Abstract: The methods and apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention provide substantially complete and rapid air cleaning and/or disinfection in the rooms that are substantially closed to outside air and have the typical complement and arrangement of furniture and people present, i.e. a “normal”environment. A study of air flow patterns in a variety of room configurations and arrangements demonstrates that EFA location within the room as well as furniture and people play a crucial role in air movement and airflow throughout the room, in minimizing or eliminating “dead spots” of stagnant air, and in achieving a goal of cleaning and disinfecting substantially all of the air.

Abstract: Aromatic N-halosulfonamide organic compounds have been known for over one hundred years. The ability of these compounds to release active halogen ions has been utilized in a range of biocidal and fungicidal applications. The most widely used halogen sulfonamide organic compound for these applications is Chloramine-T. This invention deals with the new use of discovered compositions of matter, halo active aromatic sulfonamide organic compounds and use of solutions of these compounds as, odor control agents. The odor control solutions may be buffered to a predetermined pH. The odor control compositions may further incorporate small percentages of low molecular weight alcohols and wetting agents.

Abstract: A method of prepping a surface using a high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet entails generating a high-frequency signal having a frequency f using a high-frequency signal generator, applying the high-frequency signal to a transducer having a microtip to cause the microtip of the transducer to vibrate to thereby generate a forced pulsed waterjet through an exit orifice of a nozzle having an exit orifice diameter d and a length L. The forced pulsed waterjet prepares the surface to within a predetermined range of surface roughness. The surface roughness is determined by selecting operating parameters comprising a standoff distance (SD), a traverse velocity VTR of the nozzle, a water pressure P, a water flow rate Q, a length-to-diameter (L/d) ratio, a microtip-to-orifice distance (a), the frequency f, and an amplitude A of the high-frequency signal.

Abstract: A bipolar pulse generator includes two, two-conductor transmission lines coupled together with a load positioned between the two transmission lines. Each conductor of a transmission line we define as a segment. Two segments of one transmission line are charged and switchably coupled to two segments of the other transmission line to produce a bipolar pulse on the matched load. This bipolar pulse generator may be implemented in a flat or a folded design. The generator may include two transmission line structures coupled together with a load positioned between each transmission line structures. The first transmission line structure may include a stepped transmission line and an embedded transmission line segment. A switch may be coupled between the embedded transmission line segment and another segment of the transmission line structure.

Abstract: Aromatic N-halosulfonamide organic compounds have been known for over one hundred years. The ability of these compounds to release active halogen ions has been utilized in a range of biocidal and fungicidal applications. The most widely used halogen sulfonamide organic compound for these applications is Chloramine-T. This invention deals with the new use of discovered compositions of matter, halo active aromatic sulfonamide organic compounds and use of solutions of these compounds as, odor control agents. The odor control solutions may be buffered to a predetermined pH. The odor control compositions may further incorporate small percentages of low molecular weight alcohols and wetting agents.

Abstract: A one layer building panel derives its structural integrity from a foam forming the layer that bonds to horizontal and vertical stud members with a mesh material disposed therein. The vertical members can be provided at the edges of the building panel. The horizontal members can be provided at the edges of the building panel and together with the vertical member form a peripheral frame for the building panel. The foam is bonded to the horizontal and vertical stud members using above ambient temperatures and pressures. Building panels can be connected to one another to construct a building wall and ceiling using stud members having an interlocking capabilities. The building panels can be inserted into tracks secured to a floor using anchors.

Abstract: An ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) has a mobile generator module (20) and a high-pressure water hose (40) for delivering high-pressure water from the mobile generator module (20) to a hand-held gun (50) with a trigger and an ultrasonic nozzle (60). An ultrasonic generator in the mobile generator module (20) transmits high-frequency electrical pulses to a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer (62) which vibrates to modulate a high-pressure waterjet flowing through the nozzle (60). The waterjet exiting the ultrasonic nozzle (60) is pulsed into mini slugs of water, each of which imparts a waterhammer pressure on a target surface. The ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) may be used to cut and de-burr materials, to clean and de-coat surfaces, and to break rocks. The ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) performs these tasks with much greater efficiency than conventional continuous-flow waterjet systems because of the repetitive waterhammer effect.

Abstract: A spark management device includes a high voltage power source and a detector configured to monitor a parameter of an electric current provided to a load device. In response to the parameter, a pre-spark condition is identified. A switching circuit is responsive to identification of the pre-spark condition for controlling the electric current provided to the load device so as to manage sparking including, but not limited to, reducing, eliminating, regulating, timing, and/or controlling any intensity of arcs generated.

Abstract: An information-theoretic method clusters and merges bi-variate normal data or ‘error ellipses’ lying in a plane. Two or more error ellipses are clustered and then merged into a single error ellipse if the information lost in the merging process is sufficiently small. This criterion is numerically implemented and tested in a code developed for this purpose.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes whereby stains on a variety of substrates may be removed by treating a stained area of a substrate with a solution of a sulfonamide compound. The sulfonamide-containing solutions are particularly useful as stain removal agents for stains which originate with body fluids such as blood, urine, vomit, feces etc. The stain removal solutions may be buffered to a predetermined pH. The stain removal solutions may further incorporate small percentages of low molecular weight alcohols and wetting agents.

