Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base, a seatback, and a recliner heart. The recliner heart is rotatably coupled to the seat base and the seatback and the recliner heart is operable between locked and unlocked states. The vehicle seating assembly additionally includes an actuator having a housing defining a housing tab, a motor, a gear operably coupled to the motor where the gear defines a gear tab and a spring tab. The actuator includes an actuator return spring defining a first and second hook where the first hook is coupled to the spring tab. The actuator additionally includes a lever coupled to the gear, a pulley coupled to the gear, a lifting cable coupled between the pulley and the seatback, and a release cable coupled between the lever and the recliner heart. The release cable is configured to transition the recliner heart between the locked and unlocked states.

Abstract: A switching system includes a MEMS switching circuit having a MEMS switch and a driver circuit, and an auxiliary circuit coupled in parallel with the MEMS switching circuit that comprises solid state switching circuitry. A control circuit in communication with the MEMS switching circuit and the auxiliary circuit performs selective switching of a load current towards the MEMS switching circuitry and the auxiliary circuit, with the control circuit programmed to transmit a control signal to the driver circuit to cause the MEMS switch to actuate to an open or closed position across a switching interval, activate the auxiliary circuit during the switching interval when the MEMS switch is switching between the open and closed positions, and deactivate the auxiliary circuit upon reaching the open or closed position after completion of the switching interval, such that the load current selectively flows through the MEMS switch and the solid state switching circuitry.

Abstract: A method for mapping T1 in myocardium includes selecting a recovery delay from EKG signal data; imposing a saturation pulse on the myocardium; waiting the recovery delay; and acquiring bSSFP data after the recovery delay.

Abstract: A switching system includes a control circuit that receives On-Off signals indicative of a desired operating state of a switch. The control circuit includes an oscillator that generates a first electrical pulse responsive having a first signal characteristic or a second signal characteristic that is determined by the received On-Off signal, which may be related to a frequency or duty cycle of the pulse. A pulse transformer connected to the oscillator receives the first electrical pulse and outputs a second electrical pulse having the same one of the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic as the first electrical pulse. A pulse detection circuit in the control circuit receives the second electrical pulse, determines whether the second electrical pulse has the first signal characteristic or the second signal characteristic, and controls transmission of power and control signals to the switch based on this determination.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seating assembly comprises a seat support bracket, a lower seat cushion mounted to the seat support bracket, and a latch pivotally mounted to the lower seat cushion. An inertia link is pivotally and operatively coupled with the lower seat cushion and operatively coupled with the latch, the inertia link having a first rotational position corresponding to an unlocked condition of the latch, allowing movement of the lower seat cushion between a raised stowed position and a lowered deployed position, and a second rotational position corresponding to a locked condition of the latch, preventing movement of the lower seat cushion from the raised stowed position to the lowered deployed position. The inertia link moves from the first rotational position to the second rotational position upon a predetermined deceleration of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base, a seatback, and a recliner heart. The recliner heart is rotatably coupled to the seat base and the seatback and the recliner heart is operable between locked and unlocked states. The vehicle seating assembly additionally includes an actuator having a housing defining a housing tab, a motor, a gear operably coupled to the motor where the gear defines a gear tab and a spring tab. The actuator includes an actuator return spring defining a first and second hook where the first hook is coupled to the spring tab. The actuator additionally includes a lever coupled to the gear, a pulley coupled to the gear, a lifting cable coupled between the pulley and the seatback, and a release cable coupled between the lever and the recliner heart. The release cable is configured to transition the recliner heart between the locked and unlocked states.

Abstract: Example navigation aids for increasing the accuracy of a navigation system are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein identifying, with an aircraft intent description language (AIDL) aid, an AIDL instruction as associated with a first dynamic activity level of a plurality of dynamic activity levels and determining, with the AIDL aid, an aircraft state to be affected by the AIDL instruction. The example method also includes changing, with a navigation filter, a weighting scheme for a measurement of the aircraft state obtained by an inertial navigation system (INS) of the aircraft and estimating, with the navigation filter, a trajectory of the aircraft based on the weighting scheme and the measurement.

Abstract: An electrical system includes an operation MEMS switch operable in on and off states to enable and disable current flow to a load and a fault interruption MEMS switch positioned in series with the operation MEMS switch. The fault interruption MEMS switch is operable in on and off states to enable and disable current flow to the electrical load, with operation of the fault interruption MEMS switch in the off state disabling current flow to the load regardless of the state of the operation MEMS switch. A fault sensor control system operate to sense a system variable, analyze the system variable to detect if a fault is affecting the electrical system and, upon detection of a fault, switch the fault interruption MEMS switch from the on state to the off state to interrupt current flowing through the operation MEMS switch to the load.

Abstract: A portable adjustable headrest comprising a base member having on opening and a plurality of tabs, at least two elongated pads having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end has a tab affixed, and the at least two elongated pads are rotationally attached to the first attachment member and the second attachment member by the tabs, an outer shaft secured to the receiving orifice, an inner shaft having a first end and a second end and a central axis, configured to fit securely within the outer shaft in a telescopic relationship, a locking mechanism coupled to the inner shaft and the outer shaft, a cushion base attached to the first end of the inner shaft, wherein the cushion base has an elongated surface, and a cushion situated on the elongated surface of the cushion base.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein to determine relative positioning between moving platforms. An example method includes sending a first signal via a first moving platform to be received by a second moving platform. The example method includes receiving, at the first platform, a second signal sent by the second moving platform and aligning the first signal and the second signal. The example method includes determining, at the first moving platform, a first duration of time between the sending of a first pulse and the receiving of a second pulse. The example method includes determining, at the second moving platform, a second duration of time between the sending of the second pulse and the receiving of the first pulse. The example method includes determining a distance of the first moving platform relative to the second moving platform based on the first and second durations of time.

