Author: claimsbot

1. A device for teaching a proper elbow position, comprising:
a lever attached to an elbow of a student by a means of attachment disposed on the lever;
a base member abutting against a rib cage of the student;
a hinge means pivotally connecting the lever to the base member and biasing the lever away from the base member;
an angle fixing means defining a desired angle between the lever and the base member;
an alarm means engaging when an angle between the lever and the base member is less than the desired angle.
2. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 1, wherein the means of attachment comprises at least one adjustable strap disposed substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the lever and wherein the hinge means is a spring loaded hinge.
3. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 2, wherein the alarm means comprises:
a switch that can be selectively placed in an \u201con\u201d position and in an \u201coff\u201d position by a spring loaded actuator biased towards the \u201con\u201d position;
a buzzer;
a battery electrically coupled to the switch and the buzzer, the battery energizing the buzzer when the switch is placed in the \u201con\u201d position;
4. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 3, wherein the angle fixing means comprises:
a string comprising a proximate end and a distal end, the distal end fixedly attached to the actuator;
an eyelet disposed in the lever receiving the proximate end and passing a loop of the string through the eyelet, the proximate end fixedly attached to a friction lock slideably disposed on the string;
wherein the friction lock can be placed in an open position and in a closed position;
wherein the friction lock placed in the open position sliding freely along the string;
wherein the friction lock placed in the closed position affixing the proximate end on a selected position on the string for selecting the desired angle;
wherein maintaining the desired angle causing the distal end to pull on the actuator maintaining the switch in the \u201coff\u201d position.
5. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 4, wherein the base member further comprises at least one opening receiving the distal end and passing the string through the opening for pulling on the actuator.
6. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 5, wherein the buzzer is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric means, an electromechanical means, a speaker means and a vibrator means.
7. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 6, wherein the alarm means further comprises an earphone output.
8. A device for teaching a proper elbow position, comprising:
(a) a lever attached to an elbow of a student by at least one adjustable strap disposed substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the lever;
(b) a base member abutting against a rib cage of the student;
(c) a spring loaded hinge pivotally connecting the lever to the base member and biasing the lever away from the base member;
(d) an alarm means engaging when an angle between the lever and the base member is less than the desired angle comprising:
a switch that can be selectively placed in an \u201con\u201d position and in an \u201coff\u201d position by a spring loaded actuator biased towards the \u201con\u201d position;
a buzzer selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric means, an electromechanical means, a speaker means and a vibrator means;
a battery electrically coupled to the switch and the buzzer, battery energizing the buzzer when the switch is placed in the \u201con\u201d position;

wherein the battery, the buzzer and the switch are housed in one enclosure;
(e) an angle fixing means defining a desired angle between the lever and the base member, comprising:
a string comprising a proximate end and a distal end, the distal end fixedly attached to the actuator;
an eyelet disposed in the lever receiving the proximate end and passing a loop of the string through the eyelet, the proximate end fixedly attached to a friction lock slideably disposed on the string;

wherein the friction lock can be placed in an open position and in a closed position;
wherein the friction lock placed in the open position sliding freely along the string;
wherein the friction lock placed in the closed position affixing the proximate end on a selected position on the string for selecting the desired angle;
wherein maintaining the desired angle causing the distal end to pull on the actuator maintaining the switch in the \u201coff\u201d position.
9. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 8, wherein the base member further comprises at least one opening receiving the distal end and passing the string through the opening for pulling on the actuator.
10. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 9, wherein the alarm means further comprises a spring loaded limit switch disposed on the enclosure engaging with the lever when the lever pivots to a predetermined distance towards the base member, disconnecting the buzzer from the battery.
11. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 10, wherein the buzzer can be selectively placed in a vibration mode and in a sound mode by a selector disposed on the enclosure.
12. A device for teaching a proper elbow position as in claim 11, wherein the alarm means further comprises an earphone output disposed on the enclosure.

