895results about How to "Precise function" patented technology

A method of forming an active device is provided. The method includes performing a first patterning operation on a first plurality of layers. This first patterning operation defines a first feature of the active device. Then, a second patterning operation can be performed on at least one layer of the first plurality of layers. This second patterning operation defines a second feature of the active device. Of importance, the first and second patterning operations are performed substantially back-to-back, thereby ensuring that the active device can accurately function.

A multi-dimensional audio processor receives as an input either a single channel signal or a two channel signal from an audio signal source; for example a musical instrument or an audio mixer. The processor is programmable to divide the input among at least 3 output channels in a user-defined manner. The processor is also user programmable to provide a variety of effect and mixing functions for the output channel signals.

The present invention includes intervertebral prosthetic devices and methods for installing intervertebral prosthetic devices into an intervertebral space. In one embodiment, an intervertebral prosthetic disc includes a superior endplate; an inferior endplate; and at least one protrusion element, wherein at least one of the superior endplate and the inferior endplate is adapted to receive the protrusion element. In another embodiment, the invention includes an intervertebral prosthetic disc having a superior endplate including a core retaining member; an inferior endplate including a core retaining member; and an asymmetric core positioned between the superior endplate and the inferior endplate, wherein the superior endplate and the inferior endplate are adapted to accommodate the core. The present invention also includes an intervertebral prosthetic disc system that includes an intervertebral prosthetic disc and at least one spring element.

A method of augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus by injecting or otherwise adding to a disc nucleus a plurality of particles of natural, collagen-rich tissue. The mean particle size of the pieces of natural, collagen-rich tissue may be between 0.25 mm and 1.0 mm. The particles may be dehydrated before implantation, and rehydrated after implantation, or they may be implanted in a “wet” state—such as a slurry or gel. Radiocontrast materials may be included to enhance imaging of the injected material. Other additives may include analgesics, antibiotics, proteoglycans, growth factors, stem cells, and/or other cells effective to promote healing and/or proper disc function.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing an audio sound source to create four-dimensional spatialized sound. A virtual sound source may be moved along a path in three-dimensional space over a specified time period to achieve four-dimensional sound localization. The various embodiments described herein provide methods and systems for converting existing mono, 2-channel and/or multi-channel audio signals into spatialized audio signals have two or more audio channels. The incoming audio signals may be down-mixed, up-mixed or otherwise translated into fewer, greater or the same number of audio channels. The various embodiments also describe methods, systems and apparatus for generating low frequency effect and center channel signals from incoming audio signals having one or more channels.

A method and apparatus for processing an audio sound source to create four-dimensional spatialized sound. A virtual sound source may be moved along a path in three-dimensional space over a specified time period to achieve four-dimensional sound localization. A binaural filter for a desired spatial point is applied to the audio waveform to yield a spatialized waveform that, when the spatialized waveform is played from a pair of speakers, the sound appears to emanate from the chosen spatial point instead of the speakers. A binaural filter for a spatial point is simulated by interpolating nearest neighbor binaural filters chosen from a plurality of pre-defined binaural filters. The audio waveform may be processed digitally in overlapping blocks of data using a Short-Time Fourier transform. The localized sound may be further processed for Doppler shift and room simulation.

The invention provides a method for trust relationship detection between a core and access network for a user equipment. The gist is that a security tunnel establishment procedure is used so one entity, be it part of the core network or be it the user equipment itself, is provided with information to determine whether the access network is trusted or untrusted. The information may comprise a first IP address/prefix, which is initially assigned to the user equipment, upon attaching to the access network. The necessary information may further comprise a second IP address/prefix, which is an address/prefix that is allocated at a trusted entity of the core network. Depending which entity determines the trust relationship of the access network, it might be necessary to transmit either the first IP address/prefix or the second IP address/prefix or the first and the second IP address/prefix using the security tunnel establishment procedure.

The present invention includes a network having a plurality of communication buses, at least two of the plurality of buses utilizing different communication bus protocols; a plurality of computer devices, at least one of the plurality of computer devices coupled to at least one of the plurality of communication buses and containing computer device software having an architecture including bus communication software for communicating with at least one of the plurality of communication buses; and an abstraction layer in communication with the bus communication software and capable of abstracting messages from the communication bus protocols, the plurality of computer devices including at least one gateway computer device coupled to multiple of the plurality of communication buses and containing computer device software having an architecture further including a gateway in communication with the abstraction layer and capable of routing the abstracted messages between computer devices coupled to the multiple communication buses to which the at least one gateway computer device is coupled.

A method for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving the battery power for a circuit in continuous operation is disclosed herein. The circuit includes a RFID component, a microprocessor, an accelerometer and a battery. The battery preferably has no more than 225 milliamp hours of power. The accelerometer is preferably a multiple axis accelerometer. The circuit is preferably utilized with a device for shot tracking.

