2761 results about "Rest position" patented technology

A regenerative shock absorber that include a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when the shock is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor, in turn, drives an electric generator that produced electric energy. The electric energy may be provided to a vehicle, among other things. The regenerative shock absorber may also provide ride performance that comparable to or exceeds that of conventional shock absorbers.

A joint for connecting two adjacent flooring panels together in a substantially vertical manner includes a rotatable locking member made of plastic, metal or another resilient material. The rotatable locking member is located within a groove or opening of one flooring panel and the second flooring panel has a tongue shaped to mate with the rotatable locking member. Upon installation, the rotatable member rotates and locks around the back of the tongue via a groove above the tongue. The rotatable locking member includes a resilient arm which is bent away from its initial rest position upon installation, so that when the rotatable locking member locks onto the tongue, the resilient arm is bent providing a biasing force which holds the panel securely in position.

An arrangement and method for converting an input signal z(t) into a mechanical or acoustical output signal p(t) comprising an electro-magnetic transducer using a coil at a fixed position and a moving armature, a sensor, a parameter measurement device and a controller. The parameter measurement device identifies parameter information P of an nonlinear model of the transducer considering and the saturation and the geometry of the magnetic elements. A diagnostic system reveals the physical causes of signal distortion and generates information for optimizing the design and manufacturing process of this transducer. The controller compensates for nonlinear signal distortion, stabilizes the rest position of the armature and protects the transducer against mechanical and thermal overload.

A lancing device (10) is disclosed that includes a main housing (12) having an internal surface enclosing a portion of a lancing mechanism. The lancing mechanism includes a lancet holder (36) attached to a shaft (38) and a drive spring (42) surrounding a portion of the shaft (38). The lancing device (10) also includes a movable housing (14) adjacent the main housing (12). The moveable housing (14) has an internal surface enclosing a portion of the shaft (38) of the lancing mechanism. The enclosed portion of the shaft (38) has a retainer (40) and a secondary spring (46) surrounding at least a section of the shaft (38). The secondary spring (46) is adapted to move the movable housing (14) from a cocking position to a resting position. The secondary spring (46) is further adapted to move the lancing mechanism from a puncture position to a resting position.

An actuating mechanism for actuating a surgical tool of a surgical instrument including an actuating device having an actuator surface. The actuating device is operable by applying a force to substantially any part of the actuator surface for placing the actuating device in an actuated position from a rest position for actuating a surgical tool. The actuator surface comprises a radially collapsible cage having a plurality of interdigitating actuating pads. Each pad is movable in a radial direction.

The present invention provides a hand-held analysis instrument for analyzing a body fluid. The instrument comprises a housing with a housing opening to which a body part, in particular, a finger, can be applied to generate a puncture wound, an analysis unit for analyzing a sample of a body fluid obtained at the puncture wound, and a piercing unit including a lancet and lancet drive for generating a puncture movement of the lancet. The piercing unit, including the lancet drive, is movable between an operating position and a rest position, the piercing unit being located at the housing opening in the operating position in such a manner that by means of the lancet a puncture wound can be generated in a body part pressed against the housing opening, and the piercing unit being remote from the housing opening in the rest position in such a manner that the space in front of the housing opening is free for the analysis unit, so that it can be moved into a position for receiving blood. An operating device is used for actuating a functional mechanism of the piercing unit. The piercing unit is decoupled from the operating device in one of its two positions and is coupled to the operating device in the other position.

A display device (30), particularly for use as a menu board in a restaurant or the like. The device (30) has at least two rotatable roller members (31 or 32) located in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship. Carrier means (38) is provided, tightly supported by and rotatable about the rollers (31 and 32) and adapted to receive at least one display means (36) thereon. Each of the carrier means (38) and said display means (36) are constructed at least partially of substantially flexible and translucent material. Illumination means (37) are provided behind at least a portion of said carrier means (38), to illuminate a viewing portion of said carrier means (38) and said display means (36) thereon. Preferably, each display means each display means (36) is sized and shaped to fit between a pair of adjacent rollers such that one or more discrete rest position(s) is / are automatically identified after said display device (30) is rotated, whereby, in said rest position(s), one of said display means (36) is centrally positioned between a respective pair of rollers (31 or 32). Alternatively, but also preferably, the carrier may be designed to be of different thicknesses, such as by providing a cutout. Alternatively still, alignment tabs may be provided. A tensioning device is also preferably provided to ensure that optimum tension is provided to the carrier during use. This is configured in such a manner that assembly / disassembly of the device is readily facilitated.

