Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for automatically playing a recorded message, from a uniquely formatted encrypted CD, correlated to a specific date and a time of day as an option on a CD clock radio or the like. Disclosed are means for distinguishing the unique CD format and thereafter following a prescribed process for decrypting and playing. Otherwise all device functions and options operate in their conventional modes.

Abstract: A supersonic aircraft comprises a wing, a fuselage, a plurality of fuel tanks contained within the wing and/or fuselage, and a fuel transfer system communicatively coupled to the plurality of fuel tanks and capable of transferring fuel among the plurality of fuel tanks. The aircraft further comprises at least one sensor capable of indicating a flight parameter and a controller. The controller is coupled to the one or more sensors and to the fuel transfer system. The controller can transfer fuel among the plurality of fuel tanks and adjust the aircraft center of gravity to reduce trim drag and increase aircraft range.

Abstract: A template for assessing damaged areas on a blade includes a set of marks indicating the maximum areas of damage allowed on an edge, as well as the tip of a blade. A guide enables the template to be aligned in proper position against the blade for accurate visual inspection of the damaged areas. One or more blend guides are included to allow the inspector to mark a blend area around the damage to enable maintenance personnel to smooth sharp, jagged edges of the damaged areas, thereby relieving stress points on the blade and improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the blade. The template is fabricated with transparent material that allows the blade to be viewed when the template is overlayed on the blade. A mechanism such as a clip, a sleeve, or magnetic attraction can be included on the template to retain the template on the blade during inspection.

Abstract: A system receives information regarding current flight conditions of a device such as an aircraft and determines the acoustic level of the sonic boom and/or other noise generated by the device during operation. The current acoustic level is compared to a desired level, and various cues are displayed to operators regarding corrective actions that can be taken to reduce or maintain the acoustic level at the desired level. The system also predicts future acoustic levels based on current operating conditions, and varies the urgency of the cues based on whether and how quickly the device will exceed the desired acoustic level. Options to limit maneuvers and to automatically adjust operating condition parameters can be enabled. Options to display additional information regarding past, current, and predicted acoustic levels can also be selected. Signals that can be used to automatically control the acoustic level of a device during operation can also be generated for use in devices that can operate autonomously.

Abstract: An automatic takeoff thrust management system can be used in an aircraft with at least two engines. The management system comprises an aircraft status sensor or set of sensors capable of detecting establishment of takeoff climb conditions, and engine failure detectors respectively coupled to the at least two engines and capable of detecting engine failure. The management system further comprises thrust control modules respectively coupled to the at least two engines and capable of controlling the thrust of the engines, and a controller coupled to the aircraft status sensors, the engine failure detectors, and the thrust control modules. The controller reduces thrust by a selected amount upon detecting establishment of takeoff climb conditions and, if engine failure is detected, restoring thrust to an initial or a higher schedule.

Abstract: A lasing system for forming a sealed barrier between a process environment and an environment external to the process environment. The lasing system includes a wall enclosing the process environment. The lasing system also includes a laser connector coupled to the wall and a line. It should also be added that in one exemplary embodiment, the laser connector is configured to be releasably coupled to the wall and the line. The line, such as for example a fiber optic line, provides the lasing system with laser energy from a high-powered laser. In one exemplary embodiment, the energy from the laser is between 100 to about 1000 watts. Operatively, the wall and the laser connector form an environmental barrier between the process environment and the outside environment.

Abstract: The invention is a system for determining the presence of ice on the surface of a structure. The system includes a guard layer mounted to the surface. A non-conductive layer is mounted on top of the ground plane. First and second electrodes made of a resistive material mounted on the non-conductive layer. First and second electrical leads having first ends of attached to first and second electrodes, respectively. The first and second leads having impedance equal to the impedance of the first ends thereof with the impedance of the first and second leads decreasing toward the second ends thereof.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for processing a sample for chemical and/or biological analysis, and detecting one or more target substances. A first system of microfabricated components includes at least a reservoir and a channel, and a second system of detection components including at least a lens. The lens is focused on a sensing platform of the first system. The sensing platform is coupled to the reservoir by the channel. Various types of detection systems can be utilized with the present invention including fluorescence detection systems with a laser that is positioned to illuminate a sample in the sensing platform. The microfabricated components include one or more pumps, valves, mixers, and filters. A thermoelectric cooler can be positioned to control the temperature of at least one of the microfabricated components. A variety of component configurations can be implemented, and a variety of different processes can be performed, depending on the configuration of components.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system is described for catching juices dripping from food being cooked in an infrared cooking apparatus, while still allowing infrared radiation to directly irradiate the food. A drip pan has base plate with an outer perimeter and an outer sidewall extending therefrom. The base plate has one or more apertures, each with an inner sidewall extending from its edges. The drip pan can hold a liquid, and the aperture and inner sidewall form a passage for infrared radiation through the liquid. The amount of drippings falling from the food being cooked through the passage may be reduced by covering the passage with a perforated cover, or by angling the inner sides defining the passage to overhang the aperture in the base plate. An adjustable solid cover may be mounted to the drip pan to allow the amount of infrared radiation reaching the food to be controlled.

