Abstract: A digital communications system (10) employs a rotationally invariant phase point constellation (80, 80′, 80″) in a modulator (12) thereof and a corresponding carrier phase acquisition phase locked loop (56, 66, 74, 76, 78) in a demodulator (14) thereof. The phase point constellation (80) is rotationally invariant and the demodulator (14) is able to achieve carrier phase synchronization due at least in part to the inclusion of phase point voids (94) positioned in the phase point constellation (80, 80′, 80″). Pragmatic encoding is employed with differential encoding (28, 64) only on non-convolutionally encoded bits. The phase point constellation (80, 80′, 80″) provides identical codes for convolutionally encoded bits (30) of phase points (84) having equal magnitude that are rotated 90°, 180° and 270° degrees from one another. Specific constellations of 256, 64 and 16 points are disclosed.

Abstract: A misting pump system (20) includes a housing (22), an electronic section (62), and a water transfer section (80). The housing (22) includes a base (48), a front panel (24), a rear panel (26), a cover (50), and a barrier wall (52). The barrier wall (52) is coupled to a floor (66) of the base (48). The barrier wall (52) extends from the floor (66) to a roof (68) of the cover (50) to form a first compartment (76) and a second compartment (78). The water transfer section (80) is located in the first compartment (76) and the electronic section (62) is located in the second compartment. Openings (108, 118, 132, 140) in the barrier wall (52) provide an access between an inlet (89) and an outlet (91) of a pump (88) of the electronic section (62) to the water transfer section (80). The barrier wall (52) is configured to substantially prevent water issuing from a water leak in the water transfer section (80) from passing into the electronic section (62).

Abstract: A single-in/single-out exhaust muffler 20 for an internal combustion engine includes a curved inner tube (26), an exhaust inlet (24) in communication with a first leg (32) of the curved inner tube (26), and an exhaust outlet (28) in communication with a second leg (36) of the curved inner tube (26). The exhaust inlet (24) is configured to receive exhaust gas (22) and the exhaust outlet (28) is configured to output the exhaust gas (22). A curved portion (38) interconnects the first and second legs (32 and 36). A sound absorbing material (40) is wrapped around the curved inner tube (26), and a muffler housing (42) encloses the curved inner tube (26) and the sound absorbing material (40). The first leg (32) includes a perforate region (58, 60) and an imperforate region (62, 64) arranged about a circumference (66) of the first leg (32). Likewise, the second leg (36) includes a perforate region (68, 70) and an imperforate region (72, 74) arranged about a circumference (76) of the second leg (36).

Abstract: A portable wireless cellular fire alarm system is completely contained in a single rugged readily transportable suitcase. It is completely wireless and stores all components in the suitcase when not in use and is also completely portable taking only minutes to set up. The detectors of various types are removed from the case and positioned in the structure to be monitored each having its own short range 900 MHZ transmitter to wirelessly send alert signals to the receiver in the case located up to 1000 feet away. A long range cellular radio then transmits the signals wirelessly using the cellular control channel and to an MSC which wirelessly transmits them to the CMS, all using the MicroBurst™ protocol Remote Feature Control Request control channel transaction which effectively gives the unit nationwide roaming capability and functionality without any reprogramming. There is no user interface. The suitcase is watertight and airtight and a conspicuous bright orange color.

Abstract: A pet-play apparatus (20) for interactive use with a pet (24) and solo use by the pet (24) incorporates a crop (22) formed as a wand (30) or a loop (38), a lash (26) formed of a fabric tube (42), one end (32) of the lash (32) being affixed to the crop (22), and a toy (28) detachably coupled to another end (36) of the lash (26). A hook-and-loop attachment device (62), having a hook part (70) and a loop part (72), is affixed to the lash (26). A similar hook-and-loop attachment device (64), also having a hook part (78) and a loop part (80), is affixed to the toy (28). When the pet-play apparatus (20) is configured for interactive use, the lash hook part (70) is engaged with the toy loop part (80) and the lash loop part (72) is engaged with the toy hook part (78), both attachment devices (62, 69) being located within the toy (28). When the pet-play apparatus (20) is configured for solo use, the toy hook part (78) is engaged with the toy loop part (80).

