Abstract: In a communications environment where it is desirable to allow the simultaneous transmission of digital subscriber line (DSL) signals and conventional Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) signals on a single two-wire communication line, a method and apparatus is configured to automatically measure the distortion caused by a telephone or other attached device such as a dial modem due to the presence of a DSL signal on the same communication line. The method and apparatus of the present invention allows DSL devices and POTS devices to be used on the same communication line without the use of a splitter.

Abstract: A distributed instruction queue (DIQ) in a superscalar microprocessor supports multi-instruction issue, decoupled data flow scheduling, out-of-order execution, register renaming, multi-level speculative execution, and precise interrupts. The DIQ provides distributed instruction shelving without storing register values, operand value copying, and result value forwarding, and supports in-order issue as well as out-of-order issue within its functional unit. The DIQ allows a reduction in the number of global wires and replacement with private-local wires in the processor. The DIQ's number of global wires remains the same as the number of DIQ entries and data size increases. The DIQ maintains maximum machine parallelism and the actual performance of the microprocessor using the DIQ is better due to reduced cycle time or more operations executed per cycle.

Abstract: A reciprocating micro heat engine for electrical and mechanical power generation is disclosed The micro heat engine uses a reciprocating free piston that is driven by a periodic combustion process, and is implemented using micromachining technology. In the application of electrical power generation, the mechanical and electrical functionality of the engine are highly integrated; i.e., the same piston performs both the fuel-to mechanical energy conversion as well as the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion.

Abstract: A system and method for data communication with adaptive security in which a send host transmits a data stream to a receive host in packets which contain an authentication data block with an authentication header and a signature block. The authentication header advantageously contains various fields including a verification type, a security algorithm, a minimum security level, a target security level, and an actual security level. The receive host adaptively performs verification of the data packets using varying security levels based in part on the availability of security operations per second (SOPS) in the receive host. Where a data stream in the receive host is delayed by a security processing bottleneck, the receive host may alter the verification type, security algorithm, or the actual security level to speed up the processing of the data stream by reducing the amount of security processing performed.

Abstract: A protocol allows a device connected to a common channel to communicate directly with another device on that channel during a predetermined slot time. The protocol is particularly suited to a communications network where all communications devices are able to communicate directly with each other. In architecture, the protocol can be implemented in hardware, software or a combination thereof, and is more particularly implemented as follows. A central communications device for processing slot time sequence information and communicating it to tributary communications devices is connected via any number of communications channels to a plurality of tributary communications devices. The configuration of the system is such that the communications devices can directly transmit and receive information from each other. The central communications device optimizes system bandwidth usage by dynamically allocating a sequence of slot times for use in the protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the uncoded transmission and reception, or modulation and demodulation, of data using circular constellations by using circular preceding and nonlinear encoding. This system allows increased data rate by improving channel efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: An adaptive gain algorithm allows the maximization of gain of an audio signal that is transmitted with a digital data signal by allowing a trellis decoder to compensate for occasional excursions of the audio and noise signal across a signal space boundary. By measuring the short term energy present in an audio signal, the algorithm of the present invention allows the maximum power to be used to transmit an analog signal without overloading the trellis decoder.

Abstract: A keyless lock device is disclosed, which has a master control unit installed in a car and a remote controller carried by a user. The master control unit has a processing unit connected to a centralized locking control unit of the car to lock and unlock the door of the car. A detection switch is installed in the door handle of the driver-side door of the car. The processing unit is connected to the detection switch to detect when the door handle is pulled. The master control unit transmits an acknowledgement signal when the door handle is pulled. The remote controller receives the acknowledgement signal and generates a re-acknowledgement signal encoded with a specific encrypted code for transmission. The re-acknowledge signal is then received by the master control unit to be recognized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and determining certain parameters of an overclad tube measures the OD and the wall thickness of the tube at a plurality of longitudinal points and a plurality of angles at each point or longitudinal position. A laser device measures the OD and an ultrasonic transducer measures the wall thickness. The inside diameter of the tube at each point is determined by subtracting the wall thickness from the measured outside diameter. From the data then obtained, the straight through internal clearance of the tube is calculated by determining a plurality of bow vectors which represent the deviations of the tube inner diameter from a least squares fit.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for reducing data slow-down that occurs over an asymmetric communication link, particularly where the size ratio between message packets and acknowledgment packets is greater than the asymmetry ratio of the bandwidth of the communication link. Specifically, the invention resides at an intermediate system node, wherein the intermediate node is disposed to communicate across an asymmetric communication link on one side, and communicating across a high-speed symmetric bandwidth communication link on the other side. The broad aspect of the invention is that the intermediate node monitors acknowledgments being transmitted from the high-speed symmetric link, through the intermediate node, in the upstream direction of the asymmetric link. If an acknowledgment is received at a time when a prior received acknowledgment is being transmitted to the upstream node, the later received acknowledgment(s) is/are stored in a memory storage area.

