Abstract: A transformer assembly and method for powering a load with a secondary fault protected isolated secondary. The fault fault path is isolated from ground allowing voltage detection of faults and the return terminal is isolated from the midpoint for multiple load connection schemes using the midpoint as a ground connection. A power control system is connected between the primary winding and the input terminal with a ground fault detection circuit connected between the fault path and the ground terminal, where the ground fault detection circuit is operable to detect a fault and activate the power control system to disconnect the source of power from the primary winding in response to detecting the fault. Also disclosed is a high frequency filter adapted to reduce the effects of high frequency transients and a capacitive reactance connected between the input terminal means and the ground terminal. The capacitive reactance is adapted to provide a ground fault path for fault signals.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the dimensions of moving packages includes a computer system connected to a position tracking system and a slice measurement system. The computer system uses the position tracking system to generate a series of position measurements of the packages as they move through the slice measurement system and uses the slice measurement system to generate a cross sectional slice of the packages at each measured positioned. The computer system then uses the cross sectional slice information to determine the height and width of the packages and uses the position measurements to determine the length of the packages.

Abstract: A system for mounting a laptop computer on a mobile casterized base, comprising: an articulated arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being adjustably connected to the mobile casterized base; and a bracket assembly adjustably connected to the second end of the articulated arm for securely retaining the laptop computer, the bracket assembly being adjustable in at least one dimension to securely retain the laptop computer.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention includes an upper frame mounted on a support structure, such as a truck, building, or billboard, three adjustable frame assemblies mounted on the support structure below the upper frame, and sheet material having an upper sheet tab inserted into the upper frame and lower, right, and left sheet tabs inserted into the adjustable frame assemblies. The frame assemblies can be adjusted to vary the tension in the sheet material between the upper frame and the adjustable frame assemblies. The method includes the steps of inserting the upper sheet tab into the upper frame, inserting the right, left, and lower sheet tabs into the adjustable frame assemblies, and adjusting the adjustable frame assemblies so that the sheet material is pulled taut between the upper frame and the adjustable frame assemblies.

Abstract: A case-burning rocket booster includes a combustible case containing a solid rocket fuel, a combustion chamber adjustably coupled to the case for burning the case and the solid rocket fuel, a nozzle connected to the combustion chamber for expelling the burned case and fuel to generate thrust, and a drive system for pulling the combustion chamber and nozzle up the case as the case and fuel burn. A hybrid version of the case-burning rocket also includes an oxygen supply system for supplying varying amounts of oxygen to the combustion chamber to vary the thrust generated by burning the case and the fuel.

Abstract: Three adjustable electrodes (33a-33c) within a chamber (40) form a thermal plasma generating system (30). The electrodes (33a-33c) are positioned with a narrow gap at one portion and a wide gap at another portion to form a cone shape. The gap between the electrodes is adjusted to accommodate for wear on the electrodes (33a-33c). An electric arc is initiated at the narrowest point between two electrodes which moves over the length of the electrodes because of a magnetic field created by the arc and the forward motion of the injected stream. At the end of the electrodes, the arc is extinguished and another arc is initiated. The continuous are moving along the electrodes ionizes a working stream that is tangentially injected from three pneumatic rings (35a-35c) which provide improved mixing of the working stream for high quality thermal plasma. The thermal plasma exits through a narrow orifice (42).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating information using an ultra wideband impulse radio transmitter and receiver is disclosed. The method includes the steps of generating and transmitting a series of time-modulated pulses, each pulse delayed by one of four predetermined time delay periods and representative of at least two data bits of information, and receiving and demodulating the series of time-modulated pulses to estimate the data bits associated with each pulse. The apparatus includes an impulse radio transmitter and an impulse radio receiver. The transmitter transmits the series of time-modulated pulses and includes a transmitter time base, a time delay modulator, a code time modulator, an output stage, and a transmitting antenna. The receiver receives and demodulates the series of time-modulated pulses using a receiver time base and two correlators, one correlator designed to operate after a pre-determined delay with respect to the other correlator.

Abstract: Gas discharge lamps may conduct current from the common rail to earthen ground through a fixture containing the lamps. A transistor is coupled in series in the current path to the common rail. When the ballast is placed in a quiescent state, the transistor is rendered non-conducting, thereby solating the lamps from the common rail and preventing flicker. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the control electrode of the transistor is coupled to a source of low voltage and the transistor is rendered non-conducting when the source of low voltage is turned off. The lamps can also be isolated from the common rail by using a semiconductor switch in the rectifier section or by referencing the output of the inverter to the high voltage rail.

Abstract: The present invention of a power supply and battery back-up system includes an AC/DC power supply and a battery for supplying operating power to a telecommunications system. The battery is connected to the telecommunications system and is designed to supply the telecommunications system with operating power if the power supply fails for some reason. The power supply is designed to output the peak operating power required by the telecommunications system, supplying the telecommunications system with whatever operating power it needs and supplying the difference between the operating power supplied to the telecommunications system and the peak operating power output by the power supply to the battery for charging. In one embodiment, the battery back-up system includes a battery monitoring circuit for monitoring the battery voltage and a relay connected between the battery and the telecommunications system for disconnecting the battery if the battery voltage falls below a pre-set level.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing both whole and portioned food products along a processing line for part cut-up and deboning in a mass production system. The apparatus consists of numerous food carriers, evenly spaced over a subscribed distance, connected by means of a mounting block, which is connected to a thermal plastic chain or a stainless steel chain by means of locking pins. The apparatus also includes food product take-away conveyors for the meat portions and scraps removed from the carcass. The carrier conveyance and the take-away conveyance have been incorporated into a common support frame. The apparatus will allow interchangeable food carriers for the type of process desired. Each food carrier is unique to the type of process being performed along the processing line. The chain is designed in such a manner as to allow vertical movement within a specified elevation change. Each food carrier is attached to a mounting block, which becomes an attachment to the chain.

