Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A system for preparing a pre-assembled hanger support. The system includes a bending tool operable to form a bight in the distal end of a structural wire, the bight having a transverse tail extending away from the shaft of the structural wire. The system also includes a wrapping tool having a drive rotor with a clip attachment interface that removably supports a hanger clip and provides selective rotation of the hanger clip and the structural wire, a wire support brace that supports the shaft of the structural wire in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of the drive rotor, and a tail stop positioned to restrain the rotation of the transverse tail.

Abstract: A prime mover uses detonation chambers to provide rotary power through a center hub. The center hub has a center shaft able to rotate and mounted to the center hub, and rotating arms are mounted to the center shaft. A detonation chamber is mounted to each rotating arm at a distance from the center hub which establishes a force moment about the center hub. Fuel passages connect an external fuel source, such as hydrogen and oxygen, with the detonation chambers to deliver fuel to the detonation chambers. Fuel delivered to the detonation chambers is ignited to establish a reaction force which is transferred through the rotating arms and the center hub. The rotating force is used to drive a generator.

Abstract: A system for preparing a pre-assembled hanger support. The system includes a bending tool operable to form a bight in the distal end of a structural wire, the bight having a transverse tail extending away from the shaft of the structural wire. The system also includes a wrapping tool having a drive rotor with a clip attachment interface that removably supports a hanger clip and provides selective rotation of the hanger clip and the structural wire, a wire support brace that supports the shaft of the structural wire in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of the drive rotor, and a tail stop positioned to restrain the rotation of the transverse tail.

Abstract: A wearable patch antenna comprises a dielectric layer including water; a ground plane adjacent one side of the dielectric layer; a conductive patch element placed adjacent another side of the dielectric layer spaced from the ground plane by the dielectric layer; and a feed electrically connected to the conductive patch element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating simultaneously at the same frequencies includes two or more conductor-backed, spiral antennas that have been shown to exhibit linear polarization. To permit simultaneous transmission on the same frequencies, two of the linearly polarize, conductor-backed spiral antennas can be spaced vertically and be oriented so that the feed points of one antenna are orthogonal to the feed points of the second antenna. Since the specifically designed spiral antennas will be both transmitting or both receiving at orthogonally arranged polarizations, the antennas will not interfere with each other, even though communication is upon substantially the same frequencies.

Abstract: A man-portable wearable antenna system to be worn by a wearer. The wearable antenna system comprises a helmet antenna, a vest antenna worn around the torso, a body antenna worn along the entire body, and a means for routing signals between one of the antennas and a communication device.

Abstract: A wearable directional antenna. The system includes a clothing, a plurality of EM energy reflectors and a plurality of antenna elements. The clothing includes a non-conductive material. The plurality of EM energy reflectors is operatively coupled to the clothing and is capable of reflecting EM energy. The plurality of antenna elements is operatively coupled to the plurality of EM energy reflectors and is capable of receiving and transmitting EM energy in a specified direction.

Abstract: A multi-antenna garment comprising a first and second antenna incorporated into an electrically nonconductive garment, with tubular composites to improve gain and mitigate radiation hazard. The first antenna includes first and second RF elements attached to a first garment so that a gap exists between them, where the RF elements each form a band when the garment is worn by a wearer. The second antenna includes third, fourth, fifth, and sixth RF elements attached to a second garment worn over the first garment. RF feeds are electrically connected to the first, third, and fifth RF elements. Ground feeds are electrically connected to the second, fourth, and sixth RF elements. Insulating material disposed over gaps between the first and second, the third and fourth, and the fifth and sixth RF elements and in pockets in the regions of the RF feeds limits the wearer's exposure to electromagnetic field to acceptable levels.

Abstract: An ultra-broadband antenna incorporated into an electrically nonconductive garment, with radiation absorber material to mitigate radiation hazard. The antenna includes first and second RF elements attached to the garment so that a gap exists between them, where the RF elements each form a band when the garment is worn by a wearer. RF and ground feeds are electrically connected to the first and second RF elements, respectively. A shorting strap electrically connected between the first and second RF elements on the anterior side of the garment generally opposite the feeds helps match the antenna impedance to an external signal source. Radiation absorber material disposed over the gap between the first and second RF elements and in a pocket in the region of the RF feed limits the wearer's exposure to electromagnetic field to acceptable levels.

Abstract: An antenna includes a liner shaped to fit over a helmet; a first RF element attached to the liner; a second RF element attached to the liner so that the first and second RF elements are separated by a gap; an RF feed electrically connected to the first RF element for providing RF energy to the first RF element; a ground feed electrically connected to the second RF element; a first shorting strap that is electrically connected to the first and second elements opposite from the RF feed; and a second shorting strap electrically connected to the first and second RF elements between the first shorting strap and the RF feed. The shorting straps are used to generally match the impedance of the antenna to an electrical device such as a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. A matching circuit may be connected in series between the first RF element and the RF feed to further refine matching the antenna impedance to the electrical device.

