Abstract: A current-sharing multiphase sliding-mode switching power supply (24) and method of operation are presented. A bipolar power source (22) is coupled to a switch (30) for each phase (28), each switch (30) is in turn coupled to an inductance (32), and a capacitance (36) is coupled to the inductances (32) and across a load (26). A sliding-surface generator (78) generates a sliding surface (?). A current-balance control (80) computes a reference current as a summary statistic (IX) of inductive currents (IL) through the inductances (32), calculates an error current (IE) for each phase (28) as a difference between the summary statistic (IX) and the inductive current (IL), and adjusts the sliding surface (?) for each phase (28) so that all inductive currents (IL) are substantially equal to the summary statistic (IX). A switching circuit (138) switches the switches (30) in response to the sliding surface (?).

Abstract: A thorough error suppression signal measurement system (20) having a transmitter (300) for propagating a transmission signal to a first probe 100, through a device under test (26), and into a second probe (200), and for propagating reference signals to the probes (100,200). The probes (100,200) extract normalization signals from the reference signals, exchange specific ones of the normalization signals, and combine the normalization signals with data signals derived from the transmission signal to form receiver signals. The probes (100,200) propagate the receiver signals to a receiver (400), where the signals are gain-ranged, digitized, normalized, and compensated for phase-noise.

Abstract: A method for applying a therapeutic signal (24) to a body portion (34) of a subject (20) to encourage hair growth utilizes an apparatus (22) that includes a first electrode (28) and a second electrode (32). The first electrode (28) is secured in contact with the skin surface of the subject (20) remote from the body portion (34), and the second electrode (32) is positioned at the body portion (34). The therapeutic signal (24) is provided at a conductive pod (114) of the second electrode (32). The second electrode (32) is manipulated by an operator to apply a circular motion (134) to the body portion (34) underlying the conductive pod (114). The circular motion (134) is repetitively applied as the conductive pod (114) is moved across the body portion (34) to loosen connective tissue at the body portion (34).

Abstract: A system (100) and method (200) for adaptively managing bias of an RF power amplifier (102) is provided. The system (100) incorporates a controller (116) configured to select a radio operating mode. A current-mirror circuit (114) is coupled to the controller (116) and configured to produce a reference current (IRef) as a function of the radio operating mode. A bias regulator (104) is coupled to the controller (116) and the current-mirror circuit (114) and configured to produce a driver-stage bias current (Ib1) and an output-stage bias current (Ib2) for the power amplifier (102) in response to the reference current (IRef). The system (100) also incorporates a DC-to-DC converter (118) coupled to the controller (116) and configured to provide a supply voltage (Vcc) for the power amplifier (102) in response to the radio operating mode. The system (100) also incorporates an envelope detector (120) configured to produce an envelope current (IEnv) in response to an RF input signal (126).

Abstract: A radar detector (10) includes a first period detector (76, 122), a second period detector (96, 120) and a third period detector (86, 124) within a multi-period periodicity validator 38. The first period detector (76, 122) detects radar pulses exhibiting one-half of an expected pulse period (48), the second period detector (96, 120) detects radar pulses exhibiting the expected pulse period (48), and the third period detector (86, 124) detects radar pulses exhibiting twice the expected pulse period (48). A plurality of pulse-train records (40) can simultaneously track a plurality of possible pulse trains. A control element (84, 136, 138) accounts for missing pulses and corrects the expected pulse period when missing pulses have caused the expected pulse period to be inaccurate.

Abstract: A drive pin (20) for the fastening of a material (22) to a sheet-metal framing member (24) with an automatic nailer is provided. The drive pin (20) has a head (26), a substantially cylindrical shank (28) having a base diameter (30) in a range of 0.0625 to 0.125 inch, and a ballistic tip (40) configured to penetrate the material (22) and the framing member (24) under force of the automatic nailer. A knurl (42) is formed upon the shank (28). The knurl (42) has at least seven and no more than fourteen substantially parallel spiral grooves (32) having a minor diameter (58) less than the shank base diameter (30). Adjacent spiral grooves (32) are separated by substantially unbroken spiral ridges (34) having a major diameter (62) greater than the shank base diameter (30). The spiral grooves (32) and ridges (34) together form a plurality of threads (44) rolled full upon the shank (28) at an angle (54) of substantially 26±2 degrees relative to an axis (46) of the shank (28).

