therein. Each blade device includes a head portion formed by a blade support and a replaceable blade tip that is releasably secured to the blade support. The head portion is connected to one end of a blade arm and the other end of the blade arm is coupled to a rotatable shaft inside a housing that is fixedly secured to a support shaft having mounting brackets at each end for mounting the system transversely to the conveyor belt frame. Adjacent blade devices have different blade arm lengths in order to have the blade coverage overlap with no gaps in between.

Abstract: Safety apparatus including a first monitoring device designed to be locked onto a threatening individual and including GPS apparatus. A second monitoring device designed to be possessed by a threatened victim and including GPS apparatus. A relative motion sensor included in the second monitoring device designed to compare GPS information between the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device and to provide an activating signal when the GPS information indicates closing at a speed greater than the reaction time of the second monitoring device. A rapid response system included in the second monitoring device and connected to receive the activating signal from the relative motion sensor, whereby the rapid response system is activated to send one of a pulse mode and a drive-stun mode to the first monitoring device.

Abstract: A sonic exfoliating glove includes a glove shaped member having a hand receiving portion with a hand receiving opening therein, four finger receiving portions, and a thumb receiving portion, the glove shaped member defining a palm surface overlying a palm and finger and thumb pads of a hand inserted therein. Five of six exfoliating pads are fixedly attached to the four finger receiving portions and the thumb receiving portion, one each, generally overlying the finger and thumb pads of the respective finger or thumb. A sixth exfoliating element is fixedly attached to the glove shaped member, so as to overly a central portion of the palm. At least one vibrating motor is attached to the glove shaped member and six connecting rods are each connected at one end to the at least one vibrating motor and at another end to the six exfoliating pads or elements, one each.

Abstract: Safety apparatus including a first electronic monitoring device designed to be locked onto the wrist of a threatening individual and a second electronic monitoring device designed to be possessed by a victim. Both the electronic monitoring devices including GPS apparatus designed to provide GPS information as to the geographic position of the electronic monitoring bracelet. A remote monitoring station is electronically coupled to receive GPS information from both electronic monitoring devices. The remote monitoring station is designed to determine the geographic position of the first electronic monitoring device relative to the geographic position of the second electronic monitoring device and to provide appropriate proximity alerts to one or both individuals.

Abstract: A secondary belt cleaner system for cleaning the surface of the return side of an endless conveyor belt. The system includes a plurality of blade devices that are rotatably biased against the return side surface using a respective torsion spring therein. Each blade device includes a head portion formed by a blade support and a replaceable blade tip that is releasably secured to the blade support. The head portion is connected to one end of a blade arm and the other end of the blade arm is coupled to a rotatable shaft inside a housing that is fixedly secured to a support shaft having mounting brackets at each end for mounting the system transversely to the conveyor belt frame. Adjacent blade devices have different blade arm lengths in order to have the blade coverage overlap with no gaps in between.

Abstract: A sonic exfoliating glove includes a glove shaped member having a hand receiving portion with a hand receiving opening therein, four finger receiving portions, and a thumb receiving portion, the glove shaped member defining a palm surface overlying a palm and finger and thumb pads of a hand inserted therein. Five of six exfoliating pads are fixedly attached to the four finger receiving portions and the thumb receiving portion, one each, generally overlying the finger and thumb pads of the respective finger or thumb. A sixth exfoliating element is fixedly attached to the glove shaped member, so as to overly a central portion of the palm. At least one vibrating motor is attached to the glove shaped member and six connecting rods are each connected at one end to the at least one vibrating motor and at another end to the six exfoliating pads or elements, one each.

Abstract: A task identifier-based mechanism is configured to temporarily disable a dual-issue capability of one or more threads in a superscalar simultaneous multi-threaded core. The core executes a first thread and a second thread which are each provided with a dual-issue capability wherein up to two instructions may be issued in parallel. In response to a task identifier being received that is indicative of a task requiring an improved level of determinism, the dual-issue capability of at least one of the first thread or the second thread is temporarily disabled.

Abstract: A sonic pool brush including a head assembly with a base having a plurality of electric motors/circuits mounted on an upper surface and a plurality of brush segments positioned in a row along the lower surface of the base. The brush segments connected one each to the electric motors/circuits, for oscillating motion of each individual brush segment when the plurality of electric motors/circuits are energized, each individual brush segment oscillating at a rate in the sonic range. A housing constructed to fit over the motors and engage the base in a waterproof arrangement and a source of electric power attachable to the plurality of electric motors/circuits for energizing the plurality of electric motors/circuits.

