Abstract: Instead of normalizing time reference of independent spatially-located clocks using a reference tag transmission from known location, the present invention uses an interarrival time interval between a pulse pair of UWB pulses as a timing metric. Thus, a method of synchronizing spatially-located clock or normalizing time indications thereof comprises transmitting a UWB pulse pair, determining at first and second monitoring stations a respective count value indicative of a locally measured time interval between received pulse pairs, determining a ratio between clock counts of first and second monitoring stations, and utilizing the ratio to determine clock skew, e.g., a timing correction to be applied to respective local clocks of the monitoring stations.

Abstract: An apparatus to produce acoustic cavitation by controlling cavitation events in a liquid insonification medium utilizing a waveform to excite a transducer with a series of bipolar inharmonic tone bursts having medium recovery intervals between respective bursts so that the medium repeatedly recovers from cavitation events between bursts. The apparatus may be used to clean a semiconductor wafer, to de-coat a painted surface having, to induce a chemical reaction, and/or to provide recycled paper made from inked paper de-inked by cavitation. Cavitation events are generated using a transducer and a waveform generator, e.g., square wave tone bursts, to excite the transducer with a signal controlled in frequency, burst repetition rate, duty-cycle and/or amplitude, e.g., utilizing bursts having a frequency between 500 KHz and 10 MHz, and a duty cycle between 0.1% and 70%.

Abstract: A waveform-adaptive ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter and noise-tracking UWB receiver for use in communications, object detection and radar applications. In one embodiment, the output of an oscillator is gated by a low-level impulse generator either directly or through an optional filter. In a special case of that embodiment wherein the oscillator is zero frequency and outputs a DC bias, a low-level impulse generator impulse-excites a bandpass filter to produce an UWB signal having an adjustable center frequency and desired bandwidth based on a characteristic of the filter. In another embodiment, the low-level impulse signal is approximated by a time-gated continuous-wave oscillator to produce an extremely wide bandwidth pulse with deterministic center frequency and bandwidth characteristics. The low-level impulse signal can be generated digitally. The UWB signal may be modulated to carry data, or may be used in object detection or ranging applications.

Abstract: A portable emergency medical monitoring and transmission system capable of sending a message to a personal caretaker and/or an emergency response center. The system includes a wearable monitor/transmitter device including a glucose level detector, a geolocation system, and a communication interface to send and/or receive a message. A processor operable within the device collects information produced by the glucose level detector and the geolocation system to determine whereabouts and existence of a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic condition of the patient. Upon detecting an unsafe medication condition, the processor assembles a message that includes patient identifier data, whereabouts of said patient, and an emergency alert indication; and activates a transmitter to transmit an emergency message in response to a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic condition. An optional caretaker receiver receives the message and produces a local alarm indicating that the patient requires assistance.

Abstract: An apparatus to produce acoustic cavitation by controlling cavitation events in a liquid insonification medium utilizing a waveform to excite a transducer with a series of bipolar inharmonic tone bursts having medium recovery intervals between respective bursts so that the medium repeatedly recovers from cavitation events between bursts. The apparatus may be used to clean a semiconductor wafer, to de-coat a painted surface having, to induce a chemical reaction, and/or to provide recycled paper made from inked paper de-inked by cavitation. Cavitation events are generated using a transducer and a waveform generator, e.g., square wave tone bursts, to excite the transducer with a signal controlled in frequency, burst repetition rate, duty-cycle and/or amplitude, e.g., utilizing bursts having a frequency between 500 KHz and 10 MHz, and a duty cycle between 0.1% and 70%.

Abstract: A waveform-adaptive ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter and noise-tracking UWB receiver for use in communications, object detection and radar applications. In one embodiment, the output of an oscillator is gated by a low-level impulse generator either directly or through an optional filter. In a special case of that embodiment wherein the oscillator is zero frequency and outputs a DC bias, a low-level impulse generator impulse-excites a bandpass filter to produce an UWB signal having an adjustable center frequency and desired bandwidth based on a characteristic of the filter. In another embodiment, the low-level impulse signal is approximated by a time-gated continuous-wave oscillator to produce an extremely wide bandwidth pulse with deterministic center frequency and bandwidth characteristics. The low-level impulse signal can be generated digitally. The UWB signal may be modulated to carry data, or may be used in object detection or ranging applications.

