Abstract: A process (100) and apparatus (20) for control of a deployment of an airbag (28) for a seat (30) in a motor vehicle (22). Upon issuance of a deployment request (RD) by a vehicular computer (24) intended for a deployment activator (26), a processor (36) intercepts the deployment request (RD). The processor (36) then receives a load mass (M), a load temperature (T), and a load height (H) from a mass sensor (38), a thermal-imaging sensor (52), and a proximity sensor (54), respectively. The processor (36) adjudicates the load mass (M), load temperature (T), and load height (H), to determine a deployment status (SD). A deployment status (SD) of pass (SP) is adjudicated when the load mass (M) is greater than or equal to a reference mass (MR), the load temperature (T) is greater than or equal to a reference temperature (TR), and the load height (H) is greater than or equal to a reference height (HR). A deployment status (SD) of inhibit (SI) is adjudicated otherwise.

Abstract: A multiphase DC-to-DC converter includes at least two phase circuits each having upper and lower power switches and a front-end inductor that is operative for forming a resonant tank circuit with the phase circuits to ensure zero voltage switching and minimizing power losses.

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 transmitter for a digital transmission signal includes a pre-distorter to improve linearity of a power amplifier. An amplified transmission signal is conditioned into a narrowband feedback signal that is responsive to a logarithm of the power appearing in out-of-band components of the amplified transmission signal. The feedback signal is processed in a pre-distortion processor that implements a genetic algorithm to adapt pre-distortion functions implemented in the pre-distorter and improve linearity over time. The genetic algorithm tests a population of randomly-generated pre-distortion functions for fitness. A baseline component of the coefficients from pre-distortion functions used in a subsequent population tracks the best-fit pre-distortion function from the current population, allowing the use of a limited search space. New populations are generated from old populations using an elitism process, and randomized crossover, and mutation processes.

Abstract: Described herein are a transient event detector (35) comprising electrical circuitry (50) suitable to detect a transient event, and a container (34) having a wall with at least two electrically conductive contacts (23, 44) electrically connected to the electrical circuitry (50), each of the at least two electrically conductive contacts (23, 44) being electrically isolated from each other, and a movable electrically conductive piece (36) that intermittently connects at least two of the at least two electrically conductive contacts when the electrically conductive piece (36) is in motion. An RF circuit (54) couples to a loop antenna (25) having a tuning capacitor (26) formed as conductive pads (26?, 26?) juxtaposed on opposing sides of a planar dielectric substrate (92). The tuning capacitor (26) has a hole (27) through it, and the hole has a size that is selected to cause the loop antenna (25) to exhibit a desired resonance frequency.

Abstract: A base (108) for supporting a pole puller (110) utilized to manipulate a pole (186) includes first and second bearing arms (112, 114) configured to rest on a surface (60) with the pole (186) located between the first and second bearing arms (112, 114). A cross member (128) interconnects the first and second bearing arms (112, 114) and a housing (138) extends from the cross member (128) into which the pole puller (110) is seated. A flexible member (62) coupled to a ram (174) of the pole puller (110) encircles the pole (186). An upward force (72) is imposed on the flexible member (62) via the ram (174) to extract the pole (186) from a fixed, upright position in the ground (60). The support provided by the base (108) prevents the pole puller (110) from kicking into the ground as the upward force (72) is imposed.

Abstract: A communication system (20) includes a hub radio (22) that wirelessly communicates with any number of user radios (24). The hub radio (22) monitors signal quality measurements compiled from the communication signals (30?) transmitted from the various user radios (24) and based upon baseband quadrature constellation point error to estimate out-of-band signal energy for the communication signals (30?). The hub radio (22) formulates commands based upon these measurements that instruct the user radios (24) how to adjust their power amplifier linearizers (66) so that their power amplifiers (74) become better linearized to minimize spectral regrowth and insure compliance with a spectral template.

Abstract: A tilt sensor apparatus (36) includes one or more tilt sensors (42). Each tilt sensor (42) includes a conductive element (64) entrapped within an opening (46) formed through a middle planar substrate (38). The opening is surrounded by an opening wall (52) which is entirely covered by a conductor (54). A conductive star pattern (100?) is formed on a top planar substrate (40), and a conductive star pattern (100?) is formed on a bottom planar substrate (44). The star patterns (100) are positioned at opposing ends of the opening (46). The conductive element moves within the opening (46) as the apparatus (36) is tilted. An interrupt-driven control circuit (124) is configured to indicate a change in orientation only when a short is first detected across a contact pair (54/56, 54/60) that corresponds to an orientation opposite to a currently-indicated orientation.

Abstract: A system (20) and method to locate an anomaly (22) of a conductor (24) is provided. The system (20) uses a test set (28) to inject a test signal (36) into the conductor (24) at a location (PT) and a probe (30) to detect the test signal (36) at a second location (PP). A communication link (42) between the probe (30) and the test set (28) has a predetermined propagation delay (DS), from which the system (20) can calculate a propagation delay (DTP) of the conductor (24) between the test set (28) and the probe (30), and a propagation delay (DPA) between the probe (30) and the anomaly (22). By varying the location (PP) of the probe (30) until the propagation delay (DPA) between the probe (30) and the anomaly (22) is substantially zero, the precise location (PA) of the anomaly (22) may be determined. The propagation velocity (VC) of the conductor (24) may also be determined.

Abstract: A computer-based method for characterizing relationships between a primary goal and an auxiliary goal in an enterprise planning model includes representing the primary goal by a primary objective function, the primary objective function being dependent upon a set of operational variables. The objective function is resolved to yield a plurality of sets of operational decisions. A plurality of auxiliary goal values associated with a plurality of primary goal values in response to said plurality of sets of operational decisions is presented in a data structure. The computer-based method allows the analysis of the costs and benefits of the auxiliary goal imposed upon the primary goal.

