Abstract: An apparatus for stretching the lower back. A person lie supine on a horizontal padded surface at the end of which are two vertical rigid foot bars. The person wears a waist band around his waist and connects the waist band to left and right elastic members, each of which is connected to a respective foot bar. By pushing his feet against the foot bars, the person pushes the remainder of his body away from the foot bars, thereby stretching the elastic members and imposing a therapeutic force on his lower back.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretching the lower back. A person lie supine on a horizontal padded surface at the end of which are two vertical rigid foot bars. The person wears a waist band around his waist and connects the waist band to left and right elastic members, each of which is connected to a respective foot bar. By pushing his feet against the foot bars, the person pushes the remainder of his body away from the foot bars, thereby stretching the elastic members and imposing a therapeutic force on his lower back.

Abstract: A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus and method. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support, a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support, a thin-film battery including a cathode layer, a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, an antenna mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications. Other embodiments include an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device.

Abstract: A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus and method. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support, a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support, a thin-film battery including a cathode layer, a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, an antenna mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications. Other embodiments include an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device.

Abstract: A combined battery and device apparatus and associated method. This apparatus includes a first conductive layer, a battery comprising a cathode layer; an anode layer, and an electrolyte layer located between and electrically isolating the anode layer from the cathode layer, wherein the anode or the cathode or both include an intercalation material, the battery disposed such that either the cathode layer or the anode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and an electrical circuit adjacent face-to-face to and electrically connected to the battery. Some embodiments further include a photovoltaic cell and/or thin-film capacitor. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a polymer having a melting point substantially below 700 degrees centigrade. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a glass. For example, some embodiments include a battery deposited directly on the back of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device.

Abstract: A method for expanding a field-of-view of a volumetric computed tomography scan comprises identifying truncated views having projection truncation and non-truncated views without projection truncation based on an average value of one or more edge channels. An estimated missing projection is calculated for each of the truncated views based on at least one neighboring non-truncated view. A projection profile is calculated for each of the truncated views based on the estimated missing projection, and the projection profile provides at least one of attenuation data and projection data for an area outside a field-of-view.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electronically ranking records of inventory items are provided. Inventory items satisfying search criteria are electronically identified and ranked according to an inventory score calculated from a function comprising inventory attribute values of the inventory items and weighting values corresponding to the inventory attributes. The scored inventory may be further displayed to a user, such as a user that electronically submits the search criteria. The attribute values may include inventory item characteristics perceptible to users of the inventory items. The weighting values may be generated from a discrete choice model employing a conditional logit function fit to training data. The inventory score function may further include a long term function that numerically represents inventory items characteristic that are not perceptible to users of the inventory items. The disclosed embodiments may be applied to inventory including, but not limited to, travel inventory, such as hotels.

Abstract: A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus and method. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support, a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support, a thin-film battery including a cathode layer, a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, an antenna mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications. Other embodiments include an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device.

Abstract: A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus and method. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support, a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support, a thin-film battery including a cathode layer, a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, an antenna mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications. Other embodiments include an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to medical devices that contain at least one tissue contacting surface that is configured to undergo a variation in surface charge in response to a time-dependent signal. Such a variation in surface charge is provided, for example, to enhance or inhibit cellular growth adjacent to, on, or within the at least one tissue contacting surface.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating solid-state energy-storage devices including fabrication films for devices without an anneal step. A film of an energy-storage device is fabricated by depositing a first material layer to a location on a substrate. Energy is supplied directly to the material forming the film. The energy can be in the form of energized ions of a second material. Supplying energy directly to the material and/or the film being deposited assists in controlling the growth and stoichiometry of the film. The method allows for the fabrication of ultrathin films such as electrolyte films and dielectric films.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating solid-state energy-storage devices including fabrication films for devices without an anneal step. A film of an energy-storage device is fabricated by depositing a first material layer to a location on a substrate. Energy is supplied directly to the material forming the film. The energy can be in the form of energized ions of a second material. Supplying energy directly to the material and/or the film being deposited assists in controlling the growth and stoichiometry of the film. The method allows for the fabrication of ultrathin films such as electrolyte films and dielectric films.

