Abstract: An infrared red (IR) detector includes a substrate configured to absorb IR energy, and at least one electrode pair comprising a superconducting material. The at least one electrode pair is arranged at an outer edge of the substrate. IR energy absorbed by the substrate diffuses toward the outer edge while dissipating as heat from a surface of the substrate, and the at least one electrode pair conducts the heat at the outer edge to facilitate measurement of the heat.

Abstract: A mobility device having a body, a plurality of arms, and a control module operable to control the angular positions of the plurality of arms and the body. The body includes a first side, a second side, a front end, a rear end, a first frame rotatable about a first axis, and a second frame rotatable about a second axis. The first axis is parallel to the second axis. Rotation of the first frame causes simultaneous rotation of the second frame in the opposite direction. Arms are rotatably supported on the first side of the body and other arms are rotatably supported on the second side of the body. Each arm includes a wheel. The arms are independently rotatable from the other arms.

Abstract: A mobility device having a body, a plurality of arms, and a control module operable to control the angular positions of the plurality of arms and the body. The body includes a first side, a second side, a front end, a rear end, a first frame rotatable about a first axis, and a second frame rotatable about a second axis. The first axis is parallel to the second axis. Rotation of the first frame causes simultaneous rotation of the second frame in the opposite direction. Arms are rotatably supported on the first side of the body and other arms are rotatably supported on the second side of the body. Each arm includes a wheel. The arms are independently rotatable from the other arms.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a first asymmetrical differential, having a transmission input shaft and a first output shaft, aligned along a transmission axis, a second asymmetrical differential, having a transmission output shaft and a first input shaft, aligned along the transmission axis, and a reduction gear unit, coupled between the first output shaft of the first asymmetrical differential and the first input shaft of the second asymmetrical differential. Rotation of the input shaft at a first input speed and torque is converted into rotation of the transmission output shaft at a second output speed and torque that varies independently of the first input speed and torque in response to a rotational resistance on the transmission output shaft.

Abstract: An animatronic toy includes a motor, a compound geneva gear assembly, and a plurality of moving parts. The compound geneva gear assembly has a plurality of geneva drivers driven by the motor and a plurality of geneva followers. Each of the geneva followers are positioned to be driven by one of the geneva drivers. The geneva drivers are rotationally coupled to each other. Each of the geneva drivers includes at least one set of teeth and at least one stop. Each of the geneva followers includes at least one set of teeth and at least one cutout. The plurality of moving parts are driven by the geneva followers. The geneva drivers may form a compound geneva driver with an axis of rotation, a plurality of sets of teeth extending radially and a plurality of stops disposed in an alternating pattern along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a first asymmetrical differential, having a transmission input shaft and a first output shaft, aligned along a transmission axis, a second asymmetrical differential, having a transmission output shaft and a first input shaft, aligned along the transmission axis, and a reduction gear unit, coupled between the first output shaft of the first asymmetrical differential and the first input shaft of the second asymmetrical differential. Rotation of the input shaft at a first input speed and torque is converted into rotation of the transmission output shaft at a second output speed and torque that varies independently of the first input speed and torque in response to a rotational resistance on the transmission output shaft.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a first asymmetrical differential, having a transmission input shaft and a first output shaft, aligned along a transmission axis, a second asymmetrical differential, having a transmission output shaft and a first input shaft, aligned along the transmission axis, and a reduction gear unit, coupled between the first output shaft of the first asymmetrical differential and the first input shaft of the second asymmetrical differential. Rotation of the input shaft at a first input speed and torque is converted into rotation of the transmission output shaft at a second output speed and torque that varies independently of the first input speed and torque in response to a rotational resistance on the transmission output shaft.

Abstract: An animatronic doll having a motor, a head frame pivotally mounted to a neck carrier, a bevel gear and a pinion gear connected to a head shaft, a first gear, and a second gear. The pinion gear is engaged with a rack of the head frame. The first gear is configured to be driven by the bevel gear and is rotatable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. The first gear does not drive the second gear when the first gear is rotated between the first position and the second position. The first gear drives the second gear when the first gear is rotated between the second position and the third position. Rotation of the head shaft rotates the pinion gear and pivots the head frame. Rotation of the second gear may rotate arms of the doll. The arms may include friction clutches.

