237results about How to "Minimal size" patented technology

A tulip-shaped rod-receiving member in a spinal rod system is provided with a transverse slot accessible from the top of the tulip member for placing the rod therein until the rod seats. A locking assembly includes a cap having inclined surfaces that cooperate with inclined surfaces on the rod-receiving member to lock and bias inwardly the rod-receiving member relative to the cap. A novel seating ring is provided for the bone screw to be supported in the tulip in a manner that maximizes support and optimizes axial alignment of forces.

A gateway application in a content engine multiplexes requests for real-time content to servers that, in turn, service the requests by streaming appropriate real-time content to requesting users. A software communication port of the content engine may be reserved to receive request messages from multiple client computers, at least two of which request streaming of real-time content according to different selected formats. After identifying client properties (e.g., a format for which to receive streaming real-time content) associated with the requests for real-time content, the gateway application identifies corresponding servers of the content engine to serve the real-time content according to the different selected formats. The gateway application forwards the requests for streaming of real-time content associated with the request messages to the corresponding servers which, in turn, satisfy the requests by streaming the requested real-time content to the client computers.

The present invention discloses a computer system within a computer network having multiple computers connected together using telecommunications mechanisms for graphically interacting within immersive online communities. A user selects a set of desired characteristics associated with a personality for creation of a first intelligent virtual object. The first intelligent virtual object interacts with other intelligent virtual objects within the immersive online community utilizing predetermined interface tools such that said other intelligent virtual objects receive real-time responses to stimuli initiated by said other intelligent virtual objects. The first intelligent virtual object interactively passes user generated content between said other intelligent virtual objects and said user under administrative controls.

A system for sensing the presence, position and type classification of an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, as well as for sensing the presence of a rear-facing child seat therein, for use in controlling a related air bag activator control system to enable, disable or control inflation rate or amount of inflation of an air bag. The sensor system employs sensor fusion, a process of combining information provided by two or more sensors (24, 26), each of which "sees" the world in a unique sense. In a preferred embodiment, infrared sensor inputs (78) and ultrasonic sensor inputs (79) are combined in a microprocessor by a sensor fusion algorithm (80) to produce an occupancy state output signal (85) to the air bag controller.

A system for sensing the presence, position and type classification of an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, as well as for sensing the presence of a rear-facing child seat therein, for use in controlling a related air bag activator control system to enable, disable or control inflation rate or amount of inflation of an air bag. The sensor system employs sensor fusion, a process of combining information provided by two or more sensors (24, 26), each of which "sees" the world in a unique sense. In a preferred embodiment, infrared sensor inputs (78) and ultrasonic sensor inputs (79) are combined in a microprocessor by a sensor fusion algorithm (80) to produce an occupancy state output signal (85) to the air bag controller.

A reduced area-imaging device is provided for use with a miniature hand-held computer referred to in the industry as a PDA. Various configurations of the imaging device are provided which position elements of the imaging device in desired locations. The PDA includes a miniature LCD-type video screen which can display not only images taken by the camera module, but also incoming video images. The camera module may communicate with the housing of the PDA either by a wired connection, or wirelessly. The camera module is small enough that it can be stored within the housing of the PDA. The camera module may be pointed at an object within sight of the user without having to move the PDA housing in order to take an image. Any acceptable wireless standard may be used for wireless communication between the camera module and the PDA. One particularly advantageous standard includes Bluetooth.

A fiber delivery apparatus having a creel assembly and a fiber placement head is provided. A plurality of fiber spools are stored in the creel assembly. The tow paths from the spools to the fiber placement head are substantially fixed such that movements orienting the fiber placement head relative to a tool are simultaneously applied to the fiber spools as well. As such, the length and orientation of the tow paths between the spools and the fiber placement head are constant.

Autonomously operating analog to digital converters are formed into a two dimensional array. The array may incorporate digital signal processing functionality. Such an array is particularly well-suited for operation as a readout integrated circuit and, in combination with a sensor array, forms a digital focal plane array.

A tulip-shaped rod-receiving member in a spinal rod system is provided with a transverse slot accessible from the top of the tulip member for placing the rod therein until the rod seats. A locking assembly includes a cap having inclined surfaces that cooperate with inclined surfaces on the rod-receiving member to lock and bias inwardly the rod-receiving member relative to the cap. A novel seating ring is provided for the bone screw to be supported in the tulip in a manner that maximizes support and optimizes axial alignment of forces.

