Abstract: A control gate is adapted to be installed across a channel for liquids. The Control gate has a barrier member capable of vertical or tilting movement and it is either slidingly or pivotally mounted to a frame of the control gate. In one instance, the control gate has at least one side member attached to the barrier member. A drive member co-operates with the side member(s) to allow raising and lowering of the barrier member to regulate flow of liquid through the control gate. The drive member includes a spool and an engagement member that is secured under tension and winds around the spool. As the spool turns it causes, with the engagement member, movement of the barrier member. Also described is a method of measuring flow rate through a control gate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to detect the proximity of an RFID device based on observing a change in effective inductance. The RFID reader includes an excitation signal generator and a resonant filter that combined are capable of generating and transmitting a detection signal, an RFID device detector for measuring a detector parameter indicative of the change in effective inductance, and a detection signal receiver for determining whether an RFID device is present. The method includes awakening from a detection sleep state at a preselected time, generating and transmitting a detection signal, measuring at least one detector parameter indicative of the change in effective inductance, and determining whether the RFID device is present. When the RFID device is not present, the method returns to the detection sleep state and, when the RFID device is present, the method exits the detection sleep state.

Abstract: A high voltage direct current contact for a vacuum electron device (VED), including (a) an outer cathode line having a first hollow cylinder having a first VED connection end, (b) a contact block removably positioned within the outer cathode line, having a heater contact and a first threaded stem extending towards the first VED connection end, (c) an inner cathode line removably positioned within the first hollow cylinder and placed in contact with the contact block, the inner cathode line including a second hollow cylinder and a support plate having an opening removably receiving the first threaded stem, and (d) a heater contact line in contact with the heater contact, including a third hollow cylinder and a flange on an exterior thereof, the flange being in contact with the support plate, the third hollow cylinder having a threaded end removably coupled with the first threaded stem.

Abstract: This invention describes a switched full-duplex Ethernet type communication network comprising at least one source subscriber equipment (13) and at least one destination subscriber equipment (14) connected to each other through at least one physical link through at least one switch and at least one virtual link (VL), which is the conceptual representation of a link from a source equipment (13) to at least one destination equipment (14), in which each equipment transmitting Ethernet frames comprises: means of segregation between virtual links and allocation of a passband for each virtual link, means of multiplexing virtual links on the physical link output from this equipment, each transmitted frame having a field that identifies the virtual link to which it belongs.

Abstract: An adaptive broadband post-distortion receiver for wireless digital communications improves performance of a wireless digital communications system. The improved performance of the system includes improved linear AM-AM and AM-PM responses approaching saturation. Indeed, the proposed adaptive broadband post-distortion receiver has an effect on attributes such as bit error rate and transmitter power efficiency and, in turn, on modulation and bandwidth. The adaptive broadband post-distortion receiver is configured with an adaptively controlled IF post-distorter located at the IF stage of the receiver. The placement of the distortion canceling function in the IF section of the receiver lends itself to broadband applications. The post-distorter is configured to cancels the distortion produced by the transmitter and receiver as it is adaptively controlled using bit error rate calculations. The distortion canceling utilizes bit error rate information that is otherwise available in the receiver.

Abstract: Rewriteable electronic fuses include latches and/or logic gates coupled to one or more nonvolatile memory elements. The nonvolatile memory elements are configured to be programmed to memory values capable of causing associated electronic circuits to settle to predetermined states as power-up or reset signals are applied to the fuses. Although not required, the nonvolatile memory elements used in the rewriteable electronic fuses may comprise floating-gate transistors. An amount of charge stored on the floating gate of a given floating-gate transistor determines the memory value and, consequently, the state to which a fuse settles upon power-up or reset of the fuse.

Abstract: A control word generator comprised of circuitry to generate a control word to control an attenuator. The control word generator includes a counter that increments at a clock rate much higher than the refresh rate at which the error signal is recalculated. The counter is controlled by a comparator which compares the error signal to a reference value, which, starting from a programmable upper limited is decremented in the counter's incrementation rate by a programmable step size. When the reference value equals the error signal, the comparator changes state and the counter stops incrementing. The count at that time is the control word, which if everything operated instantaneously, would be the control word that would alter the attenuation sufficiently to achieve nominal power.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor substrate that can be dismantled, comprising the following steps: introduction of gaseous species in the substrate according to conditions enabling the constitution of an embrittled layer by the presence in said layer of micro-cavities and/or micro-bubbles, a thin layer of semiconductor material thus being delimited between the embrittled layer and one face of the substrate, thermal treatment of the substrate to increase the brittleness level of the embrittled layer, said thermal treatment being continued until the appearance of local deformations on said face of the substrate in the form of blisters but without generating exfoliations of the thin layer during this step and during the continuation of the method, epitaxy of semiconductor material on said face of the substrate to provide at least one epitaxial layer on said thin film.

