Abstract: A pumping device is provided having a housing comprised of an inlet housing (70) and a discharge housing (98). The inlet housing (70) contains an impeller device (80) that is comprised of a conical structure (82) rotatable about a rotational axis (86). The conical structure (82) has disposed thereon six vanes (84) that extend outward from the direction of the rotational axis (86). Helical vanes (74), (76) and (78) are disposed on the interior surface of the inlet housing (70). The impeller (80) is operable to rotate and force fluid outward against the interior surface of the housing (70), the vanes (74), (78) directing the fluid along the surface. The discharge section then redirects this to the outlet to prevent cavitation.

Abstract: A continuous emission monitoring system for a manufacturing plant (10) includes a control system (16) which has associated therewith a virtual sensor network (18). The network (18) is a predictive network that receives as inputs both control values to the plant (10) and also sensor values. The network (18) is then operable to map the inputs through a stored representation of the plant (10) to output a predicted pollutant sensor level. This predicted pollutant sensor level is essentially the prediction of an actual pollutant sensor level that can be measured by a pollutant sensor (14). The network (18) therefore is a substitute for the pollutant sensor (14), thus providing a virtual sensor. The sensor values from the plant (10) are first processed through a sensor validation system (22).

Abstract: A reconfigurable integrated circuit chip includes an output terminal (42) which is connected to the output of an inverting amplifier (44). The integrated circuit chip (10) includes an output terminal (46) which is connected to one input of a comparator (22). The other end of comparator (22) is connected to an internal voltage reference device (48). The output of comparator (22) is connected to the input of the inverting amplifier (44). The integrated circuit chip (10) may be configured as a linear regulator when a transconductance device (14) is connected between a DC power supply (12) and a load and an integrator (24) is connected between terminal (42) and the control input of the transconductance device (14). The integrated circuit chip (10) is configured as a switching regulator when a gated switch (14) is connected between a DC power supply (12) and a switching node (65) wherein the gated switch (14) is gated by the signal output by the output terminal (42).

Abstract: A video-to-FAX conversion system includes a video camera (10) for generating video signals which are then captured by a frame grabber and stored in a frame buffer (14). The data in the frame buffer is comprised of digitized values from the video signal which are stored in pixels with a first aspect ratio. A conversion device (16) is operable to map information in the frame buffer to the binary output space of a Group III FAX protocol and perform contrast enhancement thereon. The contrast enhancement includes the steps of first generating a histogram of all of the pixel values in the frame buffer (14) after expansion thereof into the output space of the Group III FAX. The histogram values are then utilized to generate an adjusted value for each of the gray scale values available for the pixels in the frame buffer 14. Each pixel in the frame buffer (14) is then expanded and the contrast enhancement applied thereto to adjust the values therein.

Abstract: A low precision Finite Impulse Response filter (FIR) is provided for filtering in a digital interpolation operation. The interpolation operation is comprised of two steps, a sampling rate conversion operation for interspersing zeroes between samples in an input sequence and a filtering step of filtering out images that result from this operation. The filtering operation utilizes a FIR filter that utilizes a low precision set of filter coefficients that are selected to tune the frequency response such that the low end frequency response including the pass band, the transition band, and the portion of the stop band immediately after the transition band provides a response equivalent to that commensurate with substantially higher precision FIR filter coefficients. A second, low pass filter section is provided for filtering the high frequency image energy at the output of the FIR filter to provide an overall filter response commensurate to that utilizing substantially higher precision FIR coefficients.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine [(360)] is provided with a plurality of sensors to monitor the operation thereof with respect to various temperature measurements, pressure measurements, etc. A predictive model processor [(322)] is provided that utilizes model parameters stored in the memory [(324)] to predict from the sensor inputs a predicted emissions output. The model is trained with inputs provided by the sensor and an actual emissions sensor output. During operation, this predicted output on line [(326)] can be utilized to provide an alarm or to be stored in a history database in a memory [(328)]. Additionally, the internal combustion engine [(260)] can have the predicted emissions output thereof periodically checked to determine the accuracy of the model. This is effected by connecting the output of the engine to an external emissions sensor [(310)] and taking the difference between the actual output and the predicted output to provide an error.

Abstract: A masonry fixing device 1 comprises a steel shank 2 which in the form of the blank is right circular cylindrical form. A ridge-groove-ridge configuration extends helically along the lower portion 4 of shank 2 and comprises a pair of parallel opposed ridges 7 upstanding from an adjacent land 9. Each ridge defines with the adjacent ridge a groove 5. At least the forward end of the lower portion 4 of shank 2 is configured so as to provide a self-tapping facility. In use, the fixing device is introduced into a pre-drilled bore in a masonry substrate such as brickwork by turning so as to form a thread on the interior walls of the bore. The axial dimension of the land 9 is at least 50% of the blank diameter with the result that relatively large amounts of substrate material are disposed between the ridge-groove-ridge configuration when the fixing device is in place.

