Abstract: Data messages transmitted between computers are encrypted to provide a high level of security, yet the throughput of the encrypted data is minimally affected. In this regard, a first computer encrypts a data portion of a message via a first encryption technique before transmitting the message to a second computer. The first computer also includes information associated with the first encryption technique in a header of the message and encrypts the header via a second encryption technique, which preferably is a highly secure encryption technique. The second computer receives the data message and decrypts the header. The second computer then utilizes the information in the header that is associated with the first encryption technique to decrypt the data portion.

Abstract: An apparatus examines the internal structure of an object disposed substantially in a medium such as air, which essentially totally reflects acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range. The apparatus has an acoustic transducer that emits and receives acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range and an acoustic coupler that acoustically couples the acoustic transducer to the object. The acoustic coupler has a first end adapted to couple to the acoustic transducer and a second end adapted to make contact with a section of a surface of the object. The acoustic coupler carries acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range between the acoustic transducer and the contacted section of the surface of the object. In operation, the apparatus examines the internal structure of the object using reflection mode acoustic microscopy, wherein emitted and reflected signals are carried between the acoustic transducer and the object by acoustic coupler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for echo cancellation in a communication system utilizing a bidirectional transmission medium. The invention significantly reduces computational overhead associated with echo cancellation by using sub-Nyquist sampling in the echo path. In particular, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for echo cancellation in a communication system utilizing different signaling or baud rates in the transmit and receive directions, whereby the computational overhead of the echo cancellation is significantly reduced as compared to traditional methods. In a preferred embodiment herein, the present invention reduces by one-half the computational overhead associated with echo cancellation in a data communications system utilizing symmetrical information rates at asymmetrical signal rates.

Abstract: The invention provides a switched linear amplifier for amplifying an input signal for provision to a communication medium. The switched linear amplifier includes a linear amplifier, an output current detector, and a switched inductive circuit. The linear amplifier amplifies the input signal to produce a linearly amplified signal. The output current detector is operative to detect an output current level having a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold and provide a control signal. The switched inductive circuit is responsive to the control signal from the output current detector to provide an output current via a switched (and ideally lossless) inductive path, to provide a highly efficient means of generating a linearly amplified signal for provision to the communication medium.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for correlated noise reduction, in a trellis decoding environment, such as second generation HDSL, in which crosstalk impairments may be significant. The preferred embodiments provide equalization and correlated noise reduction, utilizing a training period to generate corresponding coefficients, and utilizing two different training error signals. In addition, the apparatus method and system also provide continued and adaptive correlated noise reduction during data transmission, utilizing two additional error signals, a trellis error signal and a tentative error signal. The trellis error signal is a decision error of a selected previous state of a selected trellis path, in which the selected trellis path has a smallest cumulative error of a plurality of trellis paths, and the selected previous state is preferably the immediately previous state.

Abstract: A system for relating electromagnetic waves to harmonic sound waves that includes a memory with logic, and a processor configured with the logic to assign one fundamental color of a color spectrum of twelve analogous colors to one of twelve fundamental tones of a musical 5th relationship, wherein the tones are represented by notes, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to consecutively associate the remaining analogous colors to the tones.

Abstract: A headset with a light incorporated within is disclosed. A representative embodiment of the invention may be construed as an aviation-style headset that includes a first earcup and a second earcup each comprising active noise reduction (ANR) circuitry, a headband interconnecting the first earcup and the second earcup, and a boom microphone coupled to one of the first and second earcups. The headset also includes a rotating housing coupled to at least one of the earcups. A first light-emitting diode (LED) is mounted in the rotating housing. The rotating housing is rotated to point light from the LED in a desired direction. The headset also includes a switch mounted to one of the earcups for controlling the LED. The ANR circuitry is electrically coupled to at least the first LED to deliver power to the LED. Other systems and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A weatherproof cabinet with multiple-compartment cooling includes a housing and a door attached to the housing. The door includes a heat exchanger core, a first duct located at least partially between the heat exchanger door and an exterior of the door, and a second duct located at least partially between the heat exchanger door and an electronics compartment. The door also includes an inlet vent and an outlet vent that are pneumatically interconnected with the first duct. A fan is located at least partially within the first duct and is operative to draw external air into the first duct via the inlet vent, direct at least the first portion of the external air across the heat exchanger core, and then direct the first portion of the external air out of the first duct via the outlet vent. A partition is located within the first duct and separates the inlet vent from the outlet vent so that external air is not drawn into the first duct via the outlet vent during operation of the fan.

Abstract: An electronic trading entity (400) comprises a computing device having a processor, memory, user interface, and communications functionality, the computer entity comprising an algorithm (700) for monitoring a plurality of auction entities remotely over the internet; a algorithm (701) for calculating bids and for purchase of goods/services with a plurality of auction entities; an algorithm (702) for selecting individual auction entities with which to trade; a web browser (506) to allow a user to search for auction entities and add these to a stored list of entities at the bidding device. Bid calculation and offer calculation algorithms operate to optimally place bids at a lowest overall cost to the trading entity, or place offers with the object of obtaining the highest overall monetary figures for goods or services for sale by the trading entity.

