Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for assessing the quality of a meat product. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of assessing quality of a meat product, the method comprising receiving data representative of light emitted from the meat product upon application of incident light to the meat product, analysing the data to determine one or more parameters indicative of quality of the meat product, and assessing the quality of the meat product on the basis of the one or more parameters.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for assessing the quality of a meat product. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of assessing quality of a meat product, the method comprising receiving data representative of light emitted from the meat product upon application of incident light to the meat product, analysing the data to determine one or more parameters indicative of quality of the meat product, and assessing the quality of the meat product on the basis of the one or more parameters.

Abstract: A convenient and labor-saving, chemically-resistant, multi-layered construction tool covering accessory is provided for protecting a paint shield or other flat-shaped construction tool from soiling during a construction process. The accessory includes a backing member comprising an adhesive inner side for adhering to a construction tool, and an opposed, outer side. At least one stack of removable cover sheets is affixed to the outer side of the backing member. Each removable cover sheet comprises an inner side, an outer side, and an adhesive material on the outer side of the removable cover sheet. The adhesive material is configured to detachably adhere to an adjacent cover sheet arranged over said each removable cover sheet, and to a wall or other surface when said each removable cover sheet is arranged in an outermost position of the at least one stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for assessing the quality of a meat product. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of assessing quality of a meat product, the method comprising receiving data representative of light emitted from the meat product upon application of incident light to the meat product, analysing the data to determine one or more parameters indicative of quality of the meat product, and assessing the quality of the meat product on the basis of the one or more parameters.

Abstract: A carburetor with throttle shaft retainer system. The throttle shaft retainer system employs a retainer member in the form of a retainer pin or retainer clip that is pressed into the body of the carburetor to engage a retainer groove formed about or partially about the circumference of the throttle shaft. The interaction between the retainer member and the retainer groove prevents movement in the axial direction of the throttle shaft. With certain drilling and machined cuts to the throttle shaft, the retaining pin acts as the wide-open-throttle (WOT) stop when the throttle is rotated to a WOT position.

Abstract: A carburetor with throttle shaft retainer system. The throttle shaft retainer system employs a retainer member in the form of a retainer pin or retainer clip that is pressed into the body of the carburetor to engage a retainer groove formed about or partially about the circumference of the throttle shaft. The interaction between the retainer member and the retainer groove prevents movement in the axial direction of the throttle shaft. With certain drilling and machined cuts to the throttle shaft, the retaining pin acts as the wide-open-throttle (WOT) stop when the throttle is rotated to a WOT position.

Abstract: A carburetor with throttle shaft retainer system. The throttle shaft retainer system employs a retainer member in the form of a retainer pin or retainer clip that is pressed into the body of the carburetor to engage a retainer groove formed about or partially about the circumference of the throttle shaft. The interaction between the retainer member and the retainer groove prevents movement in the axial direction of the throttle shaft. With certain drilling and machined cuts to the throttle shaft, the retaining pin acts as the wide-open-throttle (WOT) stop when the throttle is rotated to a WOT position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying signals into a filter circuit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a filter circuit that filters an input signal and outputs a signal in a first frequency range, and a filter circuit that filters the input signal and outputs a signal in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range, wherein the second filter circuit includes an interface circuit for inserting a signal used to receive the first frequency range signal. The method includes receiving a signal containing content from a first source in a first frequency range and content from a second source in a second frequency range, providing filtering to produce a signal containing the first content, providing filtering to produce a signal containing the second content, and applying a signal to second content signal processing circuitry, the signal provided used for receiving the content from the first source.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping vibration, especially torsional vibration due to stick-slip, in a drill string, Sensors measure the instantaneous angular velocity of the drill string at one or more locations along the length of the drill string. One or more vibration damping modules are also spaced along the length of the drill string. When torsional vibration above a threshold is detected, the damping module imposes a reverse torque on the drill that dampens the torsional vibration. The reverse torque can be created by imparting a frictional resistance to the rotation of the drill string. The frictional resistance can be created externally, by extending friction pads from the damping module so that they contact the bore hole wall and drag along the bore hole as the drill string rotates, or internally by anchoring a housing mounted on the drill string to the wall of the bore hole and then imposing frictional resistance on a fluid, such as a magnetorheological fluid, flowing within the drill string.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the weight on a drill bit and axial forces along a drill string drilling though an earthen formation. The apparatus comprising an LVDT incorporated into a torsional bearing of a magneto-rheological damping system such that the LVDT senses the relative displacement and accelerations between a bearing mandrel portion and a bearing casing portion of the torsional damper. The LVDT is calibrated with respect to a spring in the damping system that resists relative motion between the bearing mandrel and bearing casing such that the output of the LVDT can be transformed into the force associated with the weight on the drill bit, and the same LVDT accelerations combined with the mass distribution along the drill string to determine axial stresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus configures a power level for a device able to receive audio, video, and data signals. An input signal is received by a receiver capable of receiving broadcast data signals and digital home networking signals. The system determines if the receiver is operating in a first mode having a first power level or a second mode having a second power level based on a type of input signal received by the receiver. A control signal is generated for modifying at least one setting on a first circuit for configuring the first circuit to operate according to the first power level if the input signal is a first type of input signal. The control signal is provided to the first circuit and the first circuit is configured to operate according to the first power level based on the control signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for enabling software applications running on separate devices to exchange data via multiple data communication methods. In various embodiments, a data communication system is provided comprising multiple data communication devices running one or more software applications and communication manager middleware. In various embodiments, the data communication system permits the software applications to exchange data without knowledge of the actual method and/or protocol used to exchange a given set of data, and intelligently manage the exchange of data between software applications by, among other things, transmitting sets of data using a preferred communication method selected based on one or more message attributes or communication method attributes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus configures a power level for a device able to receive audio, video, and data signals. An input signal is received by a receiver capable of receiving broadcast data signals and digital home networking signals. The system determines if the receiver is operating in a first mode having a first power level or a second mode having a second power level based on a type of input signal received by the receiver. A control signal is generated for modifying at least one setting on a first circuit for configuring the first circuit to operate according to the first power level if the input signal is a first type of input signal. The control signal is provided to the first circuit and the first circuit is configured to operate according to the first power level based on the control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping vibration, especially torsional vibration due to stick-slip, in a drill string, Sensors measure the instantaneous angular velocity of the drill string at one or more locations along the length of the drill string. One or more vibration damping modules are also spaced along the length of the drill string. When torsional vibration above a threshold is detected, the damping module imposes a reverse torque on the drill that dampens the torsional vibration. The reverse torque can be created by imparting a frictional resistance to the rotation of the drill string. The frictional resistance can be created externally, by extending friction pads from the damping module so that they contact the bore hole wall and drag along the bore hole as the drill string rotates, or internally by anchoring a housing mounted on the drill string to the wall of the bore hole and then imposing frictional resistance on a fluid, such as a magnetorheological fluid, flowing within the drill string.

