Abstract: A precipitation measuring system comprising a top thermal plate positioned to maximize exposure to falling precipitation and includes at least one ridge circumscribing the top surface for capturing precipitation. A second thermal plate is positioned under the top thermal plate to protect it from falling precipitation while still exposing it to the same atmospheric temperature and wind conditions. At least one solar radiation sensor is connected to the precipitation measuring system to measure solar radiation contacting at least one of the top and bottom thermal plates. During a precipitation event, the top and bottom thermal plates are maintained at a constant temperature and a power consumption curve for each thermal plate is quantified. The precipitation rate is measured by the difference in the power consumption curve for the top thermal plate and the power consumption curve for the bottom thermal plate.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for determining properties of a flow tube and of a fluid flowing through the flow tube. One example of such a property is the density of the fluid flowing through the flow tube. To determine the properties, the process determines a measured mode shape based on pickoff signals received from a plurality of pickoffs. The process selects values for flow tube and fluid parameters. The process determines an estimated mode shape based on the values for the flow tube and fluid parameters. The process compares the measured mode shape and the estimated mode shape to determine an error for the values for the flow tube and fluid parameters. If the error for the values is within an error range, then the process determines the properties of the flow tube and of the fluid based on the estimated values. If the error for the values is not within the error range, then the process selects new values for the flow tube and fluid parameters.

Abstract: Movement of a structure, such a conduit of a Coriolis mass flowmeter, is estimated. A plurality of motion signals representing motion of the structure are mode selective filtered to generate a plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals such that the mode selective filtered motion signals preferentially represent motion associated with a vibrational mode of the structure. A plurality of phase estimates is generated from the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. The plurality of phase estimates may be generated using a phase reference derived from a mode selective filtered motion signal of the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. According to some embodiments, a frequency of a mode selective filtered motion signal is estimated, and quadrature first and second reference signals are generated based on the estimated frequency. The plurality of phase estimates is generated from the mode selective filtered motion signals and the reference signals.

Abstract: A disk drive system is disclosed that includes a disk device coupled to control circuitry. The control circuitry includes a read channel with a detector that detects servo mark sub-patterns and correlates the detected servo mark sub-patterns to detect a servo mark. The detector includes matched filters to detect the sub-patterns.

Abstract: A calibration factor for a sensor including a material-containing conduit and a plurality of motion transducers operative to generate motion signals representing motion of the conduit is determined from a normal modal dynamic characterization of motion of the conduit. The calibration factor may be generated by generating a solution to a modal differential equation of motion in a modal domain including a plurality of normal modes of motion of the conduit, and by generating the calibration factor from this solution. The normal modal dynamic characterization may characterize motion of the conduit as a function of a modal Coriolis term that describes coupling among a plurality of normal modes of the conduit responsive to mass flow in the conduit. The modal Coriolis term may be determined from a mode shape function that describes modal motion of the conduit as a function of location on the conduit. The invention may be embodied as methods, apparatus and computer program products.

Abstract: A system for setting baud rate and communication protocol in a remote device. In this invention, the remote device receives samples of signals from a host device in a buffer. The remote device then detects a baud rate of said signals from the samples. A protocol being used by the host device to communicate is also determined from the samples. The remote device is then set to communicate using the determined protocol at the detected baud rate.

Abstract: A precipitation measuring system comprising a top thermal plate positioned to maximize exposure to falling precipitation and includes at least one ridge circumscribing the top surface for capturing precipitation. A second thermal plate is positioned under the top thermal plate to protect it from falling precipitation while still exposing it to the same atmospheric temperature and wind conditions. At least one solar radiation sensor is connected to the precipitation measuring system to measure solar radiation contacting at least one of the top and bottom thermal plates. During a precipitation event, the top and bottom thermal plates are maintained at a constant temperature and a power consumption curve for each thermal plate is quantified. The precipitation rate is measured by the difference in the power consumption curve for the top thermal plate and the power consumption curve for the bottom thermal plate.

Abstract: A low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having improved functionality including a belt storage compartment located in the bottom cover of the housing. The belt storage compartment is shaped so as to allow for storage of the belt in its relaxed state.

Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter having a single flow tube surrounded by connecting rings and a balance bar whose ends are connected by the connecting rings to the flow tube. The balance bar has a thermal coefficient of expansion greater than that of the connecting rings and the flow tube. The outer circumferential surface of each connecting ring is tapered toward the axial center of the flow tube. The inner circumferential surface of the balance bar has a taper matching that of the connecting ring. The connecting ring can only partially inserted into the space between the flow tube and the balance bar when the assembly is at room temperature. Braze material is then applied to the visible ends of the surface common to the balance bar and the connecting rings as well as to the ends of the surface common to the connecting rings and the flow tube. The structure is heated to brazing temperature to braze these common surfaces.