Abstract: A system and method for securing package contents is provided. One embodiment which secures package contents comprises a supply conveyor configured to transport at least one package having at least one deflated void-fill bag, the void-fill bag having a collar protruding through the package, an inflate nozzle configured to sealably couple with the collar such that the void-fill bag may be filled to secure contents of the package, a vision system configured to detect a target associated with the collar of the void-fill bag, and a servo-drive system configured to control a position of the inflate nozzle based upon the detected target such that the position of the inflate nozzle is adjusted to sealably couple the inflate nozzle with the collar.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a circuit that may be used to protect other circuits from Electrostatic Discharge (“ESD”). A circuit of the present invention comprises a transmission line that couples a source with a circuit that is being protected. A transistor, with an emitter, a collector, and a base, is coupled in reverse mode between an electrical ground and the circuit being protected. This circuit may be used in applications using high frequencies, such as 1 GHz or higher.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for testing a circuit having analog components. The method comprises performing a low-cost optimized test on the circuit by applying an optimized input stimulus to the circuit, capturing the circuit response to the input stimulus applied to the circuit, evaluating the circuit response to predict whether the performance parameters of the circuit satisfies predetermined specifications for the circuit, and making a pass/fail determination for the circuit based upon the evaluation of the circuit response.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for converting light into a surface plasmon polariton on a plasmon supporting nanostructure and then controlling the emission of the re-emitting light. A circuit component is also described that is constructed of a nanostructure, which is comprised of at least one plasmon supporting metal. The metal can propagate the light, as a surface plasmon polariton, through the one-dimensional nanostructure and re-emit the light. The metal is a plasmon supporting metal, for example but not limited to, gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.

Abstract: An integrated robotic cell having robot and series of sensors is able to process a component as desired by an operator using an interactive interface display. The integrated robotic cell includes a robotic arm connected a central processor unit as well as a series of monitors and sensors that thoroughly supervise the operation of the robotic arm and component to verify that there are no errors. The central processing unit is connected to the interface display, which allows the operator to control the operation of the robotic cell. The interface display incorporates a series of threads, with each thread having of a series of sequential processes to be performed by the robotic cell. The operator is thereby able to view and easily control the simultaneous processes being performed in the robotic cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for low-damage, anisotropic etching of substrates having the substrate mounted upon a mechanical support located within an ac or dc plasma reactor. The mechanical support is independent of the plasma reactor generating apparatus and capable of being electrically biased. The substrate is subjected to plasma of low-energy electrons and a species reactive with the substrate. An additional structure capable of being electrically biased can be placed within the plasma to control further the extraction or retardation of particles from the plasma.

Abstract: The winding testing unit provides systems and methods for determining normal and/or abnormal characteristic signatures of same-voltage windings residing in a device, such as transformer, without the need for a comparison to past historical data. A plurality of characteristic signatures [H(f)'s] are determined for each of a plurality of windings. A plurality of differential characteristic signatures [H(f)'s] are then determined from a plurality of H(f) pairs selected from the plurality of H(f)'s. The differential H(f)'s are compared and at least one significant asymmetry is identified between the differential H(f)'s.

Abstract: A system is described that includes a system for correcting modal dispersion and errors in an optical fiber system. The system includes a multisegment photodetector coupled to an end of an optical fiber for detecting optical signals exiting the optical fiber and for converting the optical signals to an electrical output, the multisegment photodetector including a plurality of photodetector regions configured such that one of the plurality of photodetectors regions intercepts a mode in a manner distinct from another of the plurality of photodetectors. The system also includes logic configured to receive a resultant signal output from the photodetector regions and provide forward error correction decoding of the resultant signal.

Abstract: High-efficiency laser-like emission at low thresholds in dipolar organic materials upon pulsed optical excitation, without using any external mirrors. Unusually high conversion efficiencies and low thresholds in laser-like emission have been observed in the solutions of organic molecular salts having large dipole moments and specific dye molecules having high photoluminescence efficiencies. Pumped with frequency-doubled pulses from a Nd:YAG laser, conversion efficiencies in the range of 15-40% were achieved without incorporation of external mirrors. The threshold pump energies for such emission have been observed to be low (<8 ?J). The spectrally narrowed output beam was found to have low divergence, high degree of polarization, and pulse-width less than that of the excitation pulses (50 picoseconds).

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the surface and/or volume of a digital clay device is provided. One embodiment, among others, is a method comprising the following steps: determining a desired position of a skeleton structure portion residing in the digital clay device, determining a volumetric change of fluid residing in a bladder, the determined volumetric change corresponding to the determined desired position of the skeleton structure portion, opening a micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS) valve so that the fluid flows through the MEMS valve thereby causing the determined volumetric change of the fluid, and adjusting a position of the skeleton structure portion corresponding to the desired position of the skeleton structure portion, the position adjustment caused by a force generated by the bladder on the skeleton structure portion when the volume of the bladder changes in response to the determined volumetric change.

Abstract: A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds while generating power. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a combustor and a reaction chamber connected to an exit of the combustor. A primary inlet to the combustor supplies a primary fuel to the combustor. A secondary fuel, comprising air and an amount of one or more volatile organic compounds, is supplied to a compressor, which compresses the secondary fuel and directs the secondary fuel to the combustor and the reaction chamber. The system is suitably configured to enable the stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels in a manner sufficient to destroy the volatile organic compounds contained in the secondary fuel and power a turbine engine connected to an exit of the reaction chamber.