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. An inductor comprising:
a first conductor layer;
a second conductor layer spaced apart from the first conductor layer, the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer being electrically conductive;
an insulator layer positioned in the space between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer;
at least two connectors electrically connecting the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer in parallel, wherein each connector has an electrical impedance;
wherein when an electrical current is propagated within at least the first conductor layer a magnetic flux is generated within the inductor when a change in at least one of a frequency, a magnitude, or a waveform shape of the propagated electrical current; and
wherein the inductor comprises a selectable inductor quality factor.
2. The inductor of claim 1 wherein an electromotive force is generated when at least one of the frequency, the magnitude, or the waveform shape is changed.
3. The inductor of claim 2 wherein a magnitude of the magnetic flux is proportional to the amount of change of at least one of the frequency, the magnitude, or the waveform shape of the electrical current.
4. The inductor of claim 1 wherein, an electrical resistance of at least one of the first conductor layer or the second conductor layer is reducable when a cross-sectional area of a conducting skin depth within at least the first conductor layer or the second conductor layer is increased, wherein the increased cross-sectional area is a result of electrically connecting at least a third conductor layer to the second conductor layer, a second insulator layer positioned therebetween.
5. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the first conductor layer is about equal to a thickness of a skin depth of the first conductor layer at a given frequency.
6. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the first conductor ranges from about 1.25 times to about 4 times a thickness of a skin depth of the first conductor layer at a given frequency.
7. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the second conductor ranges from about 1.25 times to about 4 times a thickness of a skin depth of the second conductor layer at a given frequency.
8. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a first conductor layer thickness is about the same as a second conductor layer thickness.
9. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a first conductor layer thickness is different from a second conductor layer thickness.
10. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a thickness of a first skin depth of the first conductor layer is about the same as a thickness of a second skin depth of the second conductor layer.
11. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a thickness of a first skin depth of the first conductor layer is different than a thickness of a second skin depth of the second conductor layer.
12. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the insulating layer is less than about 5 cm.
13. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the inductor quality factor is greater than about 5.
14. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the inductor quality factor is defined by the equation
Q
=
2
\ue89e
\u03c0
\ue89e
\ue89e
fL

R
where f is the frequency of operation, L is the inductance, and R is the total ohmic and radiative resistance.
15. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the frequency is at least 3 kHz.
16. The inductor of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second conductor layers is formed from a thermally conductive material.
17. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises at least one of a via, a solder, a tab, a wire, a pin, a rivet, a filled mesh structure, a conductive polymer, a conductive composite, a conductive adhesive, a liquid metal, or a foamed metal.
18. The inductor of claim 1 wherein at least two connectors electrically connect the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer in parallel.
19. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer form a structure in which the first and second conductor layers are positioned in about a parallel orientation, a perpendicular, or at an angular relationship therebetween.
20. The inductor of claim 1 comprising a third conductor layer and a fourth conductor layer electrically connected in parallel wherein the first and second conductive layers are connected electrically in parallel and are further connected electrically in series with the third and fourth conductor layer.
21. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the inductor is electrically connectable with an electrical circuit operating at about 100 kHz or greater.
22. The inductor of claim 21 wherein the electrical circuit is selected from the group consisting of a mixer circuit, an impedance matching circuit, an upconverting mixer circuit, a downconverting mixer circuit, a modulator, a demodulator, a synthesizing circuit, a PLL synthesizing circuit, an amplifying circuit, an electrical driver circuit, an electrical detecting circuit, an RF log detector, an RF RMS detector, an electrical transceiver, a power controller, and combinations thereof.
23. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the inductor is electrically connectable within an induction heating circuit.
24. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a control circuit is electrically connectable to the inductor.
25. The inductor of claim 1 wherein at least the first and second conductor layers has at least a partial revolution.
26. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the first conductor layer or the second conductor layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of copper, titanium, platinum, platinum and iridium alloys, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, hafnium, nitinol, cobalt-chromium-nickel alloys, stainless steel, gold, a gold alloy, palladium, carbon, silver, a noble metal, a conductive polymer, a conductive adhesive, a conductive composite, a liquid metal, a foamed metal, a conductive tape, a conductive ribbon, a conductive foil, a conductive leaf, a wire, a deposited metal, a biocompatible material, and combinations thereof.
27. The inductor of claim 1 wherein at least one insulator layer is formed from an electrically insulative material.
28. The inductor of claim 1 wherein the insulator layer comprises an electrically insulative material selected from the group consisting of air, polystyrene, silicon dioxide, a biocompatible ceramic, a conductive dielectric material, a non-conductive dielectric material, a piezoelectric material, a pyroelectric material, a ferrite material, and combinations thereof.
29. The inductor of claim 1 further comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the first conductor layer, a second terminal electrically connected to the second conductor layer and a third terminal electrically connected to a third conductor layer, each of the terminals comprising opposing left and right terminal ends, a gap residing between the respective left and right terminal ends.
30. The inductor of claim 29 further comprising a first terminal via, having first and second terminal via ends, positioned between the first and second terminals, the first and second terminal via ends residing within the gaps of the first and second terminals.
31. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a switch is electrically connected between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer.
32. The inductor of claim 31 wherein the switch comprises a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.
33. The inductor of claim 30 wherein a plurality of switches electrically connected to the terminal vias.
34. The inductor of claim 1 wherein a first electrical resistance of the first conductor layer does not equal a second electrical resistance of the second conductor layer.
35. An inductor comprising:
a first inductor subassembly comprising:
a first conductive conductor layer and a second conductive conductor layer spaced apart from the first conductor layer, the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer being electrically conductive;
a first insulator layer positioned in the space between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layers;
a first connector electrically connecting the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer in parallel, the first connector having a first connector electrical impedance; and
wherein the first inductor subassembly has a first selectable inductor quality factor;

