Abstract: A mounting device for a directional component, such as a forward-facing transducer or sonar. The mounting device can have a housing portion and a pole portion. The housing portion can include a main body positioned between a top cover and a bottom cover. The main body can have an interior sidewall. A portion of the interior sidewall can have a gear portion. The pole portion can have a gear interface portion that interfaces with the gear portion of the interior sidewall of the main body. As the main body rotates around an axis, the gear portion can turn the gear interfacing portion of the pole portion around the pole axis. The gear ratio can allow for the pole to rotate a rate at least two times greater than the rotation of the main body.

Abstract: A power controller is provided. The power controller has a peak current setting unit utilized for deciding a peak current value according to a divided input voltage and a current limit turn-on time value. The comparator sends a first trigger signal once a current value of a power switch of the power system reaches the peak current value. The turn-on time calculation module defines the number of current limit operations by using the count of first trigger signals received in a calculation time period and then processes a recursive calculation to calculate a turn-on time value according to the current limit turn-on time value, the number of current limit operations, and a target number of current limit operations. The timer transmits a second trigger signal when the set turn-on time value is counted. The switch control module turns off the power switch when receiving one of the first and the second trigger signal.

Abstract: A converter control system includes an analog-to-digital converter, a filter and a control module. The analog-to-digital converter digitalizes a different-time and a real-time feedback voltage. The filter bases on the different-time feedback voltage to sample a historical average feedback voltage. The control module receives the real-time feedback voltage, bases on the historical average feedback voltage to detect a load status of the converter, and bases on the real-time feedback voltage and the historical average feedback voltage to derive a voltage difference. The control module applies a control duty cycle to control the load switch. While the control module detects that the load status switches to a heavy-load status and the voltage difference reaches the threshold voltage, the control duty cycle is increased. While the control module detects that the load status switches to the light-load status and the voltage difference reaches the threshold voltage, the control duty cycle is decreased.

Abstract: A power control system is electrically connected to a power function circuit including a power circuit, a coil module, a switch, and a load circuit, and includes at least one timer, a zero-current trigger unit, a status control unit, and a driver unit. The status control unit has a first status interval, a second status interval, a third status interval and a fourth status. The power control method triggers the status control unit to change the status interval when a counting time reaches one specific time interval corresponding one status interval. When a coil voltage of the coil module drops to zero from a voltage larger than a positive threshold voltage in the third status interval or the fourth status interval, the status control unit triggers to change the status interval, re-enters the first status interval, resets the timer, and triggers the driver unit to open the switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inhibiting the motion of a vehicle comprising a housing having a cavity, the cavity adapted to contain a net so that the net may be made available for release on command; tire engagement spikes supported by the housing, the spikes being movable to a first position to engage the tires of an oncoming vehicle, the spikes also being movable to a second position to avoid tire engagement, the spikes being positioned to grasp the net when in the first position; and an actuator for moving the spikes between the first and the second positions on command, wherein the spikes comprise at least two barbs adapted to penetrate a pneumatic tire, the spikes also having a hook for grasping a loop of the leading edge of the net.

Abstract: A fall arrest assembly having belay lines and anchor stations extending between support structures and which slidably receive a shuttle mounted to a person traversing the belay lines, the assembly including a mounting plate having a plurality of openings therethrough and a supporting extension fixed rigidly thereto and wherein the support extension carries a shuttle guide coupled to the belay lines and configured for slidable passage of a shuttle there over, and a plurality of anchor elements having a section configured to extend through the plurality of openings in the mounting plate and clamps for securing the anchor elements to the support structures.

Abstract: An anchor system for a personal fall protection system having belay lines extending between vertical supports includes modular components adapted to be mounted to virtually any structure while permitting the installation of one or two belay line runs. A mounting plate interfaces with the vertical support, while one or two support plates are supported by the mounting plate and by anchor elements extending through each of the plates. Each support plate includes a shuttle guide and is configured to connect to belay line segments running between successive anchor systems and forming the complete belay line course. The fall protection system is further provided with a transfer station that allows a person to transfer from one belay line to another.

Abstract: We have found that to effectively shield inductively coupled RFID systems, the shield does not have to be present on all the sides of the device. It is also not required that one side be covered completely. In fact, a shield of any shape that allows a current to flow in a closed loop may be enough to shield the RFID. The only requirement is that the back electromagnetic field (EMF) from the shield induces sufficient flux to cancel all or part of the magnetic flux coming from the reader. It is possible for the shield to work even if the induced flux is small: the shift in the self-inductance of the RFID or contactless card coil due to the presence of the material in the shield can be enough to cause a shift in a resonant frequency of the circuit and thus in the power delivered to the chip. The current invention is a shield that does not completely cover a smartcard or RFID tag and/or has a hole or void within the shield.