Abstract: A rule processing apparatus includes modules for defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections.

Abstract: A flush-mounted securing device, preferably secured in a floor of a vehicle, to restrain a handicapped person in a wheelchair or scooter in a passenger vehicle. The securing device comprises a base plate, a top plate rotationally mounted relative to the base plate and including a series of belt or strap receptacles to fasten the transportable equipment, a low-profile shaft that axially supports the top plate for rotational movement against lateral forces between the top plane and base plate, a set of circumferentially disposed bearings (or slip rings) between the top plate and the base plate, and a retaining cap that secures the top plate to the base plate. Optionally, the device may include a locking/ratcheting mechanism to fixedly position the top plate at discrete rotational positions to assist passenger ingress/egress.

Abstract: A multistage axial-flow pumping or marine propulsion device having fixed or variable pitch stators between rotors. Stator vanes are designed to lower internal fluid speed without sacrificing total pressure as working fluid travels toward the discharge nozzle. A variable pitch stator controls the amount of energy, i.e., torque, imparted to the working fluid at successive rotor sections. A variable inlet guide vane provides throttling of mass flow rate independently of rotor speed. An exit guide vane provides flow straightening and pressure maintenance at the discharge nozzle. A variable area throat at the discharge nozzle controls the exit velocity of the water jet according to boat speed and/or desired propulsive efficiency. Advantageously, the device enables a shipmaster to set performance characteristics of a vessel at any desired speed, loading, horsepower setting, or operating characteristic of the power plant.

Abstract: A configuration method and apparatus for a complex product or service that uses a reduced form of a prime rule indicative of valid and invalid configurations. The configurator applies user inputs parameters to an execution module that is constructed using directed acyclic graph, e.g., a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram, indicative of the valid or invalid product/service configurations. The results of execution may include conflict and selection advice to help guide the user to achieve a proper configuration. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user when choosing among possible configuration parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of in situ monitoring and dispersing unwanted particles in slurry used during CMP polishing. The method includes providing a slurry path, applying to the slurry path a microcavitation field of a first level to detect particles of a predetermined size, applying to the slurry path a microcavitation field of a second level that is capable of dispersing said particles, and after the second applying step, feeding the slurry to a CMP polishing unit. Particle size may be detected and/or the microcavitation field strength may be set according to particle size. In addition, field strength may be calibrated according to levels determined by polystyrene control particles of a known size and/or concentration. A single or dual transducer may apply the microcavitation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method that enable private network providers to offer public network voicemail service. In the private network, a status indicator indicates the subscriber's availability to receive calls, and a controller outdials and/or issues signaling commands to the public network. A status register in the public network, being controllable by signaling commands, determines whether incoming calls are processed normally or routed to voicemail. When a call to the private network goes unanswered, the controller sets the public status register to route calls to the subscriber's public mailbox, and then establishes a link between the incoming call and the public voicemail. The public status register is reset either immediately after establishing the link or after call termination. When the private network subscriber desires to retrieve voicemail, the controller also sets the public status register to effects re-routing of incoming calls to public voicemail system during message retrieval.

Abstract: A method of testing thin film adhesion includes placing the film at the focus of a cavitation-producing sound beam. Time required to achieve spot erosion provide a measure of adhesion strength. No erosion occurs when insonification pressure amplitude remains below a threshold value. At pressures above a threshold value, cavitation intensity increases with pressure and erosion time decreases. A plot of erosion time versus pressure amplitude reveals a decreasing time versus insonification pressure. The intercept of the plot with the pressure axis corresponds to the instantaneous erosion of the thin film, and thus the adhesion strength. Further, the threshold value of the pressure at which no erosion occurs indicates infinite life of the thin film under cyclic loading and thus corresponds to the endurance limit, i.e., the fatigue strength, of the thin film. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of rule processing includes defining/entering attributes, enumerations, and/or relationships; packaging the definitions in a reduced canonical form suitable for propositional logic manipulation using zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (Zdd) to produce a prime Zdd; and/or (iii) executing the rule by applying a series of user inputs to the prime Zdd to determine a result that preferably includes conflict and selection advice to guide the user to satisfaction. Elective events, such as but not limited to the display of messages or the performance of calculations, may optionally be packaged along with the prime rule or components thereof, and presented during execution to help guide the end user to satisfaction or compliancy when choosing among possible selections. The invention automates determination of a complex rule having a combinatorial exploded number of rule components, or a combinatorial number of possible outcomes, exceeding computational capacity of present day computing systems.

