Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for generating a local clock signal CLK1X (172) from Universal Synchronous Bus downstream-received differential signals DM and DP carrying the downstream received bit-serial signal. The method and device does not require the use of a crystal or resonator. Counters (312, 310, 305, 301) are used to determine a number of periods of a free-running high frequency clock signal (164) contained within in a known number of bit periods of the downstream received bit-serial signal (146). The counter values are divided by the known number of bit periods of the received bit-serial signal (146) to determine a bit period of the received bit-serial signal (146). The local clock signal (172) may be phase-locked with the received bit serial signal (146). The local clock period is updated on an ongoing manner by downstream known received traffic.

Abstract: A bulkhead door seal is a sealing device that provides effective sealing of the interface between a bulkhead door assembly and a top of a concrete foundation wall to which it is attached. It prevents air and water from intruding into basement spaces around the bulkhead door assembly. The present invention is made of a flexible material that is very durable in all types of climates and will not break down over time. It is positioned between the bulkhead door assembly mounting flange and the top of the foundation wall. It may be configured with an inner vertical lip so that driving rain will not enter the interior of the door assembly, a flat mounting surface to accept a door assembly mounting flange, and a sloping exterior surface to shed water off the foundation wall. The device may be manufactured in strips that are cut on the building site to custom fit the bulkhead and door assembly.

Abstract: A device for attracting and capturing or otherwise disabling insects includes a fan mechanism structured and arranged to provide an outflow of air out of the device to atmosphere, and to draw an inflow directed counter the outflow from atmosphere into the device, the outflow being substantially within the inflow outside of the device. The flow mechanism is also structured and arranged to provide an insect attractant in the outflow. The device can include mounting structure being adapted to position the device with the outflow directed in a substantially downward direction. The outflow attracts insects to the vicinity of the device, and the inflow urges the insects to enter the device. An insect disabling structure is arranged with the flow mechanism to capture or otherwise disable insects being urged into the device by the inflow.

Abstract: Current software technology entails writing application programs in a high level language intended to facilitate portability to different computer processor platforms. Because the program is portable, the resulting object code is not tailored to run as efficiently as possible on the particular computer processor platform. Manually tuning a specific application program may be done, but it is time consuming and is rarely done by the end user. The disclosed invention provides an automated method of tuning application programs to execute more efficiently.

Abstract: A nondestructive method for inspecting steel pipelines for plastically deformed regions caused by mechanical damage to the pipeline. The invention is a method and system that uses nonlinear harmonic detection methods to detect mechanical damage in pipelines. The invention uses a time-varying magnetic field to sense magnetic properties of the pipeline. The odd-numbered harmonic frequencies are detected and their amplitudes are related to the magnetic condition of the material under test to determine areas of mechanical damage. This technique can be used for rapidly surveying stress states in pipelines where nonlinear harmonic sensing devices are attached to a pigging device moving through a pipeline at a relatively high rate of speed.

Abstract: A system and method for nondestructive testing of a workpiece having a metallic protective coating utilizing nonlinear harmonics techniques to determine degradation within the metallic protective coating. The invention use a time-varying magnetic field to sense magnetic properties of the protective coating. The odd-numbered harmonic frequencies are detected and their amplitudes are related to the magnetic condition of the material under test to determine coating degradation. When no harmonic signal caused by an induced magnetic field is detected, the coating is not degraded. When a harmonic signal is detected, the coating has degraded. Nonlinear harmonics techniques are used to determine the amount of coating degradation.

Abstract: A computer implemented system and method for automating design and manufacturing processes that use software application programs having graphical user interfaces. An automation software program, programmed with a design and manufacturing process command flow initiates and monitors the execution of a plurality of design and manufacturing software application programs through the graphical user interface of each software application. The software applications may execute in a preprogrammed sequence on a plurality of computer processors. The graphical user interface provides a visual representation to the user of the design and manufacturing process and its status. In an alternative embodiment, the system and method is used to automate the design and manufacture of electronic circuits.

