Abstract:
An active vibration isolation and payload reaction force compensation system includes a number of isolation legs which support equipment subject to undesirable vibrations. Each leg includes an elastomeric support member which supports the mass of the equipment and attenuates seismic forces transmitted from the ground to the system. A number of force actuators fixed to each leg and to the equipment in oppositely directed pairs provide forces directed to compensate for motions of the equipment. Six accelerometers are provided on the equipment to measure accelerations in six degrees of freedom. A control system, responsive to signals from the accelerometers, causes actuation of the force actuators.
Abstract:
A system and method in accordance with the invention allows the emulation of a DMA transfer between a device such as a CD-ROM which is incapable of a bus-mastering mode of operation (e.g., a DMA transfer) and a memory. Following receipt of an interrupt request, a system in accordance with the invention generates an I/O access cycle to the device, retrieves data and stores the data in a buffer. Following data retrieval, the system transfers the data to host memory. Once data is transferred to host memory, an interrupt is generated to the host processor. Thus, host processor resources are not required to perform a data transfer with devices unable to become bus-masters.
Abstract:
Transgenic plants that have, stably integrated into their nuclear genome, a maintainer gene comprising a fertility-restorer gene and a pollen-lethality gene. The plants can be used to maintain a homogeneous population of male-sterile plants.
Abstract:
Underwater exercise apparatus includes at least one paddle, which is coupled to an axle causing the paddle to rotate in response to rotation of the axle. When under water, the paddle produces resistance to the rotation of the axle. In a preferred embodiment, the paddle may be made part of a treadmill for underwater use for varying the resistance to movement of the treadmill belt. In a treadmill embodying the invention, the axle of one of the rollers supporting the belt, which roller is tightly coupled to the belt, extends beyond the side edge of the belt. Directly connected to the extending end of the axle, for rotation therewith, is a paddle. In use, movement of the belt causes rotation of the paddle through the water. The water resists the movement of the paddle which, in turn, resists movement of the belt. The amount of resistance to belt movement is a function of the speed of movement of the belt and the size of the paddle which is designed to be readily changed as desired. The paddle may include means for varying the pitch of the paddle(s). The paddle may also be used in combination with numerous other types of underwater exercise apparatus such as, for example, a bicycle type apparatus.
Abstract:
A cardiovascular exercise device is provided. The cardiovascular exercise device is for use to administer an exercise program including shuttle runs. The cardiovascular exercise device includes: a tower placeable at a first location; a user input associated with the tower; a pacing bar arranged to display a target pace of a user for a shuttle run of a track distance from the first location; and a processor configured to operate an exercise program. The administration of the exercise program includes the steps of: receiving a signal from the user input; defining a repetition as the time between subsequent signals from the user input; and indicating pacing information to the user based upon this signal.
Abstract:
Methods of anchoring components of a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device to a substrate. An exemplary embodiment has a trace anchor bonded to a substrate, a device anchor bonded to the substrate, and an anchor flexure configured to flexibly couple the trace anchor and the device anchor to substantially prevent transmission of a stress induced in the trace anchor from being transmitted to the device anchor.
Abstract:
A vaporizer and method of vaporizing a botanical material is described. Embodiments of the apparatus include a self-contained, fully enclosed, battery operated vaporizer having an air inlet and a mouthpiece. The vaporizer includes a window for viewing a botanical material contained therein and a heating element that is also visible through the window and through an air inlet. The vaporizer also includes a push-button switch that rapidly provides power to heat air, which is then drawn through the botanical material by inhaling. Embodiments of the method include utilizing a push-button switch for heating vaporizer air and viewing the glow of the heating element as a signal that the vaporizer is ready for use.
Abstract:
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for installing software in a network data processing system. An event is detected in the network data processing system indicating that a software module is to be installed in a set of data processing systems in the network data processing system. A configuration of each data processing system in the set of data processing systems is discovered, and a set of instructions is created using a knowledge base of prior installations. The set of instructions is tailored for each data processing system in the set of data processing systems based on the configuration for the each data processing system in the set of data processing systems. The set of instructions for the software module to be installed is sent to the set of data processing systems.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed that generates design profiles and a surface therefrom that promote water drainage from soil in an area of interest. Topographical data describing an initial surface of the area of interest are used to form initial profiles. The method generates the design profiles using the initial profiles and desired design parameters such as minimum slope, maximum slope, optimal slope, maximum depth, optimal depth, starting elevation, ending elevation, rules of curvature, and rules of earth balancing. The method generates design surface profiles so that the cut volumes and fill volumes of the soil are at or near balance as much as possible from the available soil in the area of interest.