Abstract: A camouflaged outdoor fan system includes a housing, a fan inserted into the housing, and a camouflaged lid removably connected to the housing. The housing is buried in the ground, or in alternative embodiment, mounted to the underside of a deck, the fan is inserted into the enclosure, and the camouflaged lid is placed over the fan to hide the fan and enclosure from view. The fan is operable to generate and propel an air stream out of the housing that can be used for cooling purposes. The system also may include optional features, such as a water-misting device, a heater, motion detectors, an evaporative cooling assembly, a temperature switch, a humidity switch, a rain gauge switch, a wind sensor switch, a dc power source, solar cells, or a remote control system.

Abstract: A control system for continuous mining machine to control the mining horizons of roof and floor horizons relative to the rock boundaries of an underground coal seam or ore vein. The mining machine is provided with a cutting drum mounted on a pivoted arm to allow for vertical displacement of the cutter to control the mining height. A plurality of sensors is carried on the rotatable arm to locate the roof and floor boundaries. Attitude sensors are mounted on the machine for providing signals indicative of the inclinations of the body of the machine, and, a microprocessor receives the signals from the boundary sensors and the attitude sensors for calculating the required roof cut and floor cut. A display device receives the signals from the microprocessor and displays the calculated results to the machine operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting refractive and non-refractive errors in a patient's eyes is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image-recording device for recording an image of the patient's eyes while illuminated with infrared light and while at least two different meridians of the patient's eyes are simultaneously illuminated with wavelength-encoded visible light. The apparatus further includes a wavelength-encoded light source for illuminating the patient's eyes with infrared light and at least two different meridians of the patient's eyes with wavelength-encoded visible light, and a control system for controlling the image-recording device and the light source. In one embodiment, the image-recording device includes a high-speed digital camera, the wavelength-encoded light source includes a group of infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a pair of wavelength-encoded flashes located in two different meridians of the camera, and the control system includes a computer system.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting data over a twisted pair with or without load coils using a transmitter and receiver is disclosed. The system detects load coils by generating and transmitting a test signal having signal power concentrated in two different frequency bands across the twisted pair and comparing the signal power of the received signal to determine whether the twisted pair is loaded or unloaded. If load coils are detected, an adjustment circuit is used to configure the receiver for reception of data over a twisted pair having load coils. Otherwise, the adjustment circuit configures the receiver for reception of data over a twisted pair without load coils.

Abstract: An ammunition feed assembly for a military weapon system includes a feed chute housing and an ammunition support bracket for supporting ammunition adjacent to the feed chute housing. The feed chute housing is adapted to be connected to an ammunition guide for a weapon mounted on the weapon system and includes a flanged portion for guiding ammunition into the chute housing. The ammunition support bracket is adapted to be connected to the weapon system and includes a support portion for supporting ammunition adjacent to the feed chute housing. Ammunition is fed from the ammunition box, through the feed chute housing and the ammunition guide, and into the weapon mounted on the weapon system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting diseases and abnormalities of a patient's eyes is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image-recording device for recording images of the patient's eyes while illuminated with infrared light and while at least two different meridians of the patient's eyes are illuminated with visible light in a time period shorter than the response time of the patient's eyes. The apparatus further includes a light source for illuminating the patient's eyes with infrared and two different meridians of the patient's eyes with visible light, and a control system for controlling the image-recording device and the light source. In one embodiment, the image-recording device includes a high-speed digital camera, the light source includes a group of infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a pair of flashes, and the control system is a computer system. The invention is useful in detecting both refractive and non-refractive errors of the eyes.

Abstract: A hoist synchronization apparatus and method using a master controller operating software that provides a pulse reference to a slave controller. The slave commands its motor to rotate at the speed conveyed by that pulse reference. The slave controller monitors the pulse feedback from both the master encoder and the slave's encoder and compensates for any position error by adjusting its motor output speed. In addition, the slave controller includes the capability to automatically resynchronize the hoists. Resynchronization is accomplished by storing position error generated when either the master or the slave is run independently and correcting for the error when both units are operated at a later time.

Abstract: A fiber quadrupler device and method multiplexes the four optical fibers in a synchronous optical network (SONET) ring into a single linking fiber for full duplex optical transmission. The fiber quadrupler device optically couples two of the SONET fibers to a transmit converter for communications of downstream data from the SONET ring to a network element linked to the quadrupler by a single linking fiber. Two other SONET ring fibers are optically coupled to a receive converter for communications of upstream data from the network element over the single linking fiber to the SONET. An optical transceiver processes and directs the downstream and upstream signals to the receive and transmit converters. Either subcarrier modulation (SCM) or wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is used in the receive and transmit converters.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for calibrating an incoherent fiber optic bundle for use in transmitting visual or infrared coherent images. The apparatus includes a computer, a computer video monitor, an objective lens adjacent to the input end of the bundle, a second lens adjacent the output end of the bundle, and a CCD camera. The camera transmits video data to the monitor to produce an illuminated fiber optic image. The coordinates for the center of each fiber is found through an imaging process and the output fibers coordinates are related to the input fiber coordinates and processed in the computer to produce a mapping lookup-table (LUT) unique to the specific fiber bundle. Remapping of the LUT due to changes in the lens focus, CCD camera, or the addition of an infrared filter is accomplished by a software utility in the computer.