Abstract: One form of the invention provides a method and apparatus for preventing an extraordinary electromagnetic pulse from reaching and rendering inoperative an electrical component of an electrical power system, wherein the component is located in a conductive path of the system that receives the pulse. The method and apparatus comprises the steps or means for detecting the presence of the pulse in the conductive path prior to the pulse reaching and rendering inoperative the electrical component. The pulse is diverted around the electrical component with a low inductance, high current capacity circuit relative to the electrical component before the pulse can reach and render the electrical component inoperative. The foregoing invention may beneficially utilize a high-speed current shunt comprising a flat conductive metal strap having a defined current-measuring region, a tapered parallel-plate transmission-line matching transformer attached to the current-measuring region and an output via a coaxial cable.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus includes multiple continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuits, each in a separate processing branch and having an adder that includes multiple inputs and an output; an input signal is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder; the output of the adder is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder through a first filter; and the output of a sampling/quantization circuit in the same processing branch is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder through a second filter, with the second filter having a different transfer function than the first filter.

Abstract: A scanning circuit having rearranged circuit modules at each end of a flat cable. After the rearrangement, the flat cable carries scanning control signals produced by a conventional IC communication interface instead of timing signals and carries digital image data instead of easily distorted and interfered analog image signals.

Abstract: A method and system for fleet operations data management is provided. The system includes a data collection and distribution network configured to distribute operations data to vehicles in a fleet of vehicles and collect vehicle performance data from the vehicles in the fleet of vehicles, the distributed operations data including at least one of travel plans, navigational databases, vehicle operator business data, and passenger information, the collected aircraft performance data including at least one of vehicle body integrity parameters, FADEC performance, CNS/ATM interoperability, and air computing infrastructure characteristics.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly including a fiber optic cable and a furcation body is disclosed. An attachment feature can be provided to mount the furcation body to a mounting surface of fiber optic equipment for securing a portion of the fiber optic cable assembly to the fiber optic equipment. The attachment feature may include an integrated anti-rotation feature to inhibit rotation of the furcation body with respect to a mounting surface. The anti-rotation feature is provided by one or more generally planar surfaces of the furcation body for abutting with at least one complementary planar mounting surface.

Abstract: This document describes tools capable of auditing and/or determining reductions to card-issuer interchange fees charged for credit-card transactions. The tools may do so automatically and with user interaction for large amounts of transactions.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable network interconnection system for installation in an interconnection apparatus. The system includes a connector package having at least one connector adapter and configured to support a portion of a connectorized cable. The system also includes at least one cable package that includes at least one length of cable and that is configured for storing a portion of the cable on substantially the exterior of the connector package. The cable package is sized to pass through the interconnection apparatus interior from the front opening to the rear opening as the connector package is inserted in the interconnection apparatus. Methods of installing the system in the interconnection apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Fiber optic assemblies including at least one multimode optical fiber that have improved performance are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one connector is mounted upon and end of at least one multimode optical fiber and the assembly has an insertion loss of about 0.04 dB or less at a reference wavelength of 850 nanometers. Another embodiment is directed to a fiber optic assembly having a plurality of multimode optical fibers attached to a multifiber ferrule. The multifiber ferrule has a pair of guide pin bores having a nominal diameter, wherein the guide pin bores have a tolerance of ±0.0005 millimeters from a nominal diameter for improving performance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultrasonic repellent humidifier for dispersing insect repellant into the air as a micro fine repellent vapor. A repellent tank provides rhodinol and cedarwood oil based repellent to a repellent well. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned in the well beneath the level of the repellent. It vibrates, forming a repellant vapor that is drawn into a vapor duct by a forced air system and out of the unit, dispersing the repellent vapor into the surrounding air. The vibrating portion of the ultrasonic transducer that is exposed to the oil-based repellent is a ceramic material that inhibits residue from forming on the transducer that reduces its efficiency. The ceramic material may be formed on the metal case of the transducer or on the piezoelectric oscillation crystal, or it may be a separately replaceable disc.

Abstract: A method and system for treating subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy is disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Certain procedures can include a brow lift, a blepharoplasty, and treatment of cartilage tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for diverting infiltration and subsurface water disclosed herein include excavation of interceptor trenches under roadways, such as gravel roads, and filling the trenches with suitable material. An interceptor trench is a trench, which may be filled with gravel, surge stone, rip rap, or other aggregate that intercepts the water flowing down a slope and carries it off to minimize soil erosion. These interceptor trenches, incorporated under the road, may be filled with heavy material such as rock. The interceptor trenches intercept the water and carry it off before it can build up speed and volume and carry off material.

