Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and a method for characterizing the flow of a multi-phase fluid. The apparatus is comprised of: a conduit having a first end and a second end, for flowing the fluid from the first to the second ends, and a first point and a second point located between the first and second ends; a mixer for mixing the fluid as it flows from the first to the second ends such that the fluid is substantially homogeneous at the first point and such that the substantial homogeneity of the fluid is maintained between the first and second points; and means for determining at least one of a volumetric flow rate of the substantially homogeneous fluid at a first location in the conduit between the first and second points and a density of the substantially homogeneous fluid at a second location between the first and second points.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for finding objectionable material contained within electronic files is presented. The apparatus consists of a computer system that is provided with a computer, a video display, a buffer memory, and at least one electronic file storage device capable of storing electronic files. Each of the electronic files is stored according to an operating system which incorporates a file name and a file name suffix. The method includes provisions for a real type property, a claimed type property, and a result type property for each electronic file. All of the electronic files are located on each of said storage devices for checking. During the checking process, for example, each file is checked to determine the file's real type property. If the checked file is determined to be a graphics file, then the file will be identified as a graphics file. If the file is not a graphics file, (i.e., it is a text file) then it is interrogated in order to determine if the text contains objectionable language.

Abstract: A pallet is provided with electrical signal and power connections so that burn-in and other quality assurance testing can be completed without removing the product unit from the pallet. The pallet is also fitted with a memory device that retains inventory and testing information related to the product unit placed on the pallet. The memory device can be read by, or written to, a router at various locations along the assembly process. The router can access the inventory and testing information about the product unit and can write unit-specific instructions to the memory device to redirect the product unit for subsequent unit-specific production operations. The pallet is also provided with electrical, fluid, and gas connections in order to facilitate testing of the product units placed on the pallet.