Abstract: An automated electric portable friction welding system is disclosed for friction welding a fixture onto a substrate, the welding system having a linear actuator received to produce a defined stroke within a tool housing and a rotary motor engaged to said linear actuator to slide therewith. A control module controls welding operations as a function of encoded instructions and the sensor data from the linear actuator and the rotary motor, whereby the control module affords both active control of the linear actuator and rotary motor, individually to performance parameter instructions, and in coordination through phases of the weld process in response to linear actuator operation sensors and motor operation sensors. Another feature of some embodiments of the present invention is a portable friction welding network and a method for supporting portable friction welding on the cloud.

Abstract: A system for interfacing between medical devices using different output protocols and medical personnel is provided. A user may configure the system to accept different external device outputs on different input ports of the system. The system may be programmed to correctly associate the input signals with alert conditions based upon the particular input device connected to the particular input port. The system may also be configured to send status information from the input devices to medical personnel by transmitting a message utilizing the output protocol appropriate to the communication system used by the medical personnel requiring the information.

Abstract: A cradle-configured interface for a hand-held blood glucose meter has a multi-electrical contact-containing battery door that enables blood glucose analysis data stored in the meter to be automatically downloaded to a modem within a meter cradle for transmission to a monitoring facility. Electrical contacts of the battery door are connected to conductors of the meter's printed circuit board when the battery door is closed. The cradle has spring-loaded probes connected to its internal modem and engaging the electrical contacts within the battery door when the meter is placed in the cradle. Upon sensing the meter in the cradle, the modem downloads blood sample analysis data stored in the meter into local memory and then transmits blood glucose analysis data to a downstream healthcare reporting site.

Abstract: An interface between a communication modem and a hand-held, battery-operated information collection device, such as a blood glucose meter comprises a support cradle into which blood glucose meter is placed. A mechanical translation unit within the cradle then automatically rotates a cam-driven, pivotable swing arm on which an electrical connector to modem memory is mounted. The swing arm follows a spiral groove in the cam, so as to fully insert the electrical connector into the data port receptacle of the meter. After data has been downloaded from the meter into modem memory, the mechanical translation unit causes reverse rotation of the cam, so as to retract the electrical connector out of the data port receptacle, whereupon the meter may be removed by the user.

Abstract: A laser cutting system, including a steering mirror assembly for directing a laser beam through a predetermined cutting path along a workpiece or substrate material. The steering mirror assembly includes a base, and a mirror pivotally supported on the base by a flexure assembly which confines pivotal movement of the mirror about a vertical Y-axis and/or about a horizontal X-axis. A pair of electrical actuator assemblies include movable bobbin assemblies connected to the mirror by control rod flexures at locations on the mirror which are spaced 90° apart from one another. In operation, selective electrical energization of the actuator assemblies controls movement of the bobbin assemblies to pivot the mirror about the vertical Y-axis and/or about the horizontal X-axis throughout a number of angular orientations to thereby direct the laser beam through a predetermined cutting operation pattern along the substrate surface to cut materials from the substrate.

Abstract: An optical transceiver antenna has a pair of cartridges supported by a pan/tilt mount. A lens at forward end of a cartridge interfaces light between an end of a light relay element retained by an axial deflection device and free space. The forward end of a cartridge also terminates first ends of actuator wires that are mutually rotationally displaced a distance of 90° from one another in a plane normal to a boresight axis of the antenna. The actuator wires have second wire terminations at the axial deflection device which are mutually rotationally displaced a distance of 90° from one another in a plane passing through the axial deflection device normal to the boresight axis. Heating currents are supplied to the actuator wires, causing their lengths to change, thereby flexing the axial deflection device and light relay element off boresight.