Abstract: A gas sensor (22) for detecting the presence of a selected component in a gas (41) includes a substrate (28) exhibiting a low thermal resistance. A heater element (34) is disposed substantially over a surface area of a first surface (30) of the substrate (28). Sensor and reference elements (36, 38), formed from a single metal trace (54), are disposed on a second surface (32) of the substrate (28). The electrical resistivity of the sensor element (36) changes as the sensor element (36) adsorbs molecules of the selected component. During a regeneration process, the heater element (34) is activated to provide substantially even heating over the surface area of the first surface (30). Heat from the heater element (34) conducts through the substrate (28) to heat the sensor element (36) and the reference element (38) to a regeneration temperature sufficient to cause the adsorbed molecules of the selected component to be liberated.

Abstract: A stuffed toy (10) for play by an animal is taught. The stuffed toy (10) has an outer pliable shell (12) formed of a first fur (54), an inner pliable shell (56) formed of a second fur (54′) located within the outer pliable shell (12), a pouch (58) formed of a third fur (54″) located within the inner pliable shell (56), and a play-stimulation item (68) located within the pouch (58) to provide stimulation for play by the animal. The outer and inner pliable shells (12,56) form an interior cavity (14) having an opening (22) though the outer and inner pliable shells (12,56). A hook-and-loop fastener (72) is used to releasably seals the opening (22). The pouch (58) is configured to pass through the opening (22) and is contained within the interior cavity (14) during the play by the animal. The play-stimulation item (68) may be an olfactory-excitation material (catnip) or a sound-producing device (squeaker).

Abstract: An electrode apparatus (20) includes an electrode (22), an electrical contact (24), and a non-conductive sheath (26) surrounding a portion (44) of the electrical contact (24). The electrode (22) includes an interior passage (36) configured for the placement of electrolytic gel (88). Openings (38) are disposed along a length (28) of the electrode (22) and extend from the interior passage (36) to an exterior surface (34). The openings (38) facilitate the leakage of the electrolytic gel (88) from the interior passage (36) to the exterior surface (34) of the electrode (22) when the electrode apparatus (20) is in use. A rigid conducting dowel (62) and a conductive tubular member (60) are located in the non-conductive sheath (26). The portion (44) of the electrical contact (24) fits in an inner passage (68) of the member (60). Thus, the dowel (62) and the member (60) ensure electrical continuity between the electrical contact (24) and the electrode (22).

Abstract: A bilboquet toy (20) is provided. The toy (20) incorporates a handheld radio (26), such as a cellular telephone or other handheld electronic device, to which is attached a coupler (22). A bille (24), in the form of a stylized ring or cup, is coupled to the coupler (22) by a tether (32). In play, the bille (24) is tossed upward and caught as it falls upon an antenna (28) of the radio (26). The bille (24) may assume any of a plurality of shapes to allow different forms and levels of play. The coupler (22) may be removable, such as an O-ring pressed over the antenna (28), semi-removable, as a two-part hook-and-loop fastener, or permanent. Either the coupler (22) or the bille (24) may display advertising copy (46). The coupler (22), the bille (24), and the tether (32) are fabricated of non-conducting materials to avoid interference with communicative use of the handheld radio (26).

Abstract: A clamp (40) for attaching a vibration damper to an energized suspended conductor (98) includes a base (42) having a first clamp member (46) with first and second extension sections (50, 52). The clamp (40) further includes a second clamp member (56) positioned between the extension sections (50, 52), and an eyebolt (58) for securing the second clamp member (56), to the first clamp member (46). The extension sections (50, 52) continuously abut the second clamp member (56) to prevent its rotation about the eyebolt (58). During installation, the eyebolt (58) is captured by a hook member (92) of shotgun stick (94) and a single lineman secures the vibration damper to the conductor (98).

Abstract: A data security system (26) provides cryptographic services in a multiprocessor platform (20) supporting a distributed application (22). The distributed application (22) includes a cryptographic object (52) that is executable exclusively on the data security system (26). An input interface object (102), a cryptographic function (90), and an output interface objection (104) form the cryptographic object (52). The data security system (26) includes a first processor element (92) for executing the input interface object (102), a second processor element (94) for executing the cryptographic function (90), and a third processor element (96) for executing the output interface object (104). The combination of data security system (26) and cryptographic object (52) ensures the separation of plain text data (46) from cipher text data (48).

