Abstract: There is disclosed a meanderline loaded antenna comprising a ground plane, a non-driven vertical element affixed thereto, a driven vertical element and a shaped top radiating element conductively connected between the driven and non-driven vertical elements. One or more segments or regions of the top plate are resonant depending on the input signal frequency. Since top plate presents several such segments or portions, several different resonant frequencies (a band of closely spaced resonant frequencies or multiple bands of disparate resonant frequencies) are presented to the antenna driving signal, thus allowing the antenna to resonate at several different frequencies and bands. In another embodiment, the antenna comprises a plurality of top radiating elements in parallel spaced relation or in a single plane, wherein each top radiating element is resonant at a different frequency, when considered with the effective lengths of the other antenna elements.

Abstract: A foldable antenna includes a plurality of passive elements radially spaced apart from a center active element. The radial passive elements are joined to the active element to create a deformable union. In this way, the surrounding passive elements can be folded toward the midplane of the antenna array to create a relatively compact stored configuration.

Abstract: An antenna array formed on a deformable dielectric material or substrate includes a center element and plurality of radial elements extending from a center hub. In the operative mode, the radial elements are folded upwardly into an approximately vertical position, with the center element at the center of the hub and the radial elements circumferentially surrounding the center element. In one embodiment the center element serves an active element of the antenna array and the radial elements are controllable in a directive or reflective state to effect a directive beam pattern from the antenna array. When not in use, the antenna elements are deformed into a plane and can therefore be integrated into a housing for compact storage. In a phased array embodiment, the center element is absent and the plurality of radial elements, are controllable to steer the antenna beam.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus that can increase capacity in a cellular communication system is disclosed. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and comprises a plurality of antenna elements, each coupled to a respective weight control component to provide a weight to the signal transmitted from (or received by) each element. The weight for each antenna element is adjusted to achieve optimum reception during, for example, an idle mode when a pilot signal is received. The antenna array creates a beam former for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading and intercell interference are greatly reduced. The weights are adjusted in a coarse and a fine mode.

Abstract: A method for treating an effluent gas from a semiconductor processing system includes the steps of exhausting the effluent gas from a processing chamber, and catalytically treating the effluent gas with the at least one mixed metal oxide. The effluent gas includes unconsumed process gasses introduced during semiconductor processing operations, such as during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and plasma-reactive ion etching. The mixed metal oxide may include a hetero bi-metal oxide, a hetero tri-metal oxide, or a perovskite. A hetero bi-metal oxide includes LaCoO3 and LaMnO3, for example, and a hetero tri-metal oxide includes (LaxPr1−x)CoO3 and (LaxPr1−x)MnO3, for example. The effluent gas may include at least carbon monoxide and/or ozone. Thus, catalytically treating the effluent gas preferably includes the catalytically converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or ozone to oxygen.

Abstract: There is disclosed a meanderline loaded antenna comprising a ground plane, two vertical elements orthogonally affixed thereto, and a horizontal element between the two vertical elements. A meanderline coupler interconnects the horizontal element, at each of its ends, to the vertical elements. The antenna further includes an additional radiating element extending from the horizontal element in approximately planer relationship therewith. Additionally, the antenna includes a tuning element extending from the horizontal element and forming an acute angle with the adjacent vertical element.

Abstract: A removable cover for a wheelchair tire. The cover is used to protect against the spread of contamination by the wheelchair tire. The cover may be formed of an elastic material or may have bands of elastic material attached along opposed edges to facilitate the installation of the cover over the tire and to hold the cover against the tire. The cover may be stored on the wheelchair during periods of movement over a contaminated surface, and then installed over the tire prior to moving onto a clean surface. The cover may be periodically washed to maintain its cleanliness or may be made from a disposable material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for limiting diesel engine overspeed conditions (and thereby prevent engine damage) caused by the ingestion of lubricating oil from the turbocharger, or other source, into the diesel engine cylinders. In response to the development of an overspeed condition, the dynamic brake grids are coupled to the output of the main alternator to absorb the excess energy caused by the overspeed condition. Alternatively, non-combustible gases can be injected into the combustion system to limit the overspeed condition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a meanderline loaded antenna comprising a ground plane, a plurality of vertical elements orthogonally affixed thereto, a driven vertical element affixed thereto and a horizontal element between the vertical elements. All but one of the plurality of vertical elements have an effective electrical length that is a quarter wavelength of the antenna operating frequency. Thus, these vertical elements represent an open and do not effect the antenna performance characteristics. One of the plurality of vertical elements will be operative and therefore the antenna length comprises the length of the operative element, the length of the driven element, and the length of the top plate therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a railroad locomotive is configured with the correct software versions. The version numbers for software on board the locomotive are periodically determined by an on-board monitoring system. This information is later transmitted to a remote monitoring and diagnostic center, where the actual software version numbers are compared to the expected software versions. If there is a mismatch, personnel at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center are alerted to resolve the mismatch.