Abstract: A modular flooring system is disclosed which is designed to support heavy loads while providing stability and ground protection. The invention contemplates a modular mat having an integral main body with offset mounting and assembly flanges and a lattice interior. The mat is constructed from a unitary piece of high strength plastic. Each flange edge contains an outward radiused edge, while each non-flange edge contains an inward radiused edge. Each flange engages with a corresponding flange on an adjacent tile, allowing the outward radiused and inward radiused edges to properly mate. One or more metal cam locks located along the upper flange edges are secured into corresponding cam receptacles located along the lower flange edge. The mats may utilize optional top covers to prevent water and debris from entering the mats. The modular flooring system provides increased strength and stability and protection of the subsurface in heavy industrial applications.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a discrete-time quantized signal into a continuous-time, continuously variable signal. An exemplary converter preferably includes: (1) multiple oversampling converters, each processing a different frequency band, operated in parallel; (2) multirate (i.e., polyphase) delta-sigma modulators (preferably second-order or higher); (3) multi-bit quantizers; (4) multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters, such as resistor ladder networks or current source networks; (5) adaptive nonlinear, bit-mapping to compensate for mismatches in the multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters (e.g., by mimicking such mismatches and then shifting the resulting noise to a frequently range where it will be filtered out by a corresponding bandpass (reconstruction) filter); (6) multi-band (e.g.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique for controlling one or more devices within a physical room of a structure is provided. One or more devices in the structure are coupled, either directly or indirectly, to a programmable multimedia controller configured to issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the devices. A virtual room-based user interface is displayed on a display screen. The virtual room-based user interface may include one or more virtual rooms, each virtual room including a substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure, including substantially photo-realistic depictions of one or more devices located within the portion of the structure. In response to the selection of a particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction, the programmable multimedia controller may issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of a particular device. The appearance of the particular virtual room may be updated to reflect the changed state.

Abstract: Automated image quality assessment methods, which include locating a region of interest, region assessment, contrast assessment, blur assessment, and contaminant detection, on video data and high-resolution imagery. Where the blur assessment is performed without a reference image by dividing the region into non-overlapping block, measuring the wavenumber frequency of the blocks and calculating the ratio of the low frequency to high frequency areas.

Abstract: An RFID enabled paper roll includes a tubular core, a paper stock wound around the core, and a radio frequency integrated circuit electrically coupled to an antenna and positioned on the core. A system for reading a radio frequency integrated circuit positioned on an item of inventory in a warehouse comprises a material handling device and an RFID reader coupled to the material handling device. The material handling device has at least member for use in transporting an item of inventory. The reader is configured to read the radio frequency integrated circuit associated with the item of inventory when the item is in proximity to the material handling device.

Abstract: A falling film plasma reactor (FFPR) provides a number of benefits for the treatment of process gases. The falling film plasma reactor uses high voltage alternating current or pulsed direct current which is applied to radially separated electrodes to thereby create a dielectric breakdown of the process gas that is flowing within the large radial gap between the two electrodes. Typical plasma reactors often utilize fixed dielectric construction which can result in potential failure of the device by arcing between the electrodes as portions of the dielectric fail. Such failures are prevented by using a dielectric liquid that constantly flows over the electrodes, or over a fixed dielectric barrier over the electrodes.

Abstract: A vertebral body replacement device includes a body member and a central rod member having two threaded portions and configured to be operatively associated with the body member. The device also includes a first end member and a second end member with the end members configured to threadingly engage the threaded portions of the central rod member. The body member and the two end members are further constructed to inhibit rotational movement of the two end members when the device is positioned within a space within a spine as the two end members will engage the adjacent respective vertebral bodies following rotational actuation of the central rod member causing the end members to move in an axial direction relative to the body member, thereby allowing the two end members to apply a force to the two vertebral bodies. A surgical instrument and method for using the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multimedia resource is shared among a plurality of devices based upon a physical location of an active wireless endpoint unit within a structure. Devices are associated with corresponding zones within the structure. Each device provides functionality within the device's corresponding zone. Using one of a number of techniques, the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit is determined to be within a particular zone. In response, one or more devices associated with the particular zone are provided with access to the multimedia control resources. Access is withheld to one or more other devices associated with another zone that is remote from the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit.

Abstract: A cell management system and method for balancing energy across a plurality of cells coupled to a circuit bus. The system can include a transformer, two transformer switches, and for each cell, a first switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the transformer and the cell, and a second switch pair allowing removal or inclusion of the cell in the serial connection of cells. The system can include an energy storage device, a switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the transformer and the storage device, and for each cell, a third switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the storage device and the cell. The system can include cell, bus and storage device sensors and state estimators. The system can include a controller that controls the transformer switches, cell switches, and storage device switches based on the sensor readings and states.