Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage including a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine, a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows, a plurality of ceramic elements in opposing positions such that the web of material can pass between the plurality of ceramic elements. A heating element is routed through each of the plurality of ceramic elements such that heat will radiate through openings in the top surfaces of the ceramic elements that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the opposing ceramic elements. The apparatus may be equipped to manufacture multiple pieces of dunnage simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage including a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine, a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows, a hammer mounted on an ultrasonic frequency converter, and an anvil mounted on the machine in a position such that the web of material can pass between the hammer and anvil while allowing the hammer to strike the anvil. The ultrasonic frequency converter is connected to a power source and generates vibrations at a frequency causing the hammer to vibrate at a frequency that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the hammer and anvil thereby creating a seam. The ultrasonic frequency converter can be mounted on an arm and cam follower to account for variations in the thickness of the web material. The apparatus may be equipped to manufacture multiple pieces of dunnage simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing dunnage including a plurality of rollers for pulling a web of material through the machine, a nozzle with at least one port through which gas or liquid flows, a plurality of ceramic elements in opposing positions such that the web of material can pass between the plurality of ceramic elements. A heating element is routed through each of the plurality of ceramic elements such that heat will radiate through openings in the top surfaces of the ceramic elements that will melt the portion of the material that is passing between the opposing ceramic elements. The apparatus may be equipped to manufacture multiple pieces of dunnage simultaneously.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting the presence of living organisms in a structure or behind a wall or partition utilizes a microwave or radio-frequency one or more transceivers which generate separate and distinct interrogating signals and receives separate and distinct signals reflected from a structure and living organisms within it. The reflected signals received by each of the transceivers are processed, for instance by a microprocessor, so as to provide output signals that indicate the presence or absence of a living organism in the structure or behind wall or partition. The microprocessor distinguishes and differentiate signals from different living organisms and from false indication of the presence of living organisms, thereby enabling the detection of living organisms despite the existence of motion signals caused by non-living organism motion.

Abstract: A power supply inrush current control circuit includes a current-limiting resistor connected in series with a first relay, a second relay connected in parallel with the current-limiting resistor and first relay, a power factor correction stage connected in series with the parallel combination of first relay and current-limiting resistor, and second relay, a holdup capacitor connected to an output of the power factor correction stage and a DC/DC converter connected to the output of the power factor correction stage. A first timer is connected to the second relay, a second timer is serially connected to the first timer and to the power factor correction stage, and a third timer is serially connected to the second timer and to the DC/DC converter.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes several liquid crystal display (LCD) retract units mountable in a passenger service unit of aircraft. Each of the LCD retract units includes an input connector and an output connector arranged such that signals provided to the input connector appear at the output connector. A system control unit (SCU) is also provided. The SCU is configurable to provide video, power and control signals independently to the input connector of each of the LCD retract units and is also configurable to provide video, power and control signals to the input connector of only a first of the LCD retract units. In the second configuration, the input and output connectors of successive LCD retract units are connected in a daisy chain fashion such that the same signals are provided to each of the LCD retract units. In another aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of LCD retract units includes status communications bus electronics such as RS-485.