Abstract: A diesel engine, having a plurality of individually controllable fuel injected cylinders, is operated in a skip firing mode to reduce smoke emissions during low power operation. The system senses certain identified engine operating parameters and when these parameters exceed predetermined thresholds for a predetermined time, then the skip firing is implemented. In another embodiment, it is possible to implement several different skip firing patterns dependent upon engine performance. Upon implementation of skip firing, the engine timing angle is reset by a fixed angle and a multiplication factor is included in the speed loop integrator to ensure that the appropriate fuel volume value is injected into each cylinder immediately upon initiation of skip firing. Skip firing is then disabled when another set of predetermined conditions is satisfied.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus for increasing the capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements, each coupled to a respective signal control component to provide a weight to the signal transmitted from each element. The weight for each antenna element is adjusted to achieve optimum reception during, for example, an idle mode when a pilot signal is received. The weight values cause the antenna array to create a beam former for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading and intercell interference are greatly reduced. The weights are adjusted at the transmitting site in accord with signal quality metric information determined at the receiving site.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the direction of locomotive travel while in dynamic braking is disclosed. This direction of travel is derived from current sensors associated with the locomotive traction motors. When in the dynamic braking mode, current flows through the current sensors in a first direction when a train is traveling in the first direction and reverses the direction of flow when the train is traveling in a second direction.

Abstract: A process for scheduling the travel of trains on a rail corridor. The rail corridor includes a plurality of siding tracks onto which trains can be sided when a meet or pass occurs with another train on the corridor. A gradient search process is used with a cost function to determine the optimum schedule by moving each meet and pass to a siding. The individual train schedules are varied by changing train speed and/or the train departure time (i.e., the time at which the train enters the corridor).

Abstract: Method for detecting buffer overflow weakness exploitation, including the steps of determining a plurality of threshold parameters, each respective to a buffer overflow weakness exploitation event, analyzing a code to be executed, thereby producing a plurality of validation values, comparing said validation values to the respective ones of the threshold parameters, and determining a buffer overflow weakness exploitation attempt, when at least one of the validation values exceeds the respective one of the threshold parameters.

Abstract: A satellite communications scheme for enhancing the communications system with existing satellites is disclosed. The existing satellites include a transponder having a phase locked loop phase demodulator at the front end thereof. The present invention discloses a technique wherein the phase demodulator is locked by transmitting a relatively high-power carrier from the ground to the satellite transponder. Once the demodulator has been locked, remote ground terminals operating at much lower power levels can access the satellite transponder by transmitting at carrier frequencies spaced apart from the primary high-power carrier. These are down-converted by the transponder phase demodulator and then typically amplitude and frequency limited before being remodulated and retransmitted.

Abstract: A multi-channel cellular communications intercept system for monitoring and then intercepting communications between a mobile unit and a base station in one cell of a cellular telephone system. The system includes a controller and a plurality of receivers with each receiver monitoring the forward control channel from a different cell within a geographical area of interest. When a global page for a target mobile unit is received, one of the receivers in the system is retuned to the forward voice communication channel on which the target mobile unit will be broadcasting for the purpose of monitoring and/or recording the conversation. The remaining receivers are retuned to the strongest forward control channels in the area.

Abstract: An activity monitor for monitoring activity on a bus connecting a plurality of processors, monitors the bus to determine the bus master and other bus activities. In response thereto, predetermined memory locations are enabled to count events on the bus or calculate time spans for various bus activities.