Abstract: A receiver (24) in a condenser system (20) includes a body (32) in fluid communication with a header (28) of the condenser system (20). A service cartridge (154) is insertable into an interior cavity (106) of the body (32). The service cartridge (154) includes a substantially-rigid tubular member (156). Covers (166, 168), each having openings (170, 172), are coupled to opposing ends of the tubular member (78). A spindle (179) is non-detachably coupled to each of the first cover (166) and a cap (180). The cap (180) is configured for threaded attachment to a service end of the body (32) of the receiver (24). Refrigerant 150 is received by the tubular member (156) via the first openings (170), and is discharged from the tubular member (156) via the second openings (172). The service cartridge (154) includes multiple features for drying, filtering, and/or leak detection.

Abstract: A constrained-envelope digital communications transmitter (10) places constraints on the envelope of a spectrally constrained, digitally modulated communication signal (42) to lower peak-to-average power ratio without allowing significant spectral regrowth. A communication signal (14,42) is applied to a plurality of cascade-coupled constrained-envelope generators (50). Each constrained-envelope generator (50) detects overpeak events (52) and configures corrective impulses (54) for the overpeak events (52). The corrective impulses (54) are filtered into shaped pulses (88) that exhibit a constrained spectrum and combine with the communication signal (14, 42) to reduce an unwanted signal peak. Trailing portions (92) of the shaped pulses (88) are fed-back and combined with the communication signal (14,42) so that future overpeak events (52) are identified after compensation is made for the influence of the trailing portions (92) of any recently past shaped pulses (88) on the communication signal (14,42).

Abstract: A method (200) and system (100) for the protection of stucco. A water-resistant preconditioner (102) is formulated. A substantially waterproof and breathable sealant coating (104 is formulated, and a water-resistant acrylic paint (106) is obtained. The preconditioner (102) is applied to a new stucco. The sealant coating (104) is applied to the stucco after the preconditioner (102). The acrylic paint (106) is applied to the stucco after the sealant coating (104). The preconditioner (102) contains water (114), a styrene acrylic primer (118), and a siliconate solution (120). The sealant coating (104) contains water (134), ceramic microspheres (152), polymeric microspheres (160), and a resin binder (166).

Abstract: A software method for strategic planning and optimization allows a user to model an enterprise to visualize an effect of an auxiliary goal, such as price image, on a primary goal of the enterprise. A primary goal of the enterprise is selected, and is represented by a primary objective function which, in turn, depends upon a set of operational variables. The auxiliary goal is represented by a constraint function that depends upon a subset of the operational variables. An effective objective function is constructed by combining the primary objective function and the constraint function, and the effective objective function is optimized to yield a set of operational decisions that optimize the primary objective function while concurrently satisfying the constraint function. The set of operational decisions are provided to a user, the operational decisions enabling the enterprise to achieve the primary goal and satisfy the auxiliary goal.

Abstract: A receiver (24) for a condenser system (20) includes a body (32) in fluid communication with a header (28) of the condenser system (20). A first cap (38) is coupled to an end (34) of the body (32) and has a saddle portion (40) coupled to the header (28). The receiver (24) further includes a tube section (42) coupled to a second end (36) of the body. A second cap (50) is removably interconnected with the tube section (42) following insertion of a service cartridge (76) into the body (32). The service cartridge (76) includes a substantially-rigid tubular member (78) having rib members (84) radially extending from an outer surface (86) of the tubular member (78). Covers (90, 92), each having openings (94, 96), are coupled to opposing ends of the tubular member (78). The service cartridge (76) includes multiple features for drying, filtering, and/or leak detection.

Abstract: A buffing head (34) includes a rotary element (36) for retaining an optical disc (20) and causing the disc (20) to rotate at a first speed. A buffing element (38) contacts a work surface (30) of the optical disc (20), and rotation of the disc (20) enables corresponding movement of the buffing element (38). A restrictor (40), in communication with the buffing element (38), restricts movement of the buffing element (38) so that the buffing element (38) moves at a second speed to recondition the work surface (30), the second speed being slower than the first speed. The buffing head (34) further includes a well (86) surrounding the buffing element (38) and containing a fluid (88). Movement of the buffing element (38) causes the buffing element (38) to be immersed into the fluid (88) and to be returned into contact with the work surface (30).

Abstract: An ownership management process (32) is practiced with the aid of a computer system (18) having access to a database (38) which includes data describing any number of leases. The subject of a lease is a valuable item (10). A merchant (12) leases the item (10) for a lease term to a customer (14). Throughout the lease term, the customer (14) may return the item (10) and be relieved of any further obligation to make lease payments to the merchant (12). Moreover, the customer (14) may make voluntary contributions (74, 76) to a reserve credit account (70) that is associated with the lease. The merchant also makes matching contributions (78) to the customer's reserve credit account (70) at a predetermined contribution rate. The customer (14) may purchase the item (10) during the term of the lease for a price set forth in the lease using the customer's RCA funds, but has no obligation to do so. Alternatively, the customer (14) may purchase another item offered by the merchant (14) using the customer's RCA funds.

Abstract: A recessed box assembly (20) for a dryer exhaust hose (72) includes a box portion (22), having walls defining a box interior (26) open at a front, and a frame (24) attachable to the box portion (22). The box portion (22) has a port (42) in one of the walls configured to allow a dryer exhaust vent duct (40) to pass into the box interior (26) for interconnection with the dryer exhaust hose (72). Tabs (44) extend from the planar walls into the box interior (26) and releasably engage with receptacle sections (46) on the frame (24).