Abstract: A fall arrest assembly having belay lines (3) and anchor stations (4) extending between objects (2) which is adapted to slidably receive a shuttle (10) coupled to a person traversing the belay lines (3), the assembly (1) comprising a mounting plate (6) defining a plurality of openings (7) therethrough, characterized in that the assembly (1) further comprises: —a support extension (8) fixed rigidly to said mounting plate (6), said support extension (8) carrying a shuttle guide (9) thereon; —said shuttle guide (9) configured for slidable passage of a shuttle (10) thereover and further configured to be coupled to the belay lines (3), a plurality of anchor elements (11) having a section configured to extend through said plurality of openings (7) in said mounting plate (6), means of clamping the anchor elements (11) around an object (2).

Abstract: We have found that to effectively shield inductively coupled RFID systems, the shield does not have to be present on all the sides of the device. It is also not required that one side be covered completely. In fact, a shield of any shape that allows a current to flow in a closed loop may be enough to shield the RFID. The only requirement is that the back electromagnetic field (EMF) from the shield induces sufficient flux to cancel all or part of the magnetic flux coming from the reader. It is possible for the shield to work even if the induced flux is small: the shift in the self-inductance of the RFID or contactless card coil due to the presence of the material in the shield can be enough to cause a shift in a resonant frequency of the circuit and thus in the power delivered to the chip. The current invention is a shield that does not completely cover a smartcard or RFID tag and/or has a hole or void within the shield.

Abstract: Wearable systems for providing situational awareness in battle or combat type conditions. More specially, modular, wearable, weapon integrated computer systems for gathering and transmitting data, wherein the systems include components tailorable for specific conditions or missions. Further provided are hardware and software for controlling such wearable systems and for communicating with remote system wearers.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for measuring and/or analyzing the rollover characteristics of a vehicle 12. Apparatus 10 includes a controller 14, a selectively movable test fixture assembly 16, a truck or towing vehicle 18 which is coupled to trailer assembly 16 and which selectively tows or drives assembly 16, several cameras 22, 24, 26 and 28, and a user interface 30. Vehicle 12 is attached to test fixture 16, and user interface 30 is used to activate motor assembly 36 which selectively rotates vehicle 12 to a desired roll angle 90 relative to the ground surface 43. Once vehicle 12 is correctly positioned, an operator drives truck 18 at a predetermined and desired speed. Controller 14 generates release signals to exploding bolts 86, 88, which simultaneously explode, thereby releasing vehicle 12 from frame 32.

Abstract: Aiming apparatus rotatably attachable to optical sights e.g. conventional optical or laser sights which selectively permits the aiming of a weapon from a variety of cover positions. More specifically, aiming apparatus which may be field switched from an “aim from cover” mode to a conventional aim mode and which is connectable to a weapon sight in a 360 degree rotatable manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting optical sights or other weapon accessories which locates the weapon accessories (e.g. optical sights, laser range finders, night scopes, etc.) at a reduced distance relative to the position of the barrel of a weapon.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for bulge testing films (e.g. thin films, coatings, layers, etc.) is provided, as well as membrane structures for use in bulge testing and improved methods of manufacturing same so that resulting membrane structures have substantially identical known geometric and responsive characteristics. Arrayed membrane structures, and corresponding methods, are provided in certain embodiments which enable bulge testing of a film(s) over a relatively large surface area via a plurality of different freestanding membrane portions. Improved measurements of film bulging or deflection are obtained by measuring deflection of a center point of a film, relative to non-deflected peripheral points on the film being tested. Furthermore, membrane structures are adhered to mounting structure in an improved manner, and opaque coatings may be applied over top of film(s) to be bulge tested so that a corresponding optical transducer can more easily detect film deflection/bulging.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for bulge testing films (e.g. thin films, coatings, layers, etc.) is provided, as well as membrane structures for use in bulge testing and improved methods of manufacturing same so that resulting membrane structures have substantially identical known geometric and responsive characteristics. Arrayed membrane structures, and corresponding methods, are provided in certain embodiments which enable bulge testing of a film(s) over a relatively large surface area via a plurality of different freestanding membrane portions. Improved measurements of film bulging or deflection are obtained by measuring deflection of a center point of a film, relative to non-deflected peripheral points on the film being tested. Furthermore, membrane structures are adhered to mounting structure in an improved manner, and opaque coatings may be applied over top of film(s) to be bulge tested so that a corresponding optical transducer can more easily detect film deflection/bulging.

Abstract: A small punch test apparatus is used to determine true stress and true strain in a ductile polymeric material as it undergoes deformation by the punch head. The information gathered can be used comparatively to assess the acceptability of a body implant subjected to sterilization against similar information obtained on another implant of the same polymer already known to be acceptable.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for bulge testing films (e.g. thin films, coatings, layers, etc.) is provided, as well as membrane structures for use in bulge testing and improved methods of manufacturing same so that resulting membrane structures have substantially identical known geometric and responsive characteristics. Arrayed membrane structures, and corresponding methods, are provided in certain embodiments which enable bulge testing of a film(s) over a relatively large surface area via a plurality of different freestanding membrane portions. Improved measurements of film bulging or deflection are obtained by measuring deflection of a center point of a film, relative to non-deflected peripheral points on the film being tested. Furthermore, membrane structures are adhered to mounting structure in an improved manner, and opaque coatings may be applied over top of film(s) to be bulge tested so that a corresponding optical transducer can more easily detect film deflection/bulging.