Abstract: A floor effect unit for actuating a musical effect device is provided. The floor effect unit includes a base plate having at least one electrode configured to collect electric charges; a conductive plate having at least one pressable portion configured to collect electric charges having a polarity opposite to the polarity of charges collected on the electrode, pressable portion being configured such that pressing thereon reduces the distance between the at least one pressable portion and the at least one electrode changing thereby the capacitance therebetween; and a spacer disposed between the base plate and the conductive plate and being configured to provide dielectric gap therebetween, a printed circuit board coupled to the at least one electrode and the conductive plate and being configured to generate an output signal for operating the musical effect device in response to a change in the capacitance.

Abstract: A floor effect unit for actuating a musical effect device is provided. The floor effect unit includes a base plate having at least one electrode configured to collect electric charges; a conductive plate having at least one pressable portion configured to collect electric charges having a polarity opposite to the polarity of charges collected on the electrode, pressable portion being configured such that pressing thereon reduces the distance between the at least one pressable portion and the at least one electrode changing thereby the capacitance therebetween; and a spacer disposed between the base plate and the conductive plate and being configured to provide dielectric gap therebetween, a printed circuit board coupled to the at least one electrode and the conductive plate and being configured to generate an output signal for operating the musical effect device in response to a change in the capacitance.

Abstract: A detection system is provided for detecting a musical note played on a string instrument having a fretboard provided with a plurality of conductive frets and conductive strings. The system includes at least one conductor coupled to each of the frets; an inverter having a first terminal coupled to the conductor and a second terminal coupled to the conductive string, the inverter being configured to logically invert a signal transmitted therethrough, such that when the conductive string is pressed against one of the frets allowing thereby for a signal to be transmitted therethrough, the signal is sequentially inverted between two logical states at a frequency being dependent on the distance between the inverter and the fret; a frequency detector configured to measure the frequency; and a controller configured for determining the location of the fret along the fretboard in accordance with the frequency, and to thereby detect the musical note.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filled polymeric materials including a polymer and a mass of metallic fibers distributed within the polymer, and to light weight composites which comprise at least a pair of metallic layers and a polymeric layer interposed between the pair of metallic layers, the polymeric layer containing the filled polymeric material. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding. Preferred composite materials include one or any combination of the following features: metallic fibers that are ribbon fibers; a polymer selected from a polyolefin, a polyamide, or a combination thereof; or a metallic layer (e.g., one or both of the pair of metallic layers) having a surface facing the filled polymeric material that is untreated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light weight composite materials which comprise a metallic layer and a polymeric layer, the polymeric layer containing a filled thermoplastic polymer which includes a thermoplastic polymer and a metallic fiber. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light weight composite materials which comprise a metallic layer and a polymeric layer, the polymeric layer containing a filled thermoplastic polymer which includes a thermoplastic polymer and a metallic fiber. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filled polymeric materials including a polymer and a mass of metallic fibers distributed within the polymer, and to light weight composites which comprise at least a pair of metallic layers and a polymeric layer interposed between the pair of metallic layers, the polymeric layer containing the filled polymeric material. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding. Preferred composite materials include one or any combination of the following features: metallic fibers that are ribbon fibers; a polymer selected from a polyolefin, a polyamide, or a combination thereof; or a metallic layer (e.g., one or both of the pair of metallic layers) having a surface facing the filled polymeric material that is untreated.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a method for welding a composite material and to welded structures thus prepared. The method includes a step of contacting a substrate material with a composite material, wherein the composite material includes a pair of spaced apart steel sheets and a core layer between the sheets; the volume of the core layer is about 25 volume % or more, based on the total volume of the composite material; the core layer includes a plurality of steel fibers arranged in one or more masses of fibers that extend the thickness of the core layer so that the core layer is in electrical communication with the steel sheets; and the steel fibers have a cross sectional area perpendicular to the length of the fibers from about 1×10?5 mm2 to about 2.5×10?2 mm2.

Abstract: An integrated weighing system having a calibration system for calibrating the weighing system based on geographical location information, and optionally, based on barometric information.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a method for welding a composite material and to welded structures thus prepared. The method includes a step of contacting a substrate material with a composite material, wherein the composite material includes a pair of spaced apart steel sheets and a core layer between the sheets; the volume of the core layer is about 25 volume % or more, based on the total volume of the composite material; the core layer includes a plurality of steel fibers arranged in one or more masses of fibers that extend the thickness of the core layer so that the core layer is in electrical communication with the steel sheets; and the steel fibers have a cross sectional area perpendicular to the length of the fibers from about 1×10?5 mm2 to about 2.5×10?2 mm2.

