197results about How to "Inexpensive to manufacture" patented technology

A transducer seal designed to seal an open aperture of a transducer housing for a therapeutic ultrasound procedure. The seal has a membrane, a retainer and a mating device for locking in place with the transducer housing. The membrane is essentially transparent to ultrasound energy while being stretched taut about the retainer. The transducer seal may be made in a disposable or re-usable form.

A method and apparatus for supporting a computer chassis (12). A rack-mounted computer system is provided that includes at least two posts (16). A rail (20) is attached to each post (16). Each of the rails (20) includes two ribs (24) that together define a slot (26). One portion (28) of the slot (26) has a greater separation between the ribs (24). A computer component chassis (12) that needs to be mounted includes two faces (100,102) on its outer surface. Each face has at least one protuberance (104). The protuberances (104) are shaped to fit at least partially into the slot (26) of one of the rails (20) at the portion (28) having greater separation.

A lancing device has a housing, an activation / retraction control assembly, and a lancet. The control assembly and the housing have cooperating engagement structures such as detents that disengage after a predetermined launch force is applied to the control assembly. In this way, the lancet is driven to its puncturing position without the use of a drive spring. In addition, the control assembly and the lancet have cooperating releasable engagement structures such as notched sections and tamped protrusions that disengage when the lancet reaches its puncturing position, thereby freeing the lancet from the control assembly. And the control assembly has angled retraction structures that engage the freed lancet to bias it back safely into the housing.

A microstructure-based polarizer is described. The device acts as an electromagnetic wave filter in the optical region of the spectrum, filtering multiple wavelength bands and polarization states. The apparatus comprises a substrate having a surface relief structure containing dielectric bodies with physical dimensions smaller than the wavelength of the filtered electromagnetic waves, such structures repeated in an array covering at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. The disclosed structure is particularly useful as a reflective polarizer in a liquid crystal display, or as polarizing color filter elements at each pixel in a display. Other applications such as polarization encoded security labels, polarized room lighting, and color filter arrays for electronic imaging systems are made practical by the device.

A braking system in a land vehicle having wheels for movement and a motor rotating the wheels. The braking system includes a brake rotor that is secured to one of the wheels. A brake caliper is secured to the vehicle for grasping the rotor in response to a caliper actuation signal. A brake pedal is secured to the land vehicle for movement by the vehicle driver. A pedal sensor is connected to the pedal for sensing the movement thereof and generating a braking signal in response to the movement of the pedal. A power train control module is secured to the vehicle for controlling the speed at which the motor rotates the wheels in response to a deactivation signal. A camera is mounting on the vehicle for generating a video signal representative of the incident light entering the camera. A central processing unit (CPU) is connected to the pedal sensor, the brake caliper and the camera. The CPU is adapted to receive the braking signal from the pedal sensor and, in response thereto, transmit a caliper actuation signal to the brake caliper. The CPU is also adapted to receive the video signal from the camera and process the video signal to determine whether the incident light entering camera includes light of a red color. In response to detecting light of a red color, CPU transmits a caliper actuation signal to the brake caliper and a deactivation signal to the power train control module.

Disclosed are ophthalmic drug-delivery devices, comprising a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the body includes a styrene elastomer matrix and a drug in contact with the matrix. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing an eye disease in a subject, that involve contacting an eye of the subject with an ophthalmic drug delivery device comprising a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the body comprises a styrene elastomer matrix and a drug in contact with the matrix, wherein release of the drug from the device occurs over time following contacting of the device with the eye of the subject.

A passive entry system for an vehicle door requires no active operator input to gain entrance to the vehicle. A door module recognizes the signal transmitted by an authorized key fob to identify the operator of the vehicle. The authentication of the operator coupled with the operator touching a sensor on the door to be opened actuates a release actuator that unlatches the selected door. The spring-load provided by the door seal will pop the door open from the closed position. A key cylinder, which can be located substantially anywhere on the door, is coupled mechanically to the release latch for use if the battery is weak and cannot activate the release actuator. An LED signals the state of the opening sequence for the door. The fixed door handle can incorporate a membrane switch or a capacitive sensor to indicate the selection of the door by the operator when touched.

A lancing assembly is pivotally coupled to a housing and includes an actuator and a leaf spring carrying a lancet. When the actuator is in its set position, the leaf spring and lancet are in their set position with the leaf spring engaging a catch member of the housing. When the actuator is moved to its actuated position, the leaf spring pivots and deflects against the catch member, thereby storing a drive charge. The leaf spring then releases from the catch member as the stored charge launches the lancet to its lancing position. The leaf spring recharges towards the end of the lancing stroke, which return charge then retracts the lancet back into the housing.