Abstract: A holographic storage media (10) is fabricated from a thin layer of photopolymer recording media. The photopolymer recording media is disposed between a substrate (48) and a capping layer (56). The media (10) is divided into a plurality of storage regions (54), which are formed within wells (52) to isolate each of the regions (54). During a record operation, a pumping operation is first performed to remove oxygen molecules from the media by bombarding the select region that is to have an interference pattern recorded therein with photons for a predetermined duration of time. Once the oxygen molecules have been depleted, then a data beam is generated with data superimposed thereon and a reference beam generated for interference with the data beam in the storage region (54). This results in the recording of an interference pattern.

Abstract: A package for a holographic storage media disk (10) is provided that is comprised of a super structure (18) that is operable to hold the disk (10). The disk (10) is comprised of a photopolymer material that is formed in a disk-shaped member having a hub (14) disposed at the center thereof. The disk (10) is disposed in the structure (18) and then a cover (24) disposed thereover, the cover (24) being opaque. An access opening (28) is disposed within the cover (24) to allow access to the surface of the disk (10). A hub opening (26) is provided for allowing access to the hub (14). The hub (14) is disposed such that there is a light tight seal relative to the cover (24). A door (32) is provided for reciprocating over the opening (28) to light seal the package when data is not being recorded to the disk (10) or read therefrom.

Abstract: A tape cartridge (12) is provided for storing holographic recordings in a longitudinal holographic storage media tape (14). The tape (14) is comprised of a thin holographic storage media such as a photopolymer. A laser (54) is operable to generate a coherent light beam, which is then positioned on a given row of storage regions (42) on the surface of the tape (14). A positioning/angle multiplexing device (90) is operable to both position a reference beam (60) and a data beam (62) onto a select one of the storage regions in a given row on the surface of the tape (14). The tape (14) is incremented a row at a time for each scan operation wherein both the reference and the data beams during a Write operation, and only the reference beam during the playback operation, are moved along a given row. The spinning polygon mirror (56) is utilized to provide both positioning along a given row and angle multiplexing in a select storage region, with the optic system removing the angular information from the data beam (62).

Abstract: A device and method for forming a pocketed card stock or paper member having a wide peripheral edge. A template (12) is provided having a forming edge with a shape corresponding to the wide peripheral edge of the member. A flexible sheet of card stock or paper (14) is also provided. An urging device (62) is provided for urging the flexible sheet of card stock or paper (14) adjacent to the template (12) such that an extended portion (54) thereof extends beyond the forming edge of the template (12) and a remaining portion thereof does not extend beyond the forming edge of the template (12). A folding device (26) is provided for urging the extended portion (54) around the forming edge and a securing device (24) is provided for securing the extended portion (54) to the remaining portion of the flexible sheet of card stock or paper (14) after the extended portion (54) has been urged around the forming edge to form a wide edge.

Abstract: A holographic storage assembly is provided which utilizes a large holographic storage media (36) disposed between two reflecting surfaces (40) and (42). An optics system (44) is disposed between the two reflecting surfaces (40) and (42) is operable to generate both a reference beam (58) and a data beam (50). The data beam (50) and reference beam (58) are generated on a virtual spot plane (100), which is then imaged from the surface of the reflecting surface (42) onto the much larger surface of the media (36). This is operable to record an interference grating at a storage location (56). During a playback operation, a reconstructed data beam (64) is generated and reflected from the surface of the mirror (40) onto a detector (68) in the deflector system (44).

Abstract: The present invention disclosed and claimed herein comprises an apparatus and method for curing and drying coatings on nails of the human hand. A housing (12) is provided having two elongated solid sides (14), one elongated solid top (15), two solid ends (16), and an elongated underneath side (18) having a length. Restrictive air vents (22) are provided along the length of the elongated underneath side (18) of the housing (12), such that the housing (12) and air vents (22) define a substantially closed air pressure chamber (34). An ultraviolet light source (20) is disposed along the underneath side (18). A flat surface (26) running the length of the underneath side (18) is disposed a distance beneath the restrictive air vents (22) and the ultraviolet light source (20).

