Abstract: A system and method for controlling avoiding collisions in a workcell containing multiple robots is provided. The system includes a sequence of instructions residing on a controller for execution thereon to perform an interference check automatic zone method. The interference check automatic zone method includes the steps of: determining a first portion of a common space that is occupied during a movement of a first robot along a first programmed path; determining a second portion of the common space that is occupied during a movement of a second robot along a second programmed path; comparing the first portion and the second portion to determine if an overlap exists therebetween; and moving the first robot and the second robot in response to whether or not the overlap exists.

Abstract: A system for picking and packing applications is provided. The system includes a plurality of robots and a plurality of robot controllers. Each robot controller includes a load re-balance subsystem, a load balance subsystem, a robot state change detector subsystem, a communicator subsystem, and a motion control subsystem. Each of the robot controllers is interconnected and in communication with one another via the communicator subsystems. Each of the robots has a workload that may be selectively balanced. A method for balancing the workloads of the robots using built-in processors which run motion control is also provided.

Abstract: Brake equipment for holding and braking an elevator car in an elevator installation, which is arranged to be movable along a brake track in two directions of travel, includes a mount with a brake lining which automatically adjusts under friction couple with the brake track on movement of the elevator car relative to the rail and in that case tightens a first tightening means, which can be released by an actuator. The first tightening means tightens the mount together with the brake lining against the brake track by a biasing force. The brake equipment produces, with unmoved brake equipment and an unreleased state of the actuator, a holding force acting in both directions of travel. The holding force is determined substantially by the biasing force acting on the mount.

Abstract: Flexible laminated thin film photovoltaic systems that include flexible support structures having a upper surface and a lower surface, at least one thin film photovoltaic module laminated to the upper surface of the flexible support structure, the at least one thin film photovoltaic module including lead wires and a flexible wiring conduit system attached to the lower side of the flexible support structure though which the lead wires of the at least one thin film photovoltaic module are routed. The peripheral edges of the thin film photovoltaic modules and adjacent surrounding portions of the flexible support structure are laminated with flexible strip members which prevent the peripheral edges of the thin film photovoltaic modules from peeling off the flexible support structure.

Abstract: Elevator cabin position detection system comprising an activation device mounted on an elevator car, a sensor stripe mounted on a sidewall of an elevator shaft and control electronics. The activation device, preferably a light emitting device, activates a portion of the sensor stripe which comprises a feed line, a resistor line and sensors positioned between these. The sensors, preferably optical sensors, when activated by the activation device, conduct electricity to create electrical connection between the feed line and resistor line and thus modify the resulting resistance between an end (A) of the resistor line and an end (B) of the feed line. The control electronics determines the exact position of the elevator cabin based on the resulting resistance between the end (A) of the resistor line and the end (B) of the feed line.

Abstract: A separator plate for a fuel cell is provided, including a substrate having a radiation-cured first flow field layer disposed thereon. A method for fabricating the separator plate is also provided. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate; applying a first radiation-sensitive material to the substrate; placing a first mask between a first radiation source and the first radiation-sensitive material, the first mask having a plurality of substantially radiation-transparent apertures; and exposing the first radiation-sensitive material to a plurality of first radiation beams to form a radiation-cured first flow field layer adjacent the substrate. A fuel cell having the separator plate is also provided.

Abstract: A pressure vessel is provided including a liner forming a cavity and having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a composite wrap including a plurality of composite layers disposed adjacent to the outer surface. The composite wrap has a desired strain modulus gradient across a thickness of the composite wrap. Also provided is a method for producing the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A data management system and method for updating and aligning a plurality of management components, wherein the data management system is accessible to various users from a remote location, is disclosed. The data management system includes a user system having a web browser, a database including a plurality of management components for storing information related to a client group, and a server system in communication with the user system and the database, wherein the server system includes a change management component adapted to manage information stored on the database and dynamically update each of the management components when information stored on the database is modified.

Abstract: A valve for a fuel cell system includes a main body having a passage through which a fluid is permitted to flow. A sliding member is disposed in the main body and configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The sliding member has an orifice formed therein. At least one biased plug is disposed within the main body adjacent the sliding member. The biased plug abuts an outer surface of the sliding member and permits fluid flow through the orifice of the sliding member when the sliding member is in the open position. The biased plug seals the orifice of the sliding member and militates against a formation of ice in the orifice when the sliding member is in the closed position.