Abstract: A modular earth retaining wall system comprising a plurality of similarly configured wall blocks that have lock channels and lock flanges that provide a locking mechanism for resisting leaning or toppling of the blocks. A positive retaining mechanism is also provided for attaching reinforcement fabrics to the retaining wall in between mating courses of wall blocks. This mechanism secures the reinforcement fabrics in place and permits the fabrics to extend along the entire contact area between adjacent stacked wall blocks to avoid an aggregate leaning effect. The retaining mechanism includes a retaining bar that is placed on top of the reinforcement fabric within the lock channel. The retaining bar holds the fabric against a wall of the lock channel in response to tensile loads applied to the fabric to prevent it from being pulled out of the retaining wall.

Abstract: A valance board assembly has a channel member of a stiff, hard, material such as, for example, a compressed laminate. The channel member is formed on an open-ended channel and contains a board of a lightweight material susceptible to receiving and holding pins affixed therein, and which is coextensive with, and substantially completely fills, the channel member. At least two plastic bracket members are configured to hold the channel member resting thereon, and stop members prevent it from sliding off. Decorative fabric may be affixed by pins to the lightweight material and draped to provide a decorative window effect.

Abstract: A waste containment system utilizing a manufactured soil useful for the remediation of waste disposal sites for municipal and industrial waste products. To form the manufactured soil, conditioned clay materials, in particular bentonite clay, are mixed with sand and water to form a colloidal suspension. The mixture can be either placed into trenches, as a slurry, to form vertical barriers or allowed to de-water and then spread and compacted to create surface caps and/or sub-surface liners. Normally, the a containment system includes an imbedded sand drainage layer so as to make the composite system impervious to air and water penetration. The percentage of clay in the manufactured soil is varied depending on installation site characteristics and desired performance standards. Manufactured soil with as little as approximately 1% to 3% clay (dry wt.) can be made to achieve and maintain hydraulic conductivities as low as 1.7.times.10.sup.-9 cm/sec.

Abstract: A foldable joint for a playpen comprises a seat having two spaced apart side plates one of which defines holes respectively in both end and an integral connecting plate; two tubes respectively pivotally mounted on the end of the seat by a pivot, each having a first aperture and second aperture defined therein; and two U-shaped trips respectively disposed in the tubes, each having a first lug being inserted through the first aperture of the tube and the hole of the side plate, and a second lug being inserted through the second aperture of the tube; whereby, the tubes can be folded upward when the first lugs are pressed inward.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for a multimodal electromechanical insect known as an entomopter. The entomopter is a species of micro air vehicle (MAV), which is defined as a flying vehicle having no dimension greater than 15 cm. The entomopter mimics the flight characteristics of an insect by flapping wings to generate lift. The entomopter's wings are powered by a reciprocating power source. The same power source may be used to power legs to enable the entomopter to crawl along the ground. In a preferred embodiment, the power source is a compact noncombustive engine known as a reciprocating chemical muscle (RCM).

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the inflatable toilet of the present invention incorporates an inflatable support structure which includes a top and defines a cavity. The top has a first aperture sidewall defining a first aperture that provides access to the cavity. Additionally, the aperture sidewall includes a lower portion which extends into the cavity. A disposable bag, which preferably includes an adhesive laden open end, is removably attached to the lower portion of the aperture sidewall for receiving waste. The first sidewall also defines a second aperture configured for providing access to the cavity so that the disposable bag can be removed from the lower portion of the interior aperture wall and withdrawn from the cavity. In some embodiments, a lid also is provided, with the lid being configured to cover the first aperture when in a closed position.

Abstract: A transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving current-driven communication signals is implemented within a communication system, for example a subscriber loop associated with the public-switched-telephone-network (PSTN). By utilizing current drivers having high source impedance the load across a communication connection servicing the transceiver is significantly reduced such that additional transceivers may be bridged to the communication connection without substantially affecting the quality of the communication signals.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimal arbitrary time-delay (OAT) filter to shape input signals by which a controlled motion is actuated in a physical system. The filter minimizes unwanted dynamics from being created by the actuation of the controlled movement in the physical system. The filter generally comprises three coefficients which are multiplied by the discrete samples of the input signal in a digital filter performing a convolution function. The samples multiplied by the three coefficients are separated by an arbitrary time delay. In this manner, three separate signals are generated. The results of these multiplication operations are summed in real time, thereby generating a filtered input signal which is sent to actuate the controlled motion of the physical system with minimal unwanted dynamics.