Abstract: The present invention is directed to utilizing monitoring devices (200) for determining the effectiveness of various locations, such as media display locations (150) for an intended purpose (media display exposure). The monitoring devices (200) are distributed to a number of study respondents. The monitoring devices (200) track the movements of the respondents. While various technologies may be used to track the movements of the respondents, at least some of the location tracking of the monitoring device (200) utilize a satellite (105) location system such as the global positioning system (“GPS”). These movements of the respondent and monitoring device (200) at some point coincide with exposure to a number of media displays (150). Geo data (movement data) collected by the monitoring devices, is downloaded to a download server (300), for determining which media displays (150) the respondent was exposed to. The exposure determinations are made by a post-processing server (400).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to utilizing monitoring devices (200) for determining the effectiveness of various locations, such as media display locations (150) for an intended purpose (media display exposure). The monitoring devices (200) are distributed to a number of study respondents. The monitoring devices (200) track the movements of the respondents. While various technologies may be used to track the movements of the respondents, at least some of the location tracking of the monitoring device (200) utilize a satellite (105) location system such as the global positioning system (“GPS”). These movements of the respondent and monitoring device (200) at some point coincide with exposure to a number of media displays (150). Geo data (movement data) collected by the monitoring devices, is downloaded to a download server (300), for determining which media displays (150) the respondent was exposed to. The exposure determinations are made by a post-processing server (400).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to utilizing monitoring devices (200) for determining the effectiveness of various locations, such as media display locations (150) for an intended purpose (media display exposure). The monitoring devices (200) are distributed to a number of study respondents. The monitoring devices (200) track the movements of the respondents. While various technologies may be used to track the movements of the respondents, at least some of the location tracking of the monitoring device (200) utilize a satellite (105) location system such as the global positioning system (“GPS”). These movements of the respondent and monitoring device (200) at some point coincide with exposure to a number of media displays (150). Geo data (movement data) collected by the monitoring devices, is downloaded to a download server (300), for determining which media displays (150) the respondent was exposed to. The exposure determinations are made by a post-processing server (400).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to utilizing monitoring devices (200) for determining the effectiveness of various locations, such as media display locations (150) for an intended purpose (media display exposure). The monitoring devices (200) are distributed to a number of study respondents. The monitoring devices (200) track the movements of the respondents. While various technologies may be used to track the movements of the respondents, at least some of the location tracking of the monitoring device (200) utilize a satellite (105) location system such as the global positioning system (“GPS”). These movements of the respondent and monitoring device (200) at some point coincide with exposure to a number of media displays (150). Geo data (movement data) collected by the monitoring devices, is downloaded to a download server (300), for determining which media displays (150) the respondent was exposed to. The exposure determinations are made by a post-processing server (400).

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of making a discharge ionization detector. The apparatus comprises a detector body, a detector cavity, located in the detector body and having a discharge electrode and an second discharge electrode, wherein an electric discharge runs between the second discharge electrode and the discharge electrode, and a signal electrode which attracts ionized molecules, an inlet interface, through which a discharge gas enters the detector, an analyte inlet, through which the analyte enters the detector cavity, and an outlet through which the analyte and discharge gas exit the detector body, wherein the apparatus is hermetically sealed. The apparatus is hermetically sealed by vacuum brazing the components to the detector body. The present invention can also have a detector volume as small as 10 micro-liters or less.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the position and power of electrodes in an electric-discharge texturing (EDT) machine for texturing a roll includes an actuator for moving an electrode away from and towards a roll to be textured to maintain a desired spacing between the electrode and the roll. The actuator is controlled with a different gain depending upon whether the electrode is to be moved towards or away from the roll. A power source applies a voltage to the electrode for promoting a spark between the electrode and the roll to remove particles from the roll. The power source is controlled to apply the voltage to the electrode until a spark is initiated and then maintains the voltage for a selected time duration after spark initiation to provide a spark having the selected time duration. The power source is further controlled such that voltages applied to a plurality of electrodes are sequenced in a selected fashion.

Abstract: Apparatus (10,10') for electric-discharge texturing of a round surface (12) of a roll (14) includes a bank of electrode positioners (32) mounted on a carriage supported housing (30) in axial rows (34) and circumferential columns (36) with the axial rows diverging from a central axis A of roll rotation and with the axial rows symmetrically located on opposite sides of an adjustment axis B along which the electrode positioners are moved by the housing. The adjustment axis B of the housing (30) is inclined upwardly away from the central axis A. The electrode positioners (32) can be provided in an odd number or an even number of axial rows (34) and, in either case, the circumferential columns (36) of the electrode positioners (32) are slightly axially inclined along the central axis A.

Abstract: An electrode positioner (24) for electric-discharge texturing apparatus (10) includes an elongated connector (62) located externally of an elongated housing (32) and extending between a servo head (40) on a slide (38) mounted by the housing and moved by a servo actuator (58). The elongated connector (62) has an internal passage (64) for carrying dielectric fluid to the servo head (40) and also has an electrical connection (60) to the servo head and an electrical connection (70) to an electrical power supply (72) to supply electrical power to an electrode supported by an electrode holder (42) on the servo head. The elongated connector (62) includes an elongated metallic tube (82) whose interior defines the passage (64) that carries the dielectric fluid and which itself carries the electrical power between the electrical connection (60) to the servo head (40) and the electrical connection (70) to the electrical power supply (72).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electric-discharge texturing (EDT) ends of a roll rotatably supported about a roll axis uses electrodes mounted on a head. The head is movable in a direction parallel to the roll axis. The electrodes are movable in a direction transverse to the roll axis to maintain a desired spacing with respect to the surface of the roll. Each of the electrodes is positioned at a sparking position along the direction transverse to the roll axis to effect sparking with the surface of the roll. The head is moved in a direction from the center portion of the roll towards the first end of the roll along the direction parallel to the roll axis such that each of the electrodes traverse across the surface of the first end of the roll. Each of the electrodes is then positioned at a retracted position along the direction transverse to the roll axis as each of the electrodes passes off the first end of the roll.

