Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a human machine interface (HMI) device located in a vehicle configured to carry a passenger and a driver. The system includes an electrode positioned in a vehicle seat and a signal generating device configured to provide a signal to the electrode. The electrode transmit the signal through the occupant of the seat and the HMI device detects the signal when the occupant contacts the HMI device. The system is configured so that the HMI device operates in a first mode in response to exposure to the signal and in a second mode if the signal is not detected.

Abstract: A system for controlling access of a mobile electronic device to a vehicle network includes a body area network for carrying signals through an occupant of a vehicle. The network includes an electrode located in proximity to an occupant of the vehicle and, a signal generator for providing a signal to the electrode. The mobile electronic device is configured to detect the signal provided to the electrode and conducted through the body area network and is configured to electronically couple to the vehicle network upon detecting the signal. The vehicle network is configured to provide a security token to the mobile electronic device after the mobile electronic device is electronically coupled to the vehicle network. The vehicle network is configured to restrict access to the network to only mobile electronic devices having the provided security token.

Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle having a seat belt mounted to a vehicle seat or a portion of a vehicle structure, a tongue which can slide is attached to the seat belt, and a buckle that receives and locks the tongue in an attached state such that the seat belt restrains an occupant in the vehicle seat. A primary coil is included in the buckle and is electrically connected to at least one primary circuit. At least one secondary coil is included in the tongue and is electrically connected to at least one secondary circuit. The primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are configured to be electromagnetically coupled when the buckle and tongue are in the attached state.

Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle having a seat belt mounted to a vehicle seat or a portion of a vehicle structure, a tongue which can slide is attached to the seat belt, and a buckle that receives and locks the tongue in an attached state such that the seat belt restrains an occupant in the vehicle seat. A primary coil is included in the buckle and is electrically connected to at least one primary circuit. At least one secondary coil is included in the tongue and is electrically connected to at least one secondary circuit. The primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are configured to be electromagnetically coupled when the buckle and tongue are in the attached state.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a human machine interface (HMI) device located in a vehicle configured to carry a passenger and a driver. The system includes an electrode positioned in a vehicle seat and a signal generating device configured to provide a signal to the electrode. The electrode transmit the signal through the occupant of the seat and the HMI device detects the signal when the occupant contacts the HMI device. The system is configured so that the HMI device operates in a first mode in response to exposure to the signal and in a second mode if the signal is not detected.

Abstract: An adaptive light seatbelt system is provided. The system includes a buckle housing, a light positioned in the buckle housing so that the light is visible to an occupant of a vehicle, a controller for controlling the light, and a signaler for providing an input to the controller. The system indicates a state of the buckle housing by controlling the light.

Abstract: This invention is directed towards ophthalmic lenses used to assist during vitreoretinal surgery. More specifically, it is directed towards ophthalmic lenses that are constructed to generate a high-resolution image of the retinal surface during surgery while maintaining a minimal mechanical envelop all while using materials and assembly methods compatible with autoclave sterilization techniques.

Abstract: A laser diode based system for direct injection of selected thermal-infrared (IR) wavelength radiation or energy into articles for a wide range of processing purposes is provided. These purposes may include heating, raising or maintaining the temperature of articles, or stimulating a target item in a wide range of different industrial, medical, consumer, or commercial applications. The system is especially applicable to operations that require or benefit from the ability to irradiate at specifically selected wavelengths or to pulse or inject the radiation. The system is particularly advantageous when functioning at higher speeds and in a non-contact environment with the target.

Abstract: An autoclavable diagnostic ophthalmic lens system includes a biconvex lens element having front and rear surfaces and a housing in which the biconvex lens element is mounted. The biconvex lens element is fabricated from a glass having an index-of-refraction greater of 1.7 or greater. The glass composition meets the following parameters: (% SiO2 (by weight)+% B2O3) is less than 50%; % of alkali metal compounds+% of alkaline earth metal compounds is less than 10%; and (% SiO2+% B2O3)/(% rare earth compounds) is less than 1.

