Abstract: A system for communicating with RFID tags is disclosed. The system includes at least one RFID tag and a mobile RFID reader operable to interrogate the at least one RFID tag. The system also includes a first fixed RFID reader operable to interrogate the at least one RFID tag, the first fixed RFID reader configured to receive a request to interrogate the at least one RFID tag from the mobile RFID reader and configured to interrogate the at least one RFID tag based on the request from the mobile RFID reader. Additionally, the mobile RFID reader is configured to send a request to interrogate the at least one RFID tag to the first fixed RFID reader.

Abstract: Improved portable power sources such as batteries, fuel cells, power generators and the like can include structure or apparatus that are adapted to provide an indication of the power capacity remaining within the portable power source. In some cases, these power sources may be configured to accommodate remote communication regarding their remaining power capacity.

Abstract: A system of circumvention and recovery in a multi-function system. The system includes a plurality of peripherals, at least one event detector and a controller. The plurality of peripherals have different levels of susceptibility to environmental events. The at least one event detector is configured to detect environmental events. The controller is coupled to receive an event detected signal from the at least one event detector. The controller is further configured to control circumvention procedures of each peripheral based on the detected event and the level of susceptibility of the peripheral.

Abstract: A collapsible watertight storage system includes a watertight bag, a self-assembling collapsible hoop system, and equipment that keeps said watertight bag from floating. The watertight storage system may provide watertight storage for one or more objects loaded into the bag. The bag may include a vacuum access hole to allow users to remove extra air from the bag for compact storage or to reduce buoyancy, tie-down holes to secure the bag, and a watertight seal. The collapsible hoop system may be expanded inside the bag and may keep the watertight bag distended for loading. The collapsible watertight storage system may be suitable, but not limited to, providing protection from water intrusion, for example, due to leaking roofs, floods, or otherwise elevated water conditions, for objects, such as equipment, appliances, and motor vehicles, that are typically otherwise protected from the environment but where water damage could cause irreparable harm.

Abstract: A method of implementing a circumvention and recovery system comprising conveying peripheral identifiers to a controller, and determining a level of susceptibility of a peripheral to select events based on the peripheral identifier. The method further includes controlling each peripheral based on the level of susceptibility of the peripheral during detection of a select event.

Abstract: A method and system for obstacle mapping for navigation of an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises providing an autonomous vehicle with an image capturing device, and focusing the image capturing device at a predetermined number of different specified distances to capture an image at each of the specified distances. The method further comprises identifying which regions in the captured images are in focus, and assigning a corresponding lens-focus distance to each of the regions that are in focus. A composite image is formed from the captured images, with each of the regions labeled with the corresponding lens-focus distance. A three-dimensional obstacle map is then produced from the composite image. The three-dimensional obstacle map has an x, y, z coordinate system, with x being proportional to pixel horizontal position, y being proportional to pixel vertical position, and z being the lens-focus distance.

Abstract: A battery pack includes battery terminals operable to be electrically coupled to one or more batteries. The battery pack also includes a printed circuit board electrically coupled to the battery terminals. The printed circuit board is operable to receive operating power from the one or more batteries and/or provide operating power to one or more external devices. The printed circuit board could provide power to a transmitter and/or one or more sensors in a process control system. The printed circuit board could also include a transmitter or other industrial instrument. The battery pack further includes a removable carrier attached to the printed circuit board. The removable carrier is operable to be inserted into and removed from a housing in order to insert the apparatus into the housing and remove the apparatus from the housing. The housing could, for example, represent a cylindrical casing forming part of a pipe.

Abstract: A method for assembling a hermetically sealed package to contain a MEMS die and the hermetically sealed package are presented. The method includes selectively applying a glass mixture to a dome. The dome is heated to a first temperature sufficient to flow the glass mixture. The dome is pressed into contact with a carrier containing the MEMS device, the pressing being maintained at a pressure and for a temporal interval sufficient to flow the glass mixture onto the carrier. The dome is cooled while maintaining contact with the carrier, to a second temperature sufficient to allow the glass mixture to harden into a glass frit thereby to seal the carrier to the dome. The glass frit has a seal width.

Abstract: A system comprises at least one non-hardened processor configured to run a plurality of mission related processes; at least one threat detector configured to detect one or more conditions which indicate the onset of a threat to the operation of the at least one non-hardened processor; and at least one hardened processor configured to elevate at least one health monitoring process of the at least one non-hardened processor from a background process to a foreground process when the at least one threat detector detects a condition indicating the onset of a threat, wherein the at least one hardened processor manages the operation of the at least one non-hardened processor based on the results of the at least one health monitoring process.

Abstract: A two-stage radial compressor having a ported second-stage shroud, forming a passive surge control system. Thus, some proportion of the fluid is allowed to flow between the second-stage of the compressor in the vicinity of the impeller blade tips, through a port in the shroud into an upstream portion of the compressor flow path that leads into the second-stage impeller inlet. The fluid is allowed to flow in either direction, depending on the pressure difference existing between the two locations. Surge margin at higher pressure ratios is significantly increased by the ported second-stage shroud.

