Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) interactive display and method of forming the same, includes a transparent capaciflector (TC) camera formed on a transparent shield layer on the screen surface. A first dielectric layer is formed on the shield layer. A first wire layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first wire layer. A second wire layer is formed on the second dielectric layer. Wires on the first wire layer and second wire layer are grouped into groups of parallel wires with a turnaround at one end of each group and a sensor pad at the opposite end. An operational amplifier is connected to each of the sensor pads and the shield pad biases the pads and receives a signal from connected sensor pads in response to intrusion of a probe. The signal is proportional to probe location with respect to the monitor screen.

Abstract: Linear output motion of a substantial distance is imparted to the top plate of an actuator by forces produced within layers respectively formed by interconnectors on which magnetostriction material slabs are positioned in engagement with end retainers of the interconnectors through which such forces are transferred in sequence to produce the output motion in response to applied magnetic fields, inducing maximized magnetostriction in a direction perpendicular to such output motion. The magnetic fields are generated by electric current conducted through wiring coils extending through the magnetostriction material slabs maintained assembled in the layers under a prestress arrangement accommodating relative displacements resulting from the output motion.

Abstract: A one-way bearing is provided having sprags and rolling bearings both disposed between an inner and an outer race. The sprags may comprise three-dimensional sprags for preventing rotation in a non-preferential direction. The rolling bearings may comprise thrust rollers for transmitting axial, tilt, and radial loads between the inner and outer races.

Abstract: A gear bearing having a first gear and a second gear, each having a plurality of teeth. Each gear operates on two non-parallel surfaces of the opposing gear teeth to perform both gear and bearing functions simultaneously. The gears are moving at substantially the same speed at their contact points. The gears may be roller gear bearings or phase-shifted gear bearings, and may be arranged in a planet/sun system or used as a transmission.

Abstract: Actuator elements of a motor system are cyclically expanded magnetostrictively by energization of excitation coils to impart driving forces directly to a driven load through roller sprag means under preload bias in locking contact with a race formation in the driven load, to impart unidirectional movement to the driven load in one direction selected by generated Lorentz forces through magnetic field controlling means, as well as to provide power-off braking.

Abstract: A gear bearing having a first gear and a second gear, each having a plurality of teeth. Each gear operates on two non-parallel surfaces of the opposing gear teeth to perform both gear and bearing functions simultaneously. The gears are moving at substantially the same speed at their contact points. The gears may be roller gear bearings or phase-shifted gear bearings, and may be arranged in a planet/sun system or used as a transmission.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) interactive display system, display and method of forming thereof. A transparent capaciflector (TC) camera is formed on a transparent shield layer on the screen surface. A first dielectric layer is formed on the shield layer. A first wire layer is formed on the first dielectric layer, wires on the first wire layer run in a first direction. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first wire layer. A second wire layer is formed on the second dielectric layer, wires on said second wire layer are orthogonal to wires on the first wire layer. The TC camera is protected by a surface dielectric layer. Wires on the first wire layer and second wire layer are grouped into groups of parallel wires with a turnaround at one end of each said group and a sensor pad at the opposite end. Each group of parallel wires includes five silver wires spaced a half a centimeter apart.

Abstract: A roller type sprag member consisting of three main elements, an outer roller half section, an inner roller half section, and an assembly-location pin. The sprag locks using roller locking techniques in a manner well known in the case of a three-dimensional (3-D) locking sprag. It unlocks, however, using a roll technique in which the inner and outer roller halves rotate in mutually opposite directions, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise. In the process of rotation, the roller is foreshortened between the distance across the sprag contact surfaces, whereupon it loses its ability to act as a locking sprag and releases.

Abstract: A screw-released roller brake including an input drive assembly, an output drive assembly, a plurality of locking sprags, a mechanical tripper nut for unlocking the sprags, and a casing therefor. The sprags consist of three dimensional (3-D) sprag members having pairs of contact surface regions which engage respective pairs of contact surface regions included in angular grooves or slots formed in the casing and the output drive assembly. The sprags operate to lock the output drive assembly to the casing to prevent rotation thereof in an idle mode of operation. In a drive mode of operation, the tripper is either self actuated or motor driven and is translated linearly up and down against a spline and at the limit of its travel rotates the sprags which unlock while coupling the input drive assembly to the output drive assembly so as to impart a turning motion thereto in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

Abstract: A spin bearing assembly including, a pair of mutually opposing complementary bearing support members having mutually spaced apart bearing support surfaces which may be, for example, bearing races and a set of spin bearings located therebetween. Each spin bearing includes a pair of end faces, a central rotational axis passing through the end faces, a waist region substantially mid-way between the end faces and having a first thickness dimension, and discrete side surface regions located between the waist region and the end faces and having a second thickness dimension different from the first thickness dimension of the waist region and wherein the side surface regions further have respective curvilinear contact surfaces adapted to provide a plurality of bearing contact points on the bearing support members.

Abstract: A capacitive type proximity sensor having improved range and sensitivity between a surface of arbitrary shape and an intruding object in the vicinity of the surface having one or more outer conductors on the surface which serve as capacitive sensing elements shaped to conform to the underlying surface of a machine. Each sensing element is backed by a reflector driven at the same voltage and in phase with the corresponding capacitive sensing element. Each reflector, in turn, serves to reflect the electric field lines of the capacitive sensing element away from the surface of the machine on which the sensor is mounted so as to enhance the component constituted by the capacitance between the sensing element and an intruding object as a fraction of the total capacitance between the sensing element and ground.

