Abstract: A vehicle (30), such as an automobile, has an indicia controller (31) that can determine, via one or more direction-of-visual-attention sensors (32) a likely direction of visual attention for a given occupant of the vehicle such as, for example, the driver or another passenger. When a predetermined condition is sensed by one or more condition sensors (34, 35) (such as, for example, a predetermined hazard or other unsafe operating condition), the indicia controller can determine whether the monitored person is likely looking in a direction that likely includes the condition of concern. A particular condition indicia (36) as corresponds to the detected condition can then be provided as a function, at least in part, of whether the driver or other monitored person is already likely looking at, and is hence aware of, the detecting condition.

Abstract: Hygiene instrument for removing stains, cleaning and polishing the surface of the teeth and the composite materials of dental fillings. The structure of the hygiene instrument is made up of fibers and optionally a load of particles embedded in a resinous matrix giving the working surface of the hygiene instrument a continuous abrasive power.

Abstract: A steering shaft assembly has a tubular main body and a shaft, with a spring and a sleeve disposed at least partially therebetween. The shaft is disposed at least partially in the tubular main body and the sleeve is disposed at least partially between the spring and the main body. The sleeve acts to urge the spring into frictional contact with the shaft to impart an axial resistance force supporting the shaft against axial displacement in response to application of an axial force on the shaft less than the axial resistance force. The sleeve enables axial displacement of the shaft in response to application of an axial collapsing force exceeding the axial resistance force. In another construction of a steering shaft assembly, a shaft is disposed at least partially in the tubular main body and the spring is disposed at least partially in the tubular main body between the tubular main body and the shaft. The spring acts to impart a radial load between the shaft and the tubular main body.

Abstract: A plastic honey comb mounting bracket having a center passage surrounds a mast jacket of the steering column. The top of the plastic mounting bracket is clamped flush against a flat panel on a body of the motor vehicle by a pair of spring washers supported below respective ones of a pair of platforms on the mounting bracket by a pair of rigid studs on the vehicle body. The rigid studs are exposed through a pair of vertical slots in the mounting bracket. In some embodiments the spring washers release the plastic mounting bracket for linear translation as a unit with the mast jacket with the path traversed by the mast jacket being defined by the vertical slots in the mounting bracket. In another embodiment, the plastic mounting bracket remains stationary and the path traversed by the mast jacket during its collapse stroke is defined by the center passage in the plastic mounting bracket.

Abstract: A process for verifying the identity of an idividual over a computer network, which maintains the privacy and anonymity of the individuals identity characteristic with the steps of: At least one computer on the network acts as an authentication server, it has a unique network address, At least one computer on the network acts as a name server, it has a unique network address, Individuals enroll when an exemplar signature is captured and sent to authentication server, Authentication server stores exemplar signature and assigns it a unique network address, Authentication server sends unique network address (a “virtual signature”) to enrolling individual, Identity of enrolled individual authenticated when sample signature sent to address of “virtual signature”, Authentication server compares exemplar signature to sample signature, and Authentication server returns result of comparison to sender.

Abstract: A vehicle (30), such as an automobile, has an indicia controller (31) that can determine, via one or more direction-of-visual-attention sensors (32) a likely direction of visual attention for a given occupant of the vehicle such as, for example, the driver or another passenger. When a predetermined condition is sensed by one or more condition sensors (34, 35) (such as, for example, a predetermined hazard or other unsafe operating condition), the indicia controller can determine whether the monitored person is likely looking in a direction that likely includes the condition of concern. A particular condition indicia (36) as corresponds to the detected condition can then be provided as a function, at least in part, of whether the driver or other monitored person is already likely looking at, and is hence aware of, the detecting condition.

Abstract: Hygiene instrument for removing stains, cleaning and polishing the surface of the teeth and the composite materials of dental fillings.

Abstract: A plastic honey comb mounting bracket having a center passage surrounds a mast jacket of the steering column. The top of the plastic mounting bracket is clamped flush against a flat panel on a body of the motor vehicle by a pair of spring washers supported below respective ones of a pair of platforms on the mounting bracket by a pair of rigid studs on the vehicle body. The rigid studs are exposed through a pair of vertical slots in the mounting bracket. In some embodiments the spring washers release the plastic mounting bracket for linear translation as a unit with the mast jacket with the path traversed by the mast jacket being defined by the vertical slots in the mounting bracket. In another embodiment, the plastic mounting bracket remains stationary and the path traversed by the mast jacket during its collapse stroke is defined by the center passage in the plastic mounting bracket.

