Abstract: An antenna resonant in two or more frequency bands. The antenna comprises three parallel conductive plates disposed in a stacked orientation, with a first dielectric layer interposed between the bottom and the middle conductive plates and a second dielectric layer interposed between the middle and the top conductive plates. The middle conductive plate is smaller than the bottom and top conductive plates. A signal feed is connected to the top and the middle conductive plates; a first shorting pin is connected between the bottom and top conductive plates and a second shorting pin is connected between the middle and the bottom conductive plate.

Abstract: A method of servicing a mobile asset subject to utilization loss factors delaying the completion of servicing and the timely return of the asset to operation including identifying utilization loss factors that could delay the timely completion of servicing of the mobile asset. Identifying service procedures associated with each utilization loss factor and providing a database of events associated with the service procedures the events indicative of a status of completion of the procedures. A schedule may be established for at least one event for the timely completion of the respective service procedure. Monitoring the at least one event to determine when the event occurred relative to the scheduled time and if the at least one event is late, providing notice that the relevant utilization loss factor is likely to cause delay in the timely return of the asset to operation unless corrective action is taken.

Abstract: Computerized method and system for servicing a selected piece of equipment made up of a plurality of systems and subject to unique system configurations and servicing requirements are provided. The method allows to respectively provide a database including detailed system configuration data regarding a selected piece of equipment, and a database including service modules for facilitating the servicing of equipment of a group of equipment that includes a selected piece of equipment. The method further allows to provide a respective identifier for uniquely identifying any selected equipment, and an input/output device to communicate with the databases. Respective accessing steps allow to access the database having configuration data to interface with the detailed system configuration data, and the database having the service modules to interface with at least one of the service modules.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably holding a media storage disk that may include a front and base cover connected in a hinged relationship. A base panel of the base cover may include a centrally located hub disposed on a pair of support arms that may be moved between a relaxed position and a flexed position. The hub may include a plurality of retaining lips that will retain a disk when placed on the hub. A release button may also be provided that cooperatively engages the hub to move the hub between a relaxed position and a flexed position. The release button may cooperatively engage a pair of cam followers situated on the hub so that when the release button is depressed the hub moves between the relaxed position and the flexed position. With a disk held on the hub, when the release button is depressed the hub moves to its flexed position, which retracts the retaining lips within the inside diameter of the center hole of the disk so that the disk may be removed from the hub.

Abstract: The present invention is for a system (11) or method for conditioned based monitoring of a bearing assembly. The system (11) comprises a sensor (13) placed in proximity to a bearing assembly (12). The sensor (13) generates a signal indicative of the amplitude and frequency of the vibrational movement of the bearing assembly. A process (14) in communication with the sensor (13) receives the signal from the sensor (13) and generates spectral data representative of the bearing vibrational movement. A database (15) comprises data representative of an amplitude threshold, for at least one predetermined frequency, characteristic of a bearing fault. The processor (15) compares the spectral data to the amplitude threshold and generates a signal indication of the bearing assembly.

Abstract: An improved glass sheet support system eliminates the use of elastomeric gaskets for mounting glass sheets in metal frames and replaces the gaskets with elastomeric support members that are positioned within a channel of the metal frame to temporarily support the glass sheet. Permanent support of the glass sheet is then provided by utilizing a bonding agent to adhesively bond an edge of the glass to the metal frame. The temporary elastomer support members may be short sections of elastomeric material laid into the channel and having sufficient length and spacing to adequately support the glass sheet in the metal frame until such time as the bonding agent has set. A plastic insert in the form of an elongated strip of material that can be snapped into place between the glass sheet and the upper edges of the channel fills the space between the glass and frame and provides a clean cosmetic edge. In the case of a boat windshield, the invention includes an improved mounting of the windshield to the deck of a boat.

Abstract: A film structure includes low-k dielectric films and N—H base source films such as barrier layer films, etch-stop films and hardmask films. Interposed between the low-k dielectric film and adjacent N—H base film is a TEOS oxide film which suppresses the diffusion of amines or other N—H bases from the N—H base source film to the low-k dielectric film. The film structure may be patterned using DUV lithography and a chemically amplified photoresist since there are no base groups present in the low-k dielectric films to neutralize the acid catalysts in the chemically amplified photoresist.

Abstract: Computerized method and system for assisting a consumer reach a decision regarding repair or replacement of a product usable by the consumer is provided. The method allows for providing to the consumer a Web page including a plurality of data fields to be filled with data selectable by the consumer from a corresponding plurality of menus including respective product attributes. The method further allows for processing the product attributes selected by the consumer relative to stored economic value data of products with generally similar attributes to those of the product usable by the consumer. The processing is configured to provide options available to the consumer regarding any repair or replacement of the product usable by the consumer. The consumer is provided with a Web page hierarchically displaying the options and wherein each of the options includes a respective hyperlink for enabling the consumer to select one of the options.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chronologically combining fault data, repair data, and operational parameters for a railroad locomotive. Generally, this data is collected and stored in separate databases. The present invention teaches combining the data so that an ordered analysis reflecting the timing of faults, repairs, and operational information can be carried out to determine the root causes of the faults.

