60results about How to "Less-expensive to implement" patented technology

Embodiments of the present invention provide devices (tags), systems, and methods to determine structural integrity and other states of orthodontic-elements, such as orthodontic-brackets, orthodontic-archwires, orthodontic-expanders, orthodontic-elastic-bands, and orthodontic-power-chains, to name a few, in a non-invasive and contactless way, with respect to monitoring; and using comparatively safe and/or low energy electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves. Negligible-sized backscatter-tags with sensors are implanted in or attached to such orthodontic-elements. Such arrangements may permit monitoring of forces acting on teeth by various orthodontic-elements. Using backscatter imaging technology, the structural integrity and other states of the orthodontic-elements may be monitored; which may allow non-invasive and contactless detection of problems such as cracking, bending, excessive pressure, improper temperature, and/or the like. Additionally, initially unknown locations of the implanted negligible-sized backscatter-tags with sensors may be readily determined upon a given scanning (reading) session; and thus mapped to provide an effective image of the orthodontic-elements.

A delay-lock loop (DLL) circuit and method that accept an input clock signal and a feedback clock signal, and provide the necessary additional delay to synchronize the feedback clock signal to the input clock signal. Unlike previous circuits and methods, a single synchronization step is sufficient, provided that the frequency of the input clock signal is stable. A circuit according to the invention includes an input clock terminal supplying an input clock signal, and a delay line driven by the input clock signal and supplying a plurality of intermediate clock signals delayed from the input clock signal by incremental unit delays. A clock multiplexer selects from among these intermediate clock signals, under control of a multiplexer control circuit, the clock signal that provides the necessary additional delay to synchronize the feedback clock signal to the input clock signal. The output clock signal from the clock multiplexer is distributed through the clock network to provide the distributed clock signal as well as the feedback clock signal.

A flow rate measuring method for a multiphase fluid mixture FM flowing into a line LN, the fluid mixture FM comprising at least a first and a second phase, the method comprising the steps of: passing the fluid mixture through a Venturi tube in which the fluid mixture is subjected to a pressure drop, continuously measuring by means of said Venturi tube permanently installed on the line a differential pressure across the Venturi tube ΔP_v and a line pressure of the fluid mixture in the line P_i, punctually measuring at a determined instant by means of a second measuring device removably installed on the line at least one measured parameter of the fluid mixture correlated to the first phase quantity relatively to the second phase quantity, continuously determining at least one estimated parameter of the fluid mixture correlated to the first phase quantity relatively to the second phase quantity based on the punctually measured parameter and an extrapolating scheme, and determining at least one phase flow rate based on the differential pressure across the Venturi ΔP_v, the line pressure of the fluid mixture into the line P_i and the at least one measured parameter of the fluid mixture when the second device is installed on the line, and determining at least one phase flow rate based on the differential pressure across the Venturi ΔP_v, the line pressure of the fluid mixture into the line P_i and the at least one estimated parameter of the fluid mixture when the second device is removed from the line.

Forming a shallow trench capacitor in conjunction with an FET by forming a plurality of STI trenches; for the FET, implanting a first cell well having a first polarity between a first and a second of the STI trenches; for the capacitor, implanting a second cell well having a second polarity in an area of a third of the STI trenches; removing dielectric material from the third STI trench; forming a gate stack having a first portion located between the first and the second of the STI trenches and a second portion located over and extending into the third trench; and performing a source/drain implant of the same polarity as the second cell well, thereby forming a FET in the first cell well, and a capacitor in the second cell well. The second polarity may be opposite from the first polarity. An additional implant may reduce ESR in the second cell well.

An ear canal pressurization device optimized for aural acoustic immittance testing is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the device is comprised of a rigid mounting framework which holds in position, axially aligned, a first flexible chamber assembly, a centrally disposed forcer assembly, and a second flexible chamber assembly. The forcer assembly comprises a ferromagnetic bobbin and coil that provides electromotive force for a moving magnet linear motor. The motor is comprised of a rigid chamber link, which passes through the hollow core of the bobbin, with a ferromagnetic keeper washer and axially aligned rare earth ring magnet at either end, with like magnetic poles facing each other. The motor is elastically suspended between the first and second flexible chambers. Current flow through the coil of the forcer assembly provides motive force for the motor via attraction or repulsion of the motor magnets and movement of the motor increases the volume of the first flexible chamber while decreasing the volume of the second flexible chamber, or vice versa. The internal volume of the first flexible chamber is coupled via an air line to an ear canal and through a controlled valve to a small vent, and the internal volume of the second flexible chamber is vented to ambient air pressure. Changes in volume of the first flexible chamber, due to motor movement, produce changes in ear canal pressure re Boyle's law. The vent may be opened to allow ear canal pressure to gently equalize to ambient air pressure or to generate ear canal pressure sweeps free of pressure baseline offset. The vent may be closed to set a static ear canal pressure or to generate ear canal pressure sweeps with an incidental baseline offset. The vent may be controlled to generate ear canal pressure sweeps with an intended baseline offset. The device produces ear canal pressure proportional to drive voltage, so any desired pressure versus time function can be generated by applying a coil driving voltage with the appropriate amplitude versus time function. The device operates quietly to avoid interference with aural acoustic immittance measurement, and should have a long and maintenance free life span.

