58results about "Mechanical computing" patented technology

A stabilization assembly is described that stabilizes bony structures such as vertebrae. The stabilization assembly is partially formed by a poly-axial assembly which includes an anchor connected to a poly axial connector assembly head, where the poly-axial connector-assembly head includes a slide ring mounted in the head and a connector mounted in the slide ring. The slide ring allows the connector to move between an upright and a horizontal position relative to the poly-axial connector-assembly head. In the upright position the connector engages with a drive mechanism on the anchor for inserting the anchor into a pedicle. In the horizontal position the connector can engage a poly-axial connector capturing assembly which is the second piece included in the stabilization assembly. An end of the connector engages with a poly-axial connector-capturing head which is connected another anchor mounted in a second pedicle. Once the connector is captured by the poly-axial connector-capturing assembly, the stabilization system is made rigid by installing locking caps in the poly-axial heads.

A spinal fixation device combines an anchor member with an open receiver, such as a polyaxial bone screw or a hook, with a rotatable closure that operably clamps a spinal fixation rod to the anchor member. The anchor member has spaced apart arms forming a rod receiving channel. The arms have arm extensions or tabs connected to main portions of the arms by weakened regions to enable the extensions to be broken off or separated after the rod is clamped. The closure and inner surfaces of the arms and tabs have mating helical, anti-splay, reverse angle guide and advancement structure formed thereon that mechanically cooperate to prevent splaying of the arms and the extensions as the closure is advanced into the rod receiving channel. The increased length of the arms with the extensions enables the rod to be captured at a greater distance from the seat of the channel and allows the rod to be urged toward the seat by helical advancement of the closure into the channel, starting between the extensions. Separation of the break-off extensions results in an implant with a desirable low profile.

A method and system for visualizing actual and predicted usage patterns through a web site is provided. A plurality of web pages may be represented as a node and visualized on a dome tree. The dome tree is a three-dimensional image of a dome, with a portion of the outer wall removed, displayed on a two-dimensional monitor. Paths into and out of each node are displayed using a variety of colors and patterns and information relating to the nodes and paths may also be accessed. By designating a web page as the root node each of the associated pages are laid out within the dome tree radially based on actual usage information. Predicted information for each node is displayed as a bar near the node, thereby assisting a user in understanding the relationship between actual and predicted usage patterns.

A graphical user interface is for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using search cells, combination cells, a toolbar, and a menu bar. The search cells are movable within a workspace and preferably contain a text field, a facet type designation, an advanced button and a hit count. Search cells can search records by a category, keyword, date or numeric value. Categories are preferably chosen with the assistance of a category walker. The combination cells are movable within the workspace and preferably contain a combine icon, a hit count and an expression field. The combination cell is a Boolean combination of two or more selected search cells. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the Boolean logic is graphically depicted with the use of combination brackets. The contents of each combination bracket is controllable by the use of movable graphical pins that are located between each pair of search cells. The combination bracket can be represented by use of a rectangular bracket, a square bracket, or a curly brace. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the Boolean query is depicted in a folder tree hierarchy. Search folders and combination folders are used to depict search cells and combination cells, respectively. Search folders contain the same information as search cells, but search folders can be toggled to appear as small folder icons within the workspace. Combination folders are represented as small folder icons containing a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon or a logical MINUS icon. Search folders are shown to be included within combination folders through the use of the folder tree hierarchy, just as computer files are shown to be included within a folder in a typical file manager program. In the preferred embodiment, the invention runs an internet browser and is coupled to a remote server through the internet. To minimize communication delays across the internet, an applet can be run on the local client to perform most graphical display manipulations prompted by the searches manipulation of the search cells, the combination cells, the toolbar, and the menu. The remote server is used to execute queries received over the internet from the local client and deliver search results back to the local client over the internet. Optionally, the client can take on some or all of the tasks of the server in executing queries over the internet.

The cross connecting device includes a bar arm coupled to one of a pair of posterior rods or spinal fixation rods and a rod arm coupled to the other of the pair of the rods. The bar arm and rod arm are coupled together by a connector or coupling device. The coupling device has a shank extending through a bore in the bar arm and a connector bore through which a protrusion on the bar arm extends. The bar arm is rotationally movable in the connector bore. The shank is rotationally and translationally movable in the bar arm bore. The coupling device is vertically movable through the bore. The protrusion is rotationally and translationally movable in the connector bore. The cross connecting devices are coupled to the rods by a pair of opposing surface to surface contacts formed by a surface of a hook end and a surface of a pad.

A cross-connector system for connecting two rods of an implantable vertebral rod system utilizes relatively low-stress concentration contact areas between the connector elements and the rods. The cross-connector system includes a two-piece, elongated member (100) that is adjustable lengthwise and has, at each end, hook-shaped ends (103, 112) which each cooperate with a rotatable, eccentric cam plug (117, 126) having a curved surface (118, 128) that engages and secures a rod to the hook-shaped end in a manner that optimally distributes load to minimize stress concentrations.

