60results about How to "Inexpensive and compact" patented technology

A planar touch control is used to provide input to a computer and haptic feedback is provided thereto. A touch control includes a touch input device with a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor associated with the computer based on a location of user implemented contact on the touch surface. The computer can position or modify a cursor or image in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user via the touch surface.

A digital Laminographic or Tomosynthesis method is described for use in the detection of explosives concealed in baggage. The method uses at least one source of x-ray and at least two sets of detectors, preferably more to generate 3D images of high detail. The data from the detectors can be simply time delayed and summed up to generate high definition image of layers through the bag. This leads to very high speed of 3D imaging, the same speed as in regular x-ray scanners. In addition, there is no rotating gantry, the systems is simple, compact, relatively inexpensive, and can be used to generate 3D images of large shipping containers.

A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer's display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

A front group is formed of a negative first lens as a meniscus lens which is convex at the object side and a negative second lens, and a rear group is formed of a biconvex positive third lens, an aperture stop, a negative fourth lens and a biconvex positive fifth lens. The first lens is a glass lens, and the second lens is a plastic aspherical lens. The following conditions are satisfied: −2.4<fI / f<−1.55, 0.15<f2 / f1<0.35, va<29, and vb>50, where f denotes a focal distance of a whole system, f1 denotes a focal distance of the first lens, f2 denotes a focal distance of the second lens, fI denotes a focal distance of the front group, va denotes an average value of abbe numbers of the third and the forth lenses, and vb denotes an average value of abbe numbers of the rest of the lenses.

A gravity gradiometer is disclosed which has sensor masses in the forms of bars 41 and 43 arranged orthogonal to one another and transducers for providing an output signal indicative of movement of the bars in response to changes in the gravity gradient tensor. The transducers are formed from thin film structure having a first layer forming a fine pitch coil 510 and a second layer forming a coarse pitch coil 511. The layers are separated by an insulating layer. The coarse pitch coil 511 forms a transformer for stepping up the current flowing through the fine pitch coil 510 and the coarse pitch coil 511 supplies current to a SQUID device 367.

In a germination / growing apparatus having: a heat shield chamber that can be opened and closed; an illuminator for illuminating the inside of the heat shield chamber; a temperature regulator for heating and / or cooling the inside of the heat shield chamber; and a controller for controlling the temperature regulator, whereby seeds or plants are contained in the germination / growing apparatus for germinating or growing in the heat shield chamber, a breath inspirer for inspiring a human breath to the heat shield chamber is provided. With this configuration, the concentration of the carbon dioxide in the heat shield chamber can be increased, and the growth of the plant can be promoted.

A device (1) comprising a sensor module (2) with a package (3) is produced at reduced costs by providing the package (3) with two or more substrates (4,5) each with a functional layer (14,15), at least one sensor (24,25) such as a magnetometer and / or an accelerometer being located in at least one functional layer (14,15), and by providing the package (3) with a system comprising solder bumps (7-12) for aligning the functional layers (14,15). The system either comprises a first number of solder bumps (7,8) for coupling the functional layers (14,15) electrically and mechanically to each other via first bonding elements (31) or comprises a third substrate (6) with a third functional layer (16) and a second number of solder bumps (9,10) for coupling the first and third functional layers (14,16) electrically and mechanically to each other via second bonding elements (32) and a third number of solder bumps (11,12) for coupling the second and third functional layers (15,16) electrically and mechanically to each other via third bonding elements (33). Mechanically and / or electrically dummy solder bumps improve the alignment of the functional layers (14,15).

A connector, in which each conductive pattern includes a plate-like terminal engaging a protruding terminal on the other connector. The plate-like terminal includes a protruding terminal receiving opening for receiving the protruding terminal, a beam-like first terminal member positioned to the side of the protruding terminal receiving opening, and a first contact portion formed in the first terminal member. The first terminal member generates spring force towards the center of the connector in the lateral direction when the protruding terminal received inside the protruding terminal receiving opening moves relative to the first contact portion.

The invention relates to a switching apparatus (10) for switching a load on and off, in particular a motor or the like in a vehicle, having a housing (20), an operating element (30), a switching element (40), wherein the switching element (40) can be activated by the operating element (30), and at least one switching signal for a control unit can be produced by means of the switching element (40), and the operating element (30) has a symbol element (50). The invention provides for a first optical waveguide element (60) to carry a first light (71) from at least one first light source (70) such that the symbol element (50) is uniformly illuminated.

A coin separating unit of a compact configuration for separating coins of different thicknesses from a bulk supply includes a coin transporting unit such as a rotating belt having a support surface of a predetermined flexibility and friction characteristic. A separating roller unit is positioned above a support surface and rotates in a direction opposite to the movement of the belt. A supporter unit is operatively located upstream of the separating roller unit and can displace coins that are overlaid with each other. The belt has sufficient flexibility so that a gap between the surface of the belt and a separating roller unit can be increased to accommodate a particular thickness of coin as it passes beneath the separating roller unit.

An optical coherence tomography imaging device (1) for imaging a retina of a human subject comprises a base (10) having a planar contact surface (11), an optical unit (30) providing a sample beam to scan the retina of the human subject and a head support (80) to be contacted by a head portion of the human subject, the head support (80) defining an entrance position of the sample beam entering an eye of the human subject. An angle between the sample beam at the entrance position and the planar contact surface (11) of the base (10) is 50 to 90°. This arrangement ensures that the head rests in a stable and well defined position with respect to the OCT optics. The risk of negative effects on the imaging process due to head movements, in particular due to movements during the scan time of the OCT device is considerably reduced. Furthermore, the device may assume a compact form factor.

A communication system and device that enables free-hand drawn SMS (Short Messaging Service) messages to be transmitted and received from / to various user devices. A buffer device is inserted within a GSM compatible handset providing a buffer for both conventional SMS messages created by typing a message on the keypad of the handset and for free-hand drawn SMS messages created by drawing or writing the free-hand message on a data entry device. An optional OCR (Optical Character Recognition) facility can be provided in either the buffer device inserted within the handset or in a network server that receives the transmitted message and processes it for proper routing to the intended recipient.