A local search engine geographically indexes information for searching by identifying a geocoded web page of a web site and identifying at least one geocodable web page of the web site. The system identifies a geocode contained within content of the geocoded web page of the web site. The geocode indicates a physical location of an entity associated with the web site. The system indexes content of the geocoded web page and content of the geocodable web page. The indexing including associating the geocode contained within content of the geocoded web page to the indexed content of the geocoded web page and the geocodable web page to allow geographical searching of the content of the web pages.

Disclosed is a method of passivating and reducing reflectance of a silicon photovoltaic cell. The method includes the step of providing a silicon wafer of a solar cell having a major surface. A passivation layer of silicon nitride is applied on at least 98 percent of the major surface through a vacuum deposition process. An index-matching film structure, different from silicon nitride, is applied on top of the passivation layer. The index matching film structure provides the majority of the antireflective property of the combination of the passivation layer and the index matching film structure.

A system for controlling the defrost cycle of an evaporator comprising a sensor in the coil of an evaporator or downstream of the coil, the sensor configured to determine changes in the liquid mass ratio of the refrigerant in the evaporator. The difference in liquid mass ratio relating to frost buildup on the outside of said evaporator. When the difference in liquid mass ratio reaches a predetermined amount, corresponding to an unsatisfactory frost buildup, a defrost cycle is initiated. When the liquid mass ratio returns to a value that corresponds to a defrosted evaporator, the defrost cycle is discontinued.

A low-oxygen content exhaust flow produced by an engine that is combusting, on average, a stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel generally contains various unwanted gaseous emissions. The exhaust flow is treated by an exhaust aftertreatment system that includes a three-way-catalyst (TWC) and an ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (ammonia-SCR) catalyst positioned downstream from the TWC in a flow direction of the exhaust flow. The ammonia-SCR catalyst includes (1) a base metal ion-substituted zeolite and/or a base metal ion-substituted silicoaluminophosphate and (2) an oxygen storage material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide or a mixed metal oxide that exhibits oxygen storage and release capacity. The serial arrangement of the TWC and the ammonia-SCR catalyst enhances the conversion of NO_X to N₂ in the low oxygen-content exhaust flow produced by the engine and helps prevent ammonia slip to the atmosphere.

A direct ultrashort laser system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of measuring laser pulse phase distortions is performed without requiring an adaptive pulse shaper or interferometry. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a system, a method of operating, a control system, and a set of programmable computer software instructions perform Multi photon Intrapulse Interference Phase Scan processes, calculations, characterization and/or correction without requiring an adaptive pulse shaper.

Embodiments of the present invention provide devices (tags with sensors), systems, and methods to determine states (such as, but not limited to, complex impedance) of materials-of-interest, such as tissue-of-interest, implants, and construction members, to name a few, in a non-invasive and contactless way; and using comparatively safe and/or low energy electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves. Negligible-sized wireless-tags with sensors are implanted in such materials-of-interest. Using wireless communication and imaging technology, the states of the materials-of-interest may be monitored; which may allow non-invasive and contactless detection of problems such as cracking, bending, excessive pressure, improper temperature, and/or the like. Additionally, initially unknown locations of the implanted negligible-sized wireless-tags with sensors may be readily determined upon a given scanning (reading) session; and thus mapped to provide an effective image of the material-of-interest.

The energy absorber is for interposing between a rigid beam and a bumper skin in order to absorb, by compression, the energy of impacts directed in a crumpling direction. The energy absorber comprises a set of ribs each of which extends parallel to the crumpling direction and each of which possesses a free edge for pressing against the beam. The set of ribs includes at least one rib arranged in the event of an impact so that its free edge remains pressed against the beam, while the rib itself buckles, and at least one other rib arranged in such a manner that in the event of an impact, its free end escapes from the beam, causing said rib to bend.

An improved hydraulically assisted braking and steering system of a vehicle having a hydraulic pump communicating with a hydraulic steering assist device and including a hydraulic brake assist device coupled in series between the pump and the steering assist device includes the provision of a flow splitter which operates to reduce the interdependence of the hydraulic brake and steering assist devices on the flow of fluid from the pump. The flow splitter communicates with the outlet of the pump and the inlet of the brake assist device and is operative when the back pressure from the brake assist device exceeds a predetermined control value to divert a fraction of the flow of fluid around the brake assist device directly to the steering assist device, thereby providing sufficient flow to operate both the brake and steering assist devices within their normal design limits, rather than having the brake assist device starve the steering assist device when under heavy load.