Abstract: An RF based state indicator for indicating the state of a control device is provided. The RF-based state indicator indicates the position of a control mechanism by using the position of the control mechanism to enable or disable an RF tag. An RF reader acquires RF transmitted data from enabled RF tags and uses the data to indicate or control an operation aspect of a device.

Abstract: An airway device is provided that may track the flow of respiratory gases through the device with sensing elements at a plurality of locations along the gas flow path of the device. Such a device may be useful for assessing a variety of clinical states, for adjusting patient ventilator settings, or for determining whether or not an airway device has been properly inserted into a patient airway.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a system includes a spray device having a liquid pathway leading to a liquid exit, an air pathway leading to an air exit directed toward a spray region downstream of the liquid exit, and an assembly disposed in the liquid pathway adjacent the liquid exit. The assembly includes a threadless pintle generally fit into a sleeve in a concentric manner without threads. The assembly also includes a generally annular passage between the threadless pintle and the sleeve and a passage coupled with the generally annular passage. The generally annular passage also has a cross-sectional area that alternatingly increases and decreases in a lengthwise direction along the liquid pathway.

Abstract: There is provided a system and/or method of monitoring media content. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method of monitoring operation of an electronic device having a plurality of signal inputs, the method comprising periodically collecting images from each of the plurality of signal inputs, storing the collected images for later evaluation if an image storage option is enabled, and sending the collected images for direct viewing if the image storage option is not enabled.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling position of a pick-up head of an optical drive, including manipulating the position of the pick-up head as a primary variable in a cascade control scheme, and manipulating current flowing through the pick-up head as a secondary variable in the cascade control scheme.

Abstract: A welder having an internal shielding gas regulator is disclosed. The welder has an internal gas cylinder and an internal regulator disposed in an enclosure. The welder may be equipped with an auxiliary shielding gas cylinder inlet so that a bulk shielding gas cylinder can be attached thereto and have a flow therefrom regulated by the internal shielding gas regulator. The welder constructed according to the invention is highly transportable, compact, and self-sufficient.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a PCA connector has a nylon body, wherein the nylon is durable, corrosion resistant, and exhibits excellent strength over a large range of temperature and moisture conditions. The nylon body may be described as a single structure with integral features, such as a bearing portion, a latch housing portion, a latch guide portion, and so forth. Thus, the number of parts is significantly reduced by the one-piece design of the body. In addition, the PCA connector may include a latching mechanism configured to secure the PCA connector to an aircraft. For example, the latching mechanism may include a pair of levers, which engage a pair of latches on opposite sides of the nylon body. In some embodiments, the levers may be rotated in opposite directions relative to one another to impart movement of the latches in the same direction, e.g., an axial direction. Also, some embodiments of the latching mechanism include a cam between the levers and the latches, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for efficiently managing power distribution among the various functional blocks used within portable electronic devices. The method includes allowing each functional block to be independently controlled, containing its own low-level software and power controls for setting the local power state of the functional block. For each power control domain in the implementation, hardware uses these local power states and sets the actual operating state of the power control domain accordingly.

Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include dissimilar tube spacing configurations. The heat exchangers include multiple sets of multichannel tubes in fluid communication with each other. One set of multichannel tubes contains a plurality of tubes spaced apart at one spacing while the another set of multichannel tubes contains a plurality of tubes spaced apart at a different spacing. The different spacing between the multichannel tubes allows each set of tubes to be configured to the properties of the refrigerant flowing within the tubes.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming transistors. In one embodiment, the transistors are formed by forming a plurality of elliptical bases in a substrate and forming fins form the elliptical bases. The transistors are formed within the fin such that they may be used as access devices in a memory array.

Abstract: An aircraft electrical connector is provided with features to allow facile engagement with an aircraft and strong retention forces. The aircraft electrical system may include the aircraft electrical connector having a unique biasing mechanism and modular construction, wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to place differential forces onto mating electrical connectors from an aircraft. The biasing mechanism may be operatively coupled to a handle or trigger, which may be easily engageable by an operator. In one embodiment, an electrical connector may include a cam plate disposed between electrical connectors. The cam plate is configured to place differential forces on mating connectors inserted into the electrical connectors. In another embodiment, an electrical connector includes a moveable shaft that is disposed between electrical connectors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light a memory storing data, and a changeable encryption key to facilitate scrambling the data to make the data inaccessible to devices that are without an appropriate decryption mechanism.