Abstract: A structural supporting roof pillar for use in a vehicle including an elongated, interiorly hollowed and polygonal shaped body having a selected arcuate lengthwise configuration and corresponding in placement to at least one of an A, B, and C vehicle pillar. A first component supporting flange is integrally formed, such as by overlapping end portions of a roll formed body, and projecting in at least a partially lengthwise extending fashion from a given cross sectional location. A secondary component supporting flange is affixed to a further cross sectional location associated with the body, such as further by welding.

Abstract: A broadband transmission line impedance transformer performs impedance transformation with improved frequency response and efficiency across a wide operational bandwidth. In particular, the bandwidth of a transmission line 2:1 impedance transformer may be significantly increased by adding an additional compensating capacitor as an internal component between interconnected transmission lines. This capacitor effectively improves low frequency response for a given length of transmission lines and decreases mismatch in an entire frequency range. The overall bandwidth ratio increases at least twice and mismatch decreases.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer FPCB includes the steps of: providing a first copper clad laminate, a second copper clad laminate and a binder layer; defining an opening on the binder layer; defining a first slit on the first copper clad laminate; laminating the first copper clad laminate, the binder layer and the second copper clad laminate; defining a via hole for establishing electric connection between the first copper clad laminate and the second copper clad laminate; cutting the first copper clad laminate, the binder layer and the second copper clad laminate thereby forming a multilayer flexible printed circuit board having different numbers of layers in different areas.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluid acceleration and method of operation thereof includes at least two synchronously powered stages with final or rear-most electrodes of one stage maintained at substantially the same instantaneous voltage as the immediately adjacent initial or forward-most electrodes of a next stage in an airflow direction. A single power supply or synchronized and phase controlled power supplies provide high voltage power to each of the stages such that both the phase and amplitude of the electric power applied to the corresponding electrodes are aligned in time. The frequency and phase control allows neighboring stages to be closely spaced at a distance of from 1 to 2 times an inter-electrode distance within a stage, and, in any case, minimizing or avoiding production of a back corona current from a corona discharge electrode of one stage to an electrode of a neighboring stage.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes whereby stains on a variety of substrates may be removed by treating a stained area of a substrate with a solution of a sulfonamide compound. The sulfonamide-containing solutions are particularly useful as stain removal agents for stains which originate with body fluids such as blood, urine, vomit, feces etc. The stain removal solutions may be buffered to a predetermined pH. The stain removal solutions may further incorporate small percentages of low molecular weight alcohols and wetting agents.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board includes a flexible base, a working trace region, and at least one reinforcement trace. The working trace region and the at least one reinforcement trace are formed on the flexible base. The working trace is formed by a number of working traces. In the flexible base, the at least one reinforcement trace is disposed at a periphery of the working trace region.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing a shaped metal member from a feedstock comprising a flat web of metal includes a roll-forming station for shaping the web, a cutting station for cutting the shaped web into individual members, and a processing station for altering a physical characteristic of the metal comprising the members. The processing may include heat treating and/or shaping. The process may also be operable to carry out further operations such as marking, inspection, sorting and the like. Also disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A method for handling a fluid may be incorporated into the operation of, for example, a corona discharge device and an electric power supply. Such a corona discharge device typically includes at least one corona discharge electrode and at least one collector electrode positioned proximate each other so as to provide a total inter-electrode capacitance within a predetermined range. The electric power supply is connected to supply an electric power signal to said corona discharge and collector electrodes so as to cause a corona current to flow between the corona discharge and collector electrodes. A relationship between alternating and direct (or constant, non-time varying) components of the voltage may be expressed as (Vac/Vdc)?(Iac/Idc).

Abstract: A method for forming stacked via-holes on a printed circuit board includes the steps of: providing a printed circuit board having a conductive trace formed on a side surface thereof; forming a first copper-clad laminate on the side surface having the conductive trace; forming a number of first copper micro-via in a copper layer of the first copper-clad laminate; forming a second copper-clad laminate on the surface of the copper layer having the first copper micro-via of the first copper-clad laminate; forming a number of second copper micro-via in a copper layer of the second copper-clad laminate by a first laser on the basis of the first copper micro-via, each second copper micro-via being located corresponding to its correspondingly first copper micro-via; and removing corresponding resin layer portions of the first and second copper-clad laminates, using a second laser, to yield the respective stacked via-holes.

Abstract: A method of converting an audio signal into vibratory modulation of a fluid includes converting a series of pulses representative of the audio signal into a plurality of signals having an intermediate peak-to-peak voltage; summing said signals having said intermediate voltage to provide a driver signal having a high peak-to-peak voltage; supplying said driver signal to an electrostatic fluid accelerator; and generating a corona discharge inducing said vibratory modulation of said fluid.