Abstract: A secondary-side controlled series resonant AC voltage controlled module (VRM) converts an AC distribution bus voltage to a low DC voltage for providing power to high speed microprocessors and integrated circuits, with minimal conduction and switching losses, providing high efficiency even at low output voltage, high current and high switching frequency.

Abstract: A x-ray tube comprises a cathode cup assembly. The cathode cup assembly comprises a filament positioned in a cathode cup. A surface of the cathode cup assembly is exposed to incident infrared radiation, and the surface is adapted to reflect a substantial portion of the incident radiation, in which the radiation has a wavelength in a range from about 0.2 &mgr;m to about 5.0 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A composite that protects thermal barrier coatings from the deleterious effects of environmental contaminants at operational temperatures is discovered. The thermal barrier coated parts have least two outer protective coatings that decrease infiltration of molten contaminant eutectic mixtures into openings in the thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: A telemeter for telemetry of diagnostic messages from a mobile asset to a remote station comprises a processor coupled to the output of one or more condition sensors. The processor converts the output of the condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and provides the diagnostic message at a processor output. A transmitter is coupled to the processor output. The transmitter is adapted to transmit the diagnostic messages in the Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) frequency band. An exemplary embodiment of a telemetry system of the invention comprises a telemeter adapted to transmit diagnostic messages in the ISM frequency band, and a remote station including a receiver for receiving the diagnostic messages in the ISM band.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system for detecting cracked rail and enhancing traction when necessary, includes wiring coils around wheel axles, and a corresponding power source for supplying power to the coils for producing electromagnetic flux. The produced electromagnetic flux is routed through the wheel axles, wheels and rails in a closed circuit. When a cracked rail is encountered along the route, the circuit will be interrupted or open, resulting in a changed flux pattern. This pattern change is detected by a flux sensor, and the geographic location of the crack in the rail is determined. The electromagnetic system further includes an electromagnetic wheel loading means for generating an attraction to the rails. The generated attraction to the rails increases friction between the wheels and the rails, thereby increasing traction to enable hauling greater loads up steep grades.

Abstract: The brush seal includes manually-flexible, plastic-containing, brush-seal bristles attached to an elongated bristle holder. The rotary machine has a rotor and stator casing segments with segments of the brush seal positioned one each in a surface groove of a corresponding stator casing segment. In one example, the bristle holder is manually flexible, the bristles and the bristle holder define a monolithic unit, and the brush seal is coiled onto a spool from which a desired length is cut thereby avoiding the necessity of manufacturing a brush seal segment to a specific radius and a specific circumferential length to match a particular stator casing segment.

Abstract: Small diameter silicon carbide-containing fibers are provided in a bundle such as a fiber tow that can be formed into a structure where the radii of curvature is not limited to 10-20 inches. An aspect of this invention is directed to impregnating the bundles of fibers with the slurry composition to substantially coat the outside surface of an individual fiber within the bundle and to form a complex shaped preform with a mass of continuous fibers.

Abstract: A metal cooling tube of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, having an inner surface thereof exposed to an aqueous cooling medium containing hydrogen peroxide. The cooling tube has its inner surface coated with matter selected from the group consisting of the element manganese, molybdenum, zinc, copper, cadmium for absorbing such hydrogen peroxide and then affecting decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous medium. In preferred embodiment such coating is manganese and oxides thereof. A method for lowering the electrochemical corrosion potential of a metal allow cooling tube exposed to an aqueous medium in a water-cooled nuclear reactor is also disclosed. Such method comprises the step of coating an inner surface of such tube with matter selected from the group of elements comprising manganese, molybdenum, zinc, copper, cadmium, so as to permit absorption and hydrogen peroxide in such aqueous medium and effect decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in such aqueous medium.

Abstract: An X-ray tube anode comprises a graphite ring, a target substrate applied onto the graphite ring and a target focal track applied onto the target substrate. The target focal track comprises a first refractory metal and the target substrate comprises a second refractory metal and at least one layer of a material that is characterized by characterized by a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is the same as the CTE of the target focal track or is intermediate between the CTE of the target focal track and the CTE of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of crystallizing an aromatic polycarbonate prepolymer having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 20,000 and having from about 5 to about 95 mole % aryl carbonate terminal end groups, based on total end groups, the method comprising effecting contact of the prepolymer with a crystallizing agent comprising an alcohol and an additive, wherein the additive is effective to increase the rate of solid state polymerization.