a second inductor subassembly comprising:
a third conductor layer and a fourth conductor layer spaced apart from the third conductor layer, the third conductor layer and the fourth conductor layer being electrically conductive;
a second insulator layer positioned in the space between the third conductor layer and the fourth conductor layers;
a second connector electrically connects the third conductor layer and the fourth conductor layer in parallel, the second connector having a second connector electrical impedance, wherein the first inductor subassembly is electrically connected in series to the second inductor subassembly; and
wherein the second inductor subassembly has a second selectable inductor quality factor; and

wherein when an electrical current is propagated within at least the first conductor layer, a magnetic flux is generated within the inductor when a change in at least one of a frequency, a magnitude, or a waveform shape of the propagated electrical current.
36. The inductor of claim 35 wherein the first conductor subassembly and the second inductor subassembly are oriented such that the first and second inductor subassemblies are positioned about parallel, about perpendicular, or at an angular relationship therebetween.

1. A vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus installed in a vehicle changing a drive torque transferred to a wheel during a halt, the apparatus comprising:
vehicle holding section for performing vehicle holding control that holds an actual brake hydraulic pressure applied to the wheel during a halt; and
storage section for storing a holdable hydraulic pressure capable of holding a halt state of the vehicle before and after the drive torque changes during a halt;
wherein, when determining that the actual brake hydraulic pressure is less than the holdable hydraulic pressure stored in the storage section at a start of the vehicle holding control, the vehicle holding section increases the actual brake hydraulic pressure to the holdable hydraulic pressure and holds the holdable hydraulic pressure.
2. The vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the vehicle is configured to reduce the drive torque as a brake operation amount increases and
the holdable hydraulic pressure is set to a first hydraulic pressure that is constant regardless of the road surface gradient when at least a road surface gradient is an ascending gradient equal to or more than a predetermined value.
3. The vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the holdable hydraulic pressure is set to a second hydraulic pressure less than the first hydraulic pressure when the road surface gradient is less than the predetermined value.
4. The vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
when performing the vehicle holding control and other brake control different from the vehicle holding control at the same time, the vehicle holding section sets a target hydraulic pressure in the vehicle holding control to the holdable hydraulic pressure or another target hydraulic pressure calculated in the other brake control, whichever is higher.
5. The vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
when performing the vehicle holding control and other brake control different from the vehicle holding control at the same time, the vehicle holding section sets a target hydraulic pressure in the vehicle holding control to the holdable hydraulic pressure or another target hydraulic pressure calculated in the other brake control, whichever is higher.
6. The vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
when performing the vehicle holding control and other brake control different from the vehicle holding control at the same time, the vehicle holding section sets a target hydraulic pressure in the vehicle holding control to the holdable hydraulic pressure or another target hydraulic pressure calculated in the other brake control, whichever is higher.

