All The Claims

1. A vehicle stability control system comprising:
a base required driving force calculation unit that calculates a physical quantity corresponding to a base required driving force desired by a driver to generate the base required driving force at a driving wheel of a vehicle;
an estimated driving force estimation unit that obtains a physical quantity corresponding to an estimated driving force that is estimated as being generated in the vehicle; and
a required driving force correction unit that obtains a corrected required driving force in such a way that a pitching vibration possibly occurring in the vehicle when the estimated driving force is generated is obtained on the basis of the physical quantity corresponding to the estimated driving force, a correction to suppress the pitching vibration is obtained, and the physical quantity corresponding to the base required driving force calculated by the base required driving force calculation unit is corrected on the basis of the correction,
wherein the corrected required driving force obtained by the required driving force correction unit is generated at the driving wheel.
2. The vehicle stability control system according to claim 1, wherein the required driving force correction unit has an equation of state describing state quantities of the vehicle on the basis of an on-spring body model of the vehicle and also an output equation describing the pitching vibration with respect to the state quantities on the basis of the equation of state, and the physical quantity corresponding to the base required driving force is corrected so as to suppress the fluctuation of the pitching vibration obtained from the output equation and the state quantities.
3. A vehicle stability control system comprising:
a base required driving force calculation unit that calculates a physical quantity corresponding to a base required driving force desired by a driver to generate the base required driving force at a driving wheel of a vehicle;
an estimated driving force estimation unit that obtains a physical quantity corresponding to an estimated driving force that is estimated as being generated in the vehicle; and
a required driving force correction unit that obtains a corrected required driving force in such a way that a fluctuation of a front or rear wheel contact load possibly occurring in the vehicle when the estimated driving force is generated is obtained on the basis of the physical quantity corresponding to the estimated driving force, a correction to reduce a derivative term of the fluctuation of the front or rear wheel contact load is obtained, and the physical quantity corresponding to the base required driving force calculated by the base required driving force calculation unit is corrected on the basis of the correction,
wherein the corrected required driving force obtained by the required driving force correction unit is generated at the driving wheel.
4. The vehicle stability control system according to claim 3, wherein the required driving force correction unit has an equation of state describing state quantities of the vehicle on the basis of an on-spring body model of the vehicle and an output equation describing the derivative term of the fluctuation of the front or rear wheel contact load with the state quantities on the basis of the equation of state, and the physical quantity corresponding to the base required driving force is corrected so as to reduce the derivative term of the fluctuation of the front or rear wheel contact load obtained from the output equation and the state quantities.
5. A vehicle stability control system comprising:
a base required driving force calculation unit that calculates a physical quantity corresponding to a base required driving force desired by a driver to generate the base required driving force at a driving wheel of a vehicle;
an estimated driving force estimation unit that obtains a physical quantity corresponding to an estimated driving force that is estimated to be being generated in the vehicle; and
a required driving force correction unit that obtains a corrected required driving force in such a way that a vertical motion of the vehicle body possibly occurring in the vehicle when the estimated driving force is generated is obtained on the basis of the physical quantity corresponding to the estimated driving force, a correction to suppress the fluctuation of the vertical motion of the vehicle body is obtained, and the physical quantity corresponding to the base required driving force calculated by the base required driving force calculation unit is corrected on the basis of the correction;
wherein the corrected required driving force obtained by the required driving force correction unit is generated at the driving wheel.
6. The vehicle stability control system according to claim 5, wherein the required driving force correction unit has an equation of state describing state quantities of the vehicle on the basis of an on-spring body model of the vehicle and an output equation describing the vertical motion of the vehicle body with the state quantities on the basis of the equation of state, and the physical quantity corresponding to the base required driving force is corrected so as to suppress the vertical motion of the vehicle body obtained from the output equation and the state quantities.
7. The vehicle stability control system according to claim 1, wherein the base required driving force calculation unit obtains a base required engine torque or a base required output axle torque as a physical quantity corresponding to the base required driving force.
8. The vehicle stability control system according to claim 1, further comprising a running resistance disturbance estimation unit that estimates a running resistance disturbance applied to a wheel of the vehicle,
wherein the required driving force correction unit estimates that a value obtained by adding a running resistance disturbance estimated by the running resistance disturbance estimation unit to a physical quantity corresponding to the estimated driving force obtained by the estimated driving force calculation unit is a currently generated driving force, and a correction is obtained as the one used when a driving force, in which this running resistance disturbance is taken into consideration, is generated.