Abstract: In an arcade system (20), an interface circuit (38) is configured for communication with a PC (40) and one or more peripheral devices (59). The interface circuit (38) adapts a PC-based application (64), installed on and executable from the PC (40), to an automated format in order to include arcade-style features, such as video and audio cues, fee prompts, timing cues, and so forth. The interface circuit (38) includes a processor (66) in communication with a plurality of inputs and outputs on the interface circuit (38). A memory (68) is coupled to the processor (66) and includes a user-configurable control program (74) executable on the processor (66). The user-configurable control program (74) selectively translates the data received from the peripheral devices (59) to a data format that is recognized by the PC-based application (64) and selectively enables the transfer of the data from the peripheral devices (59) to the PC (40).

Abstract: A method of screening pharmaceutical drugs, gene therapies, vaccines, dietary supplements, behavioral and environmental therapies and other clinical treatments for potential efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in humans. The method includes selecting transgenic mice that are genetically altered for Alzheimer's disease and using measurement and/or imaging techniques to determine the activity level of the posterior cingulate region of the brains of the mice after treatment. Based on these measurements and comparisons to a control group, the effectiveness of the treatment in arresting or reversing Alzheimer's disease in mice can be determined, and the treatment can be identified as a promising candidate for human trials.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling apparatus (20) includes a housing (22) and cooling media (48) contained in the housing (22). The cooling media (48) has an air inlet portion (46) and an air outlet portion (60). The air inlet portion (46) is positioned adjacent an air entry side (42) of the housing (22). A fresh water delivery system (54, 136) delivers fresh water (34) to a face (126) of the air inlet portion (46) of the cooling media (48). A recirculated water delivery system (56) delivers sump water (38) from a sump (40) to the air outlet portion (60). A fan section (26) is proximate an air exit side (44) of the housing (22). The fan section draws outside air (50) through the air entry side (42) of the housing (22) and into the cooling media (48) from the air inlet portion (46) through the air outlet portion (60) to produce cooled air (52).

Abstract: A constrained-envelope digital-communications transmitter circuit (22) includes a binary data source (32) that provides an input signal stream (34) to a modulator (77,77′). The modulator (77,77′) includes a pulse-spreading filter (76) that filters a phase-point signal stream (50) or a composite signal stream (168) into a modulated signal (74). A constrained-envelope generator (106) generates a constrained-bandwidth error signal stream (108) from the modulated signal (74), and a delay element (138) delays the modulated signal (74) into a delayed modulated signal (140) synchronized with the constrained-bandwidth error signal stream (108). A complex summing circuit (110) sums the delayed modulated signal (140) and the constrained-bandwidth error signal stream (108) into an altered modulated signal (112), and a substantially linear amplifier (146) amplifies the altered modulated signal (112) and transmits it as a radio-frequency broadcast signal (26).

Abstract: A phase-noise compensated digital communication receiver (40, 40′, 40″) includes a carrier tracking loop (56) which imposes a transport delay on a carrier tracking loop signal (60) before that signal (60) is fed back upon itself. The carrier tracking loop (56) includes a phase rotator (58) that rotates a down-converted digital communication signal (50) by a phase determined by a phase-conveying signal (72). A carrier tracking loop signal is obtained from the carrier tracking loop and delayed in a delay element (82) by a duration that compensates for the transport delay. A phase rotator (84) then rotates the delayed carrier tracking loop signal through a phase value determined by the phase-conveying signal (72) to obtain an open-loop phase signal (86) from which data are extracted. Different embodiments of the receiver (40, 40′, 40″) are provided to accommodate adaptive equalizer (54) issues.

Abstract: An expandable hybrid electric generator (20) includes a number of power blocks (22) that may be nearly identical to one another. The power blocks (22) are controlled by a master controller (34), and an external supervisor (30) performs some master controller (34) functions should the master controller (34) fault. The power blocks (22) each include a battery bank (42) and an inverter/charger (44), both of which couple to a DC bus (40). The inverter (44) and an AC generator (50) couple to an AC bus (24). The DC busses (40) of the power blocks (22) remain independent of one another, but all power blocks (22) couple together at the AC bus (24). The master controller (34) issues instructions to the inverters (44) that maintain approximately equal states at the independent DC busses (40) of the power blocks (22).

Abstract: An IC modulation processor (28) may be configured to operate in a single chip mode to accommodate baud rates up to a maximum clock rate for the processor (28) and in a dual chip mode to accommodate baud rates in excess of the maximum clock rate. The IC modulation processor (28) performs digital processing on a communication signal which conveys an input data stream (22). A pulse shaping filter (54-57) is provided following a phase mapper (50). The pulse shaping filter (54-57) is implemented as a pair of half-filters. Pulse shaping is distributed between two IC modulation processors (28) in the dual chip mode. An interpolator (86) and linearizer (106) follow the pulse shaping filters (54-57).