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 method of determining a color of a pixel in a ray tracing image processing system, comprising:
issuing a primary ray into a three dimensional scene through the pixel;
determining an initial color value for the pixel based on a color value of a first primitive intersected by the primary ray;
issuing a secondary ray into the scene from the primitive intersected by the primary ray;
by operation of one or more computer processors, updating the color value for the pixel based on a color value of a second primitive intersected by the secondary ray and a reflective or refractive scaling factor having a predetermined association with the first primitive intersected by the primary ray, and not based on a reflective or refractive scaling factor of the second primitive;
issuing a further secondary ray into the scene from the primitive intersected by the secondary ray; and
updating the color value for the pixel based on a color value of a third primitive intersected by the further secondary ray and a second reflective or refractive scaling factor based on the first primitive and the second primitive, and not based on a reflective or refractive scaling factor of the third primitive.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second reflective or refractive scaling factor is calculated based on a combination of the reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the first primitive and the reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the second primitive.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the combination is determined by multiplying the reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the first primitive by the reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the second primitive.
4. An image processing system comprising:
a memory cache;
a first processing element configured to issue an original ray into a three dimensional scene through a pixel, traverse a spatial index with the original ray until a first leaf node is reached; and
a second processing element configured to receive, from the first processing element, information defining the original ray and the first leaf node, determine a first color contribution to the pixel based on a color of a first primitive intersected by the original ray, determine a first reflective or refractive scaling factor of color contribution based on the first primitive, issue a secondary ray based on the intersection of the original ray and the first primitive, and associate the first reflective or refractive scaling factor of color contribution with the secondary ray;
wherein the first processing element is further configured to traverse the spatial index with the secondary ray until a second leaf node is reached;
wherein the second processing element is further configured to:
receive, from the first processing element, information defining the secondary ray and the second leaf node;
determine a second color contribution to the pixel based on a color of a second primitive intersected by the secondary ray and the first reflective or refractive scaling factor, and not based on a second reflective or refractive scaling factor of the second primitive;
determine a third reflective or refractive scaling factor of color contribution based on the first reflective or refractive scaling factor and the second reflective or refractive scaling factor, and not based on a reflective or refractive scaling factor of the third primitive:
issue a further secondary ray based on the intersection of the secondary ray and the second primitive; and
associate the third reflective or refractive scaling factor of color contribution with the further secondary ray.
5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:
a memory location in the memory cache corresponding to the pixel; and
wherein the second processing element is configured to store the first color contribution to the pixel in the memory location corresponding to the first pixel.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first processing element is further configured to read the color of the pixel from the memory location in the memory cache corresponding to the pixel, combine the color of the pixel read from the memory location with the second color contribution to the pixel, and store the combination in the memory location in the memory cache corresponding to the pixel.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the third reflective or refractive scaling factor of color contribution is determined based on a combination of properties of the first primitive and properties of the second primitive.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the third scaling factor of color contribution is determined by multiplying a reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the first primitive by a reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the second primitive.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs operations comprising:
issuing a primary ray into a three dimensional scene through a pixel;
determining an initial color value for the pixel based on a color value of a first primitive intersected by the primary ray;
issuing a secondary ray into the scene from the primitive intersected by the primary ray;
updating the color value for the pixel based on a color value of a second primitive intersected by the secondary ray and a reflective or refractive scaling factor having a predetermined association with the first primitive intersected by the primary ray, and not based on a reflective or refractive scaling factor of the second primitive;
issuing a further secondary ray into the scene from the primitive intersected by the secondary ray; and
updating the color value for the pixel based on a color value of a third primitive intersected by the further secondary ray and a second reflective or refractive scaling factor based on the first primitive and the second primitive, and not based on a reflective or refractive scaling factor of the third primitive.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the second reflective or refractive scaling factor is calculated based on a combination of the reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the first primitive and the reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the second primitive.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the combination is determined by multiplying the reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the first primitive by the reflective or refractive scaling factor associated with the second primitive.