Abstract: A two-dimensional parity method and system that provides three-disk fault tolerance in an array of disks, such as a RAID system, is presented. The method includes arranging strips containing data in the disk array into horizontal and diagonal parity sets, each parity set including at least one data strip as a member and no single data strip is repeated in any one parity set. The diagonal parity sets are then grouped into two groups of diagonal parity sets—Group 1 and Group 2—such that each data strip is a member of a unique diagonal parity set in Group 1 and a unique diagonal parity set in Group 2. Horizontal XOR parities are calculated and stored in a designated disk. Diagonal XOR parities are calculated and at least some of the diagonal XOR parities are stored in a designated disk. The remaining diagonal parities are stored in a diagonal parity stripe so that diagonal parity can be retrieved in the event of a disk failure.

Abstract: A method for detecting electrical faulty conditions in a plurality of power devices of a propulsion system is provided. The plurality of power devices is connectable in parallel circuit through a direct current (DC) link to an external DC power source. The method provides a first sequence of actions for determining an electrical short condition in at least one of the power devices upon the power source being connected. The method further provides a second sequence of actions for determining an electrical open condition in a respective one of the plurality of power devices during the occurrence of high current events.

Abstract: Method processor and processor-readable medium for reducing the level of feedback-induced noise in the output signal from an audio automatic gain control circuit are provided. The method allows for receiving a stream of pulses comprising an input signal to the automatic gain control circuit. The method further allows for receiving estimates of respective high and low frequency energy components of the input signal. The respective high and low frequency components are averaged, e.g., over a respective sliding window. An energy scalar is calculated based on the ratio of a predefined target energy level over a combined value of the high and low frequency components. A relating action allows to compare the target energy level to the combined value of the high and low frequency components. Based on the comparison results, the calculated energy scalar is limited to within the two limit values.

Abstract: Method and processor for determining loading of a communications system shared by a plurality of user-terminals are provided. The method allows a respective terminal for monitoring a control channel including logical messages therein. The monitoring of the messages in the control channel is performed regardless of whether or not the logical messages therein are specifically addressed to that terminal. The method further allows for estimating a parameter indicative of system loading based on information in the monitored logical messages.

Abstract: A method and system for a lead mobile asset to verify that a remote mobile asset under the control of the lead mobile asset is following a set of command functions broadcast by the lead mobile asset in a command message. The lead and remote mobile assets may be part of a train consist equipped with a distributed power communication system. The method includes determining whether the lead mobile asset has received a status reply message from the remote mobile asset, the reply message transmitted in response to the remote mobile asset's receipt of the command message and including data indicative of at least one operational state of the remote mobile asset. A help command message may be broadcast from the lead mobile asset if the lead mobile asset has not received the status reply message from the remote mobile asset.

Abstract: In the present invention, viruses, plasmids or both are constructed which contain viral DNA, at least one head-to-head ITR junction, and optionally, recombinase recognition sites positioned such that site-specific recombination between recombinase recognition sites in separate plasmids results in generation of infectious viral DNA at high-efficiency in cotransfected host cells that have been engineered to express a site-specific recombinase. Because of the high-efficiency and specificity of the Cre enzyme, suitably engineered plasmids can be readily recombined to produce infectious virus at high-efficiency in cotransfected 293 cells, without, at the same time, producing wild-type adenovirus, with the attendant problems for removal thereof.

Abstract: An ergonomically developed, dome-shaped, alphanumeric interface apparatus for use with an electronic system, such as a computer or electric typewriter is described. The apparatus is configured in accordance with ergonomic principles and uses chording of both hands to type the characters of any user-defined alphabet. The device includes a set of domes that are shaped and contoured to conform to the shape of hands in a relaxed state and to distribute pressures across the splayed underside of the user's hand. Each dome is capable of movement in a plurality of discrete lateral sectors. The domes used together, utilizing a chording principle, can generate up to 144 characters depending on how many discrete movements are defined by the user. In a nonchording mode of operation, each dome is capable of producing up to 12 characters independently of the other dome.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a solute to a solvent, the apparatus comprising a feed line where the feed line comprises a mixer-injector having at least a body with a carrier stream inlet, an additive stream inlet, and an outlet, a metering valve for controlling an amount of solute to supply to the solvent, a flow meter to determine the amount of solute to supply to the solvent, a strainer to remove a foreign substance from the solute, a cleanout valve, an additive feed line, a solenoid valve to control when a release of the solute to the flow meter is made, and a shut-off valve to prevent the release of said solute to the solvent.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus (27) for a locomotive dynamic brake resistor grid stack (22) including a flow directing diffuser (24). The flow directing diffuser includes at least one turning vane member (26) disposed at an angle to the flow stream axis for directing a portion of the cooling air from a high velocity area of the air stream into a lower velocity area of the air stream. The flow directing diffuser may include an annular ring-shaped turning vane member (28) for directing high velocity air into a center low velocity area. The flow directing diffuser may further include a V-shaped turning vane member (32) associated with each corner (34) of the surrounding duct (36) for directing high velocity air into each corner low velocity area. Air is supplied to the duct 36 housing the flow directing diffuser by a mixed flow fan (54).

Abstract: A method and apparatus used to calibrate high-resolution electron microscopes where a single standard provides multiple samples, each having a different atomic structure, permits rapid accurate calibration of the entire range of magnifications. The different atomic structure dimensions possess known reference measurement data. The S/TEM is adjusted to focus onto the crystal lattice structure of each sample in a selected sequence. Measurements of these lattice spacings are compared to known dimensions. If S/TEM measurements do not agree with the lattice spacing dimensions, the S/TEM magnification is adjusted to reflect known dimensions. Typical standard exchange and associated processing steps are eliminated by the use of the single standard comprising of a plurality of samples.