Abstract: A TDM data distribution system (10) includes a hub unit (12) with a multipoint transmitter (24) and any number of subscriber units (14), each of which has a multipoint receiver (28). A forward communication link (16) transmitted by the hub unit (12) exhibits a substantially constant baud and carrier frequency over a number of diverse modulation format (MF) time slots (42). However, the different MF slots (42) convey data using different modulation formats. Modulation order and coding rate may vary for different modulation formats. The multipoint transmitter (24) includes a number of encoding FEC processors (48), wherein each encoding FEC processor (48) is active only for selected ones of the different MF slots (42). When inactive, the internal states of the encoding FEC processors (48) are frozen. Each multipoint receiver (28) includes a decoding FEC processor (108) which is active only for MF slots (42) assigned to the same modulation format for which the decoding FEC processors (108) are programmed.

Abstract: A power amplifier linearizer (12) includes an on-chip portion (60) and an external controller (22). The on-chip portion (60) implements two predistortion circuits (86, 88) desirably configured as look-up tables. One predistortion circuit (88) is programmed by the external controller (22) to apply a hotter linearizing translation function (54) and the other predistortion circuit (86) is programmed by the external controller (22) to apply a colder linearizing translation function (56). One or more temperature signals (24, 38) are correlated with the temperatures experienced by a power amplifier (34) and drive a power amplifier thermal modeler (50) implemented in the controller (22). As a result of running the thermal modeler (50), the controller (22) generates an interpolation signal (26) that indicates how far to interpolate between the hotter and colder translation functions (54, 56).

Abstract: An extendable astragal system (40) includes a housing (47), an actuating member (48) located in and slidably engaged with the housing (47), and an astragal (50) located in the housing (47) and slidably engaged with the housing (47) and the actuating member (48). A latch mechanism (80) retains the astragal (50) within the housing (47) when an ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature. The latch mechanism (80) enables sliding movement of the actuating member (48) and resultant movement of the astragal (50) to an extended position outside of the housing (47) when the ambient temperature is at the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon detector (20) includes a gas stream delivery element (26) configured to discharge a carrier gas (70) onto a surface (24). The carrier gas (70) serves to volatilize a hydrocarbon presence (22) from the surface (24). A gas stream recovery element (28) is configured to aspirate a sample gas (78) formed from the carrier gas (70) combined with the hydrocarbon presence (22) volatilized from the surface (24). A hydrocarbon sensor (58) detects the hydrocarbon presence (22) in the sample gas (78) and generates an output signal indicative of the hydrocarbon presence (22). An indicator (80) receives the output signal and indicates the hydrocarbon presence (22) in the sample gas (78). A heat source (72) coupled to the gas stream delivery element (26) heats the carrier gas (70) to further aid in the volatilization of the hydrocarbon presence (22).

Abstract: A transdermal medication delivery device (20) for the remote controlled administration of medications (68, 70, 72) for absorption through the skin of a patient (22) includes a tubes (62) containing the medications (68, 70, 72). Tubes (62) are in fluid communication with valve inlets (76, 82, 88) of valves (74, 80, 86) formed on a micro-electro-mechanical-system-based (MEMS-based) valve chip (64, 162). A medication delivery component (26, 176) in fluid communication with valve outlets (78, 84, 90) of valves (74, 80, 86) has a surface (66, 178) adapted to be in contact with the skin of the patient (22) when in use. A controller (92) is configured to control a flow of the medications (68, 70, 72) through the valves (74, 80, 86), and a wireless communication interface (94), in communication with the controller (92), is configured to receive a medication control message (96) from a remote location (32).

Abstract: A communication system (20) employs fixed rate channel-optimized, trellis-coded quantization (COTCQ) at a plurality of diverse encoding bit rates. COTCQ is performed through a COTCQ encoder (40) and COTCQ decoder (54). The COTCQ encoder and decoder (40,54) each include a codebook table (62) having at least one codebook (64) for each encoding bit rate. Each codebook (64) is configured in response to the bit error probability of the channel (26) through which the communication system (20) communicates. The bit error probability influences codebooks through the calculation of channel transition probabilities for all combinations of codewords (90) receivable from the channel (26) given all combinations of codewords (90) transmittable through the channel (26). Channel transition probabilities are responsive to base channel transition probabilities and the hamming distances between indices for codewords within subsets of the transmittable and receivable codewords.

Abstract: A raised panel door section (22) for an overhead garage door (20) includes a sheet metal layer (32) formed from sheet metal stock (74) that is embossed to produce a raised panel design having a predetermined embossment style. The predetermined embossment style includes one of a vertical raised panel design (30), a horizontal raised panel design (52), and a horizontal long raised panel design (62). The sheet metal layer (32) has a finished height of substantially twenty-eight inches. An overhead garage door (20) includes three of the raised panel door sections (22) having the sheet metal layer (32) embossed with the vertical raised panel design (30) to yield an overall height of the overhead garage door (20) of substantially eighty-four inches.