Abstract: A method for integrating an engine nacelle below the wing of a supersonic aircraft with low sonic boom capabilities includes determining the shape of a reflexed portion of the airfoil on the underside of the wing, and a corresponding shape for the upper surface of the nacelle to provide favorable interaction between the wing and the nacelle. In some configurations, the reflex and/or the nacelle are shaped to maintain positive pressure under the reflexed portion of the wing, to the trailing edge of the wing. A gull dihedral wing is designed to form a partial shroud around the nacelle. Such configurations reduce drag at the trailing edge of the wing, and the force of the positive pressure on the gull dihedral wing portion provides additional lift that partially offsets drag from the nacelle.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for detecting defects in a manufactured object. These defects may include flaws, delaminations, voids, fractures, fissures, or cracks, among others. The system utilizes an ultrasound measurement system, a signal analyzer and an expected result. The signal analyzer compares the signal from the measurement system to the expected result. The analysis may detect a defect or measure an attribute of the manufactured object. Further, the analysis may be displayed or represented. In addition, the expected result may be generated from a model such as a wave propagation model. One embodiment of the invention is a laser ultrasound detection system in which a laser is used to generate an ultrasonic signal. The signal analyzer compares the measured ultrasonic signal to an expected result. This expected result is generated from a wave propagation model. The analysis is then displayed on a monitor.

Abstract: A supersonic aircraft comprises a wing having upper and lower surfaces and extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge and at least two engine nacelles coupled to the lower surface of the wing on the trailing edge. The supersonic aircraft further comprises an inverted V-tail abutting to the upper side of the wing comprising a central vertical stabilizer, at least two inverted stabilizers coupled to sides of the central vertical stabilizer and coupled to the wing and supporting at least two engine nacelles, and at least two ruddervators respectively pivotally coupled to at least two inverted stabilizers. The supersonic aircraft also comprises a controller coupled to at least two ruddervators and capable of adjusting the aircraft longitudinal lift distribution throughout a flight envelope to maintain a reduced sonic boom and reduced drag trim condition.

Abstract: A parafoil recovery system capable of autonomously controlling the descent profile of a payload to a recovery area and maneuvering the parafoil to execute a soft landing in the recovery area is disclosed. A descent profile management system determines wind speed and direction, altitude, heading, and position of the payload based on sensor input. The descent profile management system also determines a gliding flight path profile from the launch point to the desired recovery area. A flare and stall maneuver is executed at the end of the landing sequence by braking the parafoil to slow the vertical descent speed and groundspeed for a soft landing. The pitch attitude of the payload can be adjusted by the descent profile management system to prevent nose-first impact with the ground. The parafoil canopy is released from the payload upon touchdown to prevent the canopy from dragging the payload on the ground after landing.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes an optical source capable of being positioned on a tissue and emitting near infrared light into the tissue at a plurality of selected wavelengths, and a photodetector capable of detecting reflected light from the tissue. The photodetector being positioned on the tissue removed from the optical source but sufficiently close in proximity to the optical source to contact the same general tissue. The optical sensor further includes an oscillator coupled to the optical source and capable of activating the optical source to emit the near infrared light, and a modulator coupled to the oscillator and capable of controlling radio frequency modulation of the optical source to emit a radio frequency component that is used to measure the optical path length and absorbance of an analyte of interest within the tissue.

Abstract: Electromagnetic wave absorbing materials comprising magnetic alloy particles and an insulating matrix are disclosed. The magnetic alloy particles comprise a transition metal such as Fe and/or Co, and further comprise at least one refractory metal such as Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W. The magnet alloy particles may further include Ni and/or Al, or other alloying additions which provide the desired absorption characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic alloy particles comprise an Fe—Cr—Ni—Al alloy. The insulating matrix of the electromagnetic wave absorbing material may comprise a water miscible polysilicate or a refractory cement. The materials may be provided in the form of coatings that are applied to a substrate, such as the hot engine exhaust area of an aircraft. The electromagnetic wave absorbing materials are capable of functioning at very high temperatures for extended periods of time while retaining satisfactory electromagnetic wave absorbing properties.

Abstract: A method and system using one or more load cells coordinates load testing of one or more sites under test over a network such as the Internet in accordance with one or more load test requests. In one embodiment, such method and system facilitates an economic, efficient, and accurate evaluation of the capacity of the SUTs to support concurrent users of the SUTs. A load test request is received from a User and provides information concerning a load test to be performed on a site under test (SUT). A load test is generated, and the load test is allocated to one or more load cells. The load cells perform the load test by sending load test data to the SUT and receiving responses from the SUT. Portions of a load test may be allocated to different load cells, which may be geographically remote from the SUT and/or geographically diverse. Multiple concurrent pending load tests may be processed for the same SUT.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an epidural stimulation lead having at least one electrode that substantially encircles another electrode. Operatively, the encircling electrode can be set as an, anode and the encircled electrode can be set as a cathode to generate an electrical field therebetween. The encircling electrode functions in this capacity as an anode guard, which among other things, concentrates the electrical field about the designated cathode and limits the lateral range of a generated electrical field.

Abstract: A neuromodulation therapy system includes a programmer and a stimulation system. The stimulation system is capable of storing multiple data sets, each data set effecting an independent therapy. The stimulation system includes a display mechanism that can display certain imagery to distinguish visually one therapy from another therapy.

Abstract: Ultrasonic testing techniques may involve the measurement of ultrasonic waves from the tested part. These waves may reflect from surfaces of various layers within the part. Further, these waves may reflect from faults, defects, voids, fractures, and others. As such, the measured ultrasonic wave is a complex mix of these reflections. One method for detecting flaws, defects, and others may be to express the signal in terms of a set of basis functions. These functions may be summed to produce the measured signal. Further, basis functions may be chosen such that a select set of the basis functions characterize the fault and/or defect. In one exemplary embodiment, the coefficients associated with the basis function may be non-zero when a defect is present. As such, a defect may be detected quickly and automatically.