Abstract: A portable workstation for splicing fiber optics has slots that slip over a side of a bucket of an aerial bucket truck. The slots provide for a secure attachment of the workstation to the bucket. The workstation has hand slots so that the workstation is easily manipulated for attaching or removing the workstation to/from the bucket. Within the workstation is a pocket having a cavity for securely holding a fusion splicer. The workstation has a work area, adjacent to the splicer, for holding splicing tools and other materials used for making a fiber optic splice.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for discovering PME bonding groups. In one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of communication links are terminated by physical medium entities (PMEs). In this regard, each link is terminated at one end via a network PME and at another end via a remote PME at a customer premises. Each of the PMEs has a transceiver that is allowed to train during a training phase that precedes a data phase. After training, discovery of PME bonding groups is performed via data communicated over data phase control channels, which are operational while links are operational in the data phase, transmitting data using the Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) encapsulation. For example, the control channel data may be communicated over a link-level embedded operations channel (EOC). In another example, the control channel data may be communicated using 64/65 Byte (B) code words.

Abstract: A drag-behind square hay bale accumulator that groups ten (10) bales of hay is claimed. The grouping configuration has the advantage of providing the first two bales of hay turned at right angles to the remaining bales, to provide for improved stacking of the hay bales. The accumulator is comprised of an open framework within which channels for routing the bales are positioned. After a group of ten (10) bales is collected, the accumulator leaves the bales on the field in a grouping that can be mechanically picked up and stacked.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributed ignition is disclosed wherein a combustion fuel and an ignition mixture are combined where the ignition mixture comprises ignition agents and fuel and where ignition agents can be nano-metallic particles in combination with single-walled carbon nano-tubes (SWCNTs). The combination of ignition mixture and combustion fuel in the presence of oxygen are exposed to light causing heating of the ignition agents and combustion of the fuel within which the ignition agents are interspersed. A system for igniting fuels using the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An interior design system of the present disclosure can comprise a user interface configured to display a plurality of interior design components. The system may further comprise logic configured to receive a user selection of one of the components and display the selected component in the user interface. The logic may further be configured to receive a plurality of user inputs, via the user interface, the inputs related to characteristics of the selected component.

Abstract: A parts marking system has memory for storing data indicative of at least one algorithm associated with at least one object material and logic configured to display the at least one algorithm to a display device and receive a user input for at least one part in response to the displayed algorithm.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one methodology of the present disclosure, an excavating machine (e.g., excavator, backhoe, bulldozer, etc.) moves an excavating apparatus (e.g., a bucket, blade, etc.) such that the excavating apparatus skims the underwater surface of a beach close to the shoreline to gather sand thereby forming a shallow trench in such surface. The depth of trench is small so that the effects of the sand removal to the contour of the beach is quickly compensated by the wave action of the ocean. Although the depth of the removed layer of sand is small, a significant amount of sand can be gathered by continuing the skimming operation over a much longer horizontal distance relative to the vertical depth of the removed sand. Moreover, by repeating the skimming operation along a shoreline, large amounts of sand can be gathered from the underwater surface of a beach close to the shoreline without a significant prolonged impact to the beach's underwater surface contour.

Abstract: A system for detecting non-linear distortion comprises an error detector and logic. The error detector is configured to estimate signal errors associated with signals communicated across a telecommunication line. The logic is configured to track the signal errors and to detect whether the signals are subject to non-linear distortion based on a history of the signal errors.

Abstract: A method for playing a combination of Three Card Poker® and Draw Poker. One to seven people can play against the dealer. Each player places a wager on ante and pairplus (optional) and is dealt three cards face down and the dealer four cards face down. Each player has the option to discard one card and receive another by placing a wager equal to ante on the draw card space. If the player bets only pairplus he cannot receive a draw card. If the player decides to play he must place wager (equal to ante) on play space or fold and forfeit all wagers. The dealer then flips his four cards, discards one card to make his best three card hand. Dealer plays with Queen high or better. Dealer checks each played hand. Payouts are then determined based on the paytable and the amount the player wagered.

Abstract: A network interface unit has an interface coupled to a first transmit line and a first receive line, and the interface is configured to receive a signal from the first receive line. The network interface unit further has circuitry operable in a test mode and a data mode that couples the received signal to the second transmit line via a first path while operating in the data mode. The circuitry further disables coupling of the signal to the second transmit line, couples the signal via an alternate path to the first transmit line, and creates a bias voltage about which a termination impedance for the second transmit line is centered while operating in test mode.

Abstract: A service station facility for replenishing various motivational energy sources onboard different types of automotive vehicles is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the service station facility includes a rack, replaceable fuel tanks, a service module, and an electronic computer control system. The replaceable fuel tanks are stocked on the rack and substantially filled with various fluids, such as hydrogen, which are utile as motivational energy sources within fuel-operated automotive vehicles. The service module is mounted on the rack, and the electronic computer control system is connected in electrical communication with the service module. In this configuration, the service module is controllably operable to receive a depleted replaceable fuel tank from a fuel-operated automotive vehicle and also selectively deliver one of the filled replaceable fuel tanks onboard the automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A system for canceling impulse noise comprises an adaptive impulse canceler and a combiner. The adaptive impulse canceler is configured to receive a common mode component of a received signal and to detect a noise impulse in the common mode component. The impulse canceler is further configured to provide, based on the noise impulse in the common mode component, an impulse noise estimation for a differential mode component of the received signal. The combiner is configured to receive the differential mode component and the impulse noise estimation and to subtract the impulse noise estimation from the differential mode component.

Abstract: A support structure for use with an existing single pole tower. The single pole tower has a pole anchored to a foundation and supports a first load. The support structure has a number of sleeves surrounding the pole. A first one of the sleeves is anchored to the foundation. A second load is attached to a second one of the sleeves.

Abstract: A data communication system has a plurality of communication transceivers respectively coupled to a plurality of communication lines and is configured to receive payload symbols and parity symbols. The system further has logic configured to transition from non-erasure decoding to erasure decoding based on a measured communication performance of one of the communication lines coupled to one of the plurality of transceivers.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to surface plasmon-polariton waveguides, which can guide ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waves. The attenuation of an ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waves is much lower than the attenuation of the conventional long range surface plasmon-polariton waves guided with the same kind of metal film or metal strip at the same plasmon-polariton frequency. An exemplary ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waveguide disclosed in this disclosure comprises a metal layer, such as a metal film or finite width metal strip, intermediate dielectric layers adjacent to the metal layer, and outer cladding dielectric material. The intermediate dielectric layers redistribute the electromagnetic energy distribution of the surface plasmon-polariton waves so that less of the energy propagates in the metal layer. Therefore, the attenuation of the surface plasmon-polariton wave is reduced.

Abstract: A gas conduit for venting high temperature reactor comprising a conduit portion in direct communication with the reactor for receiving gas therefrom where the conduit includes a Venturi for creating a high pressure zone in the area prior to exit of the reactor. The conduit, accordingly, has a portion having first and second diameters, where the second diameter less than the first diameter and is dimensioned in order to provide an area of high pressure in the region of the first diameter.