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: An apparatus (20) and method (22) for transparently accessing and interpolating data are provided. Consecutive data values (24) of a function are generated and indexed. Even-indexed data values (24) are stored in an even-indexed table (30) and odd-indexed data values (24) are stored in an odd-indexed table (32). Adjacent-indexed data values (24) are acquired substantially simultaneously from even- and odd-indexed tables (30,32) with the first-indexed value (Gn) extracted from the even-indexed table (30) when an integral portion (A[N]) of a memory address (A[N+F]) is even and from the odd-indexed table (32) when the integral portion (A[N]) is odd. A fractional portion (A[F]) of the memory address (A[N+F]) is converted into an incremental value (&Dgr;).

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.

Abstract: A PLL-type frequency synthesizer (10) in which a loop filter (24) state is recorded during an earlier hop to a given frequency then assigned back to the loop filter (24) during a subsequent hop to the same frequency is disclosed. The state is recorded through an A/D converter (48) and assigned through a D/A converter (60). Offset and linearity error is compensated in a compensation circuit (54) so that the state subsequently assigned to the loop filter (24) accurately matches the state that was previously measured for recording. Reference frequency and output signal dividers (16, 40) are both immediately initialized at a hop boundary (82) so that the signals compared by a phase comparator (20) are forced into a phase-matched condition.

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).

Abstract: This method and device collect relative humidity data, then evaluate that data using an algorithm to determine if conditions are permissible for fungal growth. The growth condition meter, placed in a building's wall or ceiling, includes a simple controller attached to a memory, a timer, a relative humidity sensor, and a user interface. The device executes an algorithm for determining growth conditions based on a 24-hour history of relative humidity samples. First, the algorithm determines if relative humidity levels follow a cyclical profile similar to typical environmental conditions. In addition, it verifies that enough time is spent below a temporal humidity threshold. Second, the algorithm performs a baseline analysis comparing all samples over the previous 24-hour period to determine if all samples are over a fixed threshold. This allows for a situation where enough time is spent below the temporal threshold but overall relative humidity remains too high.

Abstract: A condenser system (20) includes a first header (26), a second header (28), and parallel tubes (30) extending between the headers (26, 28). A receiver (24), affixed to the second header (28), is in fluid communication with the second header (28). The receiver includes a body (32), a first cap (38) coupled to the body (32), and a second cap (42) coupled to the body. The condenser system (20) is subjected to a one-shot brazing process that nondetachably couples the receiver (24) to the second header (28), and concurrently nondetachably couples the first and second caps (38, 42) to the receiver body (32). A desiccant system (124) and/or filter (138) may be optionally installed into the receiver (24) prior to brazing.

Abstract: A receiver dryer mounting bracket (38) for a condenser system (20) includes a body (76) and an arm (78) coupled to and extending from the body (76). The body (76) has an opening (90) and seat sections (92, 94) positioned at opposing ends of a length of the opening (90). Flanges (71, 73) on inlet and outlet pipes (34, 36) of the condenser system (20) are seated in the seat sections (92, 94). An arcuate crimp section (102) of the body (76) is compressed to secure the inlet and outlet pipes (34, 36) in respective ones of the seat sections (92, 94) to form a pipe assembly (30). The pipe assembly (30) is coupled to a header (26) of the condenser system (20) prior to furnace brazing, and a receiver dryer (32) is subsequently mounted to the bracket (38).

Abstract: A galvanic cell system (50) in fluid communication with a dewatering system (40) of an inhibited oxidation scrubber (20) removes an oxidation catalyst, i.e., solution phase iron (98), from the process liquor (42) produced by the dewatering system (40) and replaces the iron (98) with magnesium (104) in an oxidation-reduction reaction. An electrolytic cell system (154) in fluid communication with a dewatering system (144) of a forced oxidation scrubber (128) removes an oxidation inhibitor, i.e., solution phase aluminum (174), from the process liquor (146) produced by the dewatering system (144) and replaces the aluminum (174) with iron (170) in an oxidation-reduction reaction. The process liquor (42, 146) is subsequently returned to the scrubber (20, 128) with the solution phase metal (98, 174) selectively removed, thereby enhancing the scrubbing efficiency of the scrubber (20, 128).

Abstract: A ripper attachment (22) for an excavation device (20) includes first and second support members (50, 52) configured for connection to the excavation device (20). In particular, first and second support members (50, 52) are adapted to connect to a coupling apparatus (30) of a tool coupler (28) so that the ripper attachment (22) is fixed relative to the coupling apparatus (30). A body (54) of the ripper attachment (22) is disposed between the first and second support members (50, 52). The body (54) has a ripper tip (60) disposed on a distal end (62) and first and second mounting sections (64, 66) disposed on a proximal end (68). The first and second mounting sections (64, 66) of the body (54) are removably attachable to an interface area (70) of the first and second support members (50, 52). A brace element (56) of the ripper attachment (22) is interposed between and couple together the first and second support members (50, 52).

Abstract: Electrodes for stimulating penile tissue are shown. Electrical stimulation to such areas is intended to induce excitation and orgasm in males, particularly where impotence is a problem. Four embodiments of an electrode apparatus include a flexible ring (22) and an electrically conductive section (24) having a first end (26) coupled to and extending from the flexible ring (22), and an intermediate portion (30) extending through a hole (32) in the flexible ring (22). An electrical contact (34), in electrical communication with a second end (28) of the electrically conductive section (24), allows the section (24) to be connected to an electrical source. Auxiliary members such as conductive spheres (72, 78, 90, and 92) and additional conductive sections (86, 100) are added to the electrode apparatuses to impart specific stimuli in specific regions of the user's anatomy.

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 seal 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: A celestial tracking apparatus (20) has a support (26), a tracking assembly (28) coupled to the support (26) by an azimuth pivot (36), a collector assembly (30) coupled to the tracking assembly (28) by an elevation pivot (38), a wind-speed sensor (172), and a controller (150) coupled to the azimuth and elevation pivots (36,38) and configured to cause the collector assembly (30) to assume a wind-stow position (66) when the sensor (172) detects a wind having a speed greater than a predetermined speed, upon failure of a component of the apparatus (20), or upon receipt of a wind-stow command. The collector assembly (30) has a solar collector (22) with a substantially flat surface (24), a center of gravity (52), and a target axis (54) substantially perpendicular to the substantially flat surface (24) and passing through the center of gravity (52).