Abstract: A hot laminating apparatus has a single-sided transmitting and heating roller. A heating plate is used instead of a transmitting and heating roller at the opposite side of the transmission passage in order to heat the thin film in contact therewith and cooperate with the single-sided transmitting and heating roller to transmit the thin films to be laminated. The heating plate is efficient in heating the thin film and generally less expensive than the transmitting and heating roller.

Abstract: A device for detecting volatile chemical reagents based on fluorescence quenching analysis that is capable of detecting neutral electron acceptor molecules. The device includes a fluorescent material, a contact region, a light source, and an optical detector. The fluorescent material includes at least one polymer-surfactant complex. The polymer-surfactant complex is formed by combining a fluorescent ionic conjugated polymer with an oppositely charged surfactant. The polymer-surfactant complex may be formed in a polar solvent and included in the fluorescent material as a solution. Alternatively, the complex may be included in the fluorescent material as a thin film. The use of a polymer-surfactant complex in the fluorescent material allows the device to detect both neutral and ionic acceptor molecules. The use of a polymer-surfactant complex film allows the device and the fluorescent material to be reusable after exposing the fluorescent material to a vacuum for limited time.

Abstract: A method for routing electronic messages for communications between computer systems may include the steps of examining a plurality of interest data sets, each having a interest value that indicates specific data that is of interest, creating a filter tree from the plurality of interest data sets where each filter of the filter tree accurately describes child filters in such a way that messages may be properly passed to any terminal filters of the tree which have an interest value that describes the messages, examining the messages, comparing the messages to the root filter of the filter tree to determine if the messages should pass the root filter, and, as long as the messages passes a current filter, comparing the messages with the child filters of the current filter in order to effectively pass the messages to any terminal filters of the tree having an interest value that describes the messages.

Abstract: A handheld CZT radiation detector having a CZT gamma-ray sensor, a multichannel analyzer, a fuzzy-logic component, and a display component is disclosed. The CZT gamma-ray sensor may be a coplanar grid CZT gamma-ray sensor, which provides high-quality gamma-ray analysis at a wide range of operating temperatures. The multichannel analyzer categorizes pulses produce by the CZT gamma-ray sensor into channels (discrete energy levels), resulting in pulse height data. The fuzzy-logic component analyzes the pulse height data and produces a ranked listing of radioisotopes. The fuzzy-logic component is flexible and well-suited to in-field analysis of radioisotopes. The display component may be a personal data assistant, which provides a user-friendly method of interacting with the detector. In addition, the radiation detector may be equipped with a neutron sensor to provide an enhanced mechanism of sensing radioactive materials.

Abstract: The multiple channel duct assembly for cables includes a plurality of plastic inner ducts (10) contiguous, co-directionally extending, substantially parallel, and in abutting contact with each other. Each of the inner ducts (10) has a cross sectional area sufficient to contain at least one cable. A plastic outer duct (20) encircles the inner ducts over their entire length to retain them in their contiguous relationship. The outer duct (20) has a corrugated tubular section including a plurality of contiguous ridges (21) and troughs (22) extending over their entire length. The assembly is sufficiently flexible that it can be coiled around transportable reels as well as sufficiently strong that it can withstand dirt in a trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser with an equilateral triangle micro optical resonator has an output waveguide connected to the resonator for realizing directional emission, and the laser wafer structure is the slab waveguide constituted by lower cladding layer, active region and the upper cladding layer. The outer region of the equilateral triangle is etched to the lower cladding layer or substrate, while the unetched equilateral triangle region is used as the resonator, and the triangular sides serve as the reflecting mirrors. On one of the vertices or the sides of the triangle resonator connected or coupled an output waveguide can form an edge emission semiconductor laser and array having directive light emission.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for scanning graphical codes on an object or media to obtain the Internet address that is represented by the graphical code. An Internet address is graphically encoded and is displayed on an object. The codes are then disseminated to the public, where users see the codes graphically encoded on objects or in media purchased or viewed by the public. Once the user determines that more information is desired, the user elects which option for code scanning is desired: automatic access to the Internet address represented by the graphical code, automatic storage of the Internet address represented by the graphical code into memory or automatic insertion of the Internet address represented by the graphical code into a query of a Web browser. The graphical code is then scanned by an optical scanner. The scanned graphical code is then transmitted to a computer where the graphical code is processed and the encoded Internet address is obtained.

Abstract: A mowing head includes a case, which is detachably attached to a rotary shaft located at a distal end of a manipulating rod of a mower, and a weed cutting tool, which is attached to the case. The bottom portion of the case is formed of resin. A protecting member is arranged in the bottom portion and insert molded using a material having an anti-wear resistance characteristic that is superior to that of the resin.

Abstract: An electrochromic mirror is provided for performing color change in response to a voltage applied thereto. The electrochromic mirror includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first and a second electrodes, an electrochromic composition and a reflective layer. The reflective layer is made of aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy and disposed on the second substrate for partially reflecting the light entering from the first substrate back to the first substrate. A reflective layer of an electrochromic mirror for partially reflecting incident light from an image is also provided. The reflective layer includes an aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy layer and an indium tin oxide (ITO) attached to the aluminum-titanium (Al/Ti) alloy layer.

