Abstract: A vehicle battery charger including a charging base unit, a charging power supply disposed in the base unit, and a universal serial bus (USB) port disposed in the surface of the base unit are provided. The charging power supply provides charging power that is conveyed via cabling and a pair of battery terminal clamps to a battery needing charging. A secondary power supply disposed in the base unit and coupled to the USB port provides electrical power for powering and/or charging an external device that is coupled to the USB port.

Abstract: There is disclosed stereographic camera system including a left and a right camera including respective lenses, plural mechanisms to synchronously set a focal length of the lenses, to synchronously set a focal distance of the lenses, to set a convergence angle between the left and right cameras, and to set an intraocular distance between the left and right cameras. A distance measuring device may be used to measure the distance to an extreme object. A controller may cause an interocular distance and a convergence angle between the left and right cameras to be set based on a maximum allowable disparity, the focal length of the lenses, and a convergence distance.

Abstract: To compensate for changes in weight distribution of transportable, hand-held camera supports when one or both camera translate or pivot in a two-camera stereographic imaging system, the bottom of the elongated camera support attaches to a compensation mechanism. The mechanism has a balance plate movable laterally on a bottom housing. Ballast mounts below the bottom housing. A motor in the bottom housing moves the balance plate and the pole laterally in response to camera pivoting or lateral movement to maintain the center of gravity of the system centered along the longitudinal axis of the elongated support.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for acquiring stereoscopic images. A first camera may be mounted to a first convergence plate, the first convergence plate coupled to a first plate via a first XY slide and a first pivot displaced from the first XY slide. A distance between the first plate and a second plate may be adjusted to set an interocular distance between the first camera and a second camera. The first convergence plate may be rotated about the first pivot to set, at least in part, an angle of convergence between the first camera and the second camera.

Abstract: A mechanical linkage, for use on original equipment or for replacement of existing hydraulic ram based actuators, comprises a rotary to linear transmission. The transmission provides two co-rotatable capstans of different diameters, and two idler wheels spaced on a longitudinally slidable linkage. The capstans are linked to a first of the idler wheels by means of a pulley line wound from the first capstan, around the wheel, and then back to the second capstan. The first capstan is also linked by means of a pulley line to the second idler wheel, and the second capstan likewise to the second idler wheel by a third pulley line. The difference in diameters causes a differential winding of the various lengths of pulley line between the idler wheels and the capstans, which urges the linkage to slide relative to the capstans. Cooperation of the two capstan/idler wheel combinations compensates for possible backlash.

Abstract: System and method for contextual advertising in which a video file is encoded with cue points, and an XML file containing contextual advertisement information for at least three products is generated. When a first cue point is reached, the product image, product name and product description for the first contextual advertisement are encapsulated in a link to the product URL and displayed in a bottom panel. As each successive cue point is reached, the product image, product name and product description for each successive contextual advertisement are encapsulated in a link to the product URL for that contextual advertisement and displayed in the bottom panel, and the product image and product name for the contextual advertisement last appearing in the bottom panel are encapsulated in a link to the product URL and added to the side panel.

Abstract: There is disclosed stereographic camera system including a left and a right camera including respective lenses, plural mechanisms to synchronously set a focal length of the lenses, to synchronously set a focal distance of the lenses, to set a convergence angle between the left and right cameras, and to set an intraocular distance between the left and right cameras. A controller may determine a convergence based on the focal length. The controller may cause an interocular distance and a convergence angle between the left and right cameras to be set based on a maximum allowable disparity, the focal length of the lenses, the convergence distance, and a distance to an object in the scene.

Abstract: There is disclosed stereographic camera system including a left and a right camera including respective lenses, plural mechanisms to synchronously set a focal length of the lenses, to synchronously set a focal distance of the lenses, to set a convergence angle between the left and right cameras, and to set an intraocular distance between the left and right cameras. A controller may determine a convergence based on the focal length. The controller may cause an interocular distance and a convergence angle between the left and right cameras to be set based on a maximum allowable disparity, the focal length of the lenses, the convergence distance, and a distance to an object in the scene.