Abstract: A planetary gear system includes a sun gear coupled to an annular ring gear through a plurality of twist-planet gears, a speeder gear, and a ground structure having an internal ring gear. Each planet gear includes a solid gear having a first half portion in the form of a spur gear which includes vertical gear teeth and a second half portion in the form of a spur gear which includes helical gear teeth that are offset from the vertical gear teeth and which contact helical gear teeth on the speeder gear and helical gear teeth on the outer ring gear. One half of the twist planet gears are preloaded downward, while the other half are preloaded upwards, each one alternating with the other so that each one twists in a motion opposite to its neighbor when rotated until each planet gear seats against the sun gear, the outer ring gear, the speeder gear, and the inner ring gear. The resulting configuration is an improved stiff anti-backlash gear system.

Abstract: A plurality of capaciflector proximity sensors, one or more of which may be overlaid on each other, and at least one shield are mounted on a device guided by a robot so as to "see" a designated surface, hole or raised portion of an object, for example, in three dimensions. Individual current-measuring voltage follower circuits interface the sensors and shield to a common AC signal source. As the device approaches the object, the sensors respond by a change in the currents therethrough. The currents are detected by the respective current-measuring voltage follower circuits with the outputs thereof being fed to a robot controller. The device is caused to move under robot control in a predetermined pattern over the object while directly referencing each other without any offsets, whereupon by a process of minimization of the sensed currents, the device is dithered or "wiggled" into position for a soft touchdown or contact without any prior contact with the object.

Abstract: An operational amplifier connected in series with a load and a current-measuring impedance and having at least two input ports and an output port, the output port of the operational amplifier further being directly connected to current-measuring impedance, with one of the input ports being coupled to the current input source to be measured, and the other input port being connected to a feedback loop coupled from the output side of the current-measuring impedance. The voltage across the current-measuring impedance which comprises a resistor is thereafter sensed, amplified and conditioned to provide a voltage which is proportional to the load current and accordingly a measure of the current input from the current source being measured. Such a current-measuring circuit can be used in connection with an inverter, a current-measuring amplifier, a current-measuring precision diode, a current integrator, and a current-measuring bridge.

Abstract: A torque coupling sprag system which provides contact between the sides of at least one groove and at least two contact surfaces angled with respect to the central axial direction of at least one rotatable 3-D sprag member located between a drive member and a reaction member. The surface contacts between the members include various combinations of surface segments arranged in a predetermined manner to define a desired configuration. The contact radius of the 3-D sprag member is significantly larger than its rolling radius; however, radii can be varied in size and shape independently of each other, particularly the contact radius.

Abstract: A capacity type proximity sensor comprised of a capacitance type sensor, a capacitance type reference, and two independent and mutually opposing driven shields respectively adjacent the sensor and reference and which are coupled in an electrical bridge circuit configuration and driven by a single frequency crystal controlled oscillator. The bridge circuit additionally includes a pair of fixed electrical impedance elements which form adjacent arms of the bridge and which comprise either a pair of precision resistances or capacitors. Detection of bridge unbalance provides an indication of the mutual proximity between an object and the sensor. Drift compensation is also utilized to improve performance and thus increase sensor range and sensitivity.

Abstract: A carrier-less, anti-backlash planetary gear system that has an input sun gear, a force-balancing and planet-alignment "speeder" gear above the sun gear, a split ring gear that has a fixed lower ring gear coaxial with the sun gear and a rotating upper ring gear also coaxial with the sun gear. A preload bolt is used for securing the split ring gears together. Within the split ring gear is an even number of planet gears between the split ring gear and the sun gear. Each planet gear consists of an upper planet gear, and lower planet gear with the upper and lower planet gears splined together and pushed apart by a spring which causes separation and relative twist between the upper and lower planet gears. The lower planet gear meshes with the input sun gear and the fixed ring gear while the upper planet gear is driven by the lower planet gear and meshes with the rotating ring gear.

Abstract: A capacitive type proximity sensor having improved range and sensitivity between a surface and an intruding object in the vicinity of the surface having a voltage source, a number of outer electrical conductors on the surface with each forming one electrode of a number of sensor capacitors, the other electrode for each sensor capacitor being the object. The outer conductors are made from thin sheets of conductive material covered with insulation. An intermediate electrical conductor is located between the outer conductors and the surface and is of a size larger than the outer conductors to act as a shield for reducing the parasitic capacitance between the outer conductors and the surface. The intermediate conductor is also made from a thin sheet of conductive material covered with insulation.

Abstract: A plurality of flexible cylindrical members, termed flex-gears and having gear tooth type perimeters are located in an annular space between two concentric rotating gear members, one an inner gear member and the other an outer ring gear member, both of which have mutually facing toothed surfaces which engage the flex-gears. The flex-gears rotate and orbit around the annular space as planetary gears when the inner and outer gear members rotate with respect to one another. Pairs of these elements located in two mutually parallel planes and separated by insulators provide two electrical conductor paths across which an electrical signal source, AC or DC, can be connected and coupled to an electrical device. Alternatively, one set of elements including outer gears segmented into mutually insulated semicircles and inner gears segmented into mutually insulated quadrants can be used.

Abstract: A capacitive proximity sensing element, backed by a reflector driven at the same voltage as and in phase with the sensor, is used to reflect the field lines away from a grounded robot arm towards an intruding object, thus dramatically increasing the sensor's range and sensitivity.