Abstract: A sprinkler valving apparatus and method are provided. An irrigation system has a plurality of valves designed to be electrically activated by a control unit. Each valve may have a first diaphragm that is flexible to control irrigation water flow through the valve. Each of the valves may have a solenoid isolated from irrigation water within the valve by a second diaphragm. The first and second diaphragms are separated by an interior divider with an orifice that can be blocked or unblocked via flexure of the second diaphragm to trigger motion of the first diaphragm. The second diaphragm is actuated by a magnetically actuatable plunger of the solenoid, which extends through an aperture of an interior retainer to reach the second diaphragm. The second diaphragm has a peripheral ring to ensure that it is movable even when negative outlet pressure is applied to the valve.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for integrating structural members inside the body of a propulsion vehicle with tankage used to store fluid propellant and the like. Propulsion vehicles may be made lighter, more compact, cheaper, and easier to manufacture by using pressurized membranes of the tankage to accomplish other structural purposes. More specifically, tanks may be integrated with thrust structures to transfer thrust loads from the engine to the main body of the vehicle. Alternatively, the tanks may be integrated with the vehicle engine. Also, one tank may be integrated with one or more other tanks to form a single pressure vessel with multiple interior chambers. Tankage may additionally be combined with more than one of the foregoing to save additional weight and space. Methods of manufacturing a metallic integrated tank assembly include weld fabrication, machining, spinning, hydroforming, casting, forging, plating, metal deposition, or some combination thereof.

Abstract: A curtailment module is disclosed for enabling an energy provider to send a request to curtail energy use to a user. The curtailment module includes an interface for electronic communications with a temperature control device. A paging module is used to receive the request from the energy provider through a paging network. The curtailment module also includes a processor in electronic communication with the paging module for receiving the request from the paging module. Memory is also included and is in electronic communication with the processor for storing a curtailment message and history data. The curtailment module also includes a sound component in electronic communication with the processor for outputting an audio verification. A code generator is stored in the memory and executable by the processor to generate a verification code using the curtailment message and the history data as inputs.

Abstract: An inverter circuit includes an input end receiving an input signal having a low level and a high level, wherein the low level is greater than zero, a P-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistor having a gate electrode coupled to the input end and a source electrode coupled to a voltage source, a first N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor having a drain electrode coupled to a drain electrode of the PMOS transistor to serve as an output end, and a source electrode thereof coupled to ground, and a voltage drop device coupled to the gate electrode of the first NMOS transistor and the input end to provide a voltage drop from the input end to the gate electrode of the first NMOS transistor, thereby eliminating a current leakage of the first NMOS transistor at the low level of the input signal.

Abstract: A cleaning material or a sealing material is attached to a supporting body facing a moving body that contacts microscopic particles. The cleaning material or the sealing material has a ground fabric formed with a knit fabric. The knit fabric is obtained through warp knitting ground yarns. Pile yarns are raised on the ground fabric. The pile yarns slide on the moving body to scrape off the microscopic particles on the moving body, thereby cleaning the surface of the moving body. The pile yarns also blocks flow of microscopic particles through the space between the moving body and the supporting body and collect the particles.

Abstract: A method for correcting an analog signal to target levels is provided. Firstly, the analog signal is periodically sampled to obtain a plurality of sampled points. Then, levels of the sampled points are compared with a threshold value to find a set of sequentially sampled points including a head and a tail ones, each having a first comparing result with the threshold value, and the other intermediate ones, each having a second comparing result with the threshold value. Then, one of the set of sequentially sampled points, which has the second comparing result with the threshold value, is adjusted to one of the target levels. A device for correcting an analog signal to target levels is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to clutches for selectively transmitting torque, and more particularly, to compliant centrifugal clutches. A compliant clutch (10) may have a plurality of engagement members (42 and 44), preferably at least three, and more preferably at least six. Each engagement member has an outer edge that is movable toward an interior surface of a receiving member (28), such as a drum. Flexible segments (70 and 72) may connect the engagement members to each other. In embodiment, the engagement members are arrayed around a hub, but detached from the hub to form an expandable engagement portion. Both aggressive and non-aggressive engagement members are provided. In another embodiment, the engagement members are affixed by flexible segments to the hub to form an extensible engagement portion.

Abstract: A graphical code reader is disclosed. The graphical code reader includes control circuitry for the graphical code reader and a multi-functional optical element in electronic communication with the control circuitry. The multi-functional optical element includes a support structure and a monolithic imaging lens and target generating mechanism operably connected to the support structure. The imaging lens and target generating mechanism includes a lens and targeting structures for generating converging offset beams to feedback proper target distance. Laser diodes are positioned by the support structure such that laser light from the diodes is directed through the targeting structures to generate the converging offset beams. An imaging board is connected to the support structure. An imager is mounted to the imaging board and positioned to obtain an image from the lens.

Abstract: A microactuator providing an output force and displacement in response to an increase in thermal energy is displosed. The microactuator may have a substantially straight expansion member with a first and a second end. The first end may be coupled to a base member, and the second end may be coupled to a shuttle. The expansion member is capable of elongating in a elongation direction. Elongation of the expansion member may urge the shuttle to translate in an output direction substantially different than the elongation direction. In certain embodiments, multiple expansion members are arrayed along one side of the shuttle to drive the shuttle against a surface. Alternatively, expansion members may be disposed on both sides of the shuttle to provide balanced output force. If desired, multiple microactuators may be linked together to multiply the output displacement and/or output force.

Abstract: A communications adapter for facilitating electronic communications with an electronic device is disclosed. The adapter is remotely reprogrammable by a provider computer through a communications network. The adapter includes a communications port for electronically connecting the adapter to the electronic device. The adapter also includes communications hardware for communicating with the provider computer through the communications network. In addition, the adapter includes a processor and memory. The memory is programmed with instructions to cause the adapter to receive new data sent by the provider computer via the communications network. The new data comprises device instructions for communicating with the electronic device through the communications port.