Abstract: A tilted single-axis tracking system (20) for collecting solar energy includes a structure (22) for supporting an array (26) of photovoltaic (PV) modules (24) above a surface (28). The structure (22) includes a frame (34) having first and second legs (40, 42) configured to extend upwardly from the surface (28) and join at an apex (54). A base tensioning member (44) of the frame (34) is interposed between the first and second legs (40, 42). A torque tube (36) is pivotally retained by the frame (34) at the apex (54) and is configured for attachment of the array (26) of PV modules (24). A foot member (38) pivotally retains a tube end (60) of the torque tube (36) and is configured to rest on the surface (22). A first tensioning member (106) is coupled between the foot member (38) and the first leg (40), and a second tensioning member (108) is coupled between the foot member (38) and the second leg (42).

Abstract: A high-concentration photovoltaic assembly (24) for use in a utility-scale solar power generation system (20) is configured to couple to a supporting tracking structure (22) of the system (20). The assembly (24) incorporates a frame (38) substantially centered in a plane (44), a plurality of substantially parallel longitudinal members (80) substantially centered in the plane (44) and coupled to the frame (38), two substantially parallel transverse members (82) substantially centered in the plane (44) and coupled to the longitudinal members (80) substantially at ends thereof, a plurality of bulkheads (90) coupled between adjacent ones of the longitudinal members (80) and configured to divide the assembly (24) into a plurality of chambers (94), a plurality of photovoltaic modules coupled to the chambers (94) upon a first side (48) of the plane (44), and a plurality of lenses (98) coupled to the chambers (94) upon a second side (46) of the plane (44).

Abstract: A raised panel door section (22, 54, 64) for an overhead garage door (20, 50, 60) includes a sheet metal layer (32, 56, 66) formed from sheet metal stock (74) that is embossed to produce a raised panel design by an automated method that selects one of a first die set (84) and a second die set (90) in response to a predetermined embossment style, installs the selected one of the first and second die sets (84, 90) into an embossing press (36) and embosses the sheet metal stock (74) with the 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). 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).

Abstract: A stepstool (20) configured for mounting on a tire (22) includes a support frame configured to rest against an outer surface (40) of the tire (22). An outside lower platform (34) and an outside upper platform (36) are attached to the support frame. A first retaining bar (114) is configured to rest against an inner surface (42) of the tire (22), and first linking members (104 and 106) link the first retaining bar (114) to the support frame. The stepstool (20) further includes an inside platform (38) configured to releasably couple to the first retaining bar (114) and reside proximate the inner surface (42) of the tire (22). A second retaining bar (132) is configured to rest against the outer surface (40) of the tire, and second linking members (128 and 130) link the second retaining bar (132) to the inside platform (38). The first and second linking members are directed over an upper circumferential surface (122) of the tire (22) to hold the stepstool (22) securely on the tire (22).

Abstract: An apparatus (46) for reconditioning a protective surface (30) of an optically-read digital recording disc (20) includes a turntable (48) configured to receive a center hole (24) of the disc (20) and a first motor (52), coupled to the turntable (48), for rotating the turntable (48) and the disc (20) at a first rotational speed. The apparatus further includes a buffing element (50) for removing an amount of material from the protective surface (30) as the turntable rotates the disc (20) and a second motor (54), coupled to the buffing element (50) for rotating the buffing element (50) at a second rotational speed. A timing element (56) synchronizes the first and second motors (52, 54) to substantially simultaneously cease rotation of the turntable (48) and the buffing element (50) following removal of an amount of material from the disc (20).

Abstract: A HE0&ggr;&dgr; mode dielectric resonator (12) includes a cylindrical dielectric disk (32) having top and bottom ends (20, 22) spaced apart by a closed curve wall (24). The dielectric disk (32) has a dielectric constant greater than 40. An axially aligned hole (36) is formed through the disk (32) between the top and bottom ends (20, 22). A conductive wall (34) is formed at the closed curved wall (24) but not the top and bottom ends (20, 22). The hole (36) has a preferred diameter less than 0.2 times the diameter of the disk. A tuning plug (30) is formed from a material having a dielectric constant less than 0.5 times the dielectric constant of the dielectric disk (32) and an unloaded quality factor greater than 2.0 times the unloaded quality factor of the dielectric disk (32). The tuning plug is inserted to a desired depth within the hole (36) of the dielectric disk (32).