Abstract: A system for enabling secure remote switching and robotic operation and monitoring of multi-vendor systems such as those in laboratories, factories, classes and networks. Equipment server nodes support Clients, TCL, and equipment server sub-systems. Clients use graphical user interfaces to log-in and access functions on server nodes. A client/server application-level protocol provides programmable levels of security and reliability. Server functions include user management, resource management, reservation, statisitical data, usage case storage and retrieval, and documentation of configurations. Electro-mechanical equipment server sub-systems interconnect a plurality of switch, action control, and command and display modules. Switch modules interconnect a plurality of multi-wire or fiber optical communication interfaces. Action control sub-system modules control power, servo, light, and other action pod modules. Power action modules control and measure equipment power.

Abstract: A steering shaft assembly has a tubular main body and a shaft, with a spring and a sleeve disposed at least partially therebetween. The shaft is disposed at least partially in the tubular main body and the sleeve is disposed at least partially between the spring and the main body. The sleeve acts to urge the spring into frictional contact with the shaft to impart an axial resistance force supporting the shaft against axial displacement in response to application of an axial force on the shaft less than the axial resistance force. The sleeve enables axial displacement of the shaft in response to application of an axial collapsing force exceeding the axial resistance force. In another construction of a steering shaft assembly, a shaft is disposed at least partially in the tubular main body and the spring is disposed at least partially in the tubular main body between the tubular main body and the shaft. The spring acts to impart a radial load between the shaft and the tubular main body.

Abstract: A plastic honey comb mounting bracket having a center passage surrounds a mast jacket of the steering column. The top of the plastic mounting bracket is clamped flush against a flat panel on a body of the motor vehicle by a pair of spring washers supported below respective ones of a pair of platforms on the mounting bracket by a pair of rigid studs on the vehicle body. The rigid studs are exposed through a pair of vertical slots in the mounting bracket. In some embodiments the spring washers release the plastic mounting bracket for linear translation as a unit with the mast jacket with the path traversed by the mast jacket being defined by the vertical slots in the mounting bracket. In another embodiment, the plastic mounting bracket remains stationary and the path traversed by the mast jacket during its collapse stroke is defined by the center passage in the plastic mounting bracket.

Abstract: The lower bracket assembly for a vehicle steering column includes a lower column support bracket with a central passage. A lower bearing adapter slides into the central passage from the rear. A pair of energy absorption straps engage the column support bracket and the lower bearing adapter and resist further forward movement of the lower bearing adapter. During a collision, the energy absorption straps absorb energy while permitting the lower bearing adapter to move forward and out of the central passage through the column support bracket.

Abstract: The lower bracket assembly for a vehicle steering column includes a lower column support bracket with a central passage. A lower bearing adapter slides into the central passage from the rear. A pair of energy absorption straps engage the column support bracket and the column support bracket and resist further forward movement of the lower bearing adapter. During a collision, the energy absorption straps absorb energy while permitting the lower bearing adapter to move forward and out of the central passage through the column support bracket.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for an energy absorbing motor vehicle steering column including a molded structural plastic honey comb mounting bracket having a center passage around a mast jacket of the steering column. The top of the plastic mounting bracket is clamped flush against a flat panel on a body of the motor vehicle by a pair of spring washers supported below respective ones of a pair of platforms on the mounting bracket by a pair of rigid studs on the vehicle body. The rigid studs are exposed through a pair of vertical slots in the mounting bracket. In some embodiments of the mounting apparatus, the spring washers release the plastic mounting bracket for linear translation as a unit with the mast jacket through an energy absorbing collapse stroke of the latter with the path traversed by the mast jacket being defined by the vertical slots in the mounting bracket and the flat panel above the mounting bracket.

Abstract: Hygiene instrument for removing stains, cleaning and polishing the surface of the teeth and the composite materials of dental fillings.

Abstract: Hygiene instrument for cleaning and polishing the surface of the teeth and the composite materials of dental fillings, in the shape of a rod. The structure of the rod is made up of fibers and optionally a load of particles embedded in a resinous matrix giving the working surface of the rod a continuous abrasive power.

Abstract: Hygiene instrument for cleaning and polishing the surface of the teeth and the composite materials of dental fillings, in the shape of a rod.

Abstract: Radiopaque dental post manufactured from a composite consisting of reinforcing fibers embedded in a resin matrix. The reinforcing fibers of the composite contain a zirconia radiopaque substance in an amount ranging from 10 to 30% by weight.