Abstract: Enteric coated capsules or tables for oral delivery of a protein, polypeptide or peptide drug, in particular for oral delivery of insulin, are provided, comprising microparticles of the protein, polypeptide or peptide drug, microparticles of a protease inhibitor and, optionally, microparticles of an absorption enhancer. The protease inhibit and the absorption enhancer may be together in the same microparticles. The microparticles of each component are embedded in an enteric polymer matrix. The enteric coated tablet or capsule of the invention enables fast release of the protein, polypeptide or peptide drug at different times at desired loci in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: The invention relates to multi-layered composite materials and methods for making multi-layered composite materials having good adhesion between the layers. The adhesion between a polymer layer and a metal layer of a multi-layered composite material may be improved by a process including a step of pre-treating a surface of the metal layer prior to contacting the metal surface with the polymer layer, and by including filler particles in the polymer layer. Using this approach, it is possible to increase the peel strength by about 10% or more, by about 20% or more, by about 40% or more, or by about 100% or more, compared with an otherwise identical composite material that does not include both of these features.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filled polymeric materials 16 including a thermoplastic polymer 18 and a metallic fiber 20 and to light weight composite materials 10, 12 which comprise a metallic layer 14 and a polymeric layer, the polymeric layer containing the filled polymeric material 16. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using conventional welding techniques. The composites exhibit resistance to delamination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filled polymeric materials 16 including a thermoplastic polymer 18 and a metallic fiber 20 and to light weight composite materials 10, 12 which comprise a metallic layer 14 and a polymeric layer, the polymeric layer containing the filled polymeric material 16. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using conventional welding techniques. The composites exhibit resistance to delamination.

Abstract: A string instrument is provided having: a body with a sound hole; a neck extending from the body; a plurality of strings strung over the neck and sound hole; a plurality of frets positioned under the strings along the neck, a plurality of sensors positioned on the neck; and electronic circuitry associated with the sensors; characterized, in that each of the frets comprises separate individual fret sections each mounted over a corresponding sensor, thereby forming separate individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, each individual dynamic fret-activated sensor being positioned correspondingly under one of the plurality of strings. When a chord is played by applying finger pressure on the strings, pressure is applied on the corresponding individual frets activating the individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, which transmit the pressure data representing the played chord, via the electronic circuitry to a processor to produce an audio output comprising the played chord.

Abstract: The invention is directed at composite materials, articles including the composite materials, and methods for producing and using them. The composite material include regions that differ in one or more properties. The composite material generally includes a first metallic sheet, a second metallic sheet; one or more metallic inserts interposed between the first and second metallic sheets; and a polymeric layer (e.g., a core layer) interposed between the first and second metallic sheets. The polymeric layer preferably includes a thermoplastic polymer. Preferably, the composite material includes a first region having an insert interposed between the metallic sheets so that the first region (relative to the second region) has a high tensile strength, a high thickness, a high density, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed at composite materials, articles including the composite materials, and methods for producing and using them. The composite material includes regions that differ in one or more properties. The composite material generally includes a first metallic sheet, a second metallic sheet; one or more metallic inserts interposed between the first and second metallic sheets; and a polymeric layer (e.g., a core layer) interposed between the first and second metallic sheets. The polymeric layer preferably includes a thermoplastic polymer. Preferably, the composite material includes a first region having an insert interposed between the metallic sheets so that the first region (relative to the second region) has a high tensile strength, a high thickness, a high density, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A string instrument is provided having: a body with a sound hole; a neck extending from the body; a plurality of strings strung over the neck and sound hole; a plurality of frets positioned under the strings along the neck, a plurality of sensors positioned on the neck; and electronic circuitry associated with the sensors; characterized, in that each of the frets comprises separate individual fret sections each mounted over a corresponding sensor, thereby forming separate individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, each individual dynamic fret-activated sensor being positioned correspondingly under one of the plurality of strings. When a chord is played by applying finger pressure on the strings, pressure is applied on the corresponding individual frets activating the individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, which transmit the pressure data representing the played chord, via the electronic circuitry to a processor to produce an audio output comprising the played chord.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a method for welding a composite material and to welded structures thus prepared. The method includes a step of contacting a substrate material with a composite material, wherein the composite material includes a pair of spaced apart steel sheets and a core layer between the sheets; the volume of the core layer is about 25 volume % or more, based on the total volume of the composite material; the core layer includes a plurality of steel fibers arranged in one or more masses of fibers that extend the thickness of the core layer so that the core layer is in electrical communication with the steel sheets; and the steel fibers have a cross sectional area perpendicular to the length of the fibers from about 1×10?5 mm2 to about 2.5×10?2 mm2.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a method for welding a composite material and to welded structures thus prepared. The method includes a step of contacting a substrate material with a composite material, wherein the composite material includes a pair of spaced apart steel sheets and a core layer between the sheets; the volume of the core layer is about 25 volume % or more, based on the total volume of the composite material; the core layer includes a plurality of steel fibers arranged in one or more masses of fibers that extend the thickness of the core layer so that the core layer is in electrical communication with the steel sheets; and the steel fibers have a cross sectional area perpendicular to the length of the fibers from about 1×10?5 mm2 to about 2.5×10?2 mm2.