A femoral guide for precisely positioning a guide wire on a bone surface of the femur includes a body having a lumen for receiving a guide wire and a tongue protruding from the body for engaging an edge or reference point on the bone surface with the tongue being spaced a predetermined distance from a longitudinal axis of the lumen. The lumen includes an opening allowing a guide wire extending through the lumen to contact the bone surface at a location spaced from the edge substantially the predetermined distance with the tongue engaging the edge. A stylus on the body can be driven into the bone to secure and stabilize the femoral guide prior to driving the guide wire into the bone through the lumen. With the guide wire driven into the bone, a bone tunnel can be formed substantially concentrically or coaxially along the guide wire such that a longitudinal axis of the bone tunnel will be disposed from the edge substantially the predetermined distance. Methods of precisely forming bone tunnels include the steps of engaging an edge of a bone surface with a tongue of the femoral guide, inserting a guide wire through a lumen of the femoral guide, driving the guide wire into the bone through the lumen and forming a bone tunnel in the bone along the guide wire such that a longitudinal axis of the bone tunnel will be disposed from the edge engaged by the tongue a distance substantially equal to the distance that the tongue is disposed from a longitudinal axis of the lumen.

A modular electric vehicle system, allowing for the assembly of many different vehicle configurations using a plurality of interchangeable vehicle assembly modules, including at least two powered vehicle assembly modules in an assembled vehicle each of which has self-contained drive and power systems and controls which can be connected together by a central network bus on the vehicle. At least one of the powered vehicle assembly modules will be a steering module, with the necessary additional controls and components to steer the axle thereon and in turn steer the assembled vehicle. The connection of the network bus and the modules would be done in an interchangeable way so that different modules could be interchangeably placed in the assembled vehicle. Various steering systems, control methodologies and vehicle attachments are also disclosed.

A wind vortex tower is enhanced by kinetic energy and heat of quasi-tangential and upward jets of saturated steam energizing, accelerating tornado-type flow and supporting stable electricity generation during the insufficient winds and calm. For action instead of absent wind at starts and operation over a long time, a staged system of flexible nozzles injects the steam jets into the zones of vortex channel. The system controls the tornado-type flow in the vorticity energizer, swirlers of sucked ambient air, condensate separators, re-enhancer of airflow and top diffuser. The steam is flashed from partially stored condensate heated nearly to 100° C. The condensate is partially delivered after centrifugal separation from saturated vortex core. The outside water heating system has one or two of compatible renewable, waste and secondary, or initial heat sources, and is intensified via sucking of heated water by vortex flow. A large-rating flow-through electric generator has an alternating magnetic whirl formed by magnetic concentrators whirled near vortex core and a three-phase stator with switched modules. The simplified towers are used for water and conditioned air production.

For closing bottles with sterile caps, the caps are placed in a non-sterile environment in a vertical arrangement and are supplied vertically to a first sterile area. The interior of the caps is arranged to be accessible horizontally. The caps are sterilized in the first sterile area and transferred to a second sterile area where the caps are placed onto bottles. Subsequently, the bottle is closed with the cap. The machine for sterile closing of bottles with caps has a sterilization device with an individualization device for picking up caps and a vertical transport path feeding the caps to the sterilization chamber. A placing device receives the caps from the sterilization device and places the caps onto bottles. A closing device closes the bottles with the cap placed thereon. The sterilization device, the placing device, and the closing device operate as synchronized modules of a linear machine.

A method is provided for the simultaneous non-overlapping representation of at least further data visualization window in addition to a first established data visualization window in the display area of a monitor. The method allows arrangement of at least one further data visualization window in the display area of a monitor while maintaining the aspect ratio and the size thereof, beside a first data visualization window. Free rectangular areas of the first data visualization window are detected in the display area and are filed in a list with their characteristic data. The area of the free rectangular areas and their aspect ration and the aspect ration of the first data visualization window are taken into consideration for the determination of the optimizing variable. The additional data visualization window is positioned in the rectangular area with a priority in the derived list.

The present disclosure relates to the preparation and deletion mutants of chondroitinase proteins and their use in methods for promoting the diffusion of therapeutic composition into tissues and their use for neurological functional recovery after central nervous system (“CNS”) injury or disease.

A custom-made BTE hearing aid housing (17) comprises a first part, and a second part, wherein said first part is adapted to fit the contour of the cleft between a pinna and the skull of an individual is provided. The housing may be part of a hearing aid (30), connected with a tube (9) in a first end and an earplug (20) in a second end. The invention also provides a hearing aid and a method of preparing a hearing aid housing.

In a first production process, firstly, a flat corrugate tube 23 having a necessary length for wiring is prepared. Next, a grommet 25 and a protector 24 are assembled with the flat corrugate tube 23 at predetermined positions. In a second production process, high-voltage power lines 22 and low-voltage electric wires 27 are inserted into the flat corrugate tube 23 from the one opening 40 toward the other opening 41. In a third production process, ends of the high-voltage power lines 22 and the low-voltage electric wires 27 exposed from the one opening 40 and the other opening 41 of the flat corrugate tube 23 are treated. When the third production process is finished, the production of the wiring harness 21 is finished.

Method and apparatus for heating plastic by laser beams with the aid of a number of laser points on the focal plane, the laser points being produced by an optical arrangement with the aid of a multiple wedge plate. The arrangement can be integrated in a processing head.

