Abstract:
A golf bag holding apparatus is provided for mounting to a golf cart. The apparatus permits a golf bag to be rotated towards a substantially horizontal alignment to facilitate access to golf clubs stored in the golf bag.
Abstract:
A control illumination apparatus having at least one control and a movable cover positionable over the at least one control. At least one light source is connected to the cover and illuminates an exterior surface of the at least one control with the cover in an open position.
Abstract:
A mechanical handle switch assembly (14) (“switch assembly”) is provided for actuating a vehicle-based system (12). The switch assembly (14) includes a door handle mechanism (28), which is coupled to a vehicle door (26) and utilized for actuation by a user. This door handle mechanism (28) is movable a predetermined travel distance, which includes a switch-triggering distance for actuating the vehicle-based system (12) and an unlatching distance for unlatching the vehicle door (26). The door handle mechanism (28) is coupled to a drive train mechanism (34) and utilized for actuating the drive train mechanism (34). The drive train mechanism (34) is operatively coupled to a switch device (18) for selectively closing the switch device (18) and actuating the vehicle-based system (12).
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a mobile platform. The platform includes a structure and a member assembled to the structure. Further, the member has a first and a second surface with a thickness defined there between that is varied. The method includes leaving the member on the structure. Also, the method includes advancing a tool through the member while on the structure. The tool is stopped before the tool advances into the structure by more than about a first pre-selected tolerance. Also, a mobile platform assembly is provided that includes a structure, a member, and a fastener fastening the structure and member via a hole through the structure and assembly. The hole has a first diameter through the structure and a second diameter through the member, wherein the diameter changes within an acceptable depth range. In another preferred embodiment, a boroscope, adapted for inspecting holes having two diameters, is also provided.
Abstract:
A mechanical handle switch assembly (14) (“switch assembly”) is provided for actuating a vehicle-based system (12). The switch assembly (14) includes a door handle (28), which is coupled to a vehicle door (26) and utilized for actuation by a user. This door handle (28) is movable a predetermined travel distance, which includes a switch-triggering distance for actuating the vehicle-based system (12) and an unlatching distance for unlatching the vehicle door (26). The door handle (28) is coupled to a drive train mechanism (34) and utilized for actuating the drive train mechanism (34). The drive train mechanism (34) is operatively coupled to a switch device (18) for selectively closing the switch device (18) and actuating the vehicle-based system (12). The switch assembly (14) further includes a dampening mechanism (56) for slowing movement of the door handle (28) and increasing available processing time for the vehicle-based system (12).
Abstract:
A radiation measurement device for determining a wavelength-related characteristic of radiation from a radiation source is provided. The device includes a wavelength-dependent optical element (e.g., bandpass filter), and an optical power-measuring detector (e.g., photodetector). At least one optical beam is incident onto a polarization-sensitive reflective and/or transmissive surface positioned along an optical path of the device, is transmitted by the wavelength-dependent optical element, and is received by the optical power-measuring detector along the optical path. The radiation measurement device further includes a linear polarizer placed along the optical path prior to the optical power-measuring detector. In operation, the linear polarizer ensures that the beam received from the polarization-sensitive reflective and/or transmissive surface has a substantially fixed state of polarization, regardless of the polarization state of the original incident optical beam, to thereby reduce or eliminate uncontrolled polarization-dependent errors in the radiation measurement device.
Abstract:
A system and method for interdigitating multiple perspective views in a stereoscopic image viewing system. A lenticular sheet is affixed in intimate juxtaposition with a display area having a defined aspect ratio. The display area includes a plurality of scan lines each having a plurality of pixels, each pixel including subpixels. A map having the same resolution as the display is created to store values corresponding to each subpixel in the display area. Preferably, the map is generated beforehand and stored for later use through a lookup operation. A buffer stores a frame having n views, wherein each of the n views has the same aspect ratio as the display area. A plurality of masks is also created and stored. Each mask corresponds to a unique one of the n views and includes opaque areas and a plurality of transparent windows, each of which corresponds to a selected subpixel location. The n views are then interdigitated while applying the corresponding masks, and a value is assigned to each subpixel using the map.
Abstract:
A switching device includes the ability to perform a primary and secondary switching function through the use of a single switch handle. A primary switch contact is activated when the switch handle is moved in a desired direction. A secondary switch contact is activated when the switch handle is further moved in the same direction. The secondary switch contact includes a generally flexible conductive member supported adjacent a printed circuit board. An actuator portion of the switch handle moves into contact with the generally flexible conductive member causing a central portion of that member to flex toward and contact the printed circuit board. Such electrical contact results in a signal being generated that is indicative of a desire to accomplish the secondary switching function.
Abstract:
A rotary dimmer switch assembly for use with a vehicle push-pull switch controls at least one light dimming function. The rotary switch assembly comprises a stationary cam contact assembly, and a rotating carder assembly which carries a circuit element having an exposed circuit trace surface. The cam contact assembly is fixed to a circuit board and has a plurality of contact arms having one end biased against the circuit element circuit trace surfaces and the other end electrically connected to the circuit board. The cam contact assembly guides the rotation of the carrier assembly about the longitudinal axis of the push-pull switch. The circuit element rotates with the carrier assembly, which is rotated by rotation of a push-pull switching component, and the circuit trace surfaces sweep across the contact arms thereby controlling the light dimming function. A method of assembling the rotary potentiometer assembly is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A thermally and mechanically stable wavefront reference source which produces a collimated output laser beam. The output beam comprises substantially planar reference wavefronts which are useful for aligning and testing optical interferometers. The invention receives coherent radiation from an input optical fiber, directs a diverging input beam of the coherent radiation to a beam folding mirror (to produce a reflected diverging beam), and collimates the reflected diverging beam using a collimating lens. In a class of preferred embodiments, the invention includes a thermally and mechanically stable frame comprising rod members connected between a front end plate and a back end plate. The beam folding mirror is mounted on the back end plate, and the collimating lens mounted to the rods between the end plates. The end plates and rods are preferably made of thermally stable metal alloy. Preferably, the input optical fiber is a single mode fiber coupled to an input end of a second single mode optical fiber that is wound around a mandrel fixedly attached to the frame of the apparatus. The output end of the second fiber is cleaved so as to be optically flat, so that the input beam emerging therefrom is a nearly perfect diverging spherical wave.