Abstract: An integrated power and attitude control system and method for a vehicle efficiently supplies electrical power to both low voltage and high voltage loads, and does not rely on relatively heavy batteries to supply power during the vehicle initialization process. The system includes an energy storage flywheel, and a solar array that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The energy storage flywheel is spun up, using electrical power supplied from a low voltage power source, to a rotational speed sufficient to provide attitude control. Then, after the solar array is moved to its deployed position, the energy storage flywheel is spun up, using electrical power supplied from a second power source, to a rotational speed sufficient to provide both attitude control and energy storage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adaptive combustion controller and method for a turbine engine. The adaptive combustion controller and method modulates the fuel flow to the turbine engine combustor to reduce combustion instabilities. In particular, the adaptive combustion controller includes a fuel flow phase controller and a fuel flow magnitude controller. The adaptive combustion controller receives sensor data from the turbine engine. In response to the sensor data the fuel flow phase controller adjusts the phase of the modulated fuel flow to reduce instabilities in the combustor. Likewise, in response to the sensor data the fuel flow magnitude controller adjusts the magnitude of the modulated fuel flow to further reduce the instabilities in the combustor. By modulating the fuel flow to the combustor, and adaptively adjusting the phase and magnitude of the modulated fuel flow, the adaptive combustion controller is able to effectively reduce combustion instabilities.

Abstract: A method and system for degimbalization of sensor outputs is provided. Data output from an embedded GPS inertial navigation system (EGI), which is mounted within a gimbaled system on a vehicle, is processed to provide degimballed navigation data. Generally, motion of the EGI is due to the vehicle motion and the gimbal motion. To provide navigation information relating solely to the vehicle, effects of the gimbal motion within the EGI outputs can be removed.

Abstract: A method for fabrication of single crystal silicon micromechanical resonators using a two-wafer process, including either a Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) or insulating base and resonator wafers, wherein resonator anchors, a capacitive air gap, isolation trenches, and alignment marks are micromachined in an active layer of the base wafer; the active layer of the resonator wafer is bonded directly to the active layer of the base wafer; the handle and dielectric layers of the resonator wafer are removed; viewing windows are opened in the active layer of the resonator wafer; masking the single crystal silicon semiconductor material active layer of the resonator wafer with photoresist material; a single crystal silicon resonator is machined in the active layer of the resonator wafer using silicon dry etch micromachining technology; and the photoresist material is subsequently dry stripped.

Abstract: The present invention provides a single circuit that may have multiple protection functions for a DC voltage power supply. The present invention may include separate circuit modules that are employed individually, or in various combinations. These separate circuit modules include: a temperature and input voltage variation compensated current limit circuit; an inrush and transient current limit combined with an overload and short circuit protection circuit; and a self adaptive short circuit turn-off timing circuit.

Abstract: A method of thermally coupling a flow tube or like component to a thermal sensor comprises bonding the component to the thermal sensor such that thermally conductive portions formed on the component are thermally coupled to corresponding sensing/heating elements disposed on the thermal sensor. The method can be employed to form a capillary mass flow sensor system. Thermally conductive portions, such as metal bands, can be formed on the outer surface of a capillary tube for bonding with corresponding resistive heat sensing and heating elements disposed on the substrate of a micro mass flow sensor. Bonding metal pads can be formed on the sensor surface preparatory to solder bonding the tube metal bands to the resistive sensing and heating elements.

Abstract: When multiple motors (40) share a common DC power supply (10) via a bus (20), a system and method is provided for managing the effect of regenerative energy caused by a motor. The regenerative energy may be sensed, e.g., by a power electronics controller (50, 50?). In response, one or more of the other motors currently in operation may be controlled to operate according to a reduced power factor. Thus, the excess energy is consumed without adding any new components or increasing the amount of work performed in the system.

Abstract: A method of removing undesired signals in an aviation guidance system may include receiving at least one first desired signal having a first frequency of amplitude modulation, receiving at least one second desired signal having a second frequency of amplitude modulation, and receiving at least one undesired signal having any frequency including a frequency that is substantially the same as or a subharmonic of at least one of the first and second desired signals. The first and second frequencies of amplitude modulation are phase synchronous, and the undesired signals are non-synchronous with at least one of the first and second desired signals. The method may also include identifying the undesired signals and removing the undesired signals.

Abstract: A navigation system is described which includes a navigation processor, an inertial navigation unit configured to provide a position solution to the navigation processor, and a digital elevation map. The described navigation system also includes a radar altimeter having a terrain correlation processor configured to receive map data from the digital elevation map and provide a position solution based on radar return data to the navigation processor. A map quality processor within the navigation system is configured to receive map data from the digital elevation map and provide a map quality factor to the navigation processor which weights the position solution from the terrain correlation processor according to the map quality factor and determines a position solution from the weighted terrain correlation processor position solution and the position solution from the inertial navigation unit.