Abstract: An ultra-broadband antenna is incorporated into an electrically nonconductive garment. The antenna includes first and second RF elements attached to the garment so that a gap exists between them, where the RF elements each form a band when the garment is worn by a wearer. RF and ground feeds are electrically connected to the first and second RF elements, respectively. A shorting strap electrically connected between the first and second RF elements on the anterior side of the garment generally opposite the feeds helps match the antenna impedance to an external signal source. A gap between the RF elements provides a voltage difference between the RF elements when the antenna is energized. Electrically conductive straps are electrically connected between the anterior and dorsal regions of the first RF element that extend over the shoulder region of the garment.

Abstract: A method for communicating with a decreased probability of detection by an unintended listening party uses frequency hopping and two substantially identical linearly polarized antennas whose polarization vector is synchronized to frequency. Synchronization of polarization with frequency is accomplished through specifically designed conductor-backed spiral antennas. For these conductor-backed spiral antennas, a change in frequency is synchronized to a change in the polarization vector of the communication signal. Since the receiving station will be programmed to alter its reception frequencies in accordance with those being transmitted, the second spiral antenna will automatically change its polarization upon making these frequency changes. A rapid change of polarization increases the difficulty in detecting and intercepting the communication by parties for whom the message was not intended.

Abstract: A wideband antenna system comprises a stack of m antennas, where m is a positive integer, and m≧2. Each antenna includes: a) an electrically insulating substrate; b) opposed first and second radio frequency elements mounted to the substrate; c) a ground feed electrically connected to the first radio frequency element; d) an excitation feed electrically connected to the second radio frequency element; and e) a ground plane mounted to the substrate of the mth antenna. The radio frequency elements of each antenna collectively have a unique total area and are mounted to the electrically insulating substrate. The radio frequency elements of the ith antenna provide a ground plane for the kth antenna, where i and k are positive integers, 1≦k≦(i−1), and 2≦i≦m. The total area of the first and second radio frequency elements of the ith antenna is greater than the total area of the first and second radio frequency elements of the kth antenna.

Abstract: A method for steering a beam of an antenna array minimizes a least squares approximation of an error function of a desired radiation pattern relative to an antenna array pattern calculated from a known radiation pattern for each antenna element.

Abstract: In a fluid heating apparatus having a fluid tank, a combustion chamber communicating with the fluid tank for heat exchange, and a combustible fluid delivery system coupled to the combustion chamber, a plurality of valves are individually configured in either an off-state or an on-state for delivering combustible fluid to the combustion chamber. Depending on the configuration of the multiple valves, the rate at which combustible fluid is supplied to the combustion chamber may be varied in response to a heat demand signal. Individual valve signals are generated for each of the multiple valves in response to the heat demand signal to place the multiple valves in a configuration to supply combustible fluid at predetermined rates. The demand signal is calculated in response to reading temperature at an inlet temperature probe and an outlet temperature probe, wherein the outlet temperature probe is located nearer a fluid outlet from the fluid tank than is the inlet temperature probe.

Abstract: Machine-direction oriented polypropylene homopolymer and propylene copolymer films are described wherein the propylene copolymer is one selected from the group consisting of propylene-ethylene copolymers containing up to about 10% by weight of ethylene and propylene-1-butene copolymers containing up to about 15% by weight of 1-butene wherein the oriented films has an opacity of less than about 10% and a haze of about 10% or less in the machine-direction and in the cross-direction.

Abstract: A water heater is shown having a closed tank with an opening for receiving a combustion chamber, the interior of the tank normally containing water under pressure. A combustion chamber is located within the tank interior and includes a body portion having an open end adjacent the tank opening into which combustible fuel is introduced and ignited in the presence of air to create products of combustion. A flue collector is mounted on the exterior of the closed tank and has an annular chamber surrounding a flue opening for receiving the products of combustion for exhaustion to the atmosphere. An outer wall portion closes one end of the flue opening to provide a closed compartment within the collector which can be pressurized by an external blower. An inner wall portion of the collector has an opening which communicates with the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a water heater provides generating a heating demand signal which a minimum level corresponds to a required heat input for maintaining water temperature in the water tank in case of no exogenous demand for water. Responsive to the heating demand signal, air flow from the forced draft blower and flow of combustible fluid from the combustible fluid delivery system are varied to produce combustion product over a minimum 15 to 1 ratio. This allows water heating to be varied to meet maximum expected exogenous demand or to maintain water temperature with no exogenous demand.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of the chloromethyl ester of sulbactam (chloromethyl penicillanate 1,1-dioxide), an intermediate in the synthesis of sultamicillin (the mixed methanediol ester of sulbactam and ampicillin).