Abstract: An ambient water condenser system is described having a condensation chamber which at least partially contains or surrounds a fluid reservoir which contains a volume or mass of an aqueous hygroscopic solution for condensing water from ambient air and a distillation process for extracting the water from the solution. The fluid reservoir has a heat source, a lower porous hydrophobic membrane, and an upper porous hydrophobic membrane. The heat source causes the hygroscopic solution near the top of reservoir to have a higher temperature which causes it to have a higher water vapor pressure, whereby the water vapor passing through the upper porous hydrophobic membrane and into the condensation chamber condenses into liquid water.

Abstract: An ambient water condenser system is disclosed having a condensation chamber which at least partially contains or surrounds a fluid reservoir which contains a volume or mass of an aqueous hygroscopic solution for condensing water from ambient air and a distillation process for extracting the water from the solution. The fluid reservoir has a heat source, a lower porous hydrophobic membrane, and an upper porous hydrophobic membrane. The heat source causes the hygroscopic solution near the top of reservoir to have a higher temperature which causes it to have a higher water vapor pressure, whereby the water vapor passing through the upper porous hydrophobic membrane and into the condensation chamber condenses into liquid water.

Abstract: Resistance feedback is provided to a machine operator via a joystick configured to steer the machine. An electrically actuated magnetic feedback brake unit is associated with the joystick for selectively resisting movement of the joystick. Haptic feedback is provided by determining a machine speed at which the machine is travelling, mapping the determined machine speed to a corresponding joystick resistance value, and mapping the corresponding joystick resistance value to an actuation current. The electrically actuated magnetic feedback brake unit is then actuated at a current substantially exceeding the actuation current until a predetermined level of actuation is reached. Once the predetermined level of actuation is reached, the electrically actuated magnetic feedback brake unit is driven at the actuation current.

Abstract: An air lithium battery is provided having two equal halves (60, 69) that are joined together along a centerline. Each half includes a porous substrate (64), an oxygen cathode (67) having a non-volatile lithium ion conductive electrolyte cathode, a non-volatile electrolyte (66), and an anode (65). The electrolyte may include alternating layers of ion conductive glass or ceramic layer and ion conductive polymer layer.

Abstract: A cryocooler is disclosed which includes a reservoir (11), an electrochemical cell or proton conductive membrane (PCM) compressor (12) coupled to a source of AC current, and a gas expander in the form of a pulse tube expander module (13). The compressor (12) includes a proton conductive membrane (17) positioned between a pair of electrically conductive electrodes (18) and (19). The pulse tube expander module 13 includes a regenerator (21), a pulse tube (22), and in inertance tube (23). The regenerator (21) has a heat rejection part or aftercooler (25) and a cooling part or cold heat exchanger (26). The pulse tube (22) includes a heat rejection portion or hot heat exchanger (27).

Abstract: A portable multimedia projection system includes a portable housing, a DVD player, a channel tuner, an image projection device, a controller and a remote control receiver. The image projection device externally projects images. The controller is electrically coupled to the channel tuner and the image projection device. The controller directs video signals from the channel tuner to the image projection device.

Abstract: A portable multimedia projection system includes a portable housing, a channel tuner, an image projection device and a controller. The image projection device externally projects images. The controller is electrically coupled to the channel tuner and the image projection device. The controller directs video signals from the channel tuner to the image projection device.

Abstract: A thin film ceramic proton conducting electrolyte assembly (10) is provided having a includes a nanoporous, copper supporting substrate (11), a temporary substrate pore filler material (12), and a ceramic electrolyte layer (13) positioned upon the substrate (11). The ceramic electrolyte layer may be made of a yttrium doped strontium zirconate. To produce the electrolyte the substrate pores (14) are filled with the pore filler material to provide a smooth surface upon which the electrolyte layer is deposited. The filler material is then removed from the pores and the substrate and electrolyte layer are annealed.

Abstract: An air lithium battery (10) is provided having two equal halves (11) that are joined together along a centerline (12). Each half includes a substrate (13), a carbon based cathode (14), a solid electrolyte (15), an anode (16), an anode current collector (17), and end seals (19). The solid electrolyte includes alternating layers of ion conductive glass (21) and ion conductive polymer (22) materials.

Abstract: A portable multimedia projection system includes a portable housing, a media player disposed, a sound system, an image projection device, a controller and a vibration dampening device. The sound system has at least one internally-mounted speaker. The image projection device externally projects images. The controller is electrically coupled to the media player, the sound system and the image projection device. The controller directs audio signals from the media player to the sound system and directs video signals from the media player to the image projection device. The vibration dampening device is coupled between the housing and at least one of the media player, the at least one internally-mounted speaker and the image projection device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting plasticizer from polymer structures includes, in one embodiment, a vacuum chamber, a heating member and a condenser, the plasticizer being vaporized from the polymer structure by a combination of low temperature and heat, and in another embodiment, an evaporation chamber, a conveyer belt, and a plasticizer removal system, the plasticizer removal system including a duct having mounted therein a heating member, a fan and a condenser so that plasticizer may be extracted by forced air convection.

Abstract: A wet diaper detector comprises an elongated strip of material sized to be positioned in a diaper with a portion of the strip residing in a region of the diaper subject to wetness and an end of the strip protruding from the diaper at the upper rear or front portion thereof. The strip carries a pair of spaced conductors that extend along the length of the strip and terminate at the protruding end thereof. A detector and alarm assembly is adapted to be releasably coupled to the protruding end of the elongated strip and is configured to monitor the electrical resistance between the spaced conductors of the strip. When the diaper is wet by its wearer, the resistance between the spaced conductors of the strips falls below a pre-established value whereupon the detector activates the alarm to alert an attendant to change the diaper. In one embodiment, wetness is detected capacitively.

Abstract: A toy rocket with velocity dependent chute release comprises an elongated generally cylindrical fuselage formed with a cavity along one side. The cavity is sized to receive and contain a folded parachute. An elongated hatch is hingedly attached to the fuselage and is movable at its hinged attachment between a first position covering the cavity and constraining the parachute therein and a second position displaced from and opening up the cavity for deployment of the parachute. A latch mechanism releasably secures the hatch in its closed position. A trigger assembly includes a flap that is presented to the wind during flight of the rocket and that has a first position securing the latch mechanism and a second position releasing the latch mechanism to open the hatch. The flap is oriented such that the force of the impinging wind urges the flap to its first position.

Abstract: A toy airplane and launcher assembly comprises a rubber band powered toy airplane having a propeller at its front end, a winding coupler disposed at its rear end, and a pair longitudinally aligned sleeves mounted to its belly. A rubber band extends between the propeller shaft and the winding coupler shaft. A pistol-shaped launcher includes a handle and with an elongated guide rod extending therefrom. The guide rod is sized to be received through the aligned sleeves of the airplane to mount the plane on the launcher and a latch releasable latches the plane in place when the guide rod is fully received through the sleeves. A coil spring extends about the guide rod and is progressively compressed as the plane is mounted on the launcher to catapult the plane from the launcher when the latch is released.