Abstract: A thermally responsive ink composition consisting of at least one halochromic optical-state change material, at least one base, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material. The pH of the ink composition is such that the halochromic optical-state change material remains in its basic state until it is acted upon by a thermal stimulus. The ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon a change in pH caused by exposure to a thermal stimulus. A thermally responsive ink composition consisting of at least one quaternary onium salt of an halochromic optical-state change material, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material is also disclosed. Coating compositions prepared using these ink compositions and optical articles comprising these coating compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for use and an improved oximeter sensor substrate that is conforming to the shape of the patient's forehead. In one embodiment, the present invention is an oximeter sensor, having a substrate with a shape similar to a shape of at least a portion of a patient's forehead and including a section adapted to substantially fit over a portion of a forehead of a patient; an emitter disposed on the substrate at a position located on the section; and a detector disposed on the substrate at a distance from the emitter. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a hat that holds the emitter and the detector in a spaced-part manner against the patient's forehead.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a lamp is provided with an arc envelope including a ceramic, an end member including a material different from the ceramic, and a compliant seal disposed between the end member and the arc envelope. The compliant seal includes a plurality of layers having different thermal expansion characteristics in an order of gradual change between the arc envelope and the end member.

Abstract: A drive roll for advancing a wire is provided. In certain embodiments, the drive roll includes a body having a wire feed portion, a mounting portion, and a central aperture through the body. In one embodiment, the feed portion includes an outer circumferential surface of the drive roll and a plurality of grooves for receiving and advancing various wires, while the mounting portion includes mounting features that are each uniquely associated with only one of the grooves. Various wire feed systems and welding systems are also provided.

Abstract: A technique is provided to coarse-class one or more customer characteristics used in a predictive model. A set of functions are used to represent partition points of the customer characteristic into smaller classes. Each of the final classes of the customer characteristic is represented separately in the predictive model. An initial set of functions may be established to provide an initial set of partitions points of the customer characteristic. The set of functions is then processed using a genetic algorithm to evolve the partition points to new values. Processing the set of partitions using the genetic algorithm may continue until a stopping criterion is reached.

Abstract: A floating gate memory array comprising transistors having isolated inter-gate dielectric regions with respect to one another and methods of fabricating the same. Floating gate transistors are formed such that each of the floating gate transistors in the array has a floating gate, a control gate and an inter-gate dielectric layer therebetween. The inter-gate dielectric layer for each transistor is isolated from the inter-gate dielectric of each of the other transistors in the array. Methods of fabricating such structures are also provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided with a rotatable arm having a movable joint, an infrared lamp coupled to the rotatable arm, and an electrical cable extending through the rotatable arm and the movable joint. In another embodiment, a system is provided with a base and an arm coupled to the base via a first rotatable joint, wherein the arm has an arcuate shape. The system also may include a head coupled to the arm via a second rotatable joint, an infrared lamp coupled to the head, and a temperature sensor disposed adjacent the infrared lamp. Furthermore, the system may include an air flow passage extending through the first rotatable joint, the arm, and the second rotatable joint. A fan also may be pneumatically coupled to the air flow passage. In addition, an electrical cable may be disposed in the air flow passage, wherein the electrical cable extends to the infrared lamp and the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A throttling valve assembly has an outer housing that is sealed. An actuator is connected to a pressure balanced shaft that extends into the housing to operate a plurality of linkages that can rotate blades in tandem. With the surrounding housing sealed, the shaft penetrations of the blade support shafts no longer need seals or a purge system to supply process gas during times of reduced pressure in situations with the blades nearly closed. A pressure equalization system has balance passages internal to the housing to allow flow from higher pressure zones to lower pressure zone of the process gas so as to avoid creation of a condition that can draw air into any zones of reduced pressure in the housing.