Abstract: A computer implemented system and method for modeling, predicting and optimizing a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) system for polishing semiconductor wafers and other types of substrates used in the manufacture of integrated circuits. The method and system comprises a pad wear and conditioning model that predicts the polishing effectiveness of each sampling point on the polish pad based upon the polishing pad and substrate parameters, the pressure and speed between the wafer and the polish pad, and on the amount of polishing the point has performed in a simulated CMP hardware configuration using the CMP system recipe settings. The model determines the change in pad roughness and thickness for each sampling point on the pad. The model results are used along with wafer scale uniformity and feature scale planarity model results to optimize pad life and determining optimal recipe settings for the CMP process.

Abstract: A method for determining the geolocation of an object such as a vehicle traversing the earth's surface or airborne thereabove includes employing a device which is capable of operating autonomously to transmit signals to a selected low earth orbit (LEO) satellite for relay to a receiving station whose position is known, identifying the device and its geolocation, speed, altitude and/or heading. The device includes a microcomputer which operates a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving GPS signals to identify the device geolocation and the precise time. A nonvolatile memory on board the device stores LEO satellite ephemeris data, satellite operational and message formatting parameters, LEO satellite visibility footprint data and visibility contour information for the device caused by obstacles which are permanently or temporarily in proximity to the device during deployment and which block transmission of signals between the device and the LEO satellite, depending on relative positions.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting information to a receiving station via one or more Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites includes a device which is capable of operating autonomously to transmit signals to a selected LEO satellite for relay to a receiving station identifying the device and its geolocation including longitude and latitude and/or speed, altitude and heading or course. The device includes a microprocessor which operates a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving GPS signals to identify its geolocation and precise time. A nonvolatile memory onboard the device stores LEO satellite ephemeris data, and identification, operational and message formatting information to enable the device to transmit information including voice, data and/or the geolocation of the device to a selected LEO satellite, such as the next visible LEO satellite, for relay to a receiving station.

Abstract: An insect trapping device generates its own insect attractants of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), heat and water vapor through catalytic conversion of a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion chamber. The hot insect attractants generated in the combustion chamber are diluted and cooled to a temperature above ambient temperature and below about 115.degree. F. by mixing with air, and then the mixture is exhausted downward through the exhaust tube. A counterflow of outside air is drawn into the trap though the suction tube that concentrically surrounds the exhaust tube. Biting insects are captured in a porous, disposable bag connected to the other end of the suction tube. A thermoelectric generator, including thermoelectric modules coupled to the combustion chamber generate power for fans that provide the exhaust flow and the suction flow. Additional chemical attractants may be used with the device to make the trap even more effective.

Abstract: A mixing and dispensing system for reactively combining organic chemical components to produce a rapidly polymerizing material for use in molding and encapsulating small and usually delicate devices, such as electronic components. The system uses a novel mix head incorporating a high speed rotary mixer having magnetic coupling for mixing and injecting relatively low viscosity polymerizing materials into a mold. The chemical feed to the mix head is from special chemical handling equipment. The design of the system eliminates the need for material control valves and enables relatively low feed line pressures. A novel chemical handling subsystem uses special tubular containers provided by the chemical material manufacturers that mount on specially designed dispensing equipment, and do not require special storage, handling, or mixing by trained personnel.

Abstract: A wireless communication system using radio frequencies for transmitting and receiving voice and data signal with an internal network with multiple internal communication path, and an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external communications network and is suited to operate in remote locations that are isolated. The internal network contains transceivers that allow for decentralized communication along multiple communication paths within the internal network. If the transceivers are within range, they can communicate directly without the need for a central call switching and delivery center. If the transceivers are out of range, they can communicate via intermediate transceivers that relay the calls to the destination transceivers, eliminating the need for a central call switching and delivery center.

Abstract: Current software technology entails writing application programs in a high level language intended to facilitate portability to different computer processor platforms. Because the program is portable, the resulting object code is not tailored to run as efficiently as possible on the particular computer processor platform. Manually tuning a specific application program may be done, but it is time consuming and is rarely done by the end user. The disclosed invention provides an automated method of tuning application programs to execute more efficiently.