Abstract: A laser processing apparatus has a first laser beam reversal apparatus which reverses the laser beam from the laser oscillator, and a second laser beam reversal apparatus which reverses the laser beam reversed by the first laser beam reversal apparatus, and guides the laser beam to the inside of the processing head, in which a first laser optical path which runs from the laser oscillator to the first laser beam reversal apparatus, a second laser optical path which runs form the first laser beam reversal apparatus to the second laser beam reversal apparatus, and a third laser optical path which runs from the second laser beam reversal apparatus to the processing head are parallel.

Abstract: The detachment of a semiconductor chip (1) from a foil (4) and picking the semiconductor chip (1) from the foil (4) takes place with the support of a chip ejector (6), that has a ramp (16), the surface (17) of which is formed concave and ends at a stripping edge (18) projecting from the surface (9) of the chip ejector (6), and a support area (13) with grooves (12) arranged next to the stripping edge (18). Vacuum can be applied to the grooves (12). The detachment and picking of the semiconductor chip (1) from the foil (4) takes place in that the wafer table (5) is shifted relative to the chip ejector (6) in order to pull the foil (4) over the stripping edge (18) protruding from the surface (9) of the chip ejector (6), whereby the semiconductor chip (1) temporarily detaches itself at least partially from the foil (4) and lands on the foil (4) above the support area (13), and in that the chip gripper (7) picks the semiconductor chip (1) presented on the support area (13).

Abstract: A network power system that is capable of communicating and resolving various inline power allocation issues. The system includes a power source equipment having at least one output power interface capable of transmitting inline power, at least one powered device having an input power interface capable of receiving inline power, and a first transmission media that is coupled between the power source equipment and the at least one powered device. Either or both of the power source equipment and the at least one powered device includes a negotiator that is capable of communicating and resolving the at least one inline power allocation issue. The negotiator, independently or in combination with other negotiators, reaches a negotiated decision and performs at least one response function in an effort to resolve the at least one inline power allocation issue. The system may have a multi-point layout or be experiencing a power outage condition.

Abstract: The high-voltage metal-clad substation element comprises at least one circuit-breaker connected electrically and mechanically to at least one set of busbars (3, 4) extending along an axis (D) that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis (AX) of the circuit-breaker. The metal case (1) is fixed to the ground via a hinge which allows the case to tilt slightly when said set of busbars (3, 4) expands along said transverse axis (D). This configuration makes it possible to omit or to reduce the use of axial bellows on the set of busbars, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing the metal-clad substation. Advantageously, in association with the hinge, the metal case is designed to have some flexibility to reduce mechanical stresses when the set of busbars expands.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container (1) intended for transport/storage of radioactive materials, the container comprising a container body (2) and at least one handling device (8) mounted using attachment screws (38) in a base housing (30) delimited by a base housing wall (32). According to the invention, a sealing plate (50) covering the attachment screws is installed removably in a plate housing (52) delimited by a plate housing wall (56) provided on the handling device and by a portion (58) of the base housing wall. Furthermore a seal (66) is provided inserted between a peripheral wall (60) external to the plate and the portion (58) of the base housing wall, and a seal (74) inserted between a peripheral wall (68) external to the plate and the plate housing wall (56).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing low-cost, realistic force feedback including an improved actuator. The invention provides force sensations to a user and includes an interface device coupled to a host computer and allowing a user to interact with a host application program. A user object, such as a joystick, is moveable by a user in at least one rotary degree of freedom. A sensor reports a locative signal to the host computer to indicate a position of the user object. An actuator outputs forces on the user object in response to signals from the host computer and program. The actuator includes a housing, a set of grounded magnets provided on opposing surfaces of the housing and creating a magnetic field, and a rotor coupled to the user object positioned between the magnets. The rotor rotates about an axis of rotation and includes a shaft and teeth spaced around the shaft. An electric current flows through one or more coils on the teeth to cause the rotor to rotate.

Abstract: A detector module is described wherein the detector module includes a housing with a conductive waveguide, a detector, a temperature sensor, and detector circuitry. The waveguide is made of a conductive material and of an appropriate size for a signal of a particular frequency. The detector, which can be a detector diode, protrudes a distance into the waveguide so as to produce a detector signal. The temperature sensor generates a temperature signal responsive to a temperature. The detector circuitry is contained within the housing. Moreover, the detector circuitry is configured to receive and condition the detector signal into a detector module signal. The detector module signal and temperature signal are then associated with a previously calibrated power level. With calibrated power level information, an input signal to a transmitter can be attenuated or amplified to control its output power.

Abstract: A flying vehicle-launching apparatus and method for launching a winged flying vehicle by accelerating the vehicle in a predetermined direction includes a flying vehicle-supporting platform, a guide device, and a driving device. The flying vehicle-supporting platform supports the winged flying vehicle so that it can lift off therefrom. The guide device supports the flying vehicle-supporting platform across two or more separated and parallel guide ways and guides the flying vehicle-supporting platform along the guide ways. In the flying vehicle-launching method, a propulsive engine of the winged flying vehicle is started after initiating acceleration with a flying vehicle-accelerating device. The winged flying vehicle is released from the flying vehicle-accelerating device in a predetermined angle of attack that is positive to a direction of acceleration after reaching a predetermined velocity.