Abstract: A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

Abstract: A display device is formed by a matrix of surface-stabilized bi-stable ferroelectric liquid crystal elements each being separately settable by a matrix driver. To provide brightness control or color in the display, all the elements of the matrix are set in accordance with a portion of a signal for display and the amount of light passing through the matrix for that setting is controlled in accordance with the binary significance of the respective portion of the signal. This control is produced by varying one of the activation duration or intensity of a light source, such as sets of fluorescent tubes in accordance with the binary significance of the brightness information in the input signal. Half of the frame time (T) is used for the numerous setting operations on the matrix of elements and half is used for the backlighting operations of the various settings.

Abstract: An electrodeless discharge tube containing an ionizable fill, the tube having a first portion for insertion in a launcher and a further portion separated from the first portion by a partition wall. Hence a discharge can be excited in the further portion because a surface wave can propagate through the wall separating the first and further portions.

Abstract: A discharge tube arrangement comprises a launcher and a discharge tube positioned in part within the launcher. When the launcher is energized with radio frequency (r.f.) power, surface waves are excited in the discharge tube which contains a fill. An electrically conductive structure extends along the discharge tube and is connected to an earth when in use. The structure is separated from the discharge tube by a radial distance such that, in use, the discharge tube produces an increase in total light output over the total light output of a discharge tube not having this structure. The structure comprises an insufficient quantity of material to obscure this increase in total light output.