2134 results about "Docking station" patented technology

A medical imaging recording and viewing system adapted for use interchangably with a variety of endoscopes. The system includes a portable hand-held device that may be removably placed within a cradle affixed to the endoscope. An interface between an image acquisition device of the endoscope and the portable device permits images to be transmitted to and stored within the portable device. The portable device also may include a viewing screen to permit a user to view the images. A docking station may receive the portable device for transferring images to a separate viewing device and for recharging the battery of the portable device.

A device (1) for calibrating geometrical measurements of surgical tools (10) as well as for orienting the same in space, including: A) a docking station (2) having two jaws (3) and a surface (21); and B) at least three marking indicators (9) firmly attached to the docking station (2) and capable of being measured, in reference to their position in space, electromagnetically or acoustically through a position detecting device (14), where C) the jaws (3) each have a lateral wall (40) so that the surface (21) and the lateral walls (21) of the two jaws (3) enclose a U-shaped passage (18), where D) the two jaws are conformed in a cylindrical or double conical manner; and E) the two lateral walls (40) or the surface (21) present a form comprising at least two additional contact points for a surgical tool (10) inserted between the jaws (3) across its longitudinal axis (11).

The invention concerns a human-machine dialog system (1) comprising:a support (3) having a plurality of identical docking stations (30), each docking station (30) being associated with a universal human-machine dialog device (4), each universal human-machine dialog device (4) comprising at least a display member (41) and a sensor member (40),a plurality of modular members (2), each modular member (2) being arranged to be positioned in a docking station (30) in a removable and interchangeable manner and comprising a human-machine dialog interface (20) arranged to cooperate with said display member (41) and / or said sensor member (40).

A robotic system for minimally invasive surgery includes a surgical tool and a docking station for restraining movement of the surgical tool to four degrees of freedom about an incision point in a patient. The docking station includes a plurality of actuators for moving the surgical tool relative to the incision in the patient, and a controller operably connected to the actuators so that movement of the surgical tool may be collaboratively controllable both actively by the controller and manually by a surgeon. Desirably, the surgical tool and the docking station are releasably attachable together. Also disclosed is a computer implemented method employing a first docking station attachable to a suturing surgical tool and a second docking station attachable to gripping surgical tool for autonomously tying a knot in suturing.

A light weight compact portable GPS receiver and transmitter for use on the person during outdoor activity, data logging receiver, data logging software supported by battery pack and modified active GPS patch antenna with chips, download connector, download docking station, charging units, mapping software to transfer the GPS data onto various maps including ortho-rectified, flat topographical maps, 3-D projection view topographical maps and street maps.

A hands-free wireless wearable GPS enabled video camera and audio-video communications headset, mobile phone and personal media player, capable of real-time two-way and multi-feed wireless voice, data and audio-video streaming, telecommunications, and teleconferencing, coordinated applications, and shared functionality between one or more wirelessly networked headsets or other paired or networked wired or wireless devices and optimized device and data management over multiple wired and wireless network connections. The headset can operate in concert with one or more wired or wireless devices as a paired accessory, as an autonomous hands-free wide area, metro or local area and personal area wireless audio-video communications and multimedia device and / or as a wearable docking station, hot spot and wireless router supporting direct connect multi-device ad-hoc virtual private networking (VPN). The headset has built-in intelligence to choose amongst available network protocols while supporting a variety of onboard, and remote operational controls including a retractable monocular viewfinder display for real time hands-free viewing of captured or received video feed and a duplex data-streaming platform supporting multi-channel communications and optimized data management within the device, within a managed or autonomous federation of devices or other peer-to-peer network configuration.

A docking station is disclosed. The docking station has an adjustable opening that accommodates portable electronic devices with differing sizes and shapes. The opening is capable of expanding to accommodate larger devices and retracting to accommodate smaller devices while still supporting the portable electronic device in its proper position within the docking station.

The present invention provides a tablet computer and a docking station assembly. This docking station comprises a docking assembly for positioning with three degrees of freedom and having a data connector for mechanically supporting and interfacing with the tablet computer. A support member couples the docking assembly to an expansion base. The base includes a number of ports for interfacing with a variety of peripheral devices or power supplies. These varieties of ports mount to a printed circuit board contained within the expansion base. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) combines the signal pathways for the variety of ports, allowing the signal pathways to travel from the printed circuit board and to the data connector. The tablet computing device has a plurality of contact or touch points positioned on the right and left edges of the tablet to facilitate aligning the tablet to the docking assembly in either a landscape or portrait mode.

