Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mounting apparatus for mounting a panoramic mirror in front of the focal point of a camera. The mounting apparatus comprises a conical optical stage configured to contact the mirror at an end point along the longitudinal axis. An optical masking spike is also disclosed which can be disposed along the longitudinal axis and extend at least partially into the interior of the conical optical stage. The conical optical stage and optical masking spike provide improved stability of the overall optic and reduce unwanted glare in images reflected to the camera.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing gas and liquid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a draft tube having a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, a gas-liquid outlet, and an impeller rotatably mounted within the draft tube. The gas can be entrained into the liquid by rotation of an impeller having a low pitch ratio, such as less than 1:1. The impeller can have a diameter than is greater than the axial length of the impeller and includes at least one blade extending at least 30° around an axis of rotation of the impeller. Liquid turning vanes can also be positioned external to the draft tube to rotate liquid entering the draft tube in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the impeller. The impeller can be constructed to create a reduced pressure zone, which directs gas axially downward within the draft tube upon rotation of the impeller.

Abstract: A choke device for an intake system of an internal combustion engine; the choke device has at least one choke body fitted movably inside an intake conduit, and an actuating device for moving the choke body to and from a work position in which the choke body reduces the cross section of the intake conduit; and the actuating device has a filiform actuating member made of a shape-memory material that changes shape when subjected to physical external stress, and having a first portion embedded in the choke body, and a second portion located outside the choke body and secured mechanically to a fixed part.

Abstract: A conformal load-bearing antenna assembly comprises a pan shaped to fit within an aircraft window opening, an antenna element disposed within the pan, and a connection for coupling a signal to the antenna element.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetically soft underlayer having a plurality of cavities in a surface thereof, and a magnetic recording material in the cavities, wherein a surface of the magnetic recording material in the cavities is substantially coplanar with the surface of the soft underlayer. A recording system that includes the recording medium is also included.

Abstract: The invention provides a tool and method for monitoring and evaluating any industrial or commercial process, activity or system or the personnel carrying out that process, activity or system against a set of Performance Drivers for the process, activity or system; and for assessing the efficiency, capability or sustainability of that process, activity or system as a result of the monitoring. By utilizing both a weighting between each of the different statements and questions used to derive performance and compliance data from persons polled for input and a numerical maturity value given to the mean responses from different groups of those persons polled, the analysis of the data against the associated Performance Drivers permits the generation of assessment reports that assess compliance against individual statements and indicate the potential cause of any failure of the process, activity or system to attain its targets.

Abstract: A method of measuring strain in a test specimen comprises the steps of placing a pattern of marks on a surface of the test specimen, wherein the pattern of marks includes a plurality of target marks and a plurality of sets of coded marks, using the sets of coded marks to identify locations of at least two of the target marks, and using a change in distance between at least two of the marks to determine strain in the test specimen. An apparatus that performs the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of fat cavitation including infiltrating adipose tissue with a liquid, creating a puncture in a patient's skin, providing a wire, the wire being generally uniform in diameter and having a first end and a second end and introducing the second end of the wire through the puncture in the patient's skin. The method further includes placing at least a portion of the second end of the wire in contact the adipose tissue, generating an ultrasonic wave, transmitting the ultrasonic wave to the second end of the wire, creating cavitation bubbles in at least a portion of the targeted adipose tissue and liquefying at least a portion of the targeted adipose tissue. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A laser beam dump dissipates laser energy. The laser dump includes a cradle for holding the laser and an open cavity lined with a laser energy absorbing material. Laser emissions are directed from the laser into the laser dump cavity where the laser energy is dissipated.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises at least one port for coupling signals to the apparatus, a mode selector for setting the apparatus to a normal mode or a debug mode, and a port control for controlling access to secure information in the apparatus through the port in accordance with the selected mode. A method for controlling access to the port is also provided.

Abstract: A storage device includes a storage medium and a probe having a tip and a first magnetic element. The tip of the probe is adapted to form a dent in the storage medium. The storage device further has a second magnetic element, where the first and second magnetic elements are adapted to interact magnetically to indicate a storage state.

