Other

Simuwear Corporation

Dynamem, Inc.

Gary W Smith

Chris Karabatsos

Garrick D Smith

Joshua David Brown

Michael Charles Moore

Martin W Betchy

Brian R Cerullo

Kevin M Milliken

A system and subsystems include a server for determining the identity of a media program being received which will provide stimuli to an interactive figure. The system, and the subsystem as well as programmed media which, when executed on a processor, will operate the interactive figure, the system, and subsystems. A master library of sound patterns, preferably housed in a server, provides a reference for a recognition routine to identify, e.g., a particular television show. A control signal library stores commands each corresponding to a distinctive value. The commands initiate actions, e.g., motion, speech, or other response, by operating means in the interactive figure. The server may 'push,' or transmit information to a user computer which transmits to and which may receive intelligence from the interactive figure.

Animated interactive figure and system

Two substrate leaves are coupled by a folded flexible circuit medium. Integrated circuit components can be mounted to opposite faces of both leaves. A signal terminal projects from one of the leaves. Both leaves include paths for communicating signals between their respective components and the terminal. Preferably the leaves are formed by two outer, rigid substrates each laminarly affixed to a respcective inner substrate, the inner substrates being separate sections of the folded circuit medium and the outer substrates being separated sections of a rigid circuit medium. Components are mounted to the exposed faces of the substrates. The fold includes paths for communicating signals between the leaf distal from the terminal and the terminal, the signal paths between one leaf and the terminal being closely matched in length and impedance to corresponding paths between the other leaf and the terminal.

Break away, high speed, folded, jumperless electronic assembly

A high-speed memory module defined by first and second elements the first element including a plurality of flexible, interior layers laminated together to form a substrate having opposed exterior surfaces, the substrate having a network of conductive traces and vias forming data paths therein, at least two substantially quadrangular, rigid circuit boards, each of the boards laminarly split into substantially symmetric half-sections, each of the half-sections having solder lands formed on a first face for mounting electronic components thereto and conductive traces and vias incorporated therein forming a continuation of the data paths, each of the half-sections having an opposite second face for bonding to the exterior surfaces of the substrate, the half-sections laminated together on either side of a portion of the substrate with the substrate being sandwiched therebetween, wherein any gap between two parallel spaced-apart edges of any two adjacent boards is wide enough to allow mounting of the boards in a parallel, face-to-face, layered arrangement by folding the substrate at the gap, the gap being wide enough to allow for an air space between any opposite facing component attached to separate boards, and the second element including, a rigid circuit board having a network of conductive traces and vias incorporated therein the board defined by spaced-apart first and second elongated edges, a comb of connecting terminals integral with the second element along the first elongated edge, the comb connected to the traces and vias to continue the data paths, the comb sized and dimensioned to engage a connecting port on a supporting structure, and a first plurality of feed-through holes engaging the data paths in the first element arranged for connection to a like second plurality of feed-through holes engaging the data paths formed in the second element, and device for interconnecting the first and the second feed-through holes so that the data paths from each of the half-sections through to the support structure are of substantially equal lengths.

High speed memory module

A device and related method are provided for assisting visually impaired persons obtain verbal information from consumer product bar codes. The devices includes a scanner unit, a processing unit, a power unit and a voice synthesizer. The method involves the person scanning the bar code of the product with the scanner unit to provide a first signal which is communicated to the processing unit for locating, retrieving and outputting product information corresponding to the bar code in a form for the voice synthesizer to generate a verbal output to convey the information to the person. The bar code may be raised to assist the visually impaired person in locating the exact location of the bar code to facilitate scanning thereof. The device and the method provide the visually impaired person with a level of information that about the product that is not normally obtained without the assistance of another person.

Device for assisting the visually impaired in product recognition and

A foldable electronic assembly is provided with extending ears for protecting folded substrates in flexible areas and with elements between adjacent face-to-face boards to maintain selected spacing between the boards while mechanically holding adjacent boards together. Elements may also be provided in the area of the ears which are adapted to coact with a suitable tool to facilitate removal of the assembly from a mating connector.

Foldable electronic assembly module

A system and method for testing floor coverings provides test data that not only permit meaningful comparisons of various types of floor coverings relative to each other but also permit accurate prediction of how the floor covering samples will perform in actual use. Floor covering testing is provided by repeatedly subjecting a floor covering sample to simulated footfall impacts. The simulated footfall impacts include normal and shear components that are selected based on actual physiological studies of the human gait. The floor covering testing is performed based on the expected pedestrian traffic to be encountered by the floor covering in use. In certain tests, the type of soil expected at the installation site is taken into consideration. The amount of soil retained by particular floor covering samples is measured. Additional tests measure pile retention, in the case of carpets, to predict changes in appearance through usage over time. Other tests measure the ability of a floor covering sample to maintain tension and to provide coefficients of friction consistent with acceptable performance.

System and method for testing floor coverings

In a header assembly, for interconnecting an electronic module to a mother board, including an insulating strip and at least one row of spaced-apart pins inserted through holes between an upper face and a lower face of the strip, each of the pins having an upper portion projecting from the upper face and being shaped and dimensioned to interconnect with the module, and a lower portion projecting from the lower face and being shaped and dimensioned to interconnect with the mother board, any adjacent two of the pins being separated by a length of the strip, the improvement which includes a plurality of collars of heat-dissipating material, one of the collars mounted around and in intimate contact with each of the pins, the collars having a peripheral outline shaped and dimensioned to avoid electrical contact with an adjacent pin.

Heat sink header assembly

A reciprocating pneumatic cylinder is mounted to drive a simulated heel at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees into a floor covering system which is mounted to move back and forth and rotate with respect to the heel impacts. The impacts are thereby varied in angle of attack over the surface of a test specimen and are simulative of human foot traffic. A carpet sample is stretched beneath the impacting heel over a cushion 56 which is unstretched. A bidirectional clamping assembly allows readings to be taken during a test to determine dimensional stability and rate of change of dimensional stability. The test specimen which results from multiple impacts has a central region which is heavily worked and an outer region which is subjected to fewer impacts, permitting a range or wear to be analyzed on a single specimen. Carpet response to soiling may also be examined on a test specimen.

Floor covering foot impact simulator

An electronic assembly combines a number of commensurate printed circuit boards bonded to a common, flexible, interconnecting substrate in an alternately folded and layered arrangement against an end board that has a comb of terminals for mounting into a motherboard connector. The flexible substrate is sandwiched between half-sections of each board, allowing mounting of components from both faces of the board. The assembly is particularly indicated for high density applications such as memory modules.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Gary W Smith