Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a unibody trunk rest, head rest and spacing member.

Abstract: A capacitive device and method with an enhanced measurement error correction capability is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor capacitor based on one or more pairs of parallel conductor surfaces, a housing to encompass the sensor capacitor, a digitizer module in the housing to generate a digital measurement based on a change in a capacitance of the sensor capacitor when a contact zone of the housing is deflected by a force applied on the contact zone. The apparatus also includes a compensation module of the digitizer module to apply another digital measurement of one or more distortion factors to the digital measurement to minimize an effect of the one or more distortion factors to the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus includes a communication module to communicate an analog signal and/or a digital signal through a wired channel and/or a wireless channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a trunk rest having a trunk rest surface and a trunk rest face.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a trunk rest having a trunk rest surface and a trunk rest face.

Abstract: A method for indirectly detecting a movement of a machine and a failure of a speed sensor is disclosed. The method may include receiving an operator input signal, and determining a first factor based on the operator input signal. The method may also include measuring a machine operation parameter, and determining a second factor based on the machine operation parameter. The method may further include identifying a movement of the machine if the first factor is out of a first threshold range and the second factor is out of a second threshold range for at least a first threshold length of time. The method may also include determining a speed sensor failure if the movement the machine is identified and no speed is detected by the speed sensor for at least a second threshold length of time.

Abstract: Cylindrical capacitance force sensing device/method is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a capacitor having two parallel conductive surfaces, a cylindrical housing with a cover plate to encompass the capacitor, and a sensor in the cylindrical housing to generate a measurement based on a change in a distance between the two conductive surfaces when the cover plate is deflected by a load applied on the cover plate. In another embodiment, a method may include applying a load on top of a housing which encompasses a capacitive sensor having two parallel conductive surfaces to produce a deflection of a cover plate of the housing, automatically generating a measurement from the capacitive sensor when a distance between the two parallel conductive surfaces is charged due to the deflection of the cover plate, and decreasing an error in the measurement via stabilizing to a mounting surface.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing fly fishing lines with very low specific gravities entail adding polymer microspheres to a base coating and coating a core with the base coating containing the added polymer microspheres. To manufacture fly lines having multiple coatings, a second coating, which may contain polymer or glass microspheres, is disposed around a first coating that contains polymer microspheres.

Abstract: A system and methods of a capacitive strain gauge are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a conductive element of a capacitive structure attached to a surface. The conductive element is comprised of an elongated member. An additional conductive element of the capacitive structure is attached to the surface, and the additional conductive element is comprised of an additional elongated member. The system includes an electrode coupled to the conductive element that applies a voltage to the conductive element when a capacitance is being determined. The system further includes an additional electrode coupled to the additional conductive element that receives an amplitude to determine a change in capacitance caused by a shape alteration of at least one of the conductive element, the additional conductive element, and a space between the conductive element and the additional conductive element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a trunk rest having a trunk rest surface and a trunk rest face, the trunk rest surface operable to support a trunk of a person laying in a sleep-on-side position; and a head rest having a head rest surface and a head rest face, such that when placed in operative relation to the trunk rest, the head rest face opposes the trunk rest face and is separated from the trunk rest face by a separation distance such that the trunk rest and the head rest cooperate to define a cavity to receive a lower arm the person laying in the sleep-on-side position.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system of capacitive sensor based inventory control is disclosed. In one embodiment, an inventory management system includes a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface substantially parallel to the first conductive surface, a sensor to generate a measurement based on a change in a distance between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface, a scale formed with a set of plates having inserted between the set of plates the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface and a container placed above the scale such that an item (e.g., a liquid, a solid, a discrete part, a powder and/or a gas, etc.) of the container is weighed through the measurement. The inventory management system may further include a reference capacitor associated with the apparatus to enable the sensor to adjust the measurement based on the environmental condition.