Abstract: A system for direct injection of selected thermal-infrared (IR) wavelength radiation or energy into articles for a wide range of processing purposes is provided. These purposes may include heating, raising or maintaining the temperature of articles, or stimulating a target item in a range of different industrial, medical, consumer, or commercial circumstances. The system is especially applicable to operations that require or benefit from the ability to irradiate at specifically selected wavelengths or to pulse or inject the radiation. The system is particularly advantageous when functioning at higher speeds and in a non-contact environment with the target.

Abstract: An ophthalmoscopy lens system includes a contact lens and an image forming lens. The contact lens and the image forming lens are in a spaced-apart arrangement such that an open air space exists between the contact lens and the image forming lens and the inner surfaces are exposed.

Abstract: A system for direct injection of selected thermal-infrared (IR) wavelength radiation or energy into articles for a wide range of processing purposes is provided. These purposes may include heating, raising or maintaining the temperature of articles, or stimulating a target item in a range of different industrial, medical, consumer, or commercial circumstances. The system is especially applicable to operations that require or benefit from the ability to irradiate at specifically selected wavelengths or to pulse or inject the radiation. The system is particularly advantageous when functioning at higher speeds and in a non-contact environment with the target.

Abstract: This application relates to an apparatus and method for providing patterned illumination fields for use within process control and article inspection applications. More specifically, it pertains to the use of patterned illuminators to enable visual surface inspection of polished objects such as ball bearings. The use of patterned illuminators properly disposed in relation to a polished part under inspection allows small surface imperfections such as scratches and pits to become visible against the normal surface background. The use of carefully engineered illuminators facilitates advantageous defect-site scattering from generally dark field sources. The patterned nature of the illuminators defined by this invention allows the complete surface of three-dimensional parts to be effectively highlighted using dark field illumination fields.

Abstract: This application relates to an apparatus and method for automated inspection of formed metal containers. More specifically, it pertains to the use of machine vision systems to identify and correlate manufacturing defects occurring in formed food and beverage containers to specific manufacturing paths or sources of origin (eg., body makers) used in the container forming process. The disclosed invention is enabled by the placement of a machine-readable code on specific portions of the can body during the forming process and the use of illumination exposure techniques.

Abstract: This application relates to an apparatus and method for automated inspection of formed metal containers. More specifically, it pertains to the use of machine vision systems to identify and correlate manufacturing defects occurring in formed food and beverage containers to specific manufacturing paths or sources of origin (e.g., body makers) used in the container forming process. The disclosed invention is enabled by the placement of a machine-readable code on specific portions of the can body during the forming process and the use of machine vision reading techniques.

Abstract: A stretch blow molding system that condition preforms such that the temperature distribution within the cross-section of each preform is optimized prior to blow molding operations is provided. The system has a temperature measurement and control system capable of directly monitoring both the outside as well as inside surface temperature of preforms at different stages of transport throughout the thermal conditioning section of the system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for mass and/or volume measurements of manufactured articles. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for mass and/or volume measurements that can be performed on-line in a part manufacturing process. On-line measurement of the mass or volume of material contained in a specific region of interest of the manufactured items is performed 100% on-line. Real-time process control information is based on real-time measurement of the mass or volume of material contained in a specific region of interest of a manufactured item. Automated quality control inspection for manufactured articles is based on real-time measurement of the mass or volume of material contained in a specific region of interest of manufactured items.

Abstract: A sensor system (30) detects the occurrence of angular rotation of a pivotable member (22), such as a door, relative to a fixed member (16), such as the base of a mailbox (10). The sensor system includes a sensor strip (34) positioned so as to change orientation when the door is opened or closed and generate an electrical signal. An RF transmitter (62) signals a receiver (60) at a remote location when the sensor strip registers the opening or closing. A filter (72) filters out noise to inhibit accidental signaling of door opening and/or closing when opening or closing has not occurred. A charge tuner (80) stores charge generated by the piezo-electric element to maintain the transmitter signal beyond the period of opening or closing.