A cleaning pad is adapted to be releasably retained on a cleaning implement which includes on its cleaning head either multiple strips of pile-type fastener material or a plurality of attachment structures. The cleaning pad includes a top layer constructed of polyethylene and a bottom layer constructed of rayon. The top and bottom layers are affixed together along their peripheries by a bond line so as to define an enclosed pocket therebetween which is sized and shaped to receive a middle layer constructed of wood pulp paper. Multiple strips of hook-type fastener material are secured on the top layer and are adapted to releasably engage complimentary strips of pile-type fastener material on the cleaning implement. One or more mounting tabs are secured on the bottom layer and are adapted to releasably engage complimentary attachment structures on the cleaning implement. Each mounting tab can be disposed between a retracted, or folded, position and an extended, or unfolded, position.

A subtractor subtracts an echo canceling signal (Ĉ·y1(n−1)) from a canceling error signal (e(n)) to estimate the resonant noise (d(n)) to be silenced at a position of a microphone, and outputs a first basic signal (x1(n)) representing the estimated resonant noise d(n) as an input signal supplied to a controller. In the controller, a delay filter generates a second basic signal (x′(n)) by delaying the first basic signal (x1(n)) by a time value (Z−n) The controller generates a control signal (x(n)) based on the first basic signal (x(n)) and the second basic signal (x′(n)).

Fiber optic cables and assemblies for routing optical networks closer to the subscriber. The fiber optic cables have a small-cross section yet robust design that is versatile by allowing use in aerial application with a pressure clamp along with use in buried and / or duct applications. Additionally, the fiber optic cables and assemblies have a relatively large slack storage capacity for excess length. Assemblies include hardened connectors such as plugs and / or receptacles suitable for outdoor plant applications attached to one or more ends of the fiber optic cables for plug and play connectivity.

A dressing and a method for applying the same to a catheter entry site are provided. The dressing may have a transparent film within the dressing which may allow an individual to view, for example, a catheter entry site, or a wound on a patient. A portion of the transparent film may be free from adhesive, which may enable the dressing to be removed from the catheter entry site without inadvertent adhesion of the film to the patient and / or a catheter. Further, the dressing may be flexible and may contour to a shape of a catheter to prevent contaminants from entering the site.

A motor vehicle headlight module giving a beam with cutoff, comprising a concave reflector, a light source disposed in the concavity of the reflector, and a lens situated in front of the reflector and light source. The source is formed by at least one light emitting diode for illuminating at least upwards. The reflector is associated with a bender the top face of which is reflective in order to bend the beam coming from the reflector, the bender comprising a front end edge able to form the cutoff in the lighting beam. The exit surface of the lenses chosen so as to be able to be connected on a continuous surface with the exit surfaces of the lenses of adjacent modules. In addition, the mid-line of the lens is formed by a skew curve arc, and a correcting optical system is provided between the reflector and the lens for obtaining a satisfactory cutoff line, according in particular to the geometry of the entry face and exit face of the lens.

Barrier elements couple together into a longitudinal wall to provide security from terrorist threats by being able to withstand both vehicle collisions and explosive blasts. Each barrier element is prefabricated to include a massive block of durable material, preferably high strength concrete, cast about one or more beams that are preferably made of steel and extend longitudinally through the block. Multiple blocks are positionable on top of the ground with their beams coupled longitudinally to one another, end-to-end. Forces from a vehicle collision or an explosive blast can cause barrier elements to rotate relative to one-another when the couplings between beams hinge or bend as the durable material that interferes with the rotation breaks away. The barrier elements are transportable by truck, positionable using readily available heavy lifting equipment, and longitudinally inter-connectable hingedly or rigidly by means of field-installable mechanical fastening hardware.

The present invention features a playing card shuffling device (20), which through the use of a small image capturing means (30), captures an image of the face value of each card and stores the imagein memory. This image is sorted in the format of a bit map image. The operator of the machine would b e able to recall through the use of a key pad (44), the images of the cards th at comprised the individual hands in the previous game. This feature allows for verification of a winning hand after a game has been completed. Thereby a quick recheck of hands before paying a winning hand is performed.The face value of each card is determined by character recognition software. These ca rd values would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring t he randomness of the game and determining the number of winning hands.