A joint for connecting two adjacent flooring panels together in a substantially vertical manner includes a rotatable locking member made of plastic, metal or another resilient material. The rotatable locking member is located within a groove or opening of one flooring panel and the second flooring panel has a tongue shaped to mate with the rotatable locking member. Upon installation, the rotatable member rotates and locks around the back of the tongue via a groove above the tongue. The rotatable locking member includes a resilient arm which is bent away from its initial rest position upon installation, so that when the rotatable locking member locks onto the tongue, the resilient arm is bent providing a biasing force which holds the panel securely in position.

A system and method for automating Air Traffic Control operations at or near an airport. as a complete standalone automated system replacing the need for a human controller to make aircraft movement decisions nor the need communicate with pilots, or as semi-automated, where a controller controls how the system operates. The system with related methods and computer hardware and computer software package, automatically manages manned aircraft, remote controlled UAV and airborne-able vehicles traffic at or near an airport, eliminates ATC-induced and reduce pilot-induced runway incursions and excursions, processes control messages related to aircraft or Pilots, communicates with Pilot over ATC radio frequency, receives aircraft positions, communicates control messages with the aircraft avionics, provides pilots a dynamic map with continuous display of nearby traffic operations, shows clearance and information related to runway operations, warns pilot of runway conditions and turbulence from other operations, warns when landing gear is not locked, displays the pilot emergency exits during takeoff roll, shows the pilot when and where to exit from the runway, shows the pilot where and when to cross a junction, calculates and displays pilot optimal speed and timing on taxiways and junctions for saving fuel, calculates congestions, calculates best taxiway routes, calculates when aircraft can cross a runway, provides directives and information to pilot over CPDLC display or dynamic map for airside operations, alerts and triggers breaks of the aircraft on wrong path or when hold-short bar is breached, displays emergency personnel with routing map and final aircraft resting position for emergency operations, takes over an aircraft operation when aircraft is hijacked or deviates from the flight plan, provide standalone or manned Remote Tower functionality, Records and retains all information related to airport airside operations including aircraft positions and conditions from sensors and reports for runways, junctions and taxiways, Records and retains aircraft data and cockpit voice to ground-based servers to eliminate black-box requirements, calculate future weather and airport capacity from aircraft at or nearby airport, coordinates handoff operations with other ATC positions, interfaces with ACDM systems, airport operations center, flow center and network operations center.

A camera (17) mounted on a rear view minor housing (5) of a vehicle (1), which captures a plan view image of the ground on one side of the vehicle for display on an in-vehicle visual display unit (13) is calibrated to correct for offset of the camera (17) from an ideal position. During calibration an image of a reference point (34) on the vehicle (1) is captured as the mirror housing (5) is swiveled from a rest position to an operative position. The offset of the actual position of the image of the reference point in the captured image from its ideal position is computed, and a look-up table is prepared, which indicates the position at which pixels of subsequently captured image frames should be located to produce image frames with offset correction.

A method and an apparatus is described to measure at least one physical parameter of a substance such as moisture and salt content. This is done by transmitting a microwave beam through the material to be measured and detect only a reflection of a predetermined polarity of the transmitted waves. To accomplish this a polarizing plate is used so that only cross-polarised microwaves, which pass through the substance are detected and the co-polar reflections from surrounding structures are excluded. The object can either be moving as on a conveyer belt or in a rest position.

The present invention provides a method for monitoring long-term potentiation and long-term depression, comprising placing a subject in head down rest position and monitoring in real-time cerebral mean blood flow velocity using a transcranial Doppler device during psychophysiologic tasks. The method involves using Fourier analysis of mean blood flow velocity data to derive spectral density peaks of cortical and subcortical processes. The effect of head-down rest at different time intervals is seen as accentuation of the cortical peaks in long-term potentiation and attenuation of subcortical peaks in long-term depression. The effect of different interventions could be evaluated for research, diagnosis, rehabilitation and therapeutic use.

An apparatus for securing wire harness terminal connectors to the underside of an electrical junction block in a blind assembly operation. The apparatus includes a flotation bracket with chambers for receiving the connectors in a mechanical snap-fit in which the connectors are free to float up and down over a limited range within their respective chambers. The connector-containing bracket is next placed in a lower cover, which then fits over the underside of the junction block. Bolts rotatably mounted in the junction block are located to automatically engage captive nuts held in the connectors. As the bolts are subsequently threaded through the captive nuts, the connectors are drawn up in the bracket chambers from a lower rest position to an upper electrical engagement position where the terminals in the connector are placed in electrical engagement with bus bars in the junction block. Upper stops in the chambers prevent the connectors from moving beyond the electrical engagement position and damaging parts of the junction block, bus bars, connectors and terminals.

