What is claimed is:
1. An imaging system comprising:
an imaging device assembled on a carrier tube; and
a first outwardly expandable element and a second outwardly expandable element mounted on said carrier tube, wherein said second expandable element is expandable both radially and axially, said imaging system comprising a mode of operation, wherein during expansion of said second expandable element, obstruction of the radial expansion of said second expandable element causes the axial expansion of said second expandable element to propel said carrier tube and said imaging device axially.
2. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said first expandable element is fixed axially to said carrier tube, and said second expandable element is slidable axially relative to said carrier tube.
3. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said carrier tube is formed with first and second apertures in fluid communication with said first and second expandable elements, respectively.
4. The imaging system according to claim 3, further comprising a first supply tube disposed in said carrier tube in fluid communication with said first aperture, and a second supply tube disposed in said carrier tube in fluid communication with said second aperture.
5. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second expandable elements are expandable to different shapes.
6. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said first expandable element is expandable substantially radially with negligible axial expansion.
7. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said second expandable element is expandable generally spherically.
8. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging device is mounted at a distal end of said carrier tube, distally of said first and second expandable elements.
9. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a light source disposed in said carrier tube.
10. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a suction tube disposed in said carrier tube.
11. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a tool lumen disposed in said carrier tube.
12. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising control wires disposed in said carrier tube.
13. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member disposed at a proximal end of said carrier tube.
14. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a linear encoder disposed on said carrier tube, and a decoder operative to sense linear movement of said carrier tube with respect to said linear encoder.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A connector adapter comprising:
an adapter base located substantially within a plane and defining an aperture to receive a first connector body having a first connector body height; and
a sleeve proximate the adapter base, at least a portion of the sleeve extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane to a distance greater than the first connector body height, the sleeve having an inner width substantially equal to an outer width of a second connector body,
wherein the connector adapter is configured to be slidable onto one of the first connector body and the second connector body and to guide insertion of the other connector body to facilitate alignment of the first and second connector bodies.
2. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the first connector body comprises a telematics subsystem connector.
3. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the second connector body comprises a wireless telephony module connector.
4. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the connector adapter is formed from a rigid polymer.
5. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the connector adapter is formed from a semi-rigid polymer.
6. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve extends in a direction substantially normal to the plane to a distance greater than a second connector body height of the second connector body.
7. The connector adapter of claim 1, further comprising a roller located proximate the sleeve and configured and arranged to interact with the second connector body to guide positioning of the second connector body.
8. The connector adapter of claim 1, further comprising a rib projecting from an inner surface of the connector adapter and configured and arranged to interact with the first connector body to guide positioning of the first connector body.
9. The connector adapter of claim 8, wherein the rib is sloped.
10. A vehicle communication system comprising:
a first circuit;
a first connector operatively coupled to the first circuit, the first connector comprising a first connector body having a first connector body height;
a second circuit;
a second connector operatively coupled to the second circuit, the second connector comprising a second connector body having an outer width; and
a connector adapter comprising
an adapter base located substantially within a plane and defining an aperture to receive the first connector body; and
a sleeve proximate the adapter base, at least a portion of the sleeve extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane to a distance greater than the first connector body height, the sleeve having an inner width substantially equal to the outer width of the second connector body,
wherein the connector adapter is configured to be slidable onto one of the first connector body and the second connector body and to guide insertion of the other connector body to facilitate alignment of the first and second connector bodies and establishment of an electrical connection between the first and second circuits.
11. The vehicle communication system of claim 10, wherein the first connector comprises a telematics subsystem connector.
12. The vehicle communication system of claim 10, wherein the second connector comprises a wireless telephony module connector.
13. The vehicle communication system of claim 10, wherein the connector adapter is formed from a rigid polymer.
14. The vehicle communication system of claim 10, wherein the connector adapter is formed from a semi-rigid polymer.
15. The vehicle communication system of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve extends in a direction substantially normal to the plane to a distance greater than a second connector body height of the second connector body.
16. The vehicle communication system of claim 10, further comprising a roller located proximate the sleeve and configured and arranged to interact with the second connector body to guide positioning of the second connector body.
17. The vehicle communication system of claim 10, further comprising a rib projecting from an inner surface of the connector adapter and configured and arranged to interact with the first connector body to guide positioning of the first connector body.
18. The vehicle communications system of claim 19, wherein the rib is sloped.
19. A vehicle telematics system comprising:
a housing;
a telematics subsystem located at least partially within the housing;
a telematics subsystem connector operatively coupled to the telematics subsystem, the telematics subsystem connector comprising a telematics subsystem connector body having a first connector body height;
a wireless telephony subsystem located at least partially within the housing;
a wireless telephony subsystem connector operatively coupled to the wireless telephony subsystem, the wireless telephony subsystem connector comprising a wireless telephony subsystem connector body having an outer width; and
a connector adapter comprising
an adapter base located substantially within a plane and defining an aperture to receive the telematics subsystem connector body; and
a sleeve proximate the adapter base, at least a portion of the sleeve extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane to a distance greater than the first connector body height, the sleeve having an inner width substantially equal to the outer width of the wireless telephony subsystem connector body,
wherein the connector adapter is configured to be slidable onto one of the telematics subsystem connector body and the wireless telephony subsystem connector body and to guide insertion of the other connector body to facilitate alignment of the first telematics subsystem connector body and the wireless telephony subsystem connector body and establishment of an electrical connection between the telematics subsystem and the wireless telephony subsystem.
20. The telematics system of claim 19, wherein the housing is formed from a die cast metal.
21. The telematics system of claim 19, wherein the connector adapter is formed from a rigid polymer.
22. The telematics system of claim 19, wherein the connector adapter is formed from a semi-rigid polymer.
23. The telematics system of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve extends in a direction substantially normal to the plane to a distance greater than a second connector body height of the wireless telephony subsystem connector body.
24. The telematics system of claim 19, further comprising a roller located proximate the sleeve and configured and arranged to interact with the wireless telephony subsystem connector body to guide positioning of the wireless telephony subsystem connector body.
25. The telematics system of claim 19, further comprising a rib projecting from an inner surface of the connector adapter and configured and arranged to interact with the telematics subsystem connector body to guide positioning of the telematics subsystem connector body.