Abstract: A compactor system for compressing a mass including liquid and solids includes: a pressure vessel defining a pressure chamber to hold the mass; a compaction mechanism to compress the mass in the pressure chamber to remove the liquid from the solids; a drain port communicating with the pressure chamber and through which the removed liquid drains out of the pressure chamber; drain piping fluidly connected to the drain port to direct the removed liquid to a collection site; and an influent system configured to inject an influent fluid into the pressure chamber through the drain port.

Abstract: A compactor system for compressing a mass including liquid and solids includes: a pressure vessel defining a pressure chamber to hold the mass; a compaction mechanism to compress the mass in the pressure chamber to remove the liquid from the solids; a drain port communicating with the pressure chamber and through which the removed liquid drains out of the pressure chamber; drain piping fluidly connected to the drain port to direct the removed liquid to a collection site; and an influent system configured to inject an influent fluid into the pressure chamber through the drain port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber optic spool which includes a spool including a barrel having opposed ends, a first flange positioned on one end of the barrel, and a second flange positioned on the other end of the barrel; and an elastic foam tube substantially surrounding the barrel under conditions whereby the foam tube is stressed radially while in its resting state on the barrel such that the foam tube resists lifting away from the barrel during rotation of the spool at speeds effective to wind or unwind at least about 25 m of optical fiber per second. Related aspects of the present invention include fiber optic spools including multi-laminar cushioning devices, such multi-laminar cushioning devices, and methods of making fiber optic spools of the present invention.

Abstract: An optical fiber shipping spool, winding system and method for allowing automated winding of an accessible lead meter portion of optical fiber onto the spool. The spool comprises primary and lead meter barrels separated by an outboard flange. The outboard flange has a slot extending to its periphery, the slot providing a path for fiber between the lead meter and primary barrels, the slot having an inlet facing the lead meter barrel and an outlet facing the primary barrel. The slot is angled such that when fiber being wound onto the lead meter barrel comes into contact with the slot inlet, the fiber is automatically drawn into the slot and then guided by the slot onto the primary barrel. According to another aspect, a high-strength rib configuration is disclosed including a plurality of curved, intersecting ribs formed on a flange of the spool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber optic spool which includes a spool including a barrel having opposed ends, a first flange positioned on one end of the barrel, and a second flange positioned on the other end of the barrel; and an elastic foam tube substantially surrounding the barrel under conditions whereby the foam tube is stressed radially while in its resting state on the barrel such that the foam tube resists lifting away from the barrel during rotation of the spool at speeds effective to wind or unwind at least about 25 m of optical fiber per second. Related aspects of the present invention include fiber optic spools including multi-laminar cushioning devices, such multi-laminar cushioning devices, and methods of making fiber optic spools of the present invention.

Abstract: A switched amplifying device for use in a wireless telecommunications receiver as an amplifier of an RF signal has an amplifying device electrically connected in parallel with a switch. The switched amplifying device has a bypass mode in which an electrical path of the RF signal bypasses the amplifying device and is connected to an RF output port. The switched amplifying device also has an amplification mode in which the electrical path of the RF signal flows through the amplifying device prior to presentation of the RF signal at the RF output. In the bypass mode, the amplification device is in an off state. Similarly, in the amplification mode, the bypass device is in an off state. Use of the switched amplifying device according to the teachings of the present invention in a receiver permits accommodation of a larger dynamic range in amplitude of received signal with less signal degradation and noise figure than in prior art amplification devices.

Abstract: A switched amplifying device for use in a wireless telecommunications receiver as an amplifier of an RF signal has an amplifying device electrically connected in parallel with a switch. The switched amplifying device has a bypass mode in which an electrical path of the RF signal bypasses the amplifying device and is connected to an RF output port. The switched amplifying device also has a amplification mode in which, the electrical path of the RF signal flows through the amplifying device prior to presentation of the RF signal at the RF output. In the bypass mode, the amplification device is in an off state. Similarly, in the amplification mode, the bypass device is in an off state. Use of the switched amplifying device according to the teachings of the present invention in a receiver permits accommodation of a larger dynamic range in amplitude of received signal with less signal degradation and noise figure than in prior art amplification devices.

Abstract: A drive-through window station of a restaurant has a food preparation area adjacent a food preparation viewing window. A driveway exterior the window positions a customer in a vehicle at an enhanced elevation whereby the customer may look inward and downward to view and direct the food selection, preparation and packaging by continuous communication using one or more spaced two-way speaker-microphones units. A canopy over the driveway enables proper lighting to view the interior food preparation. Sensor activated lighting increases the interior and/or exterior illumination when a vehicle enters the driveway, and decreases the interior and/or exterior illumination when a vehicle exits the driveway.

Abstract: A novel circuit element is provided which exhibits the characteristics of a conventional series-connected capacitor-inductor network, but consumes only about half the surface area required by the conventional network. Particular utility of the present invention is found in the area of impedance matching in monolithic microwave integrated circuits, although other utilities are contemplated, such as, e.g. in other integrated circuit applications.

Abstract: A new Speed Measuring Sports Goal System for measuring the speed of a shot into a sports goal. The inventive device includes a pair of motion sensors positioned in-line and perpendicular to the entrance of a sports goal for sensing an object shot into the sports goal, a control unit connected to the motion sensors for calculating the speed of the object, and a display unit for providing a visible readout of the speed. The motion detection beams generated by the pair of motion sensors are parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the path of the object shot into the sports goal. The control unit detects when the object traverses the motion detection beams and calculates the speed of the object based on the time of travel between the motion detection beams.

Abstract: A wideband enhancement sum mixer is shown to comprise a pair of matched GaAs diodes operative with a printed circuit wherein a portion of at least the sum signal, i.e., the sum of a radio frequency signal and a local oscillator signal, is caused to be mixed with the second harmonic of the local oscillator signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal in phase with the intermediate frequency signal resulting from mixing of the radio frequency signal and the local oscillator signal.