Abstract: In a twin-roll continuous caster configured to cast molten steel supplied to a molten metal pool between cooling rolls into a cast piece by, for example, cooling and solidifying the molten steel on the surfaces of the cooling rolls, the pair of cooling rolls each have ridges on the surface thereof, and cast-piece edges and a cast-piece central portion are generated. Specifically, the cast-piece edges are generated by pressing and bonding lateral edges of one of solidified shells to lateral edges of the other solidified shells, the lateral edges of the solidified shells being produced by cooling and solidifying the molten metal on surfaces of collars provided at lateral end portions of the cooling rolls. The cast-piece central portion contains the unsolidified molten steel between the solidified shells and is generated by cooling and solidifying the molten steel on the surfaces of the laterally central portions of the cooling rolls.

Abstract: Various embodiments of electrically-variable transmissions have first and second motor-generators, first and second planetary gear sets, and two torque-transmitting mechanisms, including a rotating-type torque-transmitting mechanism and a stationary-type torque-transmitting mechanism. An input member is connected for common rotation with a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. Carrier members of both of the planetary gear sets are connected for common rotation with one another, and with an output member, via one or more radial-extending hub members and an axial-extending member or shaft. The first motor/generator is connected for common rotation with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set. The second motor/generator is connected for common rotation with the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set. In each embodiment, the various components of the transmission are positioned relative to one another to minimize the number and/or size of interconnecting shafts and shells.

Abstract: A device and method for displaying a caption window is provided. The method receives a first window-defining command by a TV controller, with the first window-defining command including a first window size and first caption content. A first caption data according to the first caption content is generated and stored into a system memory. a first portion of the first caption data stored in the system memory is accessed and displayed. A first offset stored in an offset register is updated to a second offset after a predetermined period. A second portion of the first caption data is accessed and displayed according to the second offset and the first window size.

Abstract: During operation, a node (104) will determine a particular probability of achieving a successful location. When battery resources are below a threshold the node will utilize a minimum probability for success in determining how many time-slots to collect RSSI measurements. However, if battery resources are above the threshold, a higher probability of achieving a successful location than the minimum may be utilized. After the particular probability of achieving a successful location is determined, a number of time-slots (L) are determined. L comprises a number of time slots that the node must remain awake for to achieve the particular probability of achieving a successful location. The node will then remain awake for L time slots, and compute a location based on measurements taken within those L time slots.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel sulfur-containing silane coupling agents, and organic polymers containing carbon-carbon double bonds. These novel silanes can be carried on organic and inorganic fillers. The invention also relates to articles of manufacture, particularly tires, made from the elastomer compositions described herein.

Abstract: Catheters, assemblies, and methods for delivering and recovering embolic protection devices. Catheters are provided that can be advanced over single length guide wires and which can be retracted over single length wire shafts of distal embolic protection devices. One catheter is a two-port catheter having two sidewall ports, a distal end port, and a proximal end port. The two-port catheter can be advanced over a guide wire threaded between the distal end port and the distal sidewall port. An embolic protection device wire shaft can be back loaded into the distal end port and out the proximal sidewall port. A three-port catheter includes a distal end port, and distal, intermediate, and proximal sidewall ports. The distal sidewall port can be dimensioned to accept passage of a filter body through the port. The distal end port can be dimensioned to accept only a guide wire to provide a smooth transition from the guide wire to the small profile distal end.

Abstract: Vehicle foam assemblies and methods of creating vehicle interior trim are provided for placing one or more insert components onto and/or into a foam tool; laying a skin proximate to the one or more insert components; placing a substrate proximate to the skin; and introducing foam to form or re-form the skin against and/or around the one or more insert components.

Abstract: A chopped fiber bundle includes a large number of unidirectionally arranged reinforced fibers. The length of each of the reinforced fibers is in the range of 5 to 100 mm. The chopped fiber bundle has a transition segment in which the number of the reinforced fibers increases toward the central part of the chopped fiber bundle in the aligned direction of the reinforced fibers with both ends in the aligned of the reinforced fibers in the chopped fiber bundle being a starting point. The level of a change in total sectional area of the large number of reinforced fibers is not more than 0.05 mm2 per mm in the aligned direction of the reinforced fibers over the whole area in the longitudinal direction of the chopped fiber bundle.

Abstract: A portable electronic device, such as a flashlight, with a battery pack assembly is provided. The battery pack assembly has a cylindrically shaped housing with a base and a cover that form a chamber to hold a battery pack. A printed circuit board is installed in the cylindrically shaped housing to provide multiple functions to the portable electronic device.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and continuous processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular, methane via the catalytic gasification of carbonaceous feedstocks in the presence of steam. In one aspect of the invention, the processes comprise at least partially combusting a first carbonaceous feedstock with an oxygen-rich gas stream, a recycle steam stream, and an aqueous make-up stream in an oxygen-blown gasifier, under suitable temperature and pressure, to generate a first gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and superheated steam; and reacting a second carbonaceous feedstock and the first gas stream in a catalytic gasifier in the presence of a gasification catalyst under suitable temperature and pressure to form a second gas stream comprising a plurality of gaseous products comprising methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: An air conditioner is provided, in which some of a plurality of outdoor heat exchangers implement a defrosting operation and others implement a heating operation. The air conditioner includes a compressor to compress refrigerant, a hot gas pipe to which a part of the refrigerant compressed in the compressor is moved, a 4-way valve to which the remaining refrigerant compressed in the compressor is moved, an indoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant, having passed through the 4-way valve, undergoes heat exchange with indoor air, and a plurality of outdoor heat exchangers, some of which implement a heating operation as the heat-exchanged refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger is moved therethrough while others implement a defrosting operation as the refrigerant having passed through the hot gas pipe is moved therethrough.