Abstract: A method of micro-fracturing in a well bore to define the stress field and fracture system for the purpose of optimizing subsequent hydraulic fracturing well completion operations. During or subsequent to drilling of the well bore, a down hole imager takes measurements that allow the operator to select appropriate zones of the well bore for optional micro-fracture testing. The micro-fracturing testing is conducted by stopping the flow of drilling mud and expanding one, or preferably two packers incorporated into a micro-fracture module of the drill string. The pressure in the isolated zone between the packers (or below the packer if one packer is used) is pressurized until fracture occurs. The trend in the pressure in the isolated zone of the bore hole is measured during the test to assess information about the fracturing of the bore hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the weight on a drill bit and axial forces along a drill string drilling though an earthen formation. The apparatus comprising an LVDT incorporated into a torsional bearing of a magneto-rheological damping system such that the LVDT senses the relative displacement and accelerations between a bearing mandrel portion and a bearing casing portion of the torsional damper. The LVDT is calibrated with respect to a spring in the damping system that resists relative motion between the bearing mandrel and bearing casing such that the output of the LVDT can be transformed into the force associated with the weight on the drill bit, and the same LVDT accelerations combined with the mass distribution along the drill string to determine axial stresses.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bandstop filter for preventing signals of frequencies used for inter-device communications in a television signal distribution system from interfering with a signal source. The filter is designed to work with a signal splitter and reduce the negative impact on inter-device communication through the splitter caused by conventional bandstop filters. The filter adds a section to a bandstop filter to provide a resistive load and high output impedance at the port feeding the splitter largely through the action of a parallel resonant circuit.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for enabling software applications running on separate devices to exchange data via multiple data communication methods. In various embodiments, a data communication system is provided comprising multiple data communication devices running one or more software applications and communication manager middleware. In various embodiments, the data communication system permits the software applications to exchange data without knowledge of the actual method and/or protocol used to exchange a given set of data, and intelligently manage the exchange of data between software applications by, among other things, transmitting sets of data using a preferred communication method selected based on one or more message attributes or communication method attributes.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) such as a television signal receiver provides an AGC function by using multiple feedback sources which provide both narrow band and wide band AGC signals in an adaptive manner. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus (20) includes a tuner (10, 15, 20, 25, 30) operative to generate first and second IF signals. A first demodulator (40) is operative to generate a first AGC signal responsive to the first IF signal. A second demodulator (50) is operative to generate a second AGC signal responsive to the second IF signal. A wide band AGC detector (60) is operative to generate a third AGC signal responsive to at least one of the first and second IF signals. A switch (70) is operative to selectively provide one of the first, second and third AGC signals to the tuner (10, 15, 20, 25, 30) responsive to a predetermined condition.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a television signal receiver employs an efficient and cost-effective signal processing architecture which enables, among other things, the reception and processing of both analog and digital signals from multiple signal sources, such as but not limited to, terrestrial and cable signal sources. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a first tuner operative to generate a first IF signal corresponding to a first RF signal. A first demodulator is operative to generate a first demodulated signal corresponding to the first IF signal. A second tuner is operative to generate a second IF signal corresponding to a second RE signal. A second demodulator is operative to generate a second demodulated signal corresponding to the second IF signal. A third demodulator is operative to generate a third demodulated signal corresponding to one of the first and second IF signals.