Abstract: An implant including a first disc portion shaped and sized generally to correspond to a first intervertebral disc section having a pivot point positioned relative to a first surface opposite a second surface of the first disc portion and a lattice structure with a negative Poisson's ratio; a second disc portion being shaped and sized generally to correspond to a second intervertebral disc section having a pivot point receptacle positioned relative to a third surface opposite a forth surface of the second disc portion and a lattice structure with a negative Poisson's ratio where the first disc portion and the second disc portion are configured to exhibit an auxetic behavior when subject to compression generally perpendicular to a surface plane of the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: An implant including a first disc portion shaped and sized generally to correspond to a first intervertebral disc section having a pivot point positioned relative to a first surface opposite a second surface of the first disc portion and a lattice structure with a negative Poisson's ratio; a second disc portion being shaped and sized generally to correspond to a second intervertebral disc section having a pivot point receptacle positioned relative to a third surface opposite a forth surface of the second disc portion and a lattice structure with a negative Poisson's ratio where the first disc portion and the second disc portion are configured to exhibit an auxetic behavior when subject to compression generally perpendicular to a surface plane of the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: An embedded digitization system enables a military platform to receive, transmit, and process a variety of types of information for a variety of purposes. An apparatus and method provides a means to ensure information interoperability between the invention and external sources. The invention provides a development environment that enables a developer to automatically and interactively develop the middleware services and functions that contain the aspects for interoperability with external sources. The invention ensures interoperability through reuse of functions and services known to satisfy requirements for interoperability. When functions and services that satisfy requirements for interoperability are not available, the invention provides a means to develop new functions and services that satisfy requirements for interoperability.

Abstract: A system and method for providing wireless communication services to passengers of an aircraft. An incoming signal is received from a base station at an external antenna on the aircraft. The incoming signal is converted to a low-energy signal type to be conveyed across a low-energy transmission medium. The low-energy signal may be light energy and the low-energy transmission medium may be a fiber optic cable, for example. The signal is converted to a signal type that can be transmitted into the passenger compartment for reception by one or more wireless handsets. Outgoing signals transmitted by the one or more wireless handsets may also be received and converted to low-energy signals for transmission on a low-energy signal path, which may be the same as or different from the incoming signal path. The outgoing signals may then be transmitted through an external antenna on the aircraft to be received by a base station.

Abstract: An embedded digitization system enables a military platform to receive, transmit and process a variety of types of information for a variety of purposes. An apparatus and method provides a means to ensure information interoperability between the invention and external sources. The invention provides a development environment that enables a developer to automatically and interactively develop the middleware services and functions that contain the aspects for interoperability with external sources. The invention ensures interoperability through reuse of functions and services known to satisfy requirements for interoperability. When functions and services that satisfy requirements for interoperability are not available, the invention provides a means to develop new functions and services that satisfy requirements for interoperability.