Abstract: A capacitive device and method with an enhanced measurement error correction capability is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor capacitor based on one or more pairs of parallel conductor surfaces, a housing to encompass the sensor capacitor, a digitizer module in the housing to generate a digital measurement based on a change in a capacitance of the sensor capacitor when a contact zone of the housing is deflected by a force applied on the contact zone. The apparatus also includes a compensation module of the digitizer module to apply another digital measurement of one or more distortion factors to the digital measurement to minimize an effect of the one or more distortion factors to the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus includes a communication module to communicate an analog signal and/or a digital signal through a wired channel and/or a wireless channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the separation of metals or molecules such as polypeptides, nucleic acids, or endotoxins using a metal-modified solid support. The metals or molecules are isolated from a starting material using the modified solid supports of the invention. Also provided by the invention are kits that can be used in connection with the inventive methods.

Abstract: Fly fishing lines and methods for manufacturing fly fishing lines entail the use of polymer microspheres within the fly line coating to produce lines with very low specific gravities. The fly lines have single or multiple coatings. In fly lines having multiple coatings, the inner coating includes polymer microspheres and the outer coating include either polymer microspheres or glass microspheres.

Abstract: A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide formed from a plurality of segments. Each segment has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. The plurality of segments are arranged substantially in parallel and with the second surfaces transmitting light in substantially the same direction to provide backlighting for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display. A first light source is disposed along the first side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side, and a second light source is disposed along the second side of each segment for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side.

Abstract: A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight positioned to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a double sided prism film disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight. The backlight includes a light guide having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and having a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. A plurality of first light sources is arranged along the first side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side. A plurality of second light sources is arranged along the second side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side. The second surface includes a regular array of linear prism or lenticular features.

Abstract: A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and having a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. A plurality of first light sources are arranged along the first side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side and a plurality of second light sources are arranged along the second side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side.

Abstract: A multi-zone capacitive force sensing apparatus/method is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more capacitors each having an upper conductive surface and a lower conductive surface substantially parallel to the upper conductive surface, a housing with a top plate and a bottom plate to encompass the capacitors, and a sensor in the housing to generate a measurement based on a change in a distance between the upper conductive surface and the lower conductive surface of each of the capacitors when a contact zone of the top plate associated with the each of the plurality of capacitors is deflected by a force applied on the contact zone. The apparatus may also include a comparison module associated with the sensor to generate a signal indicating unevenness of a force applied on the top plate when there is any significant difference between measurements of the capacitors.

Abstract: A high visibility retractable safety strap and a method for securing a trailer to a towing vehicle is disclosed. The retractable safety strap is coupled to either the trailer or the towing vehicle. The high visibility nature of the strap increases safety for other motorists by making the presence of the coupling between the trailer and towing vehicle more perceivable. The safety straps also provide redundancy should the main coupling between the trailer and towing vehicle become detached.

Abstract: An improved fire pump for a firefighting vehicle is provided. The fire pump is capable of being positioned at least partially under a rear portion of the cab of a firefighting vehicle. The pump includes a shaft, an impeller supported by the shaft, and a pump housing which encloses the impeller and supports the shaft for rotation about an axis. The housing includes a fluid inlet configured to direct a fluid into the housing along a path generally parallel to the axis. The housing also includes two fluid outlets each at a periphery of the impeller and configured to direct the fluid from the housing along respective paths generally perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: An improved firefighting vehicle of a type supporting a pump system (e.g., a fire pump system) is provided. The firefighting vehicle generally includes a chassis and an operator cab. The operator cab is movable (e.g.; tiltable, etc.) relative to the chassis between a transit position and a service position. The firefighting vehicle also includes a fire pump system supported by the chassis at least partially under a rear portion of the operator cab. Positioning the fire pump system in such a location may advantageously allow for a vehicle with improved maneuverability or handling, reduced overall length, reduced overall height, additional capacity for storage, and/or with a fire pump system that is relatively convenient to service.