Abstract: A roller bed that is inserted between idlers in a conveyor belt system. The roller bed includes a base plate that is oriented substantially parallel to said surface of said conveyor belt. A first side plate on a first side of the base plate is oriented at an angle to the surface of the conveyor belt to support a first side of conveyor belt and cause the first side of the conveyor belt to be angled upwards with respect to a plane of the surface. Small diameter rollers, very closely spaced, are affixed to a surface of the first side plate to support the conveyor belt and reduce friction between the side plate and the conveyor belt. A second side plate on a second side of the base plate is oriented at an angle to the surface of the conveyor belt to support a second side of the conveyor belt and cause the second side of the conveyor belt to be angled upwards with respect to the plane of the surface.

Abstract: A system, method, and software are disclosed that determine a proportion of a majority component of a fluid that is flowing through a Coriolis flowmeter. Circuitry receives pickoff signals and a temperature signal from the Coriolis flowmeter responsive to the fluid being flowed through the Coriolis flowmeter. The circuitry processes the pickoff signals and the temperature signal to determine a proportion of the majority component relative to the fluid. To determine the proportion of the majority component in one example, the circuitry determines a first volumetric flow rate based on a measured mass flow rate of the fluid and a reference density of the majority component. The circuitry then determines a second volumetric flow rate based on a measured volumetric flow rate, a temperature-varying density, and the reference density. The circuitry determines the proportion of the majority component based on the first volumetric flow rate and the second volumetric flow rate.

Abstract: A slave pulsed laser stabilizes the frequency by using the master laser frequency to stabilize a cavity in the slave pulsed laser. The slave pulsed laser includes an optical modulator, a cavity, a cavity modifier, and an output generator. The cavity includes an end reflector, a laser generator, an optical injector, and an output coupler. The optical modulator receives a continuous wave laser signal that includes a carrier frequency. The optical modulator then modulates the continuous wave laser signal to generate two sidebands around the carrier frequency. The laser generator generates a first laser signal in the cavity. The optical injector then injects the continuous wave laser signal with the first laser signal. The output generator generates an output signal based on the continuous wave laser signal. The cavity modifier then modifies a length of the cavity based on the output signal wherein the cavity is in resonance with the frequency of the continuous wave laser signal.

Abstract: Yield monitor apparatus and methods for a forage processing machinery are provided. The yield monitor measures a forage yield by variously measuring a forage impingement force, a forage volume flow, a forage volume increment accumulation, or a forage processing machinery drive load. The yield measures an impeller speed. The yield monitor may generate a yield amount, with the yield amount capable of being stored and displayed to a forage processing machinery operator. Alternatively, the yield monitor may generate a groundspeed control signal that is used by the forage processing machinery to control a forage processing machinery groundspeed or other forage processing machinery parameters.

Abstract: An energy metering device includes a volumetric flow meter or mass flow meter in combination with a gas analyzer that provides telemetry regarding the constituents of a natural gas flow stream. An interpreter analyzes this information and provides a real time output corresponding to the enthalpy of combustion for the gas stream. This output is used to adjust or throttle the gas flow stream for purposes of delivering the flow stream according to a preselected parameter, which is related to desired operating conditions for a combustion device including a boiler or an engine.

Abstract: A disk drive system is disclosed that includes a disk device coupled to control circuitry. The control circuitry includes a read channel with a detector that detects a bit sequence associated with Gray codes and delays indications of the bit sequence detection to handle phase shifts. The detector generates a Gray code detection signal in response to the delayed indications. The control circuitry processes the Gray code in response to the Gray code detection signal.

Abstract: A parameter sensor including a conduit configured to contain a material is controlled. A first excitation applied to the conduit is determined. Motion of the conduit in response to the first excitation is determined. A second excitation to apply to the conduit is determined from the determined first excitation, the determined motion in response to the first excitation, a desired motion for the conduit, and a frequency response for the conduit. In particular, excitations may be iteratively determined and applied to the conduit, and motion signals representing motion of the excited conduit may be processed to generate process parameter estimates, such as mass flow rate estimates. The frequency response may be assumed to be time-invariant, or may be adaptively estimated. The invention may be embodied as methods, apparatus and computer program products.

Abstract: A system that provides a remote ordering system for a Coriolis flowmeter. The system is provided by a server. The server begins by receiving input flow stream parameters from a remote client computer. The server then determines flowmeter parameters from the input flow stream parameters received from the remote client computer. The server then determines at least one model of flowmeter suitable for the flowmeter parameters. The suitable models of flowmeters are then transmitted to a remote computer where a customer may then place an order for one of the models suitable for the flowmeter parameters.

Abstract: A manufacturing process that prevents stress between a titanium flow tube and a surrounding steel balance bar due to a brazing operation. A straight tube Coriolis flowmeter having a titanium flow tube is surrounded by a balance bar having separate longitudinal halves. The balance bar halves are connected to each other by an elongated side channel on each side of the balance bar halves. The elongated side channels are radially spaced apart from the balance bar halves but connected to the balance bar halves by means of tubular pegs which extend into holes in the side channels. The flow tube is joined by brazing via connecting rings to the balance bar halves and to an inner end of the pegs. The radially outer end of the pegs are inserted into the holes in the side channels and welded. Circular welds and slots in the side channels reduce axial shrinkage of the side channels as the welds cool. This prevents axial stress on the flow tube.