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 electroactive tissue scaffold, comprising:
a. a polycaprolactone matrix; and
b. a polymerizable unit yielding an electrochemically responsive polymer located in the pores of the matrix and anchored thereto by polymerization.
2. The scaffold of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is biodegradable.
3. The scaffold of claim 1, wherein the polymerizable unit yielding an electrochemically responsive polymer is an aromatic compound.
4. The scaffold of claim 3, wherein the aromatic compound is heterocyclic.
5. The scaffold of claim 4, wherein the heterocyclic aromatic compound is a pyrrole.
6. The scaffold of claim 1, wherein the polymerizable unit yielding an electrochemically responsive polymer is selected from a group consisting of:
a. an aniline;
b. an aniline derivative;
c. a furan;
d. a furan derivative;
e. a thiophene;
f. a thiophene derivative;
g. ferrocene;
h. a ferrocene derivative;
i. a porphyrin; and
j. a porphyrin derivative.
7. The scaffold of claim 6, wherein the polymerizable unit yielding an electrochemically responsive polymer is selected from a group consisting of:
a. 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene; and
b. a derivative of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene.
8. The scaffold of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is bioerodible.
9. An electroactive tissue scaffold produced by a process comprising:
a. obtaining polycaprolactone;
b. obtaining a polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer; and
c. polymerizing the electrochemically responsive unit and the polycaprolactone in a solvent, the solvent being chosen such that the polycaprolactone is insoluble therein.
10. A method of manufacturing an electroactive tissue scaffold, comprising the following steps:
a. obtaining polycaprolactone;
b. obtaining a polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer; and
c. initiating a polymerization of the polycaprolactone and the electrochemically responsive unit in the presence of a solvent in which the polycaprolactone is insoluble.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the solvent is water and the polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer is chosen such that the scaffold is bioerodible.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer is an aromatic compound.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the aromatic compound is heterocyclic.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer is a pyrrole derivative.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer is pyrrole, the solvent is water, and the initiating step is carried out using polystyrenesulfonate and ferric chloride.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of washing to remove monomers, oligomers, and initiators.
17. A method of manufacturing a polycaprolactone-based electroactive tissue scaffold, comprising the following steps:
a. obtaining a polycaprolactone matrix;
b. obtaining pyrrole;
c. polymerizing the pyrrole in an aqueous solution that includes the polycaprolactone matrix, polystyrenesulfonate and ferric chloride to produce a polycaprolactone-based electroactive scaffold; and
d. washing the polycaprolactone-based electroactive scaffold to remove the ferric chloride and unbound polystyrenesulfonate.
18. A method of delivering nerve growth factor to nerve tissue, comprising the following steps:
a. culturing Schwann cells on an electroactive tissue scaffold;
b. implanting the scaffold and cultured Schwann cells into the peripheral nerve tissue to be repaired; and
c. electrically stimulating the Schwann cells by placing a voltage across the scaffold.

1. A propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing ducted fan aerial vehicle, the propulsion system comprising:
a fan comprising a fan impeller, wherein the fan is located within an air duct;
an engine configured to rotate the fan impeller; and
an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is connected to the fan impeller and the engine, and wherein the engine and the electric motor are configured to simultaneously rotate the fan impeller to provide power to the ducted fan aerial vehicle.
2. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a motor-generator.
3. The propulsion system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fan blades that define a periphery, wherein the fan impeller is connected to each fan blade of the plurality of fan blades, and wherein the electric motor is integrated into the periphery defined by the plurality of fan blades.
4. The propulsion system of claim 3, wherein the electric motor is a ring motor comprising magnetic elements and electrical windings, and wherein the electrical windings are located at the periphery of the fan blades and an interior surface of the air duct.
5. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor serves as an engine starter for the ducted fan aerial vehicle.
6. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is configured to power the unmanned aerial vehicle when the engine fails.
7. A ducted fan aerial vehicle, comprising:
an engine;
a ducted fan comprising a plurality of fan blades, wherein each fan blade of the plurality of fan blades comprises an end, and the end of each fan blade of the plurality of fan blades defines a periphery; and
an electric ring motor, wherein the electric ring motor is integrated into the periphery defined by the ends of the fan blades of the plurality of fan blades, and wherein the engine and the electric ring motor are configured to simultaneously rotate the plurality of fan blades of the ducted fan.
8. The propulsion system of claim 1, further comprising a shaft connected to the fan impeller, wherein the electric motor and the engine are each configured to rotate the fan impeller by rotating the shaft.
9. The propulsion system of claim 8, further comprising a clutch, wherein the clutch is configured to disengage the engine from the shaft and allow the electric motor to rotate the shaft without resistance from the engine.