Abstract: A sonic pool brush including a head assembly with a base having a plurality of electric motors/circuits mounted on an upper surface and a plurality of brush segments positioned in a row along the lower surface of the base. The brush segments connected one each to the electric motors/circuits, for oscillating motion of each individual brush segment when the plurality of electric motors/circuits are energized, each individual brush segment oscillating at a rate in the sonic range. A housing constructed to fit over the motors and engage the base in a waterproof arrangement and a source of electric power attachable to the plurality of electric motors/circuits for energizing the plurality of electric motors/circuits.

Abstract: A processing system comprising a first processing domain and a second processing domain. Each of the first processing domain and the second processing domain comprises a multi-threaded processor core arranged to output a set of internal state signals representative of current states of internal components of the respective processor core. The processing system further comprises a supervisor component arranged to receive the sets of internal state signals output by the processor cores of the first and second processing domains, compare internal state signals output by the processor core of the first processing domain to corresponding internal state signals output by the processor core of the second processing domain, and upon detection of a mismatch between compared internal state signals to initiate a reset of a thread under the execution of which the detected mismatch of internal state signals occurred.

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for detecting a fault in a processor comprises a monitor which receives input and output signals from the processor and generates a hash index key which is used to access entries in a hash table. The entries may include actions such as setting a timer so that the response of an output to a change of state of an input may be confirmed as valid within a specified time interval.

Abstract: A resource access management component arranged to manage access to resources within a processing system. The resource access management component comprises at least one resource access management device configurable to manage access to the resources by a plurality of interconnect-master devices of the processing system. The resource access management component further comprises at least one resource access configuration unit arranged to receive an indication when a fault has been detected in relation to an interconnect-master device of the processing system, and to reconfigure the resource access management device in response to receiving the indication that a fault has been detected in relation to the interconnect-master device.

Abstract: A processing system comprising a first processing domain and a second processing domain. Each of the first processing domain and the second processing domain comprises a multi-threaded processor core arranged to output a set of internal state signals representative of current states of internal components of the respective processor core. The processing system further comprises a supervisor component arranged to receive the sets of internal state signals output by the processor cores of the first and second processing domains, compare internal state signals output by the processor core of the first processing domain to corresponding internal state signals output by the processor core of the second processing domain, and upon detection of a mismatch between compared internal state signals to initiate a reset of a thread under the execution of which the detected mismatch of internal state signals occurred.

Abstract: A task identifier-based mechanism is configured to temporarily disable a dual-issue capability of one or more threads in a superscalar simultaneous multi-threaded core. The core executes a first thread and a second thread which are each provided with a dual-issue capability wherein up to two instructions may be issued in parallel. In response to a task identifier being received that is indicative of a task requiring an improved level of determinism, the dual-issue capability of at least one of the first thread or the second thread is temporarily disabled.

Abstract: An interrupt controller for controlling processing of interrupt requests by a plurality of processing units. The processing units have at least two modes: an active mode and an inactive mode. The interrupt controller comprises a controller input, an interrupt router coupled to the controller input and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit outputs a routing change signal to the interrupt router if it determines that a selected processing unit, to which, in response to a received interrupt request, an execution of an interrupt service routine was initially routed, is in inactive mode while a preselected one is in the active mode. The interrupt router reroutes the execution of the interrupt service routine to the preselected processing unit.

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for detecting a fault in a processor comprises a monitor which receives input and output signals from the processor and generates a hash index key which is used to access entries in a hash table. The entries may include actions such as setting a timer so that the response of an output to a change of state of an input may be confirmed as valid within a specified time interval.

Abstract: An interrupt controller for controlling processing of interrupt requests by a plurality of processing units. The processing units have at least two modes: an active mode and an inactive mode. The interrupt controller comprises a controller input, an interrupt router coupled to the controller input and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit outputs a routing change signal to the interrupt router if it determines that a selected processing unit, to which, in response to a received interrupt request, an execution of an interrupt service routine was initially routed, is in inactive mode while a preselected one is in the active mode. The interrupt router reroutes the execution of the interrupt service routine to the preselected processing unit.

Abstract: A system comprises signal processing logic that is operably coupled to at least one memory element and is arranged to enable access to the at least one memory element. The signal processing logic is arranged to receive a security key, generate a system key using the received security key and a system specific seed, perform a comparison of the generated system key to a reference key stored in an area of memory of the at least one memory element. The signal processing logic is also arranged to configure a level of access to the at least one memory element based at least partly on the comparison of the generated system key to the reference key stored in memory.