A method and a system for simultaneously generating configurable three-dimensional (3D) sounds are provided. A 3D sound processing application (3DSPA) in operative communication with a microphone array system (MAS) is provided on a computing device. The MAS forms acoustic beam patterns and records sound tracks from the acoustic beam patterns. The 3DSPA generates a configurable sound field on a graphical user interface using recorded or pre-recorded sound tracks. The 3DSPA acquires user selections of configurable parameters associated with sound sources from the configurable sound field. The 3DSPA dynamically processes the sound tracks using the user selections to generate a configurable 3D binaural sound, surround sound, and/or stereo sound. The 3DSPA measures head related transfer functions (HRTFs) in communication with a simulator apparatus that simulates a human's upper body. The 3DSPA generates the binaural sound by processing the sound tracks with the HRTFs based on the user selections.

In order to measure the movement of a vehicle, especially an aircraft, an imaging optical system 2 which is to be positioned on the vehicle is used to detect an image of the environment 4, and an optoelectronic shift sensor 3 chip of the type comprising an inherent evaluation unit is used to measure any shift of the image from structures thereof. The shift sensor is equal or similar to the sensor used on an optical mouse. The sensor is positioned in such a way that infinite objects are focused. The measuring signal is evaluated to indicate movements and/or the position of the aircraft. The inventive system can also be used to measure distances e.g. in order to control the flight altitude. The invention further relates to methods for automatically controlling particularly a hovering flight by means of a control loop using optical flow measurement.

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 apparatus for the manipulation of colloidal particulates and biomolecules at the interface between an insulating electrode such as silicon oxide and an electrolyte solution. Light-controlled elektrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces relies on the combination of three functional elements, the AC electric field-induced assembly of planar aggregates; the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The present invention provides a set of fundamental operations enabling interactive control over the creation and placement of planar arrays of several types of particles and biomolecules and the manipulation of array shape and size. The present invention enables sample preparation and handling for diagnostic assays and biochemical analysis in an array format, and the functional integration of these operations. In addition, the present invention provides a procedure for the creation of material surfaces with desired properties and for the fabrication of surface-mounted optical components. This invention is also for a method and apparatus to direct the lateral motion and induce the assembly into planar arrays of cells on semiconductor surfaces in response to temporally and spatially varying electric fields and to projected patterns of illumination.

A low cost, scalable backplane for black and white or color optical displays comprises a multi-membrane plastic structure on which is printed or deposited row and column drivers to form a matrix of micro electromechanical (MEM) switches. Each switch controls the state of a pixel in the optical display device. Critical to successful long-term operation, the backplane includes the controlled application of voltages to each switch so that the display functions correctly and display life is maximized. The MEM switches include a substantially non-pliable membrane and a substantially flexible membrane both of which include electrodes that when energized will create electrostatic forces that attracts the flexible membrane to the non-pliable membrane. The MEM switches are manufactured in an array with a pitch that provides a sufficient number of switches to drive an optical display device and each switch may be latched to eliminate the need to constantly refresh the device.

An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of the salt water pool to be cleaned, and an integral electrochemical chlorine generator mounted in the housing, includes a processor/controller that is programmed to activate the chlorine generator, the pump and drive means in predetermined operational sequences that minimize wear and tear on the water pump and drive means, while at the same time distribute and maintain a safe level of sanitizing chlorine in the pool, to thereby obviate the need for an in-line chlorinator or other chemical additive treatments; an optional automated sensor device can be provided to activate a secondary maintenance program which enables the pool cleaner to operate over prolonged periods of time as the sole means for filtering and sanitizing the pool water. An electrochemical cell manual mounting system permits the cell to be secured in place for operation and manually removed for maintenance, repair or replacement by the user without special tools or training.

A gunsight reticle defines a system of dimensioned indicia spaced at specific separations to improve aiming accuracy of a gun. The indicia may include perpendicularly intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, and four (or more or less) horizontal range-marker lines disposed at specific angular separations below the horizontal hairline in bisected relationship with the center vertical hairline. Spacing of the range marker lines below the center horizontal hairline is proportional to bullet drop at selected ranges, depending upon ballistic characteristics of bullet used. Relative lengths of said range-marker bars on each side of the central vertical crosshair are proportional to a specific crosswind (say 10 mph) at target range reflected by respective range marker. The method involves employing this reticle to determine distance to target, and using distance thus determined to ascertain a precise aiming point on the reticle. These indicia also have other useful characteristics that allow the shooter to easily mentally calculate corrections for crosswind, moving targets and shooting at targets that are above or below the shooter at a significant angle.

In response to user action, lower priority tasks are scheduled as high priority tasks. This allows lower priority tasks to function even if a higher priority task has malfunctioned and starved the lower priority tasks of instructions. This advantageously provides the user with increased abilities to solve or work around malfunctioning tasks.

A method and system for fabricating a dental prosthesis are provided. High resolution digital scanned images of a patient's oral structures are acquired. Three dimensional (3D) cone beam X-ray images of hard and soft oral tissues are acquired. The scanned images are integrated with the 3D cone beam X-ray images in a 3D space to obtain combined three dimensional images of the oral structures. The occlusal relationship between upper and lower oral structures are digitally simulated using the combined three dimensional images. The dental prosthesis is digitally modeled for planning intra-oral positioning and structure of the dental prosthesis. The digital dental prosthesis model is refined based on simulated force tests performed for assessing interference and retention of the digital dental prosthesis model. A prospective dental prosthesis model is created based on the refined digital dental prosthesis model. The dental prosthesis is fabricated based on a verified prospective dental prosthesis model.