A robot cleaner system having an improved docking structure to allow a dust discharge port of a robot cleaner to come into close contact with a dust suction port of a docking station without an additional drive device. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner having a dust discharge port, a docking station having a dust suction port to suction dust collected in the robot cleaner, and a docking device to perform a seesaw movement as it comes into contact with the robot cleaner when the robot cleaner docks with the docking station, so as to allow the dust suction port to come into close contact with the dust discharge port. The docking device further includes a link member installed in the docking station in a pivotally rotatable manner. The link member has one end provided with a contact portion to come into contact with the robot cleaner, and the other end provided with a docking portion defining the dust suction port therein.

A cordless ultrasonic scaler includes a cleaning tip, an actuator, power supply, control circuitry, a water reservoir and a pumping mechanism within the hand piece. A piezoelectric stack actuator drives both the cleaning tip and pumping mechanism. The reservoir in the hand piece supplies liquid to the pump for cooling the actuator, the cleaning tip and the teeth being cleaned. The reservoir defines a battery compartment. A pair of electrodes enable recharging the battery in a docking station when the device is not in use. Controls are provided for the actuator and fluid flow.

Solar-powered media systems and apparatuses are disclosed. The solar-powered media systems and apparatuses comprise shade structures, solar cells, energy storage devices, electronics and / or circuitry, docking stations, wireless communications devices, and audio and / or visual components capable of outputting media content. One aspect of the solar-powered media system and apparatus pertains to shade structures, which provide shade for one or more users. Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to energy storage devices, which store electrical energy to power the solar-powered media system. Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to docking stations, which allow communication and electrical energy transfer between various devices. Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to audio & visual components capable of outputting media content for one or more users. Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to solar cells integrated into or attached to the said shade structure. All aspects can be utilized alone or in combination with one another.

A cassette stocker includes a plurality of cassette storage shelves positioned adjacent a cleanroom wall above a cassette docking station, and a cassette mover to carry a cassette between the shelves and the docking station. An interstation transfer apparatus includes an overhead support beam and a transfer arm adapted to carry a cassette between processing stations.

A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal. The docking system also includes a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal.

An automatic recharging docking station for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles in which standardized uniform charging stations are positioned in public parking facilities, private parking facilities, rest stops, or the like, and by means of a retractable vehicle probe, allow the owner / user of the vehicle to attach to the charging station and recharge the batteries or storage cells of the vehicle while the owner / user is at work, shopping, or otherwise not requiring the use of the vehicle. The particular vehicle and vehicle probe would have an encrypted identification means so that its identity would be recorded when it connected to a particular recharging station, regardless of which electrical jurisdiction that charging station was located, such that the respective electric utility companies or other entity would be able to identify and bill the owner / user for the quantity of electricity drawn during a specified time period.

Techniques for associating a wireless controller to a host device are disclosed. Once associated, the host device is responsive to the associated wireless controller but not responsive to other wireless controllers that may be in the vicinity. Subsequently, if desired, the association with the wireless controller can be removed and a different association with another wireless controller can be invoked. As an example, the wireless controller can be a portable remote controller, and the host device can be a personal computer, a home stereo, a portable media player, or a docking station for a portable media player. In one implementation, the portable remote controller can be an infrared remote controller.

The present technique provides a system and method for automatically switching viewing orientations of a display in response to physical rotation of the display. The display is rotatably coupled to a base structure via a rotatable mechanism, which has one or more angular switches / sensors that sense the physical orientation of the display and trigger a change in the viewing orientation of the display. The display may be a stand-alone flat-panel display or it may be incorporated into a portable electronic / computing devices, such as a tablet computer. Moreover, the base structure may embody a display support, a port replicator, a docking station, or any other suitable structure having a rotational adjustment mechanism.

A robot cleaner system having an improved docking structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station, which is capable of an easy docking operation of the robot cleaner and preventing loss of a suction force generated in the docking station. The robot cleaner includes a docking portion to be inserted into a dust suction hole of the docking station upon a docking operation. The docking portion may be a protrusion, which protrudes out of a robot body to be inserted into a dust suction path defined in the docking station, the protrusion communicates a dust discharge hole of the robot cleaner with the dust suction path of the docking station. The robot cleaner system includes a coupling device to keep the robot cleaner and the docking station in their docked state. The coupling device is configured to have a variety of shapes.