Abstract: A multiple-output transmission includes a drive motor and one or more stacked layers. Each layer includes one or more output gears, a drive gear, coupled to be driven by the drive motor, at least one idler gear, engageable with the drive gear, and means for indexing the at least one idler gear between multiple selectable indexing positions, thereby to selectively engage one or more of the output gears.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a first asymmetrical differential, having a transmission input shaft and a first output shaft, aligned along a transmission axis, a second asymmetrical differential, having a transmission output shaft and a first input shaft, aligned along the transmission axis, and a reduction gear unit, coupled between the first output shaft of the first asymmetrical differential and the first input shaft of the second asymmetrical differential. Rotation of the input shaft at a first input speed and torque is converted into rotation of the transmission output shaft at a second output speed and torque that varies independently of the first input speed and torque in response to a rotational resistance on the transmission output shaft.

Abstract: A device and method for braiding hair or other flexible filaments is disclosed herein. The device comprises a set of gears comprising sector gears and elliptical gears, the elliptical gears having a hollow center portion for receiving the hair or other flexible material. The device further comprises a controller, a motor, a power source, and a user interface. The user interface allows the user to select a variety of weaving patterns. The device and method of the present disclosure may be employed to weave four or more strands of material into a braid.

Abstract: A device and method for braiding hair or other flexible filaments is disclosed herein. The device comprises controller and a motor whereby the device may be used to intertwine strands of the flexible filament in a desired pattern. A user interface that allows the user to select a variety of pattern modules for operating the device.

Abstract: A hand-held flinging device includes a launcher that engages the projectile and improves control of the launcher and projectile, during a throwing/flinging motion, until centrifugal force causes disengagement of the projectile from the launcher. The engagement system involves the rearward portions of a launcher shaft and the projectile bore, so that, upon disengagement, frictional engagement and interference of the engagement system with the projectile is prevented or limited as the projectile moves forward to fly off the launcher. The engagement system may include a member that snaps into engagement with a hole or recess to hold the projectile on the launcher even through the wind-up portion of the throw that may include the launcher distal end being pointed downward. The preferred projectile covers the entire or nearly the entire launcher shaft distal of the hand grip and is heavier toward its front end.

Abstract: A multiple-output transmission includes a drive motor and one or more stacked layers. Each layer includes one or more output gears, a drive gear, coupled to be driven by the drive motor, at least one idler gear, engageable with the drive gear, and means for indexing the at least one idler gear between multiple selectable indexing positions, thereby to selectively engage one or more of the output gears.

Abstract: A device and method for braiding hair or other flexible filaments is disclosed herein. The device comprises controller and a motor whereby the device may be used to intertwine strands of the flexible filament in a desired pattern. A user interface that allows the user to select a variety of pattern modules for operating the device.

Abstract: A device and method for braiding hair or other flexible filaments is disclosed herein. The device comprises a set of gears comprising sector gears and elliptical gears, the elliptical gears having a hollow center portion for receiving the hair or other flexible material. The device further comprises a controller, a motor, a power source, and a user interface. The user interface allows the user to select a variety of weaving patterns. The device and method of the present disclosure may be employed to weave four or more strands of material into a braid.

Abstract: A system for remote interaction with a pet is provided which may include a home computer connected to a movable turret. The turret has rotary components driven by a servo-motors to direct a laser to the floor to create shapes depending on the play to be performed, such as images on the floor or lines defining various shapes that may be shifted, contorted, or changed in shape to amuse a pet. The user can position, rotate and scale the shaped path within the environment provided by the floor area and can control the animation speed, play and pause as well as set the apparatus in a play mode to loop forward and backward through a shaped path. Video and audio including the pet owner's voice may be introduced to further entertain the pet while he or she is home alone.

Abstract: A hand-held flinging device includes a launcher that engages the projectile and improves control of the launcher and projectile, during a throwing/flinging motion, until centrifugal force causes disengagement of the projectile from the launcher. The engagement system involves the rearward portions of a launcher shaft and the projectile bore, so that, upon disengagement, frictional engagement and interference of the engagement system with the projectile is prevented or limited as the projectile moves forward to fly off the launcher. The engagement system may include a member that snaps into engagement with a hole or recess to hold the projectile on the launcher even through the wind-up portion of the throw that may include the launcher distal end being pointed downward. The preferred projectile covers the entire or nearly the entire launcher shaft distal of the hand grip and is heavier toward its front end.

Abstract: A robot may be made to operate in response to changes in an environment by determining a currently dominant drive state for the robot from a plurality of competing drive states, sensing a change the environment, selecting an appropriate behavior strategy in accordance with the currently dominant drive state from a database of behavior strategies for response by the robot to the sensed changed, selecting one or more robotic motions to be performed by the robot from a database of robotic motions in accordance with the selected strategy and causing the robot to perform the selected robotic motions.