Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions useful as imaging agents for use in monitoring atherosclerotic plaque regression using, for example, MRI, CT, Gamma-scintigraphy, or optical imaging techniques. Methods and compositions of using the same are described.

Abstract: Improved deep target penetrating munitions are disclosed which bring about controlled ejection of the payload following the penetration by the munition of the ceiling of a hardened facility. The ejection results from a plurality of selected propelling charges, which are activated following a signal from a fuze by a shock-hardened electronic trigger system. The shock-hardened electronic trigger system is programmed to automatically select the appropriate charges to match and cancel out the instantaneous terminal velocity of the munitions following the penetration of the ceiling of a hardened target facility. In this manner, the payload is deployed within the target facility for maximum effect and minimum collateral damage.

Abstract: A latch bolt engages a striker to releasably secure a first door to a vehicle body or a second door by relative displacement of the latch towards the striker. The latch bolt moves in a first plane to releasably retain the striker. The assembly includes a vertical wedge arrangement includes a first wedge surface on the latch and a second wedge surface on the striker. The first wedge surface and the second wedge surface cooperate to compensate for any misalignment and to prevent movement between the striker bar portion of the striker and a mouth of the latch in a direction parallel to the first plane. The latch is a plant-in latch, and the first surface is provided on a wedge plate securable to a shut face surface of the latch. The first wedge surface and the second wedge surface can be resilient.

Abstract: A latch bolt engages a striker to releaseably secure a first door to either a vehicle body or a second door by relative displacement of the latch towards the striker. The latch bolt moves in a first plane to releaseably retain the striker. The assembly includes a first vertical wedge arrangement and a second vertical wedge arrangement that substantially prevent movement between the latch and the striker in a direction parallel to the first plane when in a latched condition. The vertical wedge arrangements include first and second abutment surfaces on the striker arranged engage third and fourth complementary surfaces of the latch. The arrangements are provided laterally either side of a striker bar portion of the striker and laterally either side of the latch bolt.

Abstract: A fuel pump is provided having improved efficiency by lowering the wet circle index of the pump while maintaining robust axial clearances to meet the demands of an automotive application. One embodiment includes a fuel pump for pressurizing fuel for delivery to an engine of a motor vehicle. The fuel pump generally comprises a housing, a motor, a single sided impeller, a cover and a body. The provision of a single sided impeller greatly reduces the wet circle index and improves the pump efficiency. The cover, impeller, and body are structured to axially balance the impeller which is free floating on the shaft of the motor.

Abstract: A latch assembly includes a latch bolt, a retaining member and an actuator. The latch bolt is moveable between a closed position at which it is capable of retaining a striker and an open position at which the striker is released. The retaining member is moveable between a retained position at which it retains the latch bolt in at least its closed position and released position at which the latch bolt can move between its opened and closed positions. The actuator is capable of moving the retaining means from its engaged position to its released position, in which, under normal operating conditions of the latch, the actuator is the sole means of releasing the latch.

Abstract: A packaged micromechanical device (100) having a blocking material (116) encapsulating debris-generating regions thereof. The blocking material (116) prevents the generation of debris that could interfere with the operation of the micromechanical device (100). Debris-generating regions of the device (100), including debris-creating sidewalls and any debris-harboring cavities, as well as electrical connections (108) linking the device (100) to the package substrate (102) are encapsulated by the blocking material (116). The blocking material (116) avoids contact with any debris-intolerant regions (118) of the device (100). A package lid (122), which is glass in the case of many DMD packages, seals the device (100) in a package cavity (120).

Abstract: An actuator including a motor in driving connection with a cam rotatable about a cam axis, the actuator further including a cam follower connected to an output member, in which powered rotation of the cam causes the cam follower to be radially displaced relative to the cam axis to provide differing output positions of the output member and in which the profile of the cam includes a radial stop which, in conjunction with the cam follower, act as a detent so that the cam follower is capable of controlling the position of the cam.

Abstract: An improved window frame and window piece for a micromirror assembly is disclosed herein. The window frame includes a stress-relieving contour positioned in the middle of the frame that can absorb the mechanical stresses applied to the window frame from the ceramic base and from the window piece. The window frame may be comprised of a single piece of sheet metal that has been stamped to include a stress-relieving contour. The stress-relieving contour may be comprised of a variety of shapes, including a “U” shape, an inverted “U” shape, a curved step shape, or other combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention is an electronic recording and computing device that resides within or on a pen shaped object for the purpose of recording and processing handwritten text or graphics. The device includes a writing implement (e.g., a pen or the like) which records motion during writing by tracking microscopic and/or macroscopic features of the writing surface.