A device and software system with input and output capability for manipulating real and virtual objects in 3-dimensional space. The device consists of a six degree-of-freedom mechanical armature that has sensors to determine the location and orientation of a stylus and planar surface. In the input mode, manipulation of the physical armature will result in a corresponding two-dimensional, virtual image of the stylus and surface on a computer screen. The armature also has motors to automatically change the armature location and orientation in order to generate a physical representation in the real world of the location and orientation of a virtual object. The armature is built so that it maintains balance at any location and orientation to statically maintain the armature location and orientation without drifting to a null rest position.

A blood sampling device includes a lancet having a skin piercing member disposed at an end thereof. The lancet is slidable within and releasably engaged with an elongated lancet guide that remains stationary with use of the device. A shell is axially movable relative to the lancet guide between a rest position and an actuate position, with the lancet being spring loaded within the lancet guide by movement of the shell from the rest position to the actuate position.

A diagnostic catheter with a steering device to direct the distal end of the catheter while it is inserted in a vessel. The catheter may include either a bi-directional steering mechanism, or a unidirectional steering mechanism. Pre-formed catheters with no steering means are also provided. The catheter bodies include a plurality of ring electrodes used for sensing the intracardial electrogram signal during operation of the catheter. The ring electrodes are placed in ohmic contact with their corresponding signal wires by a solderless connection. In addition, the catheter may be embodied as a basket catheter including a plurality of splines. After the catheter is inserted into the vessel or organ to be examined (typically the heart), the splines may be expanded from an at-rest position to form the basket. A central retractable and steerable member is included to provide the expansion force. The expansion force can also be provided by moving the proximal portion of the catheter relative to the central member. Each of the splines forming the basket includes a length of spring wire disposed therein to provide conformal forces causing the splines to conform to the surfaces being inspected.

A liquid metered dispensing squeeze bottle includes: (a.) a squeezable container having an opening for dispensing liquid therefrom at one end and a bottom at the other end; (b.) a nonflexible trap chamber of a predetermined volume, connected to the opening of the container; (c.) a dip tube, and (d.) a one way valve at the bottom of the dip tube. In some embodiments, the one way valve system includes a generally inverted trapezoidal valve housing with tapered opposing sidewalls with an inlet orifice in each of said sidewalls, and an inverted trapezoidal valve having opposing slide valve ends, with a rest position when the bottle is upright wherein both inlet orifices are closed, a second position when the bottle is inverted 180 degrees wherein both inlet orifices are open to air, a third position when the bottle is upright and squeezed wherein at least one of the inlet orifices is open to air, and a fourth position when the bottle is rotated 90 degrees from upright wherein one of the inlet orifices is open to air and the other is closed.

A case for a portable electronic device includes a base plate, a device securing mechanism operable to hold the electronic device adjacent to the base plate, and a stretchable strap connected to the base plate. The strap is biased toward a rest position, wherein the strap lies substantially flush with the base plate. The strap is configured to be stretchable between the rest position and a stretched position away from the back of the base plate to allow a user's hand or other item to be placed between the strap and the case.

Electromagnetic motor with a piston that moves linearly with respect to the stator in either direction. Embodiments include a piston internal or external the stator. The piston includes one or more magnetic flux producing elements in all embodiments, with some embodiments having a ferro-magnetic plate on either side of the flux producing element. Further, in all embodiments the stator includes three magnetic flux producing elements with either two coils with one or more magnets therebetween or with the two coils and a coil magnet substitute therebetween. All embodiments provide positive piston return to a center at rest position. In all embodiments the piston is centered with respect to the stator resulting from either magnetic interaction between the piston and stator magnets, or between the piston magnet and the stator magnet substitute coil.

An improved flexible hose for carrying fluids is disclosed. The hose has a first end and a second end, and is typically in a retracted position when no tensile force placed on an end of the hose and in an extended condition when a tensile force of a pulling nature is placed on an end of the hose. The hose has a thermoplastic cover on its outer surface. The thermoplastic cover has an interior surface and an exterior surface. On the interior surface there is a helical member adhered thereto this helical member being comprised of a material capable of carrying a current of electricity. The hose of the present invention stretches at least 100 percent over its at rest position when a pulling force is placed on one end of the hose.