Abstract: A method (100) of constructing a flexible object (20) formed of a plurality of mutually conjoined layers (22) is disclosed. A first outer layer (28), four intermediate layers (36), and a second outer layer (38) of substantially a fusible polyester sheet material woven of microfibers are obtained (110,124,130). The first outer layer (28) is positioned (144) over a work surface (24), the four intermediate layers (36) are positioned (148) over the first outer layer (28), and the second outer layer (38) is positioned (150) over the first outer layer (28) and intermediate layers (36). A laser cutting head (26) is configured (158) to be fusional for all of layers (28,36,38). A periphery (50) of the object (20) is then cut (164) through each of the layers (22) by substantially simultaneously moving the laser cutting head (26) relative to the layers (22), and coincidentally fusing (166) the peripheries (50) to form the object (20).

Abstract: A device (20) for the retrieval of a ferromagnetic object (22) from a remote area is provided. The device (20) contains a retractable tape measure (24) and a magnetic gripping head (26). The tape measure (24) has a blade (30) with a first end (64), an opposing second end (66), a longitudinal axis (68) extending between the first and second ends (64,66), and a zero hook (32) coupled to the first end (64). The gripping head (26) has a housing with a gripping opening (40) in a face (42) thereof and a coupling opening (62) in another face (70) thereof. The gripping head (26) also has a magnet (38) within the housing (34). The housing (34) and magnet (38) are configured so that a portion of the magnet (38) protrudes through the gripping opening (40) to effect magnetic engagement with the ferromagnetic object (22) during retrieval.

Abstract: A digital communication transmitter (30) implements a phase constellation (40) which defines a digital communication signal stream that is subsequently compressed (50), thereby introducing distortion into a communication signal (56) transmitted to a complementary receiver (30). The receiver (30) includes a magnitude adjuster (80) which increases the magnitude component of selected phase estimates to at least partially compensate for the compression distortion. The receiver also includes a branch metrics generator (90) having a segment (138) in which branch metric transfer function peaks and valleys are not positioned in receiver phase space to coincide with ideal phase points. The branch metric transfer functions are generated in accordance with a process (102) which bases branch metric calculations upon empirically determined probabilities that characterize system-induced distortions.

Abstract: A system (100) for coordinating engineering services (102) is provided. The system (100) uses a hyperdatabase (108) to encompass a CAE application library (122) for each CAE application program (120) used to provide the engineering services (102). Within the hyperdatabase (108), a program database (140) is configured for each CAE application library (122) to be encompassed. Each program database (140) has a plurality of datasets (142), each associated with a single CAE application record (134) in the CAE application library (122) and instantiating a one of a plurality of components (136). A data input routine (112) loads each dataset (142) with an identifier (150) uniquely identifying that dataset (142), query data (152) comprising attributes (148) of the instantiated component (136), graphic data (154) in a standardized format, and instantiation data (156) being the original CAE application record (134). A data extraction routine (116) extracts CAE product libraries (128) from the hyperdatabase (108).

Abstract: A combined refrigerator-oven (20) includes an enclosed chamber (28) having a top wall (22), a bottom wall (24), and vertical side walls (26). The refrigerator-oven (20) further includes a heating unit (50) and a refrigeration unit (70). A controller (118) is in communication with the heating unit (50) and the refrigeration unit (70). When a cooling mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the refrigeration unit (70) to deliver cool air (62) into the enclosed chamber (28). When a heating mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the heating unit (50) to produce heat (66) in the enclosed chamber (28).

Abstract: A time division multiple access digital communications system (12) is provided. The system (12) has a base station (14) configured to generate a receive baud clock (86) and has a receiver (18) and a transmitter (20). The system also has a subscriber unit (16) configured to generate a transmit baud clock (50), and has a transmitter (28) and a receiver (26). The subscriber unit transmitter (28) is configured to transmit a reverse channel signal (54) that incorporates the transmit baud clock (50) as a component thereof. The base station receiver (18) is configured to receive the reverse channel signal (54) from the subscriber unit (16) and produce a phase-error signal (&mgr;′) in response to a phase difference between the transmit baud clock (50) and the receive baud clock (86). The base station transmitter (20) is configured to transmit the phase-error signal (&mgr;′) to the subscriber unit receiver (26).