Abstract: A regenerative fuel pump comprising a housing, a pump cover having a first flow channel formed therein, a pump body having a second flow channel formed therein whereby the first flow channel and the second flow channel define a pumping chamber, and an impeller mounted between the pump cover and pump body and including a plurality of vanes spaced circumferentially about the impeller and defining a plurality of vane grooves. The vanes are spaced un-evenly in a non-repeating pattern about the impeller. The first and second flow channels each include an inlet end, an outlet end, and a stripper area defined as the area between the inlet end and the outlet end extending from the inlet end away from the flow channel. Each of the stripper areas including a plurality of grooves formed therein adapted to dampen pressure pulsations within the pumping chamber.

Abstract: A secure shipping parcel invention (1) is described that includes features to protect against unauthorized entry (51) and/or contamination by biological agents. Technologies employed may be tamper evident features (60) that make it obvious someone has attempted to gain entry (50), high tech materials that make it impossible to enter without destroying the parcel or its contents unless specific steps are taken, antistatic (20) additives to inhibit contact with airborne particles, and anti-microbial (5,10) additives that kill biological agents on contact.

Abstract: An impeller for a fuel pump for supplying fuel to an automotive engine from a fuel tank includes an impeller body having a substantially disk shape with opposing first and second faces and an outer circumference. The impeller body defines a rotational axis extending therethrough perpendicular to the first and second faces. A plurality of radially outwardly extending vanes extend from the outer circumference of the impeller body and are spaced circumferentially about the impeller body. Each of the vanes includes a first half extending from the outer circumference adjacent the first face and a second half extending from the outer circumference adjacent the second face. The second halves are rotationally shifted about the rotational axis relative to the first halves. The vanes are spaced un-evenly and in a non-repeating pattern about the outer circumference of the impeller body.

Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one door releasably securable in a closed position by a power operable latch. The latch is operable by a remotely operable unlatching mechanism to release the door. There is no unlatching mechanism provided on an unsecured part of the vehicle when the vehicle has been secured.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use in boring is described, the apparatus including a rotatable drive shaft (12), a cam member (20) and followers (16) for converting rotational motion into reciprocal motion, and a shroud (24) having a cutting edge (26) driven by the cam member and followers. The shroud may be selectively engageable with the cam member and followers, allowing the drive shaft to be removed through the shroud. A fluid circulation arrangement (31), (13) allows air to be injected into loose drilling substrate, so assisting removal of drill cuttings from the boring apparatus. Also described is a drill string incorporating a similar arrangement, allowing the drill string to be reciprocated within a bore. The drill string may further include casing sections, which may have intumescent coatings to allow the sections to be fixed in a wellbore.

Abstract: A latch bolt engages a striker to releasably secure a first door to a vehicle body or a second door by relative displacement of the latch towards the striker. The latch bolt moves in a first plane to releasably retain the striker. The assembly includes a vertical wedge arrangement includes a first wedge surface on the latch and a second wedge surface on the striker. The first wedge surface and the second wedge surface cooperate to compensate for any misalignment and to prevent movement between the striker bar portion of the striker and a mouth of the latch in a direction parallel to the first plane. The latch is a plant-in latch, and the first surface is provided on a wedge plate securable to a shut face surface of the latch. The first wedge surface and the second wedge surface can be resilient.

Abstract: A resilient assembly for a vehicle door latch assembly includes two retainers that substantially face each other and a resilient member supported by seats in the retainers. The resilient member is biased to resist a tensile force applied to load application features at the ends of the retainers as the seats of the retainers are moved toward each other. The retainers allow the amount of preload force applied to the resilient assembly to not be limited by the physical characteristics of the resilient member.

Abstract: A latch bolt engages a striker to releasably secure a first door to a vehicle body or a second door by relative displacement of the latch towards said striker. The latch bolt moves in a first plane to releasably retain the striker. The assembly includes a wedge arrangement that substantially prevents relative movement between the latch and the striker a direction perpendicular to the first plane when in a latched condition. The wedge arrangement includes first and second lateral abutment surfaces mounted on the latch. The wedge arrangements are positioned on either side of the latch bolt in a direction perpendicular to the first plane for engagement with cooperating surfaces of the striker.

Abstract: A latch bolt engages a striker to releaseably secure a first door to either a vehicle body or a second door by relative displacement of the latch towards the striker. The latch bolt moves in a first plane to releaseably retain the striker. The assembly includes a first vertical wedge arrangement and a second vertical wedge arrangement that substantially prevent movement between the latch and the striker in a direction parallel to the first plane when in a latched condition. The vertical wedge arrangements include first and second abutment surfaces on the striker arranged engage third and fourth complementary surfaces of the latch. The arrangements are provided laterally either side of a striker bar portion of the striker and laterally either side of the latch bolt.

Abstract: A lock mechanism (10, 110) including a lock gear lever (12, 112) movable between unlocked, locked and superlocked positions, the lock lever being connected to further components of the lock mechanism to provide for corresponding unlocked, locked and superlocked conditions of the lock mechanism, the lock lever being operably movable between the unlocked, locked and superlocked positions by a stepper motor (22, 122) (FIG. 7).