Abstract: There is disclosed stereographic camera system including a left and a right camera including respective lenses, plural mechanisms to synchronously set a focal length of the lenses, to synchronously set a focal distance of the lenses, to set a convergence angle between the left and right cameras, and to set an intraocular distance between the left and right cameras. A distance measuring device may be used to measure the distance to an extreme object. A controller may cause an interocular distance and a convergence angle between the left and right cameras to be set based on a maximum allowable disparity, the focal length of the lenses, and a convergence distance.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method for making a wire guide is provided. The method comprises applying a polymer coating to a proximal section of a FP coated core wire having a FP coating disposed thereon such that the polymer coating overlays at least a portion of the FP coating. The polymer coating is applied to a distal section of the FP coated core wire having an exposed metal portion such that the polymer coating overlays at least a portion of the exposed metal portion. The polymer coating is removed from the proximal portion of the FP coated core wire to form the wire guide having a proximal portion with the FP coating and a distal portion with the polymer coating.

Abstract: Water in a fuel cell accumulator is kept above freezing by a hydrogen/oxygen catalytic combustor fed hydrogen through a mechanical thermostatic valve in thermal communication with the container and connected to a hydrogen supply. The system includes an ejector hydrogen/oxygen combustor and a diffusion hydrogen/oxygen combustor for warming a medium within a container such as water in the accumulator of a fuel cell in response to a mechanic hydrostatic valve which conducts hydrogen to a combustor responsive to the temperature of the container.

Abstract: To compensate for changes in weight distribution of transportable, hand-held camera supports when one or both camera translate or pivot in a two-camera stereographic imaging system, the bottom of the elongated camera support attaches to a compensation mechanism. The mechanism has a balance plate movable laterally on a bottom housing. Ballast mounts below the bottom housing. A motor in the bottom housing moves the balance plate and the pole laterally in response to camera pivoting or lateral movement to maintain the center of gravity of the system centered along the longitudinal axis of the elongated support.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for acquiring stereoscopic images. A first camera may be mounted to a first convergence plate, the first convergence plate coupled to a first plate via a first XY slide and a first pivot displaced from the first XY slide. A distance between the first plate and a second plate may be adjusted to set an interocular distance between the first camera and a second camera. The first convergence plate may be rotated about the first pivot to set, at least in part, an angle of convergence between the first camera and the second camera.

Abstract: A mechanical linkage, for use on original equipment or for replacement of existing hydraulic ram based actuators, comprises a rotary to linear transmission. The transmission provides two co-rotatable capstans of different diameters, and two idler wheels spaced on a longitudinally slidable linkage. The capstans are linked to a first of the idler wheels by means of a pulley line wound from the first capstan, around the wheel, and then back to the second capstan. The first capstan is also linked by means of a pulley line to the second idler wheel, and the second capstan likewise to the second idler wheel by a third pulley line. The difference in diameters causes a differential winding of the various lengths of pulley line between the idler wheels and the capstans, which urges the linkage to slide relative to the capstans. Cooperation of the two capstan/idler wheel combinations compensates for possible backlash.

Abstract: There is disclosed a platform suited for use in dual camera, stereoscopic digital cinema. The fixture may have a base, a first convergence plate and a second convergence plate. The base may be mounted to a tripod, steadicam, crane, boom or other device for supporting a platform used in stereoscopic cinematography. The base may have two platforms attached to each other via a linear slide. The convergence plates may be attached to the respective platforms via an XY slide.

Abstract: Baling apparatus including at least two first and second mutually opposed and inclined conveyors, each conveyor having a first end and a second end, the second ends being arranged to be spaced apart to form a material entry region into which material to be baled is, in use, deposited, the first ends being relatively closely adjacent to each other, and the apparatus being arranged such that material deposited into the entry region moves toward a pinch region where the two conveyors are close to one another and where the deposited material is rolled and compressed into a bale, the conveyors being driven in opposite directions to roll and compact the material between them, and the conveyors being mutually displaceable and resiliently biased towards one another.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a supply voltage provided by a power supply to a liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display having a glass panel, a power supply electrically connected to the liquid crystal display, the power supply configured to provide a supply voltage to the liquid crystal display, a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the glass panel of the liquid crystal display and output a temperature output indicative of the temperature of the glass panel of the liquid crystal display, and a processor in communication with the power supply and the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Water (9) in a fuel cell accumulator (10) is kept above freezing by a hydrogen/oxygen catalytic combustor (13) fed hydrogen through a mechanical thermostatic valve (25) in thermal communication (26) with the container (10) or the air nearby, and connected to hydrogen (28), optionally in series with a timer valve (183). The combustor may comprise an ejector (32) having hydrogen through its primary inlet (31) drawing air through a secondary inlet (33), or a diffusion combustor having a catalyst (38), including TEFLON® to permit water generated by combustion to flow by gravity out of the catalyst, spaced from a heating surface (30), and a diffusion control device (40); low partial pressure of oxygen at the catalyst causing diffusion through the device.