10. The propulsion system of claim 8, further comprising a clutch, wherein the clutch is configured to disengage the electric motor from the shaft and allow the engine to rotate the shaft without resistance from the electric motor.
11. The propulsion system of claim 8, further comprising a chain drive that connects the electric motor and the shaft.
12. The propulsion system of claim 8, wherein the engine is mounted on the shaft between the electric motor and the fan impeller.
13. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the engine comprises at least one of an internal combustion engine or a turbine engine.
14. The propulsion system of claim 2, further comprising a battery, wherein the engine is configured to provide mechanical energy to the motor-generator and the motor-generator is configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy to recharge the battery.
15. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor comprises a ring motor.

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 structuring a benefit plan, the method including the steps of:
establishing a benefit plan; and
grouping a plurality of benefit modules into the benefit plan, wherein at least one of the plurality of benefit modules is a limited medical benefit program.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
establishing a funding entity to receive assets related to the plurality of benefit modules of the benefit plan; and
treating the received assets as a single source of funding for a plurality of benefit disbursements, the plurality of benefit disbursements being related to one or more of the plurality of benefit modules.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of benefit modules includes a major medical benefit module.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the assets received by the funding entity include employee contributions for the major medical benefit module and employee contributions for the limited medical benefit module.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the employee contributions for the major medical benefit module and the employee contributions for the limited medical benefit module are pre-tax contributions.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein both of the employee contributions for the major medical benefit module and the employee contributions for the limited medical benefit module are pre-tax contributions.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the benefit plan is a self-funded benefit plan established by an employer.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the benefit plan is administered by a third party administrator.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of obtaining reinsurance to limit exposure of the benefit plan.
10. The method of claim 2, wherein a first portion of the received assets are associated with the limited medical benefit program and a first portion of the plurality of benefit disbursements are associated with the limited medical benefit program, an amount corresponding to the first portion of the received assets being generally greater than an amount corresponding to the first portion of the plurality of benefit disbursements.
11. A method of structuring an insurance plan, the method including the steps of:
providing a self-funded insurance plan including a major medical benefit module and a limited medical benefit module;
offering the major medical benefit module to a first group of persons; and
offering the limited medical benefit module to a second group of persons.
12. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of:
enrolling a first person from the first group in the major medical benefit module;
enrolling a second person from the second group in the limited medical benefit module;
receiving a first group of contributions from the first person;
receiving a second group of contributions from the second person; and
treating the first group of contributions and the second group of contributions as a single source of funding for all benefit disbursements.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of disbursing at least a portion of the single source of funding to pay for an expense associated with one of the major medical benefit module and the limited medical benefit module.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of disbursing another portion of the single source of funding to pay for an expense associated with the other of the major medical benefit module and the limited medical benefit module.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein an entity provides a contribution if a sum of the first group of contributions and the second group of contributions is less than an amount to be disbursed.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the entity is the employer.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the limited medical benefit module provides a group of benefits and the second group of contributions are based on a plurality of rates, the plurality of rates being generally equivalent to a fully insured premium for an equivalent group of benefits to the group of benefits.
18. A method of controlling employer costs associated with a benefit plan over a prior benefit plan having a prior benefit plan employer cost, the method comprising the step of:
providing a combined benefit plan having at least two benefit modules, a first benefit module being a major medical benefit module and a second benefit module being a limited medical benefit module, the combined benefit plan is structured to have a lower employer cost than the prior benefit plan employer cost.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of pricing the limited medical benefit module to generate a reserve of assets resulting in the lower employer cost.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein a difference between the prior employer cost and the lower employer cost is used to increase a group of benefits provided by at least one of the benefit modules of the benefit plan without increasing the cost to an insured employee.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein a difference between the prior employer cost and the lower employer cost is used to decrease an employee contribution to at least one of the at least two benefit modules.
22. The method of claim 18, wherein the benefit plan is a self-funded benefit plan.
23. The method of claim 18, wherein the lower employer cost is generally equal to zero.
24. The method of claim 18, wherein a second benefit module of the benefit plan is a major medical benefit module.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of:
receiving a first group of employee contributions related to the first benefit module from a first group of employees enrolled in the first benefit module; and
receiving a second group of employee contributions related to the second benefit module from a second group of employees enrolled in the second benefit module; wherein the lower employer cost is the result of the first group of employee contributions being set to exceed a first group of benefit distributions related to the first group of employees.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first group of employee contributions and the second group of employee contributions are made as pre-tax contributions.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein both of the first group of employee contributions and the second group of employee contributions are made as pre-tax contributions.