Abstract: An animal-actuated feeder (20) has a treadle (26) to be tread upon by an animal (36) desirous of obtaining food, a food compartment (24), a cover (30) with closed and open positions (32, 34) denying and granting access to the compartment (24), and linkage (28) to open the cover (30) when the animal (36) treads upon the treadle (26). A damper (88) is coupled to the cover (30) and dampens transit between open and closed positions (32, 34). A dish (106) having a mating lid (108) coupled to the cover (30) promotes the retention of the food in a palatable condition. A plurality of moat assemblies (118) serve as legs for the feeder (20) and inhibit crawling arthropods from gaining access to the food. A control unit (154) and latch (152) control the opening of the cover (30) in response to a tag unit (162) worn by the animal (36) treading upon the treadle (26).

Abstract: A communication system (10) includes a transmitter (12) which induces in a communication signal (16), a first component of in-phase to quadrature phase (I-Q) imbalance and a receiver (14) which adds a second component of I-Q imbalance. A digital, intermediate frequency (IF) I-Q balancer (38) compensates for the receiver-induced I-Q imbalance so that total distortion is sufficiently diminished and a data directed carrier tracking loop (60) may then perform carrier synchronization to generate a baseband signal (70). An adaptive equalizer (64) within the carrier tracking loop (60) may then effectively operate to compensate for additional distortions, such as the transmitter-induced I-Q imbalance.

Abstract: An apparatus (46) for reconditioning a protective surface (30) of an optically-read digital recording disc (20) includes a turntable (48) configured to receive the disc (20) and a first motor (52) for rotating the turntable (48) and the disc (20). The apparatus further includes a buffing element (122) and a second motor (54) for rotating the buffing element (122). A timing element (56) synchronizes the first and second motors (52, 54) to substantially simultaneously cease rotation of the turntable (48) and the buffing element (122) following removal of an amount of material from the disc (20). The buffing element (122) includes a foam pad (124) having a discoid portion (126) and an annular portion (128) encircling a perimeter (132) of the discoid portion (126). The annular portion (128) is more resistant to compression than the discoid portion (126). A buffing pad (82) is in fixed relation with the foam pad (124).

Abstract: An integrated RF power amplifier 20 includes an on-chip input transformer (24) and an on-chip output transformer (28). Each of the transformers (24, 28) is formed from four spirals. Each primary winding (34, 42) and each secondary winding (38, 44) includes positive and negative spirals arranged so that positive current rotates in opposing rotational directions in the positive and negative spirals. The secondary winding (38) of the input transformer (24) and the primary winding (42) of the output transformer (28) each has a center tap (48, 50) located at the electrical and physical center of the winding. Positive and negative amplifiers (26) couple between the secondary winding of the input transformer (24) and the primary winding of the output transformer (28). DC biasing for the amplifiers (26) is provided through the positive and negative spirals of the center-tapped windings (38, 42) from the respective center taps (48, 50).

Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (20, 60) is provided with a silicon (Si) base region (34, 74) that forms a semiconductor junction with a multilayer emitter (38) having a thin gallium arsenide (GaAs) emitter layer (36, 72) proximate the base region (34, 74) and a distal gallium phosphide (GaP) emitter layer (40, 66). The GaAs emitter layer (36, 72) is sufficiently thin, preferably less than 200 Å, so as to be coherently strained. In one embodiment, the GaP emitter layer includes a doped region (70) which serves as the emitter and a non-doped region (68) on which the intrinsic portion of the transistor (60) is formed.

Abstract: An interproximal gauge (36) includes a plurality of blades (38), each having a key portion (40) and a handle (42) adjoining the key portion (40). The key portion (40) exhibits a predetermined thickness which is different for different ones of the blades (38) and is configured for placement in an interproximal gap (24) between adjacent teeth (26). The handle (42) includes notches (42) having numerical values representing the predetermined thickness of a particular one of the blades (38). Successive ones of the blades (38) are placed in the interproximal gap (24) and one of the blades (38) is selected having a predetermined thickness that is substantially equivalent to a width (28) of gap (24). The notches (42) are interpreted to determine the width (28) of the gap (24).