Abstract: A pattern recognition device having modifiable feature detectors (28) which respond to a transduced input signal (26) and communicate a feature activity signal (30) to allow classification and an appropriate output action (70). A memory (40) stores a set of comparison patterns, and is used by an assigner (66) to find likely features, or parts, in the current input signal (26). Each part is assigned to a feature detector (28[m]) judged to be responsible for it. An updater (42) modifies each responsible feature detector (28[m]) so as to make its preferred feature more similar to its assigned part. The modification embodies a strong constraint on the feature learning process, in particular an assumption that the ideal features for describing the pattern domain occur independently. This constraint allows improved learning speed and potentially improved scaling properties.

Abstract: A method and system for simulating and optimizing land seismic survey operations. The method and system utilizes spatially referenced data and nonspatial data relevant to land seismic survey operations such as high resolution satellite and airborne imagery and uses discrete event information about land seismic survey operation to simulate a land seismic survey. The output of the simulation is a detailed list of survey events. Mathematical optimization techniques are used to enhance the efficiency of the survey execution via optimal route planning and optimal allocation of survey logistical components. The invention uses a discrete event simulator which is an object-oriented software program with survey geometry objects that represent the survey design, resources objects that represent resources needed to conduct survey operations and manager objects to coordinate the resource objects within the specified survey geometry.

Abstract: A digital direct wireless communication system that permits direct, point-to-point communication (voice or data) between transceivers without the infrastructure associated with traditional cellular systems. The transceivers may communicate with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), with a plurality of fixed base units, a plurality of mobile units and possibly, a plurality of repeaters. The mobile units are operable to communicate point-to-point with other mobile units or other fixed base units. Similarly, the fixed base units are operable to communicate point-to-point with other fixed base units or other mobile units. The system repeaters, if present, are dispersed throughout the communication coverage area for receiving and re-transmitting radio signals from the mobile and fixed base units, if necessary. The mobile and fixed base units may also communicate with remote telephone users through the PSTN.

Abstract: A flat plate drive system for controlling the axial rotational motion of a drive shaft for raising and lowering a load, that optimizes frictional engagement while maximizing heat dissipation away from the moving parts of the drive system. The drive system can be generally used for raising and lowering many types of heavy loads, and is particularly suited for loads that are supported by a cable attached to one end of the drive shaft, with the cable extending through a cradle beam which supports a heavy object, such as a boat. The drive system comprises a worm connected to a source of rotational power. The worm frictionally engages a worm gear wheel that axially rotates a drive shaft. The worm and worm gear wheel are connected to a backplate support. The system maximizes the friction between the worm and worm gear wheel.

Abstract: A large aperture particle detector integrated with an electromagnetic antenna. By combining functions of spacecraft subsystems into a single integrated system, a larger particle collector is achieved to provide greater particle measuring sensitivity and costs are reduced through consolidation of functions. The integrated subsystems include a conventional high-gain spacecraft dish antenna and a large aperture particle collector. The conventional high-gain spacecraft dish antenna reflects and focuses impinging electromagnetic radiation at an electromagnetic detector and source, and may comprise one or more reflecting and focusing surfaces. The antenna is used to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation. The large aperture particle collector is collocated with the electromagnetic antenna. The large aperture particle collector reflects and focuses impinging charged particles at a particle detector through the use of one or more electrostatic mirrors.

Abstract: A compact, broadband antenna derived from the inverted-F antenna configuration is disclosed. The tapered inverted-F antenna (TIFA) is able to generate high intensity electric fields with a physically small package size, making it particular useful for electromagnetic compatibility testing applications. This antenna derives its broadband characteristics from the combination of a number of unique features. The TIFA utilizes radiating elements that are broadband planar frames or planar sheets. The planar frames provide extended performance at low frequencies and may also include an interior lattice structure of various configurations. The novel use of triangular or "bowtie" elements for the feed and shunt elements of the TIFA provides extended performance at high frequencies. When suitably configured and properly matched to a log-periodic dipole array, the antenna is capable of providing high intensity electric fields with a very wide useful bandwidth.