Abstract: A three-way diverter assembly with a movable member is provided. The three-way diverter assembly includes a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The first inlet and the second inlet are adapted to receive a fluid. The movable member, disposed in the housing adjacent the first inlet, is rotatable about an axis from a first positional limit to a second positional limit, and selectively positional therebetween. Fuel cell systems having the three-way diverter assembly for regulating temperature and humidity of a fuel cell stack are also provided.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment method includes the steps of supplying a wastewater influent having nutrients for a population of phototactic heterotrophic microorganisms to an aerated bioreactor. At least a portion of the nutrients is converted into the phototactic heterotrophic microorganism population. The wastewater influent and the phototactic heterotrophic microorganism population together form a bioreactor effluent that is transferred to a light clarifier. The bioreactor effluent is concentrated in the light clarifier to form a low-solids effluent and a high-solids effluent. The concentration is performed by inducing the population of phototactic heterotrophic microorganisms to phototactically self concentrate through exposure to a light having at least one of an intensity and a wavelength sufficient to cause the phototactic heterotrophic microorganism population to migrate away from a source of the light. The high-solids effluent is then dewatered to form a concentrated biomass paste.

Abstract: A diffusion medium for use in a PEM fuel cell including a porous spacer layer disposed between a plurality of perforated layers having variable size and frequency of perforation patterns, each perforated layer having a microporous layer formed thereon, wherein the diffusion medium is adapted to optimize water management in and performance of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The snowshoe has a hinge member for mounting a harness to the snowshoe's frame, the hinge member having a rigid pivot rod for extending between first and second side segments of the frame and comprising opposite first and second end portions, the pivot rod for pivotally receiving the harness. The hinge member also includes a first rigid rod attachment mount having a first frame socket for pivotal attachment to the frame first side segment so as to be pivotable about the frame first side segment, and a first rod socket wherein the rigid pivot rod first end portion is pivotally mounted, the first rod socket being spaced apart from the first frame socket so as to allow the pivot rod to pivot about an axis which is generally parallel to and spaced from the first frame socket.

Abstract: Method of embedding a digital watermark in a useful signal, wherein a watermark bit sequence is embedded into the frequency domain of the useful signal using adaptive frequency modulation of two given frequencies by tracking amplitudes of the chosen frequencies of the original signal and modifying them according to the current bit of watermark bit sequence.

Abstract: A face shield includes a brim having a front portion, a rear portion, an upper portion, and a lower portion. A channel is formed in the lower portion adjacent the rear portion of the brim. The front portion includes a plurality of spaced apart catch members disposed thereon. A head band is unitary with one side of the brim and configured to surround a head of a wearer. The head band has a free end that is adjustably insertable into the channel of the brim to select a size of the head band for the head of the wearer. The face shield may include a removable transparent shield having a plurality of holes formed therein. Each of the holes is configured to cooperate with one of the catch members of the brim to releasably hold the transparent shield on the front portion of the brim.

Abstract: A pill receptacle has a number of recessed pill compartments formed therein. The method comprises the steps of providing a cover sheet member that has a sealing sheet with a top identification surface on which information can be printed and a bottom adhesive surface provided with an adhesive. The cover sheet member further has a protective sheet that removably overlays the sealing sheet on its adhesive surface. First weakness zones are provided on the cover sheet member, that extend transversely through the sealing sheet and the protective sheet in a registering fashion to define first cutaway lines on the cover sheet member. A fraction of the cover sheet member is separated from the rest of the cover sheet member along at least some of the first cutaway lines, including concurrently separating corresponding fractions of the sealing sheet and the protective sheet in registering fashion. The protective sheet fraction is peeled away from the sealing sheet fraction on the cover sheet member fraction.

Abstract: The pneumatic nailer has an elbowed feeder magazine for feeding fasteners one at a time. The magazine has an elongated inner frame segment fixedly mounted to the nailer main frame, an elongated outer frame segment operatively connected in non-coaxial fashion to the inner frame segment. Each of the inner and outer frame segments has a corresponding first and second channels, for slidingly retaining fasteners in coextensive slidethrough fashion. The fasteners are movable under gravity forces from a fastener intake to a fastener discharge outlet opposite the fastener intake. A fastener pusher device may be provided with a pusher retention device having an operative mode, active with a large storage load of fasteners into the magazine, and an inoperative mode, triggered when the load of magazine fasteners decreases below a threshold value.

Abstract: A housing includes a first chamber having an exhaust aperture to provide fluid communication with an outside environment, a wall disposed in the first chamber and containing an electrical component, wherein a thermal energy generated by the electrical component is transferred from the first chamber to the outside environment through the exhaust aperture, a second chamber formed adjacent the first chamber and including a control means for the electrical component, and a means for selectively providing access to the first chamber and the second chamber.

Abstract: An anode reactant recycling system for a fuel cell is disclosed, the system including a hollow main body, a bleed conduit, an injector, a water separator, and a hydrophilic porous media. The anode reactant recycling system for a fuel cell is adapted to minimize a required number of components, eliminate the need for the anode heat exchanger, use a single valve for removal of condensate and reactant byproducts from the anode reactant recycling system, and provide an upstream volume for startup pressurization.

Abstract: A high performance louvered fin for a heat exchanger is disclosed, wherein adjacent entrance louvers have increased widths and adjacent exit louvers have decreased widths in order to optimize thermal efficiency.