Abstract: A blender, for producing ice-cream and similar, has a box-shaped outer casing; a substantially cylindrical tubular bowl having a horizontal axis and extending from the surface of, and inwards of, the box-shaped casing; and a cover fitted movably to the box-shaped casing so as to be positioned closing the inlet of the bowl, a hopper projecting from the body of the cover, a safety grille fixed removably to the body of the cover and designed to partly occupy the inlet of the hopper. The cover has a number of parallel, aligned, projecting pins projecting from the body of the cover. The safety grille has a supporting crosspiece extending astride the projecting pins and having a number of transverse dead holes engaged firmly, but easily removably, by respective aforementioned projecting pins; and a rigid grille structure projecting from the supporting crosspiece to engage the inlet of the hopper.

Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of the environment is disclosed. Sensors utilize exponential growth of a signal initiated by interaction of a sensor element with characteristics of the environment. Specific substances in the environment can be detected. The sensor element may be intrinsically sensitive to the specific substance or can be coated with a material that is sensitive to the specific substance. The sensor component is designed such that it can be made to cause exponential growth of a system signal. The exponential growth of the sensor signal is produced by parametric amplification.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for interleaving bits of a digital signal representative of data and/or audio in a digital audio broadcasting system, the method comprising the step of: writing a plurality of bits of the digital signal to a matrix; and reading the bits from the matrix, wherein at least one of the writing and reading steps follows a non-sequential addressing scheme. Apparatus for transmitting the interleaved bits, and apparatus for receiving and deinterleaving the bits are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a data storage medium having a plurality of servo sectors and a plurality of data sectors, wherein each of the servo sectors includes a phase locked loop field and a track identification field, a controller for controlling the position of a recording head with respect to the data storage medium, and a servo demodulator for recovering timing information from both the phase locked loop field and the track identification field, and for producing a timing estimate. The method performed by the apparatus is also included.

Abstract: A transmission system comprises a plurality of antenna elements; a plurality of power amplifiers, each of power amplifiers being connected to one of the antenna elements; a plurality of waveform/beam synthesizer assemblies, each of the waveform/beam synthesizer assemblies being connected to one of the power amplifiers; a processor for controlling modulation and beam forming/steering functions of the waveform/beam synthesizer assemblies; and a master clock for synchronizing operation of the processor and waveform/beam synthesizer assemblies, wherein each of the waveform/beam synthesizer assemblies generates a transmit element signal with embedded phase offset and amplitude adjustments in response to control signals from the processor, and each of the plurality of antenna elements radiates one of the transmit element signals. A method of producing one or more beams using an array of antenna elements is also provided.

Abstract: A suspension arm for an optical transducer comprises a load beam, a slider coupled to the load beam by a gimbal assembly and including an optical transducer positioned adjacent to an end of the slider facing a pivot point of the suspension arm, and an optical fiber for transmitting light toward the transducer, wherein an end of the optical fiber is positioned adjacent to the transducer such that light emitted from the fiber passes directly to the transducer. Disc drives that include the suspension arm, and a method of transmitting light to an optical transducer, are also included.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing frame clocks in a plurality of processors comprises the steps of sending data packets from each of the processors to each of the other processors wherein each of the processors receives the data packets and identifies two of the data packets having the largest phase difference. The largest phase difference is used to determine a target synchronization phase angle, and the period of a frame clock is adjusted so that the frame clock approaches the target synchronization phase angle.

Abstract: An AM compatible digital audio broadcasting signal comprises an analog modulated carrier signal centrally positioned in a radio channel, wherein the analog modulated carrier signal is modulated by an analog signal, and a plurality of digitally modulated subcarrier signals in the radio channel, wherein the digitally modulated subcarrier signals are modulated using complementary pattern-mapped trellis code modulation including a code mapped to overlapping partitions. Time diversity can be included between the analog modulated carrier signal and the plurality of digitally modulated subcarrier signals, and/or between groups of the digitally modulated subcarrier signals. A broadcasting method, and transmitters and receivers and that utilize the signal are also provided.