Abstract: A detector equipped with force feedback for detecting detonatable devices such as land mines is disclosed. The detector includes a rod having a tip for placing beneath the surface of the ground and for contacting unknown objects. The tip ultrasonically provides an indication of the presence of a metal or plastic material. Means for providing a plurality of ultrasonic signals, each signal of a different frequency, to the unknown object via a single rod is used to compensate the device during use against unknown pressures applied to the rod beneath the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A detector equipped with force feedback for detecting detonatable devices such as land mines is disclosed. The detector includes a rod having a tip for placing beneath the surface of the ground and for contacting unknown objects. The tip ultrasonically provides an indication of the presence of a metal or plastic material. Means for providing a plurality of ultrasonic signals, each signal of a different frequency, to the unknown object via a single rod is used to compensate the device during use against unknown pressures applied to the rod beneath the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A detector equipped with force feedback for detecting detonatable devices such as land mines is disclosed. The detector includes a rod having a tip for placing beneath the surface of the ground and for contacting unknown objects. The tip ultrasonically provides an indication of the presence of a metal or plastic material. Means for providing a plurality of ultrasonic signals, each signal of a different frequency, to the unknown object via a single rod is used to compensate the device during use against unknown pressures applied to the rod beneath the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A detector equipped with force feedback for detecting detonatable devices such as land mines is disclosed. The detector includes a rod having a tip for placing beneath the surface of the ground and for contacting unknown objects. The tip ultrasonically provides an indication of the presence of a metal or plastic material. Another rod within the device is used to compensate the device during use against unknown pressures applied to the rod beneath the surface of the ground.

Abstract: In the design of transcutaneous energy transfer devices, variation in spacing between coils results in energy transfer efficiency changes. These changes may have significant effect on a system. It is proposed to provide a plurality of implanted coils for receiving energy simultaneously. Preferably, a plurality of coil pairs is used for transferring energy simultaneously. Also, a feedback system for use in a multiple coil system is disclosed.

Abstract: A prodder with force feedback for detecting an object buried beneath the ground is disclosed. A probe is provided including a rod having a prodding end for prodding the object, there is also a transducer coupled to a non-prodding end of the rod for providing an acoustic wave to the object and for receiving acoustic waves reflected from the object. The housing has a first cavity containing a fluid and for supporting the probe such that the volume of the fluid within the first cavity is affected by the pressure applied to the prodding end of the rod. A force sensor is fluidly coupled to the first cavity for determining the change in pressure of a fluid within the first cavity. An electronics module is processing data related to the reflected waves, and to the change in the pressure of the fluid, and is providing data in order to compare the processed data with the stored value representing the characteristics of known materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acoustic prodding implement for the detection of land mines which provides an indication of the material an object buried in the ground. An indication of mineral material such as rock allows the operator to confidently classify the object as safe, without carefully excavating it. This saves significant time in mine clearing. The device includes a piezoelectric crystal as an acoustic transducer acoustically coupled to a transmitting probe. The piezoelectric transducer generates an acoustic wave into the probe which contacts the object and tranmits the reflected wave. A signal processor compares a signal generated by the transducer with characteristic signatures of known materials to determine a match within predetermined limits. The implement includes a shock resistant coupler to maintain acoustic coupling between the transducer and the probe in response to shock or vibration.

Abstract: In the design of transcutaneous energy transfer devices, variation in spacing between coils results in energy transfer efficiency changes. These changes may have significant effect on a system. It is proposed to provide a plurality of implanted coils for receiving energy simultaneously. Preferably, a plurality of coil pairs is used for transferring energy simultaneously. Also, a feedback system for use in a multiple coil system is disclosed.

Abstract: A detector for detecting detonatable devices such as land mines has a a search head with a probe having a tip for placing beneath the surface of the ground. The probe tip ultrasonically provides an indication of the presence of a metal or plastic material. A force sensor coupled to the probe time provides an indication of force at the tip as it is placed beneath the ground surface. Therefore, before too much force is applied to the tip, a user is warned and accidental detonation may be prevented.

Abstract: In the past, contact imaging devices were large and costly. It has been proposed that for contact imaging device adoption for the personal computing market, cost and size must be reduced. In an attempt to address these concerns, a biometric pointing device such as a mouse is presented incorporating therein a contact imager. The contact imager fits within a small enclosure. Further, data transmission means within the mouse provides a signal to a single port on a computer indicative of the output data from both the contact imaging means and the pointing device.

Abstract: A method of configuring and reconfiguring a computer system based on user authorization is presented wherein at least some users perceive themselves and available system resources as the entirety of the computer system. The resources are configured through use of virtual resources providing predetermined access privileges and configurations for some users. In another aspect, a method is provided of configuring and reconfiguring a computer system based on biometric user input wherein at least some user biometric input is necessary in order to gain authorized access to a system and to configure the system based on the authorized user. The configuration is, preferably, transparent to the user.

Abstract: A detector for detecting detonatable devices such as land mines has a search head with a probe having a tip for placing beneath the surface of the ground. The probe tip ultrasonically provides an indication of the presence of a metal or plastic material. A force sensor coupled to the probe time provides an indication of force at the tip a it is placed beneath the ground surface. Therefore, before too much force is applied to the tip, a user is warned and accidental detonation may be prevented.