Abstract: A hermetically sealed lamp having at least one end-to-end seal. The end-to-end seal may be a material diffusion bond, a seal-material bond, or any other suitable bond. For example, the hermetically sealed lamp may have one or more endcaps butt-sealed to an arc envelope, such as a ceramic tube or bulb. The hermetically sealed lamp also may have one or more tubular structures, such as dosing tubes, which are butt-sealed to the endcap and/or arc envelope. Localized heating, such as the heat provided by an intense laser, also may be used to enhance any of the foregoing bonds.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to pinhole collimator assemblies having one or more adjustable size pinhole apertures therein. The pinhole collimator assembly is configured so that gamma rays can pass through the collimator assembly, but the remainder of the collimator assembly is substantially gamma ray absorbent. Embodiments also relate to imaging systems and methods of adjusting pinhole collimator performance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are providing for automated servicing of MIG welding torches and components thereof including the nozzle, the retaining head assembly, and the contact tip. The invention is directed to removing and cleaning a nozzle from a first end proximal to the torch, cleaning a retaining head assembly of deposited welding wire, or removing a used contact tip to be replaced with a replacement contact tip obtained from a magazine or combinations thereof. The invention can feature severing a welding wire or applying an anti-spatter solution to the torch or its components. The invention is also directed a plurality of maintenance operations being performed as to a stationary torch in an automated environment.

Abstract: A compliant seal for use between rotating blades and a static shroud surrounding the rotating blades in a steam or gas turbine is disclosed. The seal includes a tip surface, substantially resistant to wear due to rubbing by the tip of the rotating blades, and an elastic biasing member, comprising a biasing element. The wear-resistant surface is thus biased against the tips of the rotating blades to seal a gas path between the rotating blades and the static shroud.

Abstract: A lamp comprising an arc envelope and a niobium end structure coupled to the arc envelope, and wherein the end structure is shielded from a dosing material disposed within the arc envelope.

Abstract: A method for producing polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) polymer, including polymerizing reactants in a reaction mixture in a vessel to form PPS polymer in the vessel, measuring values of operating variables of the vessel and/or PPS process, and determining the amount of quench fluid to add to the vessel based on the values of the operating variables. The technique may rely on the vapor liquid equilibrium (VLE) of the mixture to calculate the concentration of water existing in the reactor prior to quench, and accounts for the effectiveness of the upstream dehydration process and in the amount of water produced during the polymerization. The technique is a striking improvement over the trial-and-error estimation of the amount of quench water based on human operating experience, and avoids direct measurements of the existing water concentration in the reactor. The result is improved control of PPS particle size and other properties.

Abstract: An equalization circuit may include a first sense amplifier having an input, the input being electrically isolated from an input to a second sense amplifier. An equalizer may be connected to the input to the first sense amplifier to provide an equalizing voltage to the input to the first sense amplifier. The input to the first sense amplifier may be equalized by the equalizing voltage independent from the input to the second sense amplifier.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a medical device component having an RF tag that is configured to provide information regarding the medical device component. Particularly, the RF tag may contain and provide information regarding maintenance, installation, and manufacture of the medical device component. Indeed, the exemplary embodiment of the present technique may facilitate the development of an “as built” or hardware configuration of the medical device through the use of RF tags. Advantageously, the medical device may be surveyed by activating the RF tags, which contain and transmit information regarding the various components in the medical device.

Abstract: The present technique provides for the use of spectroscopic probes, such as Raman probes, within the conduits of a polyolefin production system. The Raman probe or other spectroscopic probes may be used to obtain spectroscopic measurements of the contents of the conduits. The spectroscopic measurements may be processed and analyzed to determine the composition of the conduit contents. In addition, the spectroscopic measurements may be used in conjunction with correlations or other statistical models to determine one or more properties of interest of a constituent of the conduit contents. One or more processes upstream and/or downstream of the conduit may be adjusted in response to the determined composition or composition properties.

Abstract: A method of creating and displaying images resulting from digital tomosynthesis performed on a subject using a flat panel detector is disclosed. The method includes the step of acquiring a series of x-ray images of the subject, where each x-ray image is acquired at different angles relative to the subject. The method also includes the steps of applying a first set of corrective measures to the series of images, reconstructing the series of images into a series of slices through the subject, and applying a second set of corrective measures to the slices. The method further includes the step of displaying the images or slices according to at least one of a plurality of display options.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes forming a conductive layer on an inner surface of a substrate and providing a sacrificial layer over the conductive layer. The method includes forming a plurality of channels in the sacrificial layer and plating the sacrificial layer to substantially fill the plurality of channels with a plating material comprising conducting material. The method also includes etching the sacrificial layer to form a conducting structure having fins where conducting material remains separated by microchannels where the sacrificial layer is etched.