Abstract: A system (20) is presented for extraction of debris (22) from a tank (24) of potentially radioactive water (26) in a nuclear-powered energy-generation facility. The system (20) utilizes a subaqueous reversible motor (28), a subaqueous pump (30) magnetically coupled to the motor (28), and a subaqueous filter housing (50) removably coupled to the pump (30). A filter (52) having a metallic filter element (56) is incorporated into the filter housing (50). A control unit (34) is electrically coupled to the motor (28) and determines a rotational direction thereof from outside the tank (24). When the motor (28) is run in a forward rotational direction, the pump (30) produces a forward flow (36′) of water (26), substantially all of which passes through the filter (52) so that debris (22) in the water (26) is entrapped in the filter (52).

Abstract: An IC modulation processor (28) may be configured to operate in a single chip mode to accommodate baud rates up to a maximum clock rate for the processor (28) and in a dual chip mode to accommodate baud rates in excess of the maximum clock rate. The IC modulation processor (28) performs digital processing on a communication signal which conveys an input data stream (22). A pulse shaping filter (54-57) is provided following a phase mapper (50). The pulse shaping filter (54-57) is implemented as a pair of half-filters. Pulse shaping is distributed between two IC modulation processors (28) in the dual chip mode. An interpolator (86) and linearizer (106) follow the pulse shaping filters (54-57).

Abstract: A spark plug wire harness (20) for use with an ignition system (50) of an internal combustion engine (52) includes a substantially rigid body (22), plug wire mounting posts (24) coupled to an input end (30) of the rigid body (22), and terminals (26) coupled to an output end (32) of the rigid body (22). Conductors (34) are embedded in the substantially rigid body (22). Each of the conductors (34) has a first end (36) in electrical communication with one of the plug wire mounting posts (24) and a second end (38) in electrical communication with one of the terminals (26). The spark plug wire harness (20) to conveys igniting voltage received at the posts (24) from spark plug wires (56) to the terminals (26). The terminals (26) are in electrical contact with spark plugs (44) of the ignition system (50) so that the spark plugs (44) fire in sequence.

Abstract: A fluid-atomization manifold (50) for use in a misting system (20) configured to distribute a fluid (24) and to render that fluid (24) into a mist (26) is provided. The fluid-atomization manifold (50) has an input connector (54) coupled to a connector (44) of an interface fitting (36) coupled to fluid-distribution tubing (34) of the misting system (20). The fluid-atomization manifold (50) has a plurality of output connectors (56), wherein a connector (48) of each of a plurality of fluid-atomization nozzles (46) of the misting system (20) is configured to mate with the connector (44) of the interface fitting (36) and is coupled to one of the output connectors (56) of the fluid-atomization manifold (50).

Abstract: A static RAM memory cell (30) uses cross-coupled enhancement mode, N-channel MOS drive transistors (36) to form a bistable flip-flop. A load circuit (34) couples between I/O ports (40) of the drive transistors (36) and Vcc. For each drive transistor (36), the load circuit includes a depletion mode, N-channel MOS load transistor (54) and a forward biased tunnel diode (32). The drain and gate of the load transistor (54) couple across the anode and cathode of the tunnel diode (32) so that the forward voltage (Vf) of the tunnel diode (32) controls the Vgs transfer curve (56) of the load transistor. The tunnel diode (32) may be formed at a junction between a mono-crystalline silicon layer (88) at a region (98, 100) which also serves as a source or drain of a transistor (36, 54) and a poly-crystalline silicon layer (106). The poly-crystalline silicon layer (106) also serves as a non-metallic, conductive interconnection (55) to save space.

Abstract: A misting head system (24) configured to render a fluid (32) into a mist (36) is provided. The system (24) includes a misting head body (26) and a poppet (20). The misting head body (26) has a cylindrical chamber (28), an inlet (30) configured to pass the fluid (32) into the chamber (28), and an orifice (34) configured to pass the fluid (32) out of the chamber (28) and to render the fluid (32) into the mist (36). The poppet (20) has a cylindrical core (38) configured to force the fluid (32) to pass through a space (44) between the core (38) and an inner wall (46) of the chamber (28), a fracture band (54) coupled to the core (38), configured to center the core (38) within the chamber (28), and having a plurality of flutes (60) configured to fracture the fluid (32) as the fluid (32) passes through the space (44), and an orifice end (40) of the core possessing a plurality of symmetrically spaced slits (48) configured to further fracture the fluid (32).