A head rest for a car seat used to transport a child in an automobile is positionally adjustable vertically along the seat back on which the head rest is mounted. A latching mechanism, actuated by a button at the top of the head rest, is located within the frame of the head rest and includes a releasable latch engagable with the channels slidably supporting the support rails of the head rest. A retainer clip is mounted at the top of the channels to prevent the head rest from being separated from the seat back once assembled thereon. The head rest includes a pair of laterally spaced wings that are pivotally connected to the rear support portion of the head rest to be positionally adjustable relative to the child's head through an angular displacement of approximately 45 degrees. The pivot mechanism is operable to lock the wings in the selected position.

An improved process for the preparation of high molecular weight, linear polyester resins comprises reacting an aromatic dicarboxylic acid with an excess of an alkane diol under conditions effective to reach the clearing point of the reaction; pre-condensing the cleared reaction mixture under conditions effective to produce oligomers having an intrinsic viscosity measured in 60 / 40 phenol / 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane at 25° C. of less than about 0.70 deciliters / gram and a carboxylic acid end group level of less than or equal to about 100 milliequivalents per kilogram; and polycondensing the oligomer under conditions effective to produce a linear polyester resin having an intrinsic viscosity less than or equal to about 2.0 dl / g as measured in 60 / 40 phenol / 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane by weight at 25° C. and a carboxylic acid end group level of about 10 to about 40 milliequivalents per kilogram.

A composite armor panel and a method for making the armor is disclosed. In one embodiment the armor consists of a plurality of ceramic tiles (21) individually edge-wrapped (52) with fiber or edge-wrap fabric, which are further wrapped with a face-wrap fabric, and encapsulated in a hyperelastic polymer material (31) permeating the fabric and fibers, with a back plate (41) adhered to the encapsulated tiles. In one embodiment the hyperelastic polymer (31) is formed from a MDI-polyester or polyether prepolymer, at lease one long-chain polyester polyol comprising ethylene / butylene adipate diol, at least one short-chain diol comprising 1,4-butanediol, and a tin-based catalyst.

A low cost valve and system for automated ebb and flow irrigation utilizes a collapsible sleeve to control fluid flow direction. No external power, moving parts, or floats are needed to operate the valve, resulting in improved reliability, low operating cost, and minimal need for maintenance. The valve operates using feed pressure to close the drain when hydroponic nutrient solution is pumped into the cultivation chamber. The valve drains automatically once the pump is stopped, usually by means of a timer, and the spent hydroponic solution is recovered. The fill / drain cycle is repeated as needed to keep the plants moist, yet not waterlogged.

The present invention features a playing card shuffling device (20), which through the use of a small image capturing means (30), captures an image of the face value of each card and stores the image in memory. This image is sorted in the format of a bit map image. The operator of the machine would b e able to recall through the use of a key pad (44), the images of the cards th at comprised the individual hands in the previous game. This feature allows for verification of a winning hand after a game has been completed. Thereby a quick recheck of hands before paying a winning hand is performed. The face value of each card is determined by character recognition software. These ca rd values would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring t he randomness of the game and determining the number of winning hands.

An optical connector of a fitting pin positioning type includes multiple optical fiber insertion holes arranged in one row and fitting holes or fitting pins. The fitting holes or the fitting pins for positioning are respectively disposed on mutually opposite sides of a straight line connecting centers of the optical fiber insertion holes and are located point-symmetrically with respect to a center of the row of the entire optical fiber insertion holes arranged on the straight line.

A microfluidic device is provided for delivering a drug to an individual. The microfluidic device includes a body that defines a reservoir for receiving the drug therein. A valve interconnects the reservoir to an output needle that is insertable into the skin of an individual. A pressure source urges the drug from the reservoir toward the needle. The valve is movable between a closed position preventing the flow of the drug from the reservoir to the output needle and an open position allowing for the flow of the drug from the reservoir to the output needle in response to a predetermined condition in the physiological fluids of the individual.

A negative pressure bandage is formed in a two chamber configuration having a lower chamber from which fluids and exudates are collected from an open wound on the patient and an upper chamber that is used to store the collected fluids and exudates removed by an application of a vacuum to the lower chamber. An impermeable layer separates the upper and lower chambers to keep the wound dry and promote healing. A vacuum port interconnects a fluid collection member located in the lower chamber with the upper chamber to allow the application of a vacuum that collects and removes fluids and exudates from the lower chamber. The vacuum pump can be remote and attached to the bandage by tubing or be incorporated into the bandage to provide a self-contained negative pressure bandage. An absorptive pad can be located in the upper chamber to collect and gel the collected fluids.