Abstract: There is provided a training system capable of performing work. The system has a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator exhibiting a generally planar transformational behavior. The system further has one or more heating elements for transforming the SMA actuator from an original shape to a trained shape, thereby performing work.

Abstract: A switching system includes a MEMS switching circuit having a MEMS switch and a driver circuit, and an auxiliary circuit coupled in parallel with the MEMS switching circuit that comprises solid state switching circuitry. A control circuit in communication with the MEMS switching circuit and the auxiliary circuit performs selective switching of a load current towards the MEMS switching circuitry and the auxiliary circuit, with the control circuit programmed to transmit a control signal to the driver circuit to cause the MEMS switch to actuate to an open or closed position across a switching interval, activate the auxiliary circuit during the switching interval when the MEMS switch is switching between the open and closed positions, and deactivate the auxiliary circuit upon reaching the open or closed position after completion of the switching interval, such that the load current selectively flows through the MEMS switch and the solid state switching circuitry.

Abstract: A switching system includes a MEMS switching circuit having a MEMS switch and a driver circuit. An auxiliary circuit is coupled in parallel with the MEMS switching circuit, the auxiliary circuit comprising first and second connections that connect the auxiliary circuit to the MEMS switching circuit on opposing sides of the MEMS switch, first and second solid state switches connected in parallel, and a resonant circuit connected between the first and second solid state switches. A control circuit controls selective switching of a load current towards the MEMS switching circuit and the auxiliary circuit by selectively activating the first and second solid state switches and the resonant circuit so as to limit a voltage across the MEMS switch by diverting at least a portion of the load current away from the MEMS switch to flow to the auxiliary circuit prior to the MEMS switch changing state.

Abstract: A switching system includes a control circuit that receives On-Off signals indicative of a desired operating state of a switch. The control circuit includes an oscillator that generates a first electrical pulse responsive having a first signal characteristic or a second signal characteristic that is determined by the received On-Off signal, which may be related to a frequency or duty cycle of the pulse. A pulse transformer connected to the oscillator receives the first electrical pulse and outputs a second electrical pulse having the same one of the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic as the first electrical pulse. A pulse detection circuit in the control circuit receives the second electrical pulse, determines whether the second electrical pulse has the first signal characteristic or the second signal characteristic, and controls transmission of power and control signals to the switch based on this determination.

Abstract: There is provided a method of training a shape memory alloy (SMA) workpiece. The method includes applying a force couple to a shape memory alloy (SMA) workpiece to impart a generally planar transformational behavior to the SMA workpiece to obtain a trained shape memory alloy (SMA) workpiece.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein to determine relative positioning between moving platforms. An example method includes sending a first signal via a first moving platform to be received by a second moving platform. The example method includes receiving, at the first platform, a second signal sent by the second moving platform and aligning the first signal and the second signal. The example method includes determining, at the first moving platform, a first duration of time between the sending of a first pulse and the receiving of a second pulse. The example method includes determining, at the second moving platform, a second duration of time between the sending of the second pulse and the receiving of the first pulse. The example method includes determining a distance of the first moving platform relative to the second moving platform based on the first and second durations of time.

Abstract: A free-space optical transceiver includes a repositionable mirror for receiving and sending light beams with another transceiver. To properly align the light beams, the position of the mirror is determined in using a position sensor. The position sensor is mounted within a base substructure that is coupled to a steerable mirror substructure containing the mirror. The position sensor reflects sensor light off of the mirror to determine the position of the mirror along two different axes. The position sensor includes an optical element for shaping the sensor light. The components of the position sensor are mounted to the base substructure such that alignment of the position sensor is not required. Further, by coupling the position sensor to the base substructure and not the steerable mirror substructure, the moment of inertia and center of gravity of the steerable mirror substructure is improved, thereby improving the steering responsiveness of the mirror.

Abstract: An ohmic RF MEMS relay includes a substrate with a capacitive coupling, Csub; two actuating elements electrically coupled in series, so as to define a channel, wherein the actuating elements are configured to be independently actuated or simultaneously operated. The actuating elements have their own capacitive coupling, Cgap; a midpoint on the channel is in electrical communication with the actuating elements; and an anchor mechanically coupled to the substrate and supporting at least one of the actuating elements. Also, an ohmic RF MEMS relay that includes an input port; a plurality of first MEMS switches that make up a first switching group in electrical communication with the input port, thereby defining a plurality of channels each leading from each of the MEMS switches; and at least one outlet port along each of the channels distal from the first switching group and in electrical communication with the input port.

Abstract: An ohmic RF MEMS relay includes a substrate with a capacitive coupling, Csub; two actuating elements electrically coupled in series, so as to define a channel, wherein the actuating elements are configured to be independently actuated or simultaneously operated. The actuating elements have their own capacitive coupling, Cgap; a midpoint on the channel is in electrical communication with the actuating elements; and an anchor mechanically coupled to the substrate and supporting at least one of the actuating elements. Also, an ohmic RF MEMS relay that includes an input port; a plurality of first MEMS switches that make up a first switching group in electrical communication with the input port, thereby defining a plurality of channels each leading from each of the MEMS switches; and at least one outlet port along each of the channels distal from the first switching group and in electrical communication with the input port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shaping fuselage sections. A first fuselage section is held in a holding structure in a cradle in a cradle system. Force are applied to the first fuselage section with an actuator system to a portion of the first fuselage section such that a first current shape of the first fuselage section changes towards a first desired shape for the first fuselage section to join the first the fuselage section to a second fuselage section.