Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting movement of a vessel positioned on a cooktop surface. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit that has at least an inductive loop positioned proximate to the cooktop surface. A signal conditioner is connected to the resonant circuit for conditioning signals received from the resonant circuit. A processor is connected to the signal conditioner and compares the conditioned signals received from the signal conditioner to a reference signal whereby detecting movement of the vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly heating a cooktop is provided. The apparatus comprises a radiant heating element positioned proximate to the cooktop. A controller is provided and is connected to the radiant heating element. The controller includes a fast heat-up circuit selectively coupled to the radiant heating element. A look-up table is selectively coupled to the fast heat-up circuit. The look-up table comprises a plurality of user power levels. Each of the plurality of user power levels is correlated to a respective user-selected temperature. The apparatus further comprises a user power input device connected to the controller. The user power input device also allows selection of at least a first of the plurality of user power levels wherein the first power level corresponds to a first respective user selected temperature in the look-up table. A temperature sensor is connected to the controller for measuring a temperature of the cooktop.

Abstract: The invention provides an aggregator for use in connection with a power distribution network including a power line. The aggregator comprises a receiver, a controller, and a data outbound link. The receiver is coupled to the power line and is configured to receive signals comprising messages, for example geometric harmonic modulation (GHM) signals, from the power line. The controller is coupled to the receiver and to the data outbound link. The controller is configured to provide messages received by the receiver to the data outbound link for transmission by radio frequency energy to a destination, for example a power control station.

Abstract: A method for removing “grid line artifacts” from x-ray images without changing the diagnostic quality of the x-ray image is presented. The method utilizes the Fourier spectrum of the image to detect the grid line frequencies and employs spectral domain filtering to remove the grid line spectral components. The diagnostic information is preserved by modifying the grid line spectral components to be indistinguishable from local variations in image intensity values, and edge density of the x-ray image.

Abstract: A communication system which utilizes the building metal frame as a communication medium is described. More particularly, and in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a wire coil is located near to one of the frame pieces so that the coil lays flat in the plane of the building face. A time varying current in the coil creates a time varying magnetic dipole field. This field changes the flux within a “flux window” which is defined as one of the rectangular sections formed by the frame steel members. This changing flux creates a time varying potential around the window, which creates a time varying current that acts in opposition to the induced flux. This current also excites a time varying flux in the neighboring flux windows, which induces time varying fluxes in their neighbors and so on.

Abstract: The fuel heat content of fuel is measured on-line while a combustion turbine system is running by measuring data from the combustion turbine system during combustion of the fuel. The measured data are corrected using a standard correction algorithm. The fuel heat content of the fuel is determined using at least a portion of the corrected data. From the measurement of the fuel heat content, any changes in the fuel heat content are determined. Also, any changes in the control and operational parameters attributable to the change in fuel heat content are determined.

Abstract: A wide-band overlay sequence generator adds an overlay signal to a television signal which is transmitted through a channel. At a receiver, a replica of the transmitted overlay sequence is generated and synchronized to the overlay signal in the received signal. An adaptive equalizer filter effectively adjusts the received television signal so that the channel perturbations are removed from the signal.

Abstract: A controller in a mobile telephone periodically commands GPS circuitry in the mobile telephone to power-on, capture and process GPS satellite signals. The signals are processed to obtain pseudo-range or time-difference data for at least one GPS satellite. After the signals are processed, the pseudo-range or time-difference data, GPS time, and satellite numbers are stored in non-volatile random access memory (RAM) and the GPS circuitry is powered off. When an emergency signal is present, the controller first commands the GPS circuitry to power-on, capture and process signals from four GPS satellites. If signals from at least four satellites are not present, the information stored in non-volatile RAM is read out. The processed data (if available), or else the data read out of the non-volatile RAM, are reported to a central location through the mobile telephone transmitter. The central location can then use the data to compute the present or last valid GPS location of the GPS receiver.

Abstract: A manually powered apparatus includes a mechanical energy input device that releases mechanical energy. The mechanical energy input device has first and second mechanical energy delivery cycles. A generator is mechanically coupled to the mechanical energy input device. The generator converts released mechanical energy to electrical energy. The electrical energy includes first current levels and second current levels that decrease over time. The generator supplies the first current levels in response to the first mechanical energy delivery cycle. The second current levels are supplied in response to the second mechanical energy delivery cycle. A load is connected to the generator. The load requires a predetermined current for operation. The first current level is greater than the predetermined current, and the second current level is less than the predetermined current. An electrical energy storage device is connected between the generator and the load.