The present invention relates to a security, telemetry and control system which utilizes wireless communication between a control unit and smart relay(s) within the vehicle and also utilizes wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote base station to monitor and protect a vehicle or piece of equipment against unauthorized users and thieves.

A handheld apparatus (2) for checking the tension of the wire (15) includes a support (3) with two spaced pegs (5,6) mounted on it. A spring (7) mounted on the support (3) between the two pegs. A strain gauge (14) is mounted on the spring and measures the displacement of the spring (7). A fully portable power supply is connected to a computer (9) with a readout (8). In use, the wire (15) is arranged in a predetermined path over and / or under the pegs (5,6) so that it presses against the spring (7). The amount the spring (7) is displaced, which is related to the tension, is measured by the signal from the strain gauge. The signal is passed to the computer (9), which calculates the tension from this measurement and displays the result on the readout (8).

A compliant electrical contact and an assembly employing a plurality of the contacts that provides an interface between two electrical devices. The contact has a convoluted spring with convolutions and a contact point at each end. In one contact embodiment, the convolutions have appendages which electrically short adjacent convolutions throughout a significant portion of the compression range of the contact. An appendage may be a single finger that extends from one convolution toward the adjacent convolution, a pair of opposed fingers that extend toward each other from adjacent convolutions, or machined edges on adjacent convolutions. In some configurations, the fingers or a surface on the appendage or fingers are at a skew angle to the direction of compression. In another contact embodiment, a shunt attached at one contact point and parallel to the spring spans most or all of the convolutions longitudinally. The shunt electrically shorts adjacent convolutions by wiping on the abutting surface of the shunt or by a wiper extending from the convolution to the shunt. Alternatively, the shunt electrically shorts the two contact points, bypassing the convolutions. The contact is placed within a through aperture in a dielectric panel that has openings at each end through which the contact points protrude.

The invention relates to a pumping device including a pump (1) comprising—a pumping chamber (11) having a variable volume,—an inlet (2) communicating with the pumping chamber (11) and comprising a valve,—an outlet (5) communicating with the pumping chamber and comprising a valve,—an actuator adapted to change the volume of the pumping chamber,—a fluidic pathway comprising said inlet (2), said pumping chamber (11), said outlet (5) and a downstream line (7) situated downstream of the outlet valve,—a pressure sensor (4) for measuring the pressure between the valves of said pathway,—processing means for processing the received pressure data from the pressure sensor (4). The invention also covers a method for detecting a dysfunction in a pumping device as defined above.

A skin blemish measuring device includes an elongated tubular member having measuring indica on its exterior surface. An indicator ring is slidably mounted on the tubular member. The lower end of the tubular member is inserted into a wound or is placed on the patient's skin immediately adjacent a protruding sore and the indicator ring is slid downwardly until the ring rests on the surface of the patient's skin or on top of the sore. The ring will then be aligned with one of the measurement indica that corresponds to the size of the blemish.

A plasma arc torch has a threadless electrode-cathode locking assembly, a one-piece tip assembly, and a rotational contact starting mechanism. The cathode and electrode of the locking assembly are configured such that relative rotation of the electrode with respect to the cathode causes the electrode to move in an axial direction relative to the cathode for locking the electrode in fixed axial and rotational position with respect to the cathode. The inner wall of the one-piece tip assembly is configured to receive the forward end of the electrode in a non-contact position. Rotation of the electrode with respect to the tip causes an arcing formation on the electrode to contact an arcing chamber within the cavity. Rotation of the electrode away from the tip generatesa pilot arc in the arcing chamber.

A tie is designed to secure together in a building structure a vertical stud, a top plate disposed horizontally across the top end of the vertical stud and a rafter extending up from the top plate at an acute angle. The tie is constructed from a unitary sheet metal body which is adapted for securement against at least two surfaces of each of the rafter, the top plate and the vertical stud. The unitary sheet metal body for the tie includes a base, a pair of rafter plates which extend orthogonally upward from opposite sides of the base, and a pair of stud tails which extend orthogonally downward from opposite ends of the base. The base together with the pair of rafter plates define a recess that is sized and shaped to fittingly receive a portion of the rafter. In addition, the base together with the pair of stud tails define a channel which is sized and shaped to fittingly receive at least a portion of the top plate and the vertical stud.