Abstract: An ablative tape is applied onto a substrate surface. The ablative tape comprises an ablative medium comprising a polymer and dispersed metallic component. The tape is then irradiated to ablate the ablative medium. An article comprises a substrate and the ablative tape applied to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for casting a near-net-shape article from a high temperature material, such as a refractory metal intermetallic composite material. The apparatus includes: a means for forming a molten material comprising at least one of a metal and an alloy; a means for pouring the molten material; a mold assembly comprising a solid shell having a face coat interposed between the solid shell and molten material; and a heater assembly for maintaining the solid shell at a temperature. The molten material solidifies within the solid shell to form a near-net shape of the article. The near-net shape article may be a turbine assembly component, such as, but not limited to, a vane or airfoil.

Abstract: An apparatus provides for the detection, the determination of the location or the spatial distribution, and/or the quantification of an amount of a chemical species by allowing the chemical species to come into contact with a fluid medium contained in a permeable capillary, transferring the content of the capillary after the contact to a detector, and detecting the chemical species as the content of the capillary is transferred to a detector. The fluid medium can contain a selected reagent that selectively interacts with the chemical species to produce an optically detectable interaction product. The location and amount of the chemical species are determined from a characteristic of the chemical species or its interaction product measured on the content of the capillary and the time at which the characteristic is detected.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for reducing noise in Electromyogram (EMG) signals from an external abdominal surface to detect uterine contractions. The system comprises an EMG1 sensor configured to detect a first EMG signal and to generate a corresponding EMG1 input signal and an EMG2 sensor configured to detect a second EMG signal and to generate a corresponding EMG2 input signal. A signal processor is coupled to the EMG1 sensor and the EMG2 sensor. The signal processor processes the EMG1 input signal and the EMG2 input signal with a filter and sum technique to generate an EMG1 reduced noise signal that represents a magnitude of at least one contraction event and periodicity of a set of multiple contraction events.

Abstract: Organic light emitting devices are disclosed that use a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) structure to enable a pixel and pixel array wherein each pixel contains a MEMS and an OLED element. A MEMS structure is used for switching the OLED element. These OLED/MEMS pixels can be fabricated on flex circuit, silicon, as well as other inorganic materials. They can be fabricated in a large array for developing a 2-dimensional display application and each pixel can be addressed through conventional matrix scanning addressing scheme. The ability of fabricating these OLED/MEMS pixels on flexible organic substrates as well as other rigid substrates enables wider selection of substrate materials for use with different applications.

Abstract: An interconnection structure includes: a dielectric layer; a first metallization pattern on the dielectric layer, the first metallization pattern including at least one etch stop having a perimeter defining at least one etch stop opening; a cured adhesive on a portion of the dielectric layer, the adhesive not present in an area aligned with the at least one etch stop; and at least one electrical device being attached to the dielectric layer by the adhesive such that an active area of the at least one electrical device is aligned with the etch stop perimeter. The active area of the at least one electrical device may further be aligned with at least one predetermined area defined by an optional additional portion of cured adhesive, the additional portion of the cured adhesive being adhesively attached to the dielectric layer and not adhesively attached to the at least one electrical device.

Abstract: A communication system for communicating utility data from a utility distribution network comprises a transmitter for transmitting the utility data. The transmitter comprises a processor that modulates the utility data into a plurality of carrier frequencies. A modulator is connected to the processor and receives the modulated utility data. The modulator modulates the modulated utility data in the AM frequency band forming multi-tone modulated data wherein the transmitter transmits the multi-tone modulated data/transmitted information in the AM frequency band. The communication system also comprises a receiver that receives the transmitted information. The receiver comprises a demodulator that receives the transmitted information and demodulates the transmitted information into a received signal. A processor is connected to the demodulator and receives the demodulated information.

Abstract: A self referencing eddy current probe for determining conductive coating thickness includes a housing having a reference sample area, for accommodating a reference sample, and a testing edge, for positioning on a component during a coating thickness measurement. The eddy current probe further includes a reference eddy current coil situated in the housing adjacent to the reference sample area and a test eddy current coil, which is located at the testing edge. A self referencing eddy current measurement system, for measuring a thickness of a conductive coating on a component, includes the self referencing eddy current probe. The system further includes a signal generator for energizing the test and reference coils and a comparison module for comparing a test signal received from the test coil and a reference signal received from the reference coil and outputting a compared signal.