Abstract: A flow conditioning system includes a flow randomizing section for receiving an input fluid stream and for increasing the uniformity of the streamwise velocity components of the input fluid stream while randomizing the non-streamwise velocity components, so as to provide a randomized fluid stream; a flow expansion section for receiving the randomized fluid stream and damping the non-streamwise velocity components therein, so as to provide a damped fluid stream; and a flow straightening section for receiving the damped fluid stream and for dividing the damped fluid stream into multiple, parallel output substreams so as to provide a laminar flow profile in an output fluid stream.

Abstract: A flow conditioning system includes a flow randomizing section for receiving an input fluid stream and for increasing the uniformity of the streamwise velocity components of the input fluid stream while randomizing the non-streamwise velocity components, so as to provide a randomized fluid stream; a flow expansion section for receiving the randomized fluid stream and damping the non-streamwise velocity components therein, so as to provide a damped fluid stream; and a flow straightening section for receiving the damped fluid stream and for dividing the damped fluid stream into multiple, parallel output substreams so as to provide a laminar flow profile in an output fluid stream.

Abstract: A planar palladium structure makes use of the unique properties of palladium to provide a hydrogen permeable membrane suitable for use in providing, for example, selective control of a nominal gas pressure within a cavity. The contemplated planar palladium structure includes a planar substrate having upper and lower major surfaces and an array of microfine channels therebetween, wherein the channels allow gaseous communication between the upper and lower major surfaces, and an array of palladium deposits being distributed on the substrate and located with respect to the microfine channels so as to restrict the gaseous communication to diffusion of hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Sample analysis in a portable analytical instrument, preferably in the form of a gas chromatograph, benefits from temperature control of one or more thermal zones in the instrument by way of a thermal isolation system that includes a novel pumping assembly to effect a selective amount of thermal isolation of the thermal zone. The pumping assembly includes a pumping element in the form of a tubular or planar palladium structure. The pumping assembly makes use of the unique properties of palladium to allow selective control of a nominal gas pressure within a vacuum cavity. A component system, which may include a separation column and a thermal device for heating and/or cooling the component system, may be provided within the vacuum cavity. The thermal device and the pumping assembly are individually controlled by a control system.

Abstract: A microactuator preferably in the form of a microminiature valve for controlling the flow of a fluid carried by a flow channel includes a first substrate having a thermally-actuated member selectively operated by a thermal actuator such that the first substrate thereby develops thermal energy, and a second substrate having opposed first and second major surfaces. The second substrate is attached to the first substrate at the first major surface. The second major surface defines an isolation cell for enclosing a volume when the second substrate is attached to the support to thereby reduce the thermal mass of the microactuator and to thermally isolate the first substrate from the support.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a plurality of intrinsic gettering sites in a bonded silicon substrate (21). A first silicon substrate (10) with a first and second surface (12, 13) is provided. The first surface (12) of the first silicon substrate (10) is implanted with a plurality of nucleation ions (14). The first silicon substrate (10) is then heated in such a manner that a plurality of nucleation sites form from the plurality of nucleation ions. A second substrate (20) with a first surface (22) is then bonded to the first surface(12) of the first silicon substrate (10). A predetermined portion (24) of the first silicon substrate (10) is removed from the second surface (13) of the first silicon substrate (10), thereby providing a thin substrate having a plurality of intrinsic gettering sites near its active area, wherein the thin substrate is bonded to a handle semiconductor substrate (21).

Abstract: A tape backup device for use in a magnetic disk drive unit of a personal computer. The tape backup device comprises a relatively thin housing to be inserted into the disk drive, a supply of magnetic recording tape outside the disk drive, tape drive means, and data transfer means. In one embodiment, the data transfer means can comprise means for bringing the disk drive read/write head and magnetic recording tape into sufficiently close proximity to magnetically transfer data therebetween. In a second embodiment, the data transfer means can comprise a magnetic circuit between the disk drive head and the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A data communication system including a central host terminal and a large number of remote terminals communicating with the host terminal through telephone lines. The remote terminal decodes frequency-shift-keyed signals and modulates an RF generator to display the data represented by the FSK signals on a conventional television screen. The remote terminal also includes a keypad and conventional two-tone signal generator for transmitting data to the host terminal. The remote terminal may also include a card reader and a frequency-shift-keyed modulator for generating FSK signals corresponding to information magnetically recorded on a card. The host terminal includes a TOUCH-TONE decoder for providing data signals indicative of the information from the remote terminals, an FSK decoder for generating data signals indicative of the information contained on cards read by the remote terminals, and an FSK modulator for transmitting FSK signals to the remote terminals.

Abstract: An apparatus providing a source of alternating power for power devices is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a frame member having a plurality of ground engaging wheels for transporting the frame member along the ground. The frame member carries a plurality of DC storage means therein. A transformer means carried on the frame has a low voltage center tapped winding, a line voltage winding, and a high voltage winding. The low voltage center tapped winding is in communication with the DC storage means, and the line voltage winding is operable to produce an AC output voltage suitable for powering devices. A plurality of controllable rectifier means is in communication with both the high voltage winding and the low voltage center tapped winding. The rectifier means are operable to alternately provide a conduction path for said DC storage means through both halves of the low voltage center tapped winding.