A midlength balanced rotor comprises a rotor assembly for rotation about an axis of rotation defining at least one of an axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole; an array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets; and a series of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots. At least one balance weight is positioned within at least one of the axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole, the array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets, or the radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots to balance the rotor assembly. Alternatively, at least one balance correcting mass is removed from at least one of the axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole, the array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets, or the radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots to balance the rotor assembly. In addition, a method of midlength balancing a rotor comprises the steps of providing a rotor assembly with at least one of an axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole; an array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets; and a series of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots; rotating the rotor shaft about an axis of rotation; determining unbalance of the rotor shaft; and adding or removing weight to at least one of said an axially extended, radially concentric, centerline borehole; array of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended pockets; or series of radially or tangentially distributed, axially extended slots, to balance the rotor shaft.

A screen display apparatus for controlling the size each display area to appropriately display content information of each display area into one display screen. The screen display apparatus includes a selection accept block for accepting selection of first content information displayed in a first display area, a content information acquisition block for acquiring the content information associated with the selected first content information, this content information being second content information located on a layer below the first content information, and, in order to allocate a second display area for displaying the second content information to the display screen, a display area control block for controlling either or both of the first display area and the second display area.

A hollow body of plastics material for placing around a motor vehicle steering column, the body including two half-bodies (2, 4) assembled to each other by tabs (22) and snap-fastener elements (24), each tab (22) including a portion in relief (28) provided with a first catch bearing surface. The snap-fastener elements (24) include a housing for each tab, the housing presenting at least one constriction, the portions in relief (28) being retained in the housings by the constrictions, the bearing surfaces of the tabs coming into contact with the complementary bearing surfaces of the constrictions on planes inclined at an angle (α) selected to enable the portions in relief (28) to go past the constrictions by elastic deformation when the two half-bodies (2, 4) are pulled apart from each other with a predetermined force.

Graphical user interfaces and method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using search cells, combination cells, toolbar, and menu bar. Search cells are movable within a workspace and contain a text field, facet type designation, advanced button, and hit count. Categories are chosen using a category walker. Combination cells, a Boolean combination of two or more selected search cells, are also movable and contain a combine icon, hit count, and an expression field. The Boolean query is depicted in a folder tree hierarchy, where search folders are shown within combination folders, which are represented as logical AND, OR, or MINUS folder icons. An applet in a browser accesses a server through the Internet.

Methods and apparatus for providing an adjustable balancing force are provided. This mechanism can be used as a lifting force, a counter balancing mechanism or as a horizontal or other force mechanism. The force can be designed to be constant or variable over the range of motion by properly calculating the shape of the cam member. A balancing mechanism in accordance with the present invention includes a wheel comprising a pulley member and a cam member. A first cable connects the cam member of the wheel to a energy source for biasing the wheel to rotate in a first direction. A second cable is connected to the pulley member of the wheel for communicating a balancing or load force to the wheel. In some useful embodiments of the present invention, the cam member is shaped and positioned so that a torque applied to the wheel by the first cable is substantially constant while a force applied to the wheel by the first cable varies.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for facilitating data entry into an electronic device via a touchscreen. As a user touches the touchscreen at a first location, a cursor may be displayed at that location. Because the cursor, as well as various items displayed on the touchscreen, are likely now obscured by the instrument used to touch the touchscreen, the user may sweep his or her finger away from the first location, at which point a pointer, or similar connection element, may be displayed between the cursor, which is maintained at the first location, and the second, new location of the instrument. The user may unlock the connection element and cursor, causing the connection element, and by extension the cursor, to begin moving with the instrument. The user may then move the cursor to its desired location by movement of the offset connection element.

A telescoping bollard assembly is provided. The bollard assembly includes a threaded shaft and a shaft housing structure containing a lubricant source in fluid communication with the shaft threads. A lubricant is positioned in the lubricant source in contact with the threaded portion of the shaft. A funnel portion is in fluid communication with the lubricant source, and a shaft guide portion is in fluid communication with the funnel portion. A portion of the shaft projects to an exterior of the housing through a shaft exit portion. The shaft exit portion is in fluid communication with the shaft guide portion and defines a flow path for the lubricant to the lubricant source. Rotation of the shaft urges lubricant from the lubricant source sequentially into the funnel portion, the shaft guide portion, and the shaft exit portion, whereby the lubricant is returned to the lubricant source.

A system for preventing timeout of a client interface accessing a main Java Servlet executing in a first thread which monitors an application executing in a second thread. A task status object is accessed by the application to post its completion state and by the client interface responsive to a state refresh request to post a state refresh response including the completion state to the client. The state refresh response selectively includes a refresh attribute instructing the client to periodically post the state refresh request. Upon the application going to completion or error state, subsequent state refresh responses do not include the refresh attribute.