Abstract: A system and method of repairing a pipe including securing a reinforcing material, such as a dry fiber structure (e.g., a carbon fibers) to the surface of the pipe. A polymeric material is placed on top of the reinforcing material, self-penetrating the dry fiber structure. The polymeric material substantially saturates the reinforcing material and cures to form a reinforced polymeric composite which may increase or restore the pressure rating or operating pressure capacity of the pipe. Optionally, an outer containment component, such as a sleeve, shell, box, wall, outer pipe, and so on, may be installed around the reinforcing material prior to introduction of the polymeric material. In this case, the polymeric material may be placed (i.e., poured) into the interior of the containment component on top of the reinforcing material.

Abstract: Ultrasound is used to provide input data for a blood pressure estimation scheme. The use of transcutaneous ultrasound provides arterial lumen area and pulse wave velocity information. In addition, ultrasound measurements are taken in such a way that all the data describes a single, uniform arterial segment. Therefore a computed area relates only to the arterial blood volume present. Also, the measured pulse wave velocity is directly related to the mechanical properties of the segment of elastic tube (artery) for which the blood volume is being measured. In a patient monitoring application, the operator of the ultrasound device is eliminated through the use of software that automatically locates the artery in the ultrasound data, e.g., using known edge detection techniques. Autonomous operation of the ultrasound system allows it to report blood pressure and blood flow traces to the clinical users without those users having to interpret an ultrasound image or operate an ultrasound imaging device.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for identifying short circuits in an integrated circuit device. The method may comprise the acts of programming a first memory cell associated with a first digit line to a first data value, programming a second memory cell associated with a second digit line to a second data value, the second data value being complementary with respect to the first data value, firing a first sense amplifier associated with the first digit line, firing a second sense amplifier associated with the second digit line after a time delay with respect to the act of firing the first sense amplifier associated with the first digit line, detecting a measured data value associated with the second digit line, and comparing the measured data value to the second data value to determine whether the first digit line is short circuited to the second digit line.

Abstract: A vibration damping technique for a wind turbine system is described. The wind turbine system includes a vibration damper, which provides a variable signal to control torque produced by a generator of the wind turbine system. The variable signal is based on generator speed and has a first local peak value based on a resonant frequency of tower side-to-side oscillation.

Abstract: A connector arrangement for packaged electrical systems, such as motor control centers includes a component connector assembly mounted to component supports for providing network signals and control power to components on the support. A mating prewired connector assembly in the enclosure is forced to mate with the component connector assembly when the component support is fully engaged within the enclosure. Thereafter, the component support may be partially withdrawn from the enclosure to disconnect main power from the component support, while leaving network connections and control power connections by virtue of the mated connectors. The connectors engage by non-sliding contact both when fully engaged and when the components are partially withdrawn from the enclosure.

Abstract: In accordance with one exemplary embodiment the invention provides a multi-parameter fiber optic sensing system with an aperiodic sapphire fiber grating as sensing element for simultaneous temperature, strain, NOx, CO, O2 and H2 gas detection. The exemplary sensing system includes an aperiodic fiber grating with an alternative refractive index modulation for such multi-function sensing and determination. Fabrication of such quasiperiodic grating structures can be made with point-by-point UV laser inscribing, diamond saw micromachining, and phase mask-based coating and chemical etching methods. In the exemplary embodiment, simultaneous detections on multi-parameter can be distributed, but not limited, in gas/steam turbine exhaust, in combustion and compressor, and in coal fired boilers etc.

Abstract: The present technique addressably handles image data, which is decomposed and tessellated into a plurality of tessellated sub-band blocks. The tessellated sub-band blocks may be addressed by an array of indices, which identify specific data blocks of the image data by decomposition level and spatial coordinates of the tessellated sub-band blocks. Accordingly, a desired region of the image data at multiple resolutions can be identified and individually handled for storage, transmission, retrieval, and display. The desired region also can be reference marked based on the array of indices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making fulvenes, particularly 6-aryl-6-alkylfulvenes, 6-aryl-6-alkenylfulvenes, and related compounds, by combining alkyl- or alkenyl-arylketones with magnesium cyclopentadienyl reagents in nonprotic, including ethereal, solvents. The use of these compounds in preparing bis(cyclopentadienyl)methanes and related compounds, and ansa-metallocenes, is disclosed.

Abstract: A reduced form factor component support is provided for motor control centers and similar packaged electrical systems. The reduced form factor component support may be used with smaller components, such as small motor starters, motor drives, and so forth. Electrical connections with standard bus bars in the enclosure are made through special connectors mounted on subplates in the rear of the enclosure, or by an invertible stab housing that can allow the reduced form factor component support to share conventional slots in a bus cover, thereby providing access to the supply power in the enclosure.