A biometric facial image verification system capable of recognizing human users which includes a smart-card having stored thereon encoded first human facial images, a video camera and video digitizer embedded within said smart-card for acquiring data representative of a second human facial image. A computer-based device with a docking station capable of receiving said smart-card and software resident within said computer-based device for facial recognition, which includes Principal Component Analysis, Neural Networks, or another equivalent algorithm for comparing said first human facial images with said second human facial image and producing an output signal therefrom for use in verifying the identity of said human users. The apparatus can further include software for fingerprint and speech recognition. In addition, said smart-card is capable of acquiring and storing information pertaining to each of said human users such as would be required for use in a high-security environment or preventing fraud in point of sale and Internet-based financial transactions.

Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS / UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS / UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS / UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS / UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS / UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS / UAV. The UAS / UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS / UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS / UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

An HVAC system includes a portable controller unit which communicates with an indoor HVAC component and an outdoor HVAC component over a digital communication bus. A multiple of docking stations each in communication with the data bus are located at a multiple of locations throughout the system such that the portable controller unit may be selectively connected to any of the ports and moved therebetween. By moving the portable controller unit, the technician is then physically present at the HVAC component while exercising the system to obtain additional information and measurements directly from the HVAC component.

An integrated radiopharmaceutical patient treatment system is disclosed including a patient support platform with an associated patient stimulus apparatus, an imager proximate the patient support platform, a radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system for infusing a radiopharmaceutical fluid into a patient, a patient monitor to be associated with a patient, and an integrated system controller operably associated with the patient stimulus apparatus, imager, radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system, and patient monitor to control and coordinate their operations. Within the patient treatment system the radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system may be included comprising a radionuclide supply module, a radiopharmaceutical processing module, a quality control module, a patient injection module, and a controller. A hazardous fluid handling system including a docking station and a hazardous fluid transport device adapted to detachably dock with the docking station is further disclosed.

A waste collection and disposal system for use in health care facilities is provided. The system includes a mobile waste collection unit for moving between use areas in the health care facility to collect waste material generated during medical procedures including body fluids, body tissues, saline, etc. The waste collection unit includes stacked upper and lower waste containers for receiving the waste material. During use, the upper waste container can be emptied into the lower waste container for temporary storage. In addition, different vacuum levels can be provided in the waste containers during complex procedures. Once a user desires to empty the waste collection unit, the waste collection unit is wheeled to a docking station. At the docking station, the waste material is off-loaded to a waste drain and the waste collection unit is cleaned and rinsed for further use.

A dental hygiene system provided with interchangeable dental heads permits power-enhanced brushing and concurrent fluid irrigation to optimize a user's personal dental hygiene efforts. The system has a handle assembly with an irrigation nozzle in close proximity to displaceable bristles driven by a battery-operated handle motor. Pumping of irrigation fluid such as an antiseptic solution into the oral cavity is also motor driven. A telescoping chamber with irrigation fluid fits on the piston-like base end of the handle and is refilled by docking the handle assembly on a complementary docking station that includes a detachable fluid reservoir, microswitch controls and a base fluid pump. Docking of the handle assembly triggers the microswitches and opens a check valve in the bottom of the handle chamber, which activates the flow of fluid from the reservoir into the chamber. An optional fiberoptic subassembly illuminates the oral cavity.

An HVAC system includes a portable controller unit which communicates with an indoor HVAC component and an outdoor HVAC component over a digital communication bus. A multiple of docking stations each in communication with the data bus are located at a multiple of locations throughout the system such that the portable controller unit may be selectively connected to any of the ports and moved therebetween. By moving the portable controller unit, the technician is then physically present at the HVAC component while exercising the system to obtain additional information and measurements directly from the HVAC component.

A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal. The docking system also includes a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal.

Docking stations and docking methods are provided for use with marking devices used for marking the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area. The docking station may serve as a home base for storage of a marking device, for charging the battery of a marking device, for transferring data to and from a marking device, and for securing a marking device against unauthorized use and / or theft. The docking station may be a mobile docking station that is installed in a vehicle or may be a fixed docking station that is installed at a central location in the field, at a central office, at a home base facility, and the like.

A system and method of encouraging compliance of hand hygiene in an environment where users move from zone to zone and are required to perform hand hygiene between the zones. Users carry a wearable zone sensor which detects zones, detects hand hygiene actions, logs time of changing zones, and hand hygiene actions. The wearable sensor can be integral with a wearable hand hygiene product dispenser and / or can operate in cooperation with a fixed dispenser configured to transmit hand hygiene actions to the wearable zone sensor. The wearable zone sensors are configured to be useable anonymously or to be associated with a user identifier, and to interface with a central computer via a docking station or communication interface to transfer data for later analysis.