Abstract: An RF object locating system and method that uses or includes a set of N (N>2) receivers (monitoring stations) located at fixed positions in and/or about a region to be monitored, one or more reference transmitters that transmit a timing reference, a location processor that determines object location based on time-of-arrival measurements, and at least one object having an untethered tag transmitter that transmits RF pulses, which may additionally include object ID or other information. Free-running counters in the monitoring stations, whose phase offsets are determined relative to a reference transmitter, are frequency-locked with a centralized reference clock. Time-of-arrival measurements made at the monitoring stations may be stored and held in a local memory until polled by the location processor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for suppressing hydrodynamic cavitation through the use of high frequency (>500 kHz) and high amplitude (>1 atmospheres) acoustic energy. The method includes biasing a transducer driving signal to generate an acoustic field having a positive pressure halves. The resulting acoustic field is imposed on a region where cavitation is to be preempted. A cavitation preempting acoustic field in the liquid is similar in effect as using a hyperbaric confinement for imposing hydrostatic pressure, a known method for suppressing cavitation. In this regime, suppression of cavitation will be due to imposing a dominant high amplitude, high-frequency pressure field to ensure that the gaps between the compressive pulses are shorter than 10?7 to 10?6 seconds, which is less than that typically necessary to cause cavitation.

Abstract: A method of determining RF coverage area in a point-to-multi-point RF transmission system and creating model maps showing serviceable business addresses within a given region. The method includes selecting a standard design signal strength level required to provide suitable service; obtaining field measurements of received signal strength from base stations at various points in the region under investigation; creating a model map of received signal strength having a signal strength level greater than the system standard signal strength level and excluding areas whose field strength measurements do not indicate suitable service; and creating a model map having a signal strength level smaller than the system standard signal strength level. The method is capable of providing more than 90% accuracy, and prevents needless dispatching of installation crews to a customer premise that is outside the effective RF coverage of the system.

Abstract: A transceiver for short-pulse radar applications is disclosed in which a shift register or the like is used to collect return signal information in a manner to reduce the number of transmit pulses needed and to increase the speed of determining the positions of multiple scattering objects. In addition, there is also disclosed cooperating transceivers arranged as transponders similarly utilizing shift registers or other pulse sampling techniques to accurately determine the linear distance between them based on relationships between or among propagation time, measured offsets, and internal clock skews. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A data-modulated ultra wideband transmitter that modulates the phase, frequency, bandwidth, amplitude and/or attenuation of ultra-wideband (UWB) pulses. The transmitter confines or band-limits UWB signals within spectral limits for use in communication, positioning, and/or radar applications. One embodiment comprises a low-level UWB source (e.g., an impulse generator or time-gated oscillator (fixed or voltage-controlled)), a waveform adapter (e.g., digital or analog filter, pulse shaper, and/or voltage variable attenuator), a power amplifier, and an antenna to radiate a band-limited and/or modulated UWB or wideband signals. In a special case where the oscillator has zero frequency and outputs a DC bias, a low-level impulse generator impulse-excites a bandpass filter to produce an UWB signal having an adjustable center frequency and desired bandwidth based on a characteristic of the filter.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus that reduce power consumption in an ultra wideband (UWB) transmitter that includes a push-pull RF amplifier and a switch that powers up or powers down the amplifier between UWB pulses. The gated push-pull amplifier amplifies the UWB pulses, including spurious signal energy appearing at the detector input, by splitting the signal with a 180-degree phase splitter, amplifying the split signals with substantially identical amplifiers, and combining the amplifier outputs with a 180-degree combiner. The 180-degree combiner essentially cancels common-mode spurious signals typically generated by the UWB amplifier during power-down and power-up.