Abstract: A system and method for providing wireless communication services to passengers of an aircraft through the use of a standard mobile telephone. A system of antennas on an air base station radiates above a horizontal plane in order to provide coverage for an aircraft flying through a service airspace. The air system may be conveniently overlaid on an existing terrestrial wireless system in order to share based station facilities. A stretched dome shaped antenna pattern provides 360 degrees of coverage in the horizontal plane. A cardioid direction antenna pattern in the horizontal plane provides coverage in a specific portion of the air space such as an air corridor. Various combinations of antennas, and transceivers are interconnected in order to provide the proper coverage, capacity and interference control requirements for a particular air cell.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling battery cell elements having a plurality of electrode plates of alternating polarity separated by a continuous interleaved insulating sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling battery components including a battery case (10) having a plurality of divider walls (32) defining a plurality of side-by-side cell spaces (26,27,28,29,30,31) opening through a top portion of the case. A plurality of intermediate cell elements (34,35,36,37) are provided in the cell spaces intermediate the end cell spaces (26,31) and end cell elements (38,39) having terminal post portions (101) are inserted in the end cell spaces (26,31). The apparatus effects an automatic pickup of the cell elements at one or more insert stations from delivery conveyors (19,20) suitably positions the picked-up cell elements for proper polarity relationship in the inserted disposition within the battery case, and after moving the picked-up cell elements to overlying relationship with the battery case, inserts the cell elements automatically into the proper cell spaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying electrode plates in the assembly of battery cell elements. The apparatus includes a shuttle feed device for containing a plurality of stacks of electrode plates of common polarity and successively dispensing a single plate from each stack, a walking beam transfer device for successively receiving plates from said shuttle device and moving the plates into a row with the plates commonly oriented and in predetermined spaced relation, and a plate loader for simultaneously engaging and removing from said walking beam transfer device the number of plates of common polarity required in the assembly of a battery cell element. The feeding device is adapted for easy plate loading, and in conjunction with the transfer device, is adapted to provide a reliable supply of electrode plates for use in the automated assembly of cell elements.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lead-acid storage battery capable of being stored after completing the battery processing and thereafter activated by the addition of water including coordinating the formation and processing of the battery elements with a deep discharge to provide residual sulfuric acid electrolyte within the battery elements with a desired specific gravity level and thereafter reducing the amount of the electrolyte in the battery to thereby retain a specified level of residual sulfuric acid electrolyte within the elements of the thus-processed battery. The battery is suitably sealed and may thereafter be stored; and, when desired for service, activation is accomplished by addition of water and suitably charging. The sulfate in the battery elements resulting from the deep discharge and the residual sulfuric acid electrolyte retained within the elements combine, upon the addition of water and recharge, to yield the required specific gravity of the electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of substantially sealing a lead-acid storage battery, capable of activation by the addition of electrolyte or water after storage, is provided which prevents excessive internal pressure build-up during the storage. In one embodiment, the substantial sealing is provided by a vent seal which can be formed with surfaces duplicating the diameter of the cell vent collar so that a conventional vent cap can be fitted and retained in place, substantially in the final operating position. When the substantial sealing is provided by means other than the vent seal, the seal, without the vent feature, serves to allow positioning of the normal battery vent caps in substantially their final operational positions. In the preferred embodiment, the vent seal includes a tear tab so that if accidentally replaced after removal and activation of the battery and partial separation of the tear tab, adequate venting of the gases generated within the battery such as would occur during charging is provided.

Abstract: A maintenance free storage battery has a plurality of alternately positive and negative plates disposed within an electrolyte in a battery container, with the plates resting on the bottom of the container. A battery separator material is disposed between each pair of adjacent plates with the bottom of the separator material forming openings to permit access of a bonding material to the lower edges of the plates. A bonding material adhered to both the bottom wall of the battery container and the lower edges of the plates extends through the bottom openings formed by the separator material to provide vibration resistance, with the bonding material also sealing the bottom openings to prevent the treeing of active material between positive and negative plates at the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A method of fashioning a lead-acid storage battery capable of being stored after completing of the battery processing and thereafter activated by the addition of electrolyte includes adding conditioning quantities of a treating agent affording certain metallic sulfates to the formation electrolyte, a rince electrolyte or to a separate solution to obviate the necessity for removing, as by drying, all or substantially all of the electrolytes used to process the battery. Sufficient electrolyte is removed simply by draining, and the resulting battery can be stored for extended periods of time without significantly adversely affecting the performance of the activated battery.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lead-acid storage battery, capable of being stored after completing the battery processing and thereafter activated by the addition of electrolyte, includes forming the battery elements and treating the battery elements such that sufficient acid, in one form or another, will be retained in the elements to provide a battery operating electrolyte with a specific gravity in the range of from about 1.260 to 1.290, preferably about 1.265, upon activation with standard activation electrolyte, and charging if necessary. Completion of the processing involves draining the battery, reducing the amount of retained acid to a specified amount below the amount the battery elements are capable of retaining when saturated and suitably sealing.