Abstract: A system for making a thin-film device includes a substrate-supply station that supplies a substrate having a major surface area. The substrate has a first layer on a first surface area of the substrate's major surface area. Also included is a device for depositing a second layer onto the first layer, wherein the device supplies energy to the second layer to aid in layer formation without substantially heating the substrate.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is useful in detecting the lack of majority cluster nodes within a cluster, and reorganizes the cluster membership to allow for running with less than a majority of nodes connected. As nodes become alive, they are added to the cluster until the original majority is reached, which then allows for the cluster to return to normal operation. Thus, the method of the present invention allows for the revival and reconstitution of a majority node set of clusters.

Abstract: A method and system is provided wherein a multiple number of non-preauthenticated clients and non-preauthenticated principals are seeking to logon into a Kerberos domain. Normally, such logon operations would be held-up and stopped until any one single client or principal had completed his logon authorization. However, the present system uses an asynchronous message mechanism by which any single non-preauthenticated client or non-preauthenticated principal can complete his initial logon operation without having to wait for another's authenticating logon operation to be completed. A series of asynchronous message mechanisms are provided in which any single client or principal can complete and finalize the authentication of his logon without having to wait for the completion of other requesting clients and principals seeking to logon and be authenticated.

Abstract: An electrically powered device includes a shell, and a battery integrated with the shell. The electrically powered device also includes a trace, and a site adapted to receive an electrically powered component, wherein the battery, the trace and the electrically powered component form a portion of a circuit. The electrically shell may be a portion of an enclosure. The battery is formed within the shell and may be comprised of one or a plurality of deposited layers.

Abstract: A mounting anchor for a motor vehicle includes a locking bar, a first switch, a first movable plate, a second switch and a second movable plate. The first switch is positioned adjacent a first side of the locking bar and the first movable plate is positioned to slidably engage a groove on the first side of the locking bar. The first movable plate includes a first activation area for receiving a portion of the first switch and a first aperture for receiving a first rotatable arm. The second switch is positioned adjacent a second side of the locking bar, which is opposite the first side of the locking bar. The second movable plate is positioned to slidably engage a groove on the second side of the locking bar and includes a second activation area for receiving a portion of the second switch and a second aperture for receiving a second rotatable arm.

Abstract: A mounting anchor for a motor vehicle includes a locking bar, a first switch, a first movable plate, a second switch and a second movable plate. The first switch is positioned adjacent a first side of the locking bar and the first movable plate is positioned to slidably engage a groove on the first side of the locking bar. The first movable plate includes a first activation area for receiving a portion of the first switch and a first aperture for receiving a first rotatable arm. The second switch is positioned adjacent a second side of the locking bar, which is opposite the first side of the locking bar. The second movable plate is positioned to slidably engage a groove on the second side of the locking bar and includes a second activation area for receiving a portion of the second switch and a second aperture for receiving a second rotatable arm.

Abstract: A method of making a thin-film device including a substrate-supply station that supplies a substrate. The substrate has a first layer on the substrate. Also described is a method and device for depositing a second layer onto the first layer, wherein energy supplied to the second layer aids in layer formation without substantially heating the substrate. Some embodiments include depositing a photovoltaic cell. In some embodiments, the substrate is a flexible material supplied from a roll. Some embodiments include attaching an integrated circuit to the substrate and operatively coupling the integrated circuit to charge the battery from the photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting internal aluminum components of a plasma reactor from plasma-induced erosion. The components are coated, first with a dielectric layer, then with a thin layer of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of gold, chromium, platinum, silver and rhenium. The dielectric layer may either be grown or deposited. The metal layer is deposited, preferably using evaporative deposition.