Abstract: A detected image output by a holographic storage system is comprised of a grid of dark and light spots, representing high and low logic states. The image is superimposed onto a grid of detector elements or pixels in a detector. Each of the data bits is represented by a bit image or bixel, which is oversampled by a factor of two along the x- and y-axis by the pixels. A state machine is utilized to generate expected states for each of the pixels and then an energy shifting operation performed to shift energy from a pixel having a higher than expected output value to a pixel having a lower than expected output value. This operation can result in energy being shifted from the left to the right or the right to the left. Column synchronization is performed by defining a set of pixels in a row for each column as a segment with an associated parity bit and row number. Each segment may be output as validated, or may be retained in a buffer until all previous segments in a row have been accumulated and/or output.

Abstract: A multi-layered pattern recognition neural network (30) is disclosed that comprises an input layer (50) that is operable to be mapped onto an input space that includes a scan window (32). Two hidden layers (54) and (58) map the input space to an output layer (34). The hidden layers utilize a local receptor field architecture and store representations of objects within the scan window (32) for mapping into one of a plurality of output nodes. Further, the output layer (34) is also operable to store representations of desired distances between the center of the scan window (32) and the next adjacent object thereto and also the distance between the center of the scan window (32) and the center of the current object. A scanning system can then utilize the information regarding the distance to the next adjacent object, which is stored in an output vector (40) to incrementally jump to the center of the next adjacent character rather than scan the entire distance therebetween.

Abstract: A package for a holographic storage media (10) is provided that utilizes a slide tray (43) for containing a plurality of slides (102). Each of the slides (102) is comprised of an opaque casing (110), which is operable to hold a sandwich structure (120). The sandwich structure (120) has a gripping mechanism (122) disposed on the edge thereof for allowing the structure (120) to be reciprocated within the jacket (110) for extraction thereof and reinsertion thereof. A gripping arm (156) is operable to attach to a gripping member (124) on a gripping mechanism (122) attached to the slide (102) to extract the slide (102) and place it into a holder (148). The holder (148) is then operable to receive the slide (102) and dispose it in a holographic storage system. The slide (102) can then be written to by interfering a data beam and a reference beam in a predetermined storage location (54) and then the slide again placed into the jacket (110).

Abstract: A tailgate for a pickup truck (10) includes an integrated air foil mechanism mounted in an open top cargo area (12) defined by two side walls (14) and (16), a front end and an open trailing end. The tailgate includes two control frames (20) and (22), a main air foil wing (24) and control apparatus. The two control frames (20) and (22) are mounted on the pickup truck side walls (14) and (16) at the open trailing end of the cargo area. The main air foil wing (24) has two ends, each end pivotally mounted to the control frames (20) and (22), such that the main air foil wing (24) spans the opening between the control frames (20) and (22).

Abstract: The present invention describes an air-floated wheeled apparatus with plurality of wheels having a deck housing, an outer house shroud for vacuum and pressure device, to define a mulch system having pressure and vacuum chambers in the main deck housing as well as a pressure chamber in the outer shrouds, and a vacuum chamber in the aft portion of the outer shroud or vacuum device that provides an aft clean up of mode area beyond the width of blade. A drive mechanism includes a motor having a rotatable shaft with at least 1 impeller is supported in the pressure chamber and rotates on a shaft for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber to erect grass underlying an opening while simultaneously pressurizing air in the pressure chamber to float the apparatus in combination with wheels that supports maximum weight of apparatus as well as a frontal wheel support or ball lake wheel support for directional support and maneuverability thereto.

Abstract: A holographic storage system includes a storage media in the form of a disk that is operable to incrementally rotate under a moveable optics system contained in a gantry. The gantry reciprocates along the radial axis of the media in response to a drive mechanism. A laser is operable to direct a beam to a mirror that reflects the light beam along the reciprocating axis of the gantry. The gantry contains a spatial light modulator which is operable to receive the incoming light beam and transform it through a transform lens down to a storage location on the surface of the storage media. A reference beam is reflected from a reflecting surface at a predetermined angle and directed to the storage location by an elliptical mirror to interfere with the data beam and perform a record operation. During data reconstruction, when the reference beam is generated a reconstructed data beam is directed toward the reconstruction optics and a detector array. The detector array is also contained on the gantry.

Abstract: A predictive network is disclosed for operating in a runtime mode and in a training mode. The network includes a preprocessor (34') for preprocessing input data in accordance with parameters stored in a storage device (14') for output as preprocessed data to a delay device (36'). The delay device (36') provides a predetermined amount of delay as defined by predetermined delay settings in a storage device (18). The delayed data is input to a system model (26') which is operable in a training mode or a runtime mode. In the training mode, training data is stored in a data file (10) and retrieved therefrom for preprocessing and delay and then input to the system model (26'). Model parameters are learned and then stored in the storage device (22). During the training mode, the preprocess parameters are defined and stored in a storage device (14) in a particular sequence and delay settings are determined in the storage device (18).