Abstract: The temperature of a cooktop is controlled such that a maximum temperature of a cooktop reaches about a predetermined maximum temperature. The temperature is controlled by controlling power supplied to a radiant heating element positioned below the cooktop. The radiant heating element heats the cooktop. A user power input device allows a user to select a user power level corresponding to a desired temperature range for heating the cooktop. A temperature sensor is supplied that senses the temperature of the cooktop. A thermal limiter controller is connected to the radiant heating element, the user power input device and the temperature sensor. The thermal limiter controller determines a thermal limiting power level. The thermal limiter controller applies the smaller of the user power level and the thermal limiter power level to the radiant heating element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus which uses data containing non-linearity information regarding the integrator circuits used in over-sampled Analog-to-Digital Converters to predict the Signal-to-Distortion Ratio and the Signal-to-Noise Ratio. Input response data used to evaluate the device is either obtained from simulations when designing the integrator circuit, or in situ testing of the integrators when testing an over-sampled Analog-to-Digital Converter integrated circuit. The non-linearity data can be generated by simulating or testing the Analog-to-Digital Converter circuit for several hundred clock cycles and measuring the inputs and outputs of each integrator. This data is used to predict the Signal-to-Distortion Ratio and the Signal-to-Noise Ratio.

Abstract: A cooking range with an acoustic sensing system for determining the boil state of the contents of a cooking utensil. The acoustic sensing system, which includes at least one acoustic sensor, is positioned on or in the cooking appliance to detect acoustic emissions in one or more specific ranges of frequencies that are characteristic of emissions resulting from the heating and boiling of liquids in a variety of cooking utensils or vessels.

Abstract: A fuel control system for controlling the ratio of ring temperature adjustment in rings of a combustor in a gas turbine. The fuel control system consists of employing a computer to perform the steps of; defining an operational boundary inner ring temperature adjustments versus outer ring temperature adjustments that defines a safe operating region for the annular combustor of the gas turbine; calculating a point of operation of the inner ring temperature adjustment versus the outer ring temperature adjustment within a safety margin of the operational boundary, wherein nitrous oxide (NOx) emission levels of the gas turbine is reduced; and regulating the ring temperatures to maintain a near global minimum point of operation, while maintaining normal operation of the gas turbine.

Abstract: Statistical methods of partial discharge analysis utilizing histogram similarity measures are provided by quality assessment and condition monitoring methods of evaluating high voltage electrical insulation. The quality assessment method is utilized to evaluate the quality of insulation within the electrical equipment. The condition monitoring method is utilized during normal operation of the equipment to identify degradation in the insulation and to predict catastrophic insulation failures.

Abstract: The present invention provides for satellite-based remote monitoring of equipment under test to perform predictive assessment from a central diagnostic site which houses a central diagnostic station. The satellite-based remote diagnostic system monitors several machines at various geographically remote locations. Information gathered enables the user to assess the health of the equipment under test. The user may also utilize the present invention to conduct specialized tests on the equipment under test to aid in predictive maintenance.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the temperature of a cooktop having an upper surface and a lower surface. At least one controllable energy source is located below the lower surface of the cooktop to heat the area above the energy source on the cooktop, and at least one sensor with at least one detector to detect infrared radiation from the cooktop above the energy source. The level of infrared radiation is representative of the temperature of the cooktop, which may be glass ceramic. The sensor provides a signal indicative of the temperature of the cooktop which is then used to control the energy source in order to protect the cooktop from extreme temperatures. The signal may be alternatively utilized to provide an indication of a hot cooktop surface after the energy sources have been turned off. The signal optionally is also utilized to provide automatic control of the energy source to maintain a predetermined temperature, or to prevent exceeding a maximum temperature.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting cooking utensil-related properties through a solid-surface cooktop, including the presence/absence, removal/placement, and other properties (e.g., size) of a cooking utensil on the cooktop. An energy source heats the contents of a cooking utensil placed on the cooktop; and an optical radiation source is controlled to provide an interrogation scheme for detecting the utensil properties. The utensil property detecting system may be part of a monitoring system for monitoring the properties of the cooking utensil, or may be part of a control system for controlling the energy source based on the detected utensil properties, or both.

Abstract: A satellite communication system for sending high resolution medically related images from a remote location to a central location for diagnostics, consisting of at least one remote transmitting and receiving station and a central diagnostic station adapted to provide an image based on a standard digital format such as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), and the Extended Transmission Control Protocol to transmit medically related images with a transmission efficiency of at least 90 percent to facilitate feed back while the patient remains at the remote transmitting and receiving station.

Abstract: A silicon controller rectifier based analog circuit 10 that can be utilized in connection with known analog based residential arc detecting circuit breakers to reduce false tripping of the breakers is described. By eliminating the first current pulse in the time attenuated pulse counting circuit 10 as well as fast, subsequent cycle pulses, the possible tripping due to the one or two pulse lamp burnout false trips is substantially eliminated. The circuit 10 eliminates a first arc pulse in all conditions and a second arc pulse if it quickly follows the first pulse, thus reducing the breaker sensitivity as little as possible while significantly reducing, if not eliminating, false tripping when two consecutive high current arc pulses are generated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the boil states of a liquid as measured by an acoustic sensor which measures the acoustic signal generated by the liquid as it is heated. The acoustic signal is smoothed and a first derivative of the acoustic signal is calculated. Also the frequency of the acoustic signal is measured. Derivative inflection points, zero slope points, and acoustic signal frequencies are utilized to determine the pre-simmer, simmer, pre-boil, boil, boil dry, and boil over states of the liquid.