Abstract: A method for laser shock peening a surface is disclosed. A laser beam pulse from a laser apparatus is produced. The laser pulse has a cross-section taken perpendicular to the laser beam, a fluence profile across the cross-section. The pulse against an area on said surface. The fluence profile is controlled such that process induced defects are reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing impurities from products derived from oxidation of an ortho-dialkylaromatic compound which comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of extraction of an aqueous solution comprising aromatic dicarboxylic acid product with an organic solvent and extraction of an organic solution comprising aromatic anhydride product with an aqueous bicarbonate solution for a time period insufficient to allow hydrolysis of anhydride to acid.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer employs a silicon acoustic matching layer closest to the piezoelectric layer in order to achieve improved resolution. A silicon wafer, ground to an appropriate thickness, is included in the acoustic stack with other matching layer materials during transducer construction. The exact thickness is determined by the details of the design, but is nominally a quarter wavelength in the silicon.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of organooxysilanes containing at least one silicon-carbon bond is provided which comprises reacting at least one tetraorganooxysilane with at least one transition metal organo compound.

Abstract: A pulse detonation system for a turbofan engine including a fan assembly and a turbine sub-system, which includes at least one turbine, is configured to create a temperature rise and a pressure rise within the turbofan engine and to generate thrust for the turbofan engine. The pulse detonation system includes a pulse detonation core assembly comprising at least one detonation chamber configured to detonate a fuel mixture. The pulse detonation core assembly is positioned between the fan assembly and the turbine sub-system.

Abstract: A system and method for tuning a raw mix proportioning controller used in a cement plant. A fuzzy logic supervisory controller tracks the performance of a cement plant simulator to target set points for attaining a correct mix and composition of raw materials. A genetic algorithm adjusts the fuzzy logic supervisory controller's performance by adjusting its parameters in a sequential order of significance.

Abstract: Thermally stable polymers comprising chain members derived from at least one 1,3-dihydroxybenzene moiety and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid moiety, said polymer being substantially free of anhydride linkages linking at least two mers of the polymer chain, are prepared using an interfacial method comprising the steps of: (a) combining at least one 1,3-dihydroxybenzene moiety and at least one catalyst in a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent substantially immiscible with water; (b) adding to the mixture from (a) a controlled stoichiometric ratio of at least one acid chloride and at least one base while maintaining the pH between about 4 and about 8.5, and (c) adjusting the pH of the reaction mixture to a value in the range of about 7 and about 9 following complete addition of acid chloride, and stirring the reaction mixture for a time sufficient to destroy any anhydride linkages in the polymer chain.

Abstract: Establishment and maintenance of a managed community. In this disclosure there is an approach and tool that enables an administration tool to manage communities whose information resides in separate and differently structured directories and databases. In addition, this disclosure describes an approach and tool that enables an administration tool to establish information to be managed from the broad range of directories and databases, which includes defining information that is to be managed and information that is not to be managed and the discovering of new information to manage.

Abstract: A light emitting device is provided. The light emitting device contains an array of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) emitting a plurality of colors, and a layer of scattering media above the light emitting surface of the OLED array. The emission color of the OLEDs may be tuned by applying different power to different sets of OLEDs. The scattering media mixes the colors from each set of OLEDs, such that the device light output has a white color having a desired color temperature.

Abstract: A method for inspecting an aircraft fuselage using an inspection system including a movable detector, wherein the method includes coupling a collision avoidance system to the inspection system detector, monitoring the collision avoidance system during operation of the inspection system, and controlling operation of the inspection system with the collision avoidance system.

Abstract: A cover plate for a solid state radiation imager having a substrate on which are disposed a photosensor array and a scintillator optically coupled to the photosensor array. The cover plate has a lip adjacent a periphery thereof, at least a portion of the lip comprising a hermetic barrier, the cover plate and lip extending over the scintillator and photosensor array, the lip being adhered and sealed to the substrate. Methods of forming a cover plate with a lip and of assembling the cover plate having a lip with a substrate so as to enclose a photosensor array coupled to a scintillator are also disclosed.

Abstract: A seal carrier is provided for a rotary machine wherein the seal carrier comprises a packing ring coupled to a seal and wherein the packing ring comprises a channel disposed therein. In addition, a displacement apparatus is disposed in the channel for radially positioning the seal to control a flow of a fluid in a fluid path.