Abstract: An engine, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a compressor which compresses inlet air; a combustor in which a mixture of fuel and air is combusted; a turbine which is driven by gases from the combustor; and a dielectric coating applied to a surface of at least one of: the compressor and the turbine, the dielectric coating having a dielectric constant of at least 3.0 and a loss tangent of at most 0.1, wherein the dielectric coating reduces the magnitude of an electrostatic force which attracts particles flowing through the engine to the surface of the engine. In operation, only a thin layer of particles typically accumulates on the dielectric coating. While the dielectric coating reduces the magnitude of the electric field which attracts particles, the repulsive force produced by the accumulated particles repels additional particles of the same charge.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided that enable x-ray projection data acquired by a tomosynthesis system to be transformed into a form as if it had been acquired by a computed tomography (CT) detector. As the x-ray projection data is acquired by a tomosynthesis detector of the tomosynthesis system, the projection data is projected onto a virtual CT detector. The transformed data is then processed to associate virtual pixels of the virtual CT detector with coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector. The intensity values of the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector are then used to interpolate the intensity values of the corresponding virtual pixels of the virtual CT detector. The intensity values of the virtual pixels of the virtual CT detector may then be processed in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to reconstruct the image.

Abstract: A method of correcting aberrations caused by target x-ray scatter in three-dimensional images generated by a volumetric computed tomographic system is disclosed. The method uses a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the distribution of scattered radiation reaching the detector plane. The geometry for the scatter calculation is determined using the uncorrected three-dimensional tomographic image. The calculated scatter is used to correct the primary projection data which is then processed routinely to provide the corrected image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultracapacitor and to a method of making an ultracapacitor. The ultracapacitor of the invention includes two solid, nonporous current collectors, two porous electrodes separating the collectors, a porous separator between the electrodes and an electrolyte occupying the pores in the electrodes and separator. The electrolyte includes a cyclic carbonate solvent, a cyclic ester solvent and an electrolyte salt. The invention also relates to a stack of ultracapacitor cells.

Abstract: A system for implementing a design for six sigma process having a plurality of sub-processes each having a plurality of sub-steps. The system includes an independent main application for implementing the design for six sigma process. A series of independent sub-process applications each implements one sub-process of the design for six sigma process. A tool library containing a plurality of executable tools is accessible by the main application and sub-process applications to access and execute the plurality of executable tools. A communications path interconnects the main application, the sub-process applications, and the tool library.

Abstract: Closed loop control apparatus and methods for reducing ripples in an extruded plastic sheet include, for example, a closed loop speed control system having a roll speed sensor, a roll speed controller, and a roll drive. The roll speed sensor is communicatively coupled to the active extruder roll and configured to determine an actual roll speed of the active extruder roll. The roll speed controller is communicatively coupled to the roll speed sensor and utilizes the actual roll speed and desired roll speed to generate a command signal and transmit such signal to the roll drive. The roll drive is communicatively coupled between the roll speed controller and the active extruder roll, and utilizes the command signal to drive the active extruder roll, through its controllers and power electronics.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow rate of the stream from an electroslag refining apparatus is taught. The system includes the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal is collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth for protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of polycarbonate comprising preparing a polycarbonate by a melt process by reacting a diphenol and a diaryl carbonate in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of one or more alkali and or alkali earth metal salts of chelating agents. Suitable chelating agents include nitrilotriacetate and EDTA.

Abstract: An MRI system includes a magnet which produces the main polarizing magnetic field. Variations in strength of this field are corrected by a temperature compensation system that calculates a compensating flux needed to maintain the field at constant strength. The compensating flux is calculated from changes in sensed magnet temperature and a magnet temperature coefficient. One or more correction coils are wound around the magnet and driven with the current necessary to produce the compensating flux.

Abstract: The invention relates to polycarbonates comprising: (a) carbonate structural units corresponding to structure (I) where R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl, R5 is C1-C3 alkyl and n is 0, 1 or 2, and (b) carbonate structural units corresponding to structure (II):  where R6, R7, R10 and R11 are independently C1-C6 alkyl, R8 and R9 are independently H or C1-C5 alkyl, R12 is H or C1-C3 alkyl and n is 0, 1 or 2; where the polycarbonate has a glass transition temperature of from about 120° C. to about 185° C. and a water absorption of less than about 0.33%. This invention further relates to method of making these polycarbonates, optical articles made from these polycarbonates, and methods of making optical articles from these polycarbonates.