Abstract: A linear actuator with an internal dampening mechanism is disclosed. The actuator has a housing has a first end and a second end and forms an internal chamber. A constricted opening is also added to the actuator at the first end. A piston is disposed within the housing and is capable of sliding along the chamber. The piston has a head portion and a shaft portion. The shaft portion is slidable through the constricted opening whereas the head portion is not slidable through the constricted opening. A fluid is also added to the actuator. The fluid is disposed within the housing. In one embodiment, the actuator is constructed such that the sliding of the shaft portion forces a fluid through the constricted opening such that the movement of the piston is dampened. In an alternative embodiment, the actuator includes one or more second pistons and an orifice.

Abstract: A robotic machine such as a robotic vacuum cleaner is controlled to carry out a task of cleaning a room. The machine has a plurality of sensors including infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors and light sensors through which the machine can navigate its way around a room without hitting objects or walls in its path. The machine has an indicator light which changes color depending upon the state of interaction of the various sensors with the environment, indicating the ‘mood’ of the cleaner. The indicator may include three primary color light sources which are combined within a reflective frusto-conical chamber and a translucent lens dome in order to combine the primary colors into a single colored light as viewed by a user. This makes the machine more user-friendly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds, compositions comprising said compounds, and uses thereof, said compounds having the formula: 1

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds, compositions comprising said compounds, and uses thereof, said compounds having the formula: 1

Abstract: Portable threshold locators (32B, 32C, 32D) are placed in a room (120) at locations to define at least part of a boundary within which an autonomous vehicular appliance is to be confined. Typically, the threshold locator is placed in a doorway (32B) or at the top of a staircase (32D). The vehicle has a detection system which allows the autonomous vehicular appliance to detect the presence of the portable threshold locator. The detection system receives a signal from the threshold locator and the autonomous vehicular appliance uses the received signal to avoid the threshold marked by the locator (32B, 32C, 32D). The autonomous vehicular appliance is preferably a robotic floor cleaning appliance, such as a robotic vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to interleukin-1&bgr; converting enzyme inhibitors having the formula: 1

Abstract: A robotic floor cleaning device comprises a chassis (10), motor-driven wheels (11) supporting the chassis (10), a motor-driven suction fan (9), a dirty air inlet (2) and a motor-driven rotatable agitator (4) at the dirty air inlet (2) for agitating the surface. A control system navigates the device around a room and distributes power to the motor-driven wheels (11) and to the agitator (4). The control system detects when the agitator (4) has jammed (100, 102) and, in the event of a jam, attempts to clear the jam (104, 106). After successfully clearing the jam the control system turns the agitator (4) off (114, 116, 118) or navigates the cleaning device around the location at which the jam occurred (119). The cleaning device can store the location of the jam for use in preventing further jams when the cleaning device returns to a similar position in the room.

Abstract: Light detection apparatus for determining the location of a body within a predetermined area comprises at least two light detecting devices (10,10′,10″), supported on the body and capable of receiving light at points which are spaced about a central axis (8). The apparatus further includes means for supplying information representative of the level of light detected by each light detecting device (10, 10′, 10″). Information received from the light detection apparatus is compared with information previously received from the light detection apparatus and stored in a memory so as to identify when the light detected by the light detection apparatus is the same or substantially the same as light previously detected by the light detection apparatus. When used on an autonomous vehicle, this can allow the vehicle to determine when it has returned to a similar position in an area.

Abstract: Compounds having the general structure: which are useful for the treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions, such as bone disorders.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle, such as a robotic cleaning device, includes wheels which support the vehicle and allow the vehicle to traverse a surface. Downward looking wheel sensors sense the presence of a surface in front of the wheels. Another sensor is provided at or near a leading edge of the vehicle for sensing the presence beneath the leading edge of the vehicle. The vehicle is arranged so that movement of the vehicle is possible if the leading edge sensor senses that there is no surface beneath the leading edge of the vehicle, provided that the wheel sensors indicate that there is a surface adjacent to the wheel. When the leading edge sensor senses that there is no surface beneath the leading edge of the vehicle, the vehicle performs an edge following routine.

Abstract: Compounds having a structure according to the following formula: are effective in treating disorders such as bone disorders and glaucoma in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides novel prostaglandin analogs. In particular, the present invention relates to compounds having a structure according to formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, W, X, Z, a, b, p and q are defined below. This invention also includes optical isomers, diastereomers and enantiomers of formula (I), and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, biohydrolyzable amides, esters, and imides thereof. The compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions, such as bone disorders and glaucoma. Accordingly, the invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The invention still further provides methods of treatment for bone disorders and glaucoma using these compounds or the compositions containing them.

Abstract: The invention provides novel prostaglandin analogs. In particular, the present invention relates to compounds having a structure according to formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, W, X, Z, a, b, p and q are defined below. This invention also includes optical isomers, diastereomers and enantiomers of formula (I), and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, biohydrolyzable amides, esters, and imides thereof. The compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions, such as bone disorders and glaucoma. Accordingly, the invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The invention still further provides methods of treatment for bone disorders and glaucoma using these compounds or the compositions containing them.

Abstract: Compounds having the general structure: 1

Abstract: The invention provides novel PGF analogs. In particular, the present invention relates to compounds having a structure according to the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, X, and Z are as defined. This invention also includes optical isomers, diastereomers and enantiomers of the formula above, and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, biohydrolyzable amides, esters, and imides thereof.The compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions, such as bone disorders and glaucoma. Accordingly, the invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The invention still further provides methods of treatment for bone disorders and glaucoma using theses compounds or the compositions containing them.

Abstract: A support for a biologically active material which comprises an organic polymer incorporating amidine groups the carbon atoms of which are bound to side chains each of which includes a functional group capable of linkage to a biologically active material, and a carbonyl group or an enol form thereof which is spaced from the carbon atom of an amidine group by the backbone dependent nitrogen atom thereof and at most by one other nitrogen atom in the side chain.