Abstract: Monolithic metal bodies (e.g., hard aluminum alloys) comprising a continuous microcavity contained within the body are disclosed. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the metal body to the cross-sectional area of the microcavity may be not greater than 10. The produced metal bodies may be used in structural applications (e.g., aerospace vehicles) to monitor or test the integrity of the metal body.

Abstract: A portable charging system includes a bag configured to receive an electronic device, a battery, a docking station, a charging apparatus and a cord. Another portable system includes a bag, a charging system, and a cord for charging an electronic device. A battery includes a battery cell for storing energy, an external case surrounding the battery cell, and an electrical contact for transmitting electricity therethrough.

Abstract: A portable system for charging an electronic device has a charging system located within a bag, and an audio notification module for indicating a charging status of at least one of the battery charging system and the electronic device. Another portable system has a charging system located within a bag with a charging port accessible from an exterior of the bag. A charging apparatus is configured to connect to the charging port through the bag to provide power to the charging system. Yet another portable system has a charging system located within a bag with a battery check button accessible from an exterior of the bag and lights visible from an exterior of the bag. Upon activation of the battery check button by a user, a light module is configured to illuminate the lights to provide information regarding a state of charge of the charging system.

Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy products, such as plate, forgings and extrusions, suitable for use in making aerospace structural components like integral wing spars, ribs and webs, comprises about: 6 to 10 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.9 wt. % Mg; 1.2 to 2.2 wt. % Cu, with Mg?(Cu+0.3); and 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % Zr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities. Preferably, the alloy contains about 6.9 to 8.5 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.7 wt. % Mg; 1.3 to 2 wt. % Cu. This alloy provides improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness in thick gauges. When artificially aged per the three stage method of preferred embodiments, this alloy also achieves superior SCC performance, including under seacoast conditions.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy products, such as plate, forgings and extrusions, suitable for use in making aerospace structural components like integral wing spars, ribs and webs, comprises about: 6 to 10 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.9 wt. % Mg; 1.2 to 2.2 wt. % Cu, with Mg?(Cu+0.3); and 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % Zr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities. Preferably, the alloy contains about 6.9 to 8.5 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.7 wt. % Mg; 1.3 to 2 wt. % Cu. This alloy provides improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness in thick gauges. When artificially aged per the 3-stage method of preferred embodiments, this alloy also achieves superior SCC performance, including under seacoast conditions.

Abstract: A multipurpose flame light is disclosed, which is made up of a body and an ON-OFF control unit, where the body is formed by a lighting module of a neat and ordered array of multiple LED lamps and an actuator for offering stable electric voltage and current to the lighting module. The body is provided with a base at its bottom and a wire slot at its one side, where the base is further provided with a control system in it, which comprises a memory and a CPU. The ON-OFF control unit is connected to the control system through a data line passing through the wire slot. And the ON-OFF control unit further comprises an on-off switch and a fine-tuning switch.

Abstract: Multi-valve autoregulatory microfluidic devices and methods are described. The described devices and methods offer improved performance and new means of tuning autoregulatory effects in microfluidic devices.

Abstract: A closed blood sampling system within a pressure monitoring line having a control valve that enables a clearance reservoir to be isolated from the pressure column when no samples are being taken. The valve is a stopcock-like device that includes a rotating valve member and attached control handle with clear visible and tactile indicators for the mode of operation. The rotating valve member has a number of internal and circumferential channels for connecting or disconnecting select ports in the core of the valve. By isolating the clearance reservoir, the quality of the pressure signal is improved such that the sampling line can be lengthened for greater convenience in the intensive care or operating room. The valve may also incorporate a blunt cannula sampling site therewithin.

Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy products, such as plate, forgings and extrusions, suitable for use in making aerospace structural components like integral wing spars, ribs and webs, comprises about: 6 to 10 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.9 wt. % Mg; 1.2 to 2.2 wt. % Cu, with Mg?(Cu+0.3); and 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % Zr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities. Preferably, the alloy contains about 6.9 to 8.5 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.7 wt. % Mg; 1.3 to 2 wt. % Cu. This alloy provides improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness in thick gauges. When artificially aged per the three stage method of preferred embodiments, this alloy also achieves superior SCC performance, including under seacoast conditions.

Abstract: An active temperature differential compensation for strain gage based sensors. An array of temperature sensors can be placed at the gage locations to measure the difference in temperature that induces strain on the strain gages. The output of the temperature sensor network can be placed in series with the strain gage network to directly compensate the induced voltage caused by the temperature gradient and/or employed as the input of a mathematical algorithm that can compensate the output from the strain gage bridge to dynamically correct unwanted thermally induced strain in the strain gages.

Abstract: An active temperature differential compensation for strain gage based sensors. An array of temperature sensors can be placed at the gage locations to measure the difference in temperature that induces strain on the strain gages. The output of the temperature sensor network can be placed in series with the strain gage network to directly compensate the induced voltage caused by the temperature gradient and/or employed as the input of a mathematical algorithm that can compensate the output from the strain gage bridge to dynamically correct unwanted thermally induced strain in the strain gages.

Abstract: Monolithic metal bodies (e.g., hard aluminum alloys) comprising a continuous microcavity contained within the body are disclosed. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the metal body to the cross-sectional area of the microcavity may be not greater than 10. The produced metal bodies may be used in structural applications (e.g., aerospace vehicles) to monitor or test the integrity of the metal body.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for testing and inspection of a display panel. The methods involve the application of voltages to rollers or testing conductive films. By applying a potential difference to the appropriate rollers or testing conductive films, different optical states of a display panel can be displayed for inspection.

Abstract: A quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal plane array having structures, each structure having stacked layers of quantum wells and a reflective grating to provide polarization sensitivity. The reflective grating is etched to provide electrical contacts for individual pixels. The reflective gratings comprise grooves, where the grooves for a particular structure run in a particular direction to provide polarization sensitivity. Each structure may comprise groups of quantum well layers, each group sensitive to a particular frequency band. By shorting out unwanted quantum well layers, and by forming the reflective gratings to come into contact with the quantum well layers having a particular frequency band sensitivity, the pixels in the QWIP focal plane array may provide frequency and polarization information.

Abstract: A closed blood sampling system within a pressure monitoring line having a control valve that enables a clearance reservoir to be isolated from the pressure column when no samples are being taken. The valve is a stopcock-like device that includes a rotating valve member and attached control handle with clear visible and tactile indicators for the mode of operation. The rotating valve member has a number of internal and circumferential channels for connecting or disconnecting select ports in the core of the valve. By isolating the clearance reservoir, the quality of the pressure signal is improved such that the sampling line can be lengthened for greater convenience in the intensive care or operating room. The valve may also incorporate a blunt cannula sampling site therewithin.

Abstract: A belt oscillating apparatus of a belt sander, wherein the belt sander includes a machine frame, a driving wheel, a driven wheel, a sand belt mounted on the driving wheel and the driven wheel, and the belt oscillating apparatus is mounted on the machine frame, comprising two oscillating devices, two transmission devices and a valve. The oscillating devices are pivoted on the machine frame and pivoting the driven wheel therebetween. The transmission devices connect the oscillating devices and the valve. A pneumatic power is provided to the valve to move the driven wheel via the transmissions and the oscillating device. The oscillating devices and the transmission device are working alternately by the sand belt touches the oscillating devices, such that the sand belt is reciprocated between the oscillating devices.