1500results about How to "Lower energy requirements" patented technology

Implantable systems for controlling flow through body lumens comprise a control module and an actuator. The actuator is implanted at least partially over the body lumen to selectively constrict the lumen and control flow therethrough. The control module includes at least a power source for operating the actuator and a remotely operated switch for controlling the power source. Usually, the control module will have programmable circuitry for adjusting on/off time, degree of closure, and the like. The switch of the control module is remotely actuated by a magnetic or other signal. The control circuitry may be remotely programmed using a hand-held programmer.

A method and apparatus for generating plasma in a fluid. The fluid (3) is placed in a bath (2) having a pair of spaced electrodes (4, 6) forming a cathode and an anode. A stream of bubbles is introduced or generated within the fluid adjacent to the cathode. A potential difference is applied across the cathode and anode such that a glow discharge is formed in the bubble region and a plasma of ionized gas molecules is formed within the bubbles. The plasma may then be used in electrolysis, gas production, effluent treatment or sterilization, mineral extraction, production of nanoparticles or material enhancement. The method can be carried out at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The electrodes may carry means to trap the bubbles in close proximity. Partitions may be present between the electrodes.

The present invention relates to ambulance cots, cot systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides an ambulance cot comprising a hydraulic system and a tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system, and methods of using the same (e.g., to transport subjects and/or to detect and/or record operational data related to cot usage).

A household appliance system and method include an appliance control system having a common appliance interface provided on an appliance and a demand side management module connected to the common appliance interface. The module corresponds to one select utility of a plurality of utilities and is adapted to communicate with the one select utility of the plurality of utilities. The appliance control system operates the appliance based on communications with the one select utility through the module.

A process for purification of fluids, for example, desalination of seawater or brackish water, using organic solutes in a concentrated water solution for use in a forward osmosis process, to extract fresh water out of salt water through the forward osmosis membrane, and subsequently separating the organic solutes out of the diluted forward osmosis permeate by cloud point extraction, thereby regenerating a concentrated organic solution for recycling to the forward osmosis process, and fresh water for potable water use.

An in-vivo device, system, and method are described where an in-vivo device may transmit an image stream to an external receiving device. Reducing the size of the image data necessary for transmission may conserve energy consumed by the in-vivo device during transmission. An image data comparator unit incorporated within the in-vivo device may compare a captured image to a previously transmitted image and transmit, for example, only captured images that are substantially dissimilar to a previously captured image.

A motor vehicle dehumidifier, including a dehumidifying drying agent, that can provide a required dehumidifying capacity with a reduced overall quantity of drying agent compared to conventional drying agent-based dehumidifiers. In the present invention, a heat exchanger is disposed on an upstream side of a drying agent unit, and heat is exchanged in the heat exchanger between inside air to be dehumidified and low-temperature outside air used to cool the inside air. The air cooled by the heat exchanger flows into the drying agent unit and is dehumidified. Because the air has an increased relative humidity as a result of being cooled, the amount of water adsorbed from it per unit of drying agent is increased, as the water adsorption characteristic of the drying agent is greatly influenced by the relative humidity of the air passing over it, and is markedly improved by an increase in the relative humidity of that air.

A programmable resistance memory element. The active volume of memory material is made small by the presence of a small area of contact between the conductive material and the memory material. The area of contact is created by forming a region of conductive material and an intersecting sidewall layer of the memory material. The region of conductive material is preferably a sidewall layer of conductive material.

The technology described herein provides a system and method for automatically increasing the remaining driving range of a vehicle when a low fuel or other condition is detected by altering the operating parameters of one or more vehicle systems to improve propulsion system efficiency and thereby lower fuel consumption. The vehicle range extending system is capable of altering the operating parameters of any vehicle system, including for example variable displacement settings, start-stop technology settings, and HVAC operation. The disclosed technology can also provide information to the driver, suggesting which system operating parameters should be altered to reduce the fuel consumption rate.

Apparatus, system and method for accessing supplementary data and/or executing software on a device capable of receiving multimedia are disclosed. After multimedia is received, ancillary code is detected and a signature is concurrently extracted from an audio portion of the multimedia. The ancillary code includes a plurality of code symbols arranged in a plurality of layers in a predetermined time period, and the signature is extracted from features of the audio of the multimedia. Supplementary data is accessed and/or software is executed using the detected code an/or signature.

An operator system and related methods for automatically controlling access barriers including a controller associated with at least one access barrier and a transceiver associated with the controller for transmitting and receiving operational signals. The system also includes at least one proximity device capable of communicating operational signals with the transceiver based upon a position of the proximity device with respect to the barrier, wherein the controller monitors the operational signals and controls the position of the access barrier based upon the operation signals. Such a system allows for hands-free operation of the access barrier. Ground loop detectors and a global positioning system may also be incorporated into the system. And the system may be used to control the directional flow of traffic on a one-way road.

Methods and apparatus for dermatology treatment are provided which involve the use of continuous wave (CW) radiation, preheating of the treatment volume, precooling, cooling during treatment and post-treatment cooling of the epidermis above the treatment volume, various beam focusing techniques to reduce scattering and/or other techniques for reducing the cost and/or increasing the efficacy of optical radiation for use in hair removal and other dermatological treatments. A number of embodiments are included for achieving the various objectives indicated above.

A single communication interface for controlling multiple smart appliances. The communication interface can be integral with an appliance and have a port for communicating with at least one other appliance or energy consuming devices. The communication interface can be a separate module connectable to a plurality of appliance or energy consuming devices. A wireless or wired connection can be established between the communication module and an energy management device for controlling the smart appliances or energy consuming devices connected to the communication module. One or more of the appliances or energy consuming devices can be wirelessly connected to the communication interface.

A method dewatering thin stillage process streams generated in the processing of grain to ethanol comprising adding to the process streams an effective coagulating and flocculating amount of an anionic copolymer comprising acrylic acid sodium salt, methacrylic acid sodium salt or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt to form a mixture of water and coagulated and flocculated solids; and separating the water from the coagulated and flocculated solids using a dewatering device.

The present invention relates to ambulance cots, cot systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides an ambulance cot comprising a hydraulic system and a tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system, and methods of using the same (e.g., to transport subjects and/or to detect and/or record operational data related to cot usage).