A servo device for radio control fine-adjusts a linkage rod, which links the servo device and an operation unit, in an accurate positional relationship. The servo device includes a servo motor having a servo output shaft on which a serration is formed, and a servo horn having a shaft bore opened at the lower side thereof, the shaft bore having an inner wall on which an inner serration to be engaged to the servo output shaft is formed. The servo horn has a servo horn base from which the horn output shaft protrudes, the horn output shaft being above and coaxially to the shaft bore, an operation unit having a shaft bore engaging the horn output shaft, and an angular adjustment mechanism for linking the shaft bore of the operation unit to the horn output shaft so as to movably fix circumferentially and at an arbitrary angle.

Disclosed is an LCD capable of adaptively selecting a gamma curve based on a viewing angle. The LCD includes: a viewing angle detector for detecting the viewing angle of an LCD panel to generate information about the viewing angle, and a gamma curve determiner for selecting a gamma curve corresponding to the information of the viewing angle and controlling the gray level with a gamma voltage value defined by the selected gamma curve. The viewing angle detector has a driving voltage generator and a voltage divider. The driving voltage generator outputs a gate-on / off voltage and an analog driving voltage based on an externally input power, and the voltage divider drops the level of the gate-on voltage to generate a first voltage. A viewing angle generator outputs information about the viewing angle based on the analog driving voltage and the first voltage.

An apparatus includes a plurality of installation parts, to each of which a device unit is detachably installed to be used, and a restriction device configured to restrict the device unit having been installed in an unused state to and uninstalled from any one of the plurality of installation parts from being installed to any other installation part of the plurality of installation parts.

The non-linear elastic deformation component included in the angular transmission error of an actuator provided with a wave gear drive is a component of the angular transmission error occurring due to elastic deformation of a flexible externally-toothed gear when the direction of rotation of the motor shaft changes. This component can be analyzed by driving the motor in a sine-wave shape. A model of the non-linear elastic deformation component (non-linear model) obtained from the analysis results is used to store data or a function for compensating for this component in a motor-control device. Compensation for the non-linear elastic deformation component (θHys) is added to a motor-shaft angle command (θ*M) as a compensation input (Nθ*TE) for feed-forward compensation. As a result, the non-linear elastic deformation component (θHys) can be effectively reduced, and the positioning precision of the actuator can be improved.

An interprocess communication method for transporting messages from an originating place to a terminating place comprises the steps of: providing an operating system-unified interface function, at an operating system independent access (OIA) layer, which is independently accessible to operating systems of a communication apparatus; providing a device-unified interface function, at a device independent access (DIA) layer, which is independently accessible to physical devices of the communication apparatus; and transporting messages, at a unified interprocess communication (UIPC) layer, from the originating place to the terminating place through at least one of the operating system independent access layer and the device independent access layer using information about the terminating place that is provided by a terminating place task, and using a common task architecture based on the task's basic common control flow.

A mechanical computer used in tandem with a GPS to approach, enter and fly the traffic pattern of any uncontrolled airport. Pilots must navigate to a relatively small area or approach point before entering the traffic pattern of an uncontrolled airport. While airports are programmed into GPS units, the approach points are not. The computer works in tandem with an onboard GPS unit programmed for navigation direct to the airport of intended landing and employs triangulation to navigate to an approach point from which a proper traffic pattern entry can be made.

An improved athletic device that may be tensioned depending on the use by the individual user is provided. The contemplated athletic device may be any of a plurality of different athletic devices including fishing rods, hockey sticks, golf clubs, lacrosse sticks, and just about any athletic device having a shaft that is advantageous to be able to flex when is use by the end user. The device would have a shaft and a tensioner mechanism anchored within the shaft of the device which may be manually and continuously adjusted by the individual user depending on the flexion desired by the user.

A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices may include one or more of chemical, mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces.

A method and apparatus to process an analog encoder signal. The apparatus includes an analog encoder pattern generating unit, an analog encoder pattern storage unit, a digital / analog converting unit, a comparing unit, a recent state latch unit, a present state determining unit, and a gray code converting unit. The method includes generating an analog encoder pattern by sampling and quantizing a quasi-sinusoidal wave signal output from an analog encoder during initialization; determining a recent state and a present estimated state by comparing the analog encoder pattern with the quasi-sinusoidal wave signal; and generating quadrature signals from the recent state and the present estimated state.

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device with a mechanism layer having a first part and a second part, and at least one cover for sealing the mechanism layer. The inner surface of at least one of the covers is structured such that a protruding structure is present on the inner surface of the cover and wherein the protruding structure mechanically causes the first part to be deflected out of a plane associated with the second part.