Abstract: The degree of degradation imposed on signals transmitted over a communications link from a transmitter to a receiver is tested. A predetermined test signal is transmitted using spare capacity detected by a voice activity detector when no speech is to be transmitted over the communications link. The test signal received by the receiver is compared with the reference signal, and a measure of the degradation of signals caused by the communications link is generated therefrom.

Abstract: A missile or other weapons countermeasure system includes a non-directional, modulated laser energy signal designed to protect an object (such as an aircraft, land vehicle, building, or vessel). Once a potential threat has been detected, a laser energy source generates a laser energy signal of sufficient power to provide the necessary coverage. The laser energy is modulated using an oscillator to create the appropriate countermeasure signal. Next, fiber optics or other coupling device distribute the modulated laser energy signal to one or more apertures, preferably wide angle lenses or the like, disposed about the outer surface of the object to be protected. The number and location of the apertures will depend upon the circumstances of the installation as well as the desired coverage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conduit drain for removing liquid condensation in a vertical conduit. Moisture flows down the interior walls of the conduit and collects in a collection lip in the conduit drain. A drain channel is produced around the inner circumference of the conduit drain by the collection lip. The moisture collects within the drain channel and is drawn off into a drain port that is coupled to a drain pipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to physical connections of a plurality of mutually insulated connecting elements, especially configured for printed circuit boards, the physical connection being a component of an electric connection between two or more conducting elements with direct contact using a spring. The electric terminal represents such a connection, and allows rapid and simple detachment of the conductor, similar to the plug'n'play technology used for plugging in the conductors. A clamping system is provided which allows to simply and rapidly detach the conductor and which is accessible from several sides of the terminal. The advantageous accessibility of the clamping system makes it possible to always use the tools for operating the clamping system in a manner perpendicular to the surface of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: This invention relates to a non-intrusive video quality assessment system. A method and apparatus are provided in which video frame parameters are extracted from a sequence of packets by generating a first video quality parameter for each group of packets associated with a particular frame of video data in dependence upon the frame rate of the video stream; and generating a second video quality parameter for each of said group of packets in dependence upon the size of encoded data comprising the video frame.

Abstract: A mounting structure for the front end of a car or small truck has a frame-shaped structure that surrounds an air cooled pass-through area and exhibits an upper crossmember, a lower crossmember and sidemembers connecting them. The upper crossmember is designed as a closed wall for receiving a hood lock and forms a sealing rib that borders on the air cooled pass-through area for an air-blocking connection of a radiator component. To provide the upper crossmember as the lock crossmember at the mounting structure with a high moment of inertia and to reduce the air cooled pass-through area only to a negligible degree, the upper crossmember is strutted using a lattice structure that is adjacent to the sealing rib and protrudes into the air cooled pass-through area, where the lattice openings form a part of the air cooled pass-through area with their entire opening area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar tracker characterized by having photovoltaic panels arranged in spaced rows at different levels and two slopes, favoring their ventilation and the expansion of the frame; the panels being fixed by means of yokes and clips to a support (3) anchored to the H-shaped frame (4) resting on swivelling supports of a tower having little height supporting the entire structure, its tilt being variable by means of a tension device, the side longitudinal beams (4a) being extendible to house more rows of panels (1) since the remaining structural components, tower, bearings, column and base have been oversized for that purpose.

Abstract: A system and method for computing mortgage amortization so as to allow the borrower to pay down the principal portion of his or her mortgage faster includes calculating traditional and modified principal and interest repayment amounts and calculating a baseline or average principal and interest amount payable over the life of the loan. An interest Index rate is established. Principal payments are placed in an interest-bearing account administered by the lender. Changes in interest rates are computed on a monthly basis. When the current monthly interest rate is less than the initial Index rate, the difference in interest payments received needed to fund the loan and the amount paid by the homeowner are split between the homeowner and the lender. When the current monthly interest rate is greater than the initial Index rate, additional funds must be withdrawn from one or more established accounts or collected directly from the homeowner to fund the loan for that month.

Abstract: A fire resistant, self-adhesive rolled roofing membrane is used on low sloped roofs for insulating a surface from weather. The roofing membrane includes an asphalt-saturated fibrous material having a roofing surface area, for example, roofing granules on a portion of the top surface and a clean surface area on another portion of the top surface. The roofing membrane includes an adhesive surface area on a portion of the bottom surface opposite the roofing surface area and a parting agent covered surface area on another portion of the bottom surface generally opposite the clean surface area to prevent adhering to the clean surface area when rolled. The adhesive surface area includes a layer of self-adhesive material, such as rubberized asphalt, capable of adhering to the clean surface area when strips of the roofing membrane are overlapped. The adhesive surface area is covered with a release backing to prevent adherence to the roofing surface area.

Abstract: Components for positioning devices that can be welded together via a resistance welding process. The one component exhibits at least one circulatory embossing that protrudes beyond its surface toward the connection side and that engages in the complementary recess of the other component. The embossing can be pressed into the recess during the resistance welding process. At least one of the components exhibits on the side spaced from the circulatory embossing additional embossings that limit the impression depth of the circulatory embossing of the one component into the recess of the other component. This is done such that the surfaces facing each other of the two components maintain a fixed distance to one another.

Abstract: A device, method and system for causing a controlled collapse of cavities formed within liquid droplets wherein a pressurized jet comprising a liquid and nanoparticle material and possibly fuel produces droplets from the breakup of the jet stream. The liquid droplets are irradiated with energy to produce and expand cavities formed within the droplets by irradiation of the nanoparticles contained within the droplets. The droplets are collided with a target to collapse the cavities within the droplets. The irradiating and colliding are timed to enhance implosion energy resulting from the cavities' collapse. The implosion energy and the fuel in the cavity may be used to activate and sustain a fusion reaction.