Abstract: A vibratory flow meter (100) for correcting for an entrained phase in a two-phase flow of a flow material is provided. The vibratory flow meter (100) includes a flow meter assembly (10) including a driver (104) and with the vibratory flow meter (100) being configured to generate a vibrational response for the flow material. The vibratory flow meter (100) further includes and meter electronics (20) coupled to the flow meter assembly (10) and receiving the vibrational response. The meter electronics (20) is configured to generate a measured two-phase density of the two-phase flow using the vibrational response, determine the computed drive power needed by a driver (104) of the flow meter assembly (10), and calculate a density compensation factor using a liquid density of a liquid component of the two-phase flow, an entrained phase density of an entrained phase component, the measured two-phase density, and the computed drive power.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a frame alignment processor coupled to a receiver, wherein the frame alignment processor is configured to align a first frame and a second frame in the receiver by matching a first synchronization (sync) pattern predicted using a first sync field in the first frame with a second sync pattern obtained from a second sync field in the second frame. Included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first frame, subsequently receiving a second frame that was transmitted after the first frame, predicting a first sync pattern from a first sync field in the first frame, obtaining a second sync pattern from a second sync field in the second frame, and determining that the first frame and the second frame are aligned when the first sync pattern matches the second sync pattern.

Abstract: A coating device is provided with: a plurality of inkjet heads (31) staggered to cover an area to be coated in a width direction of a long-roll supporting body (10); a pressure adjusting mechanism (40) for adjusting the back-pressure of the coating solution to be applied from inkjet heads (31); a plurality of solution feeding pipes (43) for supplying the coating solution from the pressure adjusting mechanism (40) to inkjet heads (31); and storage tank (50) for storing the coating solution, wherein the feeding volumes of the coating solution from the solution feeding pipes (43) are adjusted equal (i.e. flow resistances of the piping are made equal), so that equal back-pressures are applied to the coating solution to be jetted from the inkjet heads.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus having a station for loading and unloading substrates from the apparatus, includes an aperture closure for sealing a loading and unloading aperture of the station, a fluidic magazine door drive for removing a door of a substrate magazine and thus opening the substrate magazine and for operating the aperture closure to open the aperture, and sensor for mapping vertical locations of substrates mounted to the magazine door of the drive. The fluidic magazine door drive may include an encoder different from the sensor, the encoder being configured for determining the vertical location of the sensor.

Abstract: A deployment control system provides controlled deployment of an embolic protection device which may include a guide wire, an expandable filter attached to the guide wire near its distal end, and a restraining sheath that maintains the expanded filter in a collapsed position. The deployment control system includes a torque control device which allows the physician to torque the guide wire into the patient's anatomy and a mechanism for preventing the guide wire from buckling as the restraining sheath is being retracted to deploy the expandable filter. A recovery control system for recovering the embolic protection device includes an inner catheter which extends within a lumen of an outer recovery sheath in a coaxial arrangement. A distal portion of the inner catheter extends beyond another recovery sheath during advancement of the recovery system into the vasculature. The recovery sheath can be advanced over the inner catheter to collapse the expandable filter.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for cracking a biocrude, particularly catalytically cracking a biocrude that primarily includes olefmic hydrocarbons. Also described herein are compositions and methods of producing such compositions that are useful as fuels or fuel production feedstock.

Abstract: An accessory-holding assembly is provided for holding portable accessories on a set of handlebars. The assembly includes an elongate member sized to receive two or more general-purpose clips often associated with portable accessories. The elongate member may be part of an accessory holder that can be removed, with the accessories still attached, from the handlebars. This allows a rider to remove a plurality of portable accessories from the handlebars in a single action so that the rider can carry the entire accessory holder, including the accessories, into an area where bicycles are not permitted (e.g., an office). The elongate bar may also be attached to a bracket at its two ends to define a space therebetween so that part of each general purpose clip can be inserted into the space. If the space has proper dimensions, the clip is not likely to fall out while the rider is riding.

Abstract: A system and method for a bi-directional bend resistor are disclosed. The bidirectional deflectable resistor has a variable resistance stack on a top surface of a substrate having a resistance that changes predictably when an electrical signal is applied thereto. The change of resistance of the variable resistance stack reflects an amount of deflection of the bi-directional bend resistor. The variable resistance stack allows for the measurement of deflection of the bi-directional bend resistor in all directions.