A heater element for a vaporizing device, a vaporizing device containing the heater element, and a method for vaporizing fluid ejected by an ejection head. The heater element includes a conductive material having a concave area. The concave area of the heater element captures and vaporizes fluid ejected from an ejection head in the vaporization device. The concave area of the heating element has a cavity volume that is at least sufficient to retain an entire volume of liquid to be vaporized.

An aerial platform comprising a kite providing a level of directional stability when elevated by the wind, and an inflated balloon attached above the kite with a cord. The payload is attached to the kite. The physical separation of the balloon from the kite isolates the payload from shocks generated by the balloon. Additional isolation is provided by use of an elastic attachment cord. Electric power is supplied to the aerial platform by means of an optical fiber receiving optical power from a ground-based source, and conversion of the optical power to electrical power on board the platform. In order to provide a strong tether line, the optical fiber is plaited with a jacket braided from high tensile strength fibers. An aerial laser transmitter is described using a ground based laser source transmitting laser power through an optical fiber to an aerial platform for transmission from the platform.

A rechargeable battery module that exhibits superior temperature control and has a minimized size through an efficient arrangement of unit batteries is provided. The rechargeable battery module has a plurality of unit batteries that are arranged at constant intervals and a housing that holds the unit batteries and in which air for controlling a temperature of each of the unit batteries flows. The unit batteries are divided into two battery columns that are provided on either side of a central structure such that terminals of the unit batteries in different columns face each other.

System and method for providing and using expanded memory resources secure application environment is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a system and method for providing secure application functionality comprising receiving a request for a secure operation; determining if required application code for the secure operation is present in an application fragment store; sequentially loading a plurality of fragments of the required application code from an external memory, if the required application code is not present in the application fragment store; sequentially executing the plurality of fragments of the required application code; and sending a reply to the request for the secure operation. The system and method may further comprise decrypting each of the plurality of fragments of the required application code using a secure key prior to execution of the fragment and verifying the integrity of the code fragment.

A check valve which is positioned in the vacuum air line of an internal combustion engine. The check valve includes a single-piece valve body having an outlet port and two or more inlet ports, with one outlet port located substantially in line with the inlet port and connected by a venturi tube. The second inlet port is separated from the main air flow line by the valve stem and a diaphragm which allows communication there between and prevents back pressure. The second inlet port communicates with the outlet port through the valve stem and a second venturi tube which provides a vacuum boost to a device, usually vehicle brakes, connected to the inlet.

A monobore wellbore (68) and method for completing the same are disclosed. The monobore wellbore (68) comprises a first casing (74) having an inner diameter (76) and a lap region (80). A second casing (90) is positioned within the wellbore (70) by passing through the first casing (74) such that an uphole end of the second casing (90) is positioned within the lap region (80) of the first casing (74). After downhole expansion, the second casing (90) has an inner diameter (114) that is substantially the same as the inner diameter (76) of the first casing. The uphole end of the second wellbore is coupled to the lap region (80) of the first casing (74) to create a mechanical connection and a hydraulic seal, thereby creating the monobore wellbore (68).

A clumping animal litter comprises an organic material, a surfactant, and a clumping agent. The clumping agent may be a combination of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and guar gum. The material may comprise 1–2% CMC, 3–6% guar gum, 1–5% surfactant, and the remainder wood fiber. The material is formed into pellets with a uniform distribution of the various ingredients. The pellets are then crumbled to improve absorption characteristics. The mixture results in a fully-biodegradable, organic-based litter product with improved clumping abilities, natural odor control, and ease of litter pan maintenance.

A light device is provided having an elongate body that has a high strength construction. The high-strength light device is especially well-suited for use as a work light. The work light includes a high-strength body that has a handle and an elongate light-transmissive portion extending from the handle. Preferably, the light-transmissive portion includes a one-piece tubular wall that is tapered and which is molded from a high-strength material.

The present invention is a compact wallet designed to present a minimal silhouette in a shirt, pants or purse pocket. Novel features hold the silhouette to the minimal dimensions of a credit card while affording maximal expandability for content storage and accessibility. A novel method makes additional features modularly available.

A sealing ring has a sealing disk having a fastening part and a seal part. The fastening part is connected to a first stationary machine part and the seal part seals a movable machine part and is oriented in an axial direction toward an atmosphere side or a medium side of the sealing ring. The seal part has a first sealing element and a second sealing element adjoining the first sealing element and oriented in a direction opposite to the first sealing element in a mounted position of the sealing ring. The second sealing part rests against the rotary machine part under a radial force.

Method and apparatus for heating plastic by laser beams with the aid of a number of laser points on the focal plane, the laser points being produced by an optical arrangement with the aid of a multiple wedge plate. The arrangement can be integrated in a processing head.