Abstract: A electrolyte for use in electrolytic platinum plating that results in reduced Cl, S, or P contaminant production. The bath comprises 0.01 to 320 g/lit of platinum in the form of the platinum salt dinitrodiammine platinum, [Pt(NH3)2(NO2)2] or variants thereof and 0.1 to 240 g/lit of alkali metal carbonate M2CO3 or bicarbonate MHCO3 where M is selected from a group comprising lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb) and cesium (Cs). A method of improving oxidation resistance of a platinum modified aluminide diffusion coating on a substrate, comprises electroplating the substrate using this electrolyte and then aluminizing the electroplated substrate at an elevated temperature to grow a platinum modified aluminide diffusion coating.

Abstract: Molded green parts are fused together to form a bond or joint during the sintering process. The molded green parts are held in intimate contact with each other and sintered at temperatures sufficient to fuse the parts together. The process may entail dry fusing of part-to-part or it may include the use of a flux between the parts being fused together to enhance the bond.

Abstract: A microbolometer film material VOx having a value such that the thermal coefficient of resistance is between 0.005 and 0.05. The film material may be formed on a wafer. The VOx material properties can be changed or modified by controlling certain parameters in the ion beam sputter deposition environment. There is sufficient control of the oxidation process to permit non-stoichometric formation of VOx films. The process is a low temperature process (less than 100 degrees C.). Argon is used for sputtering a target of vanadium in an environment wherein the oxygen level is controlled to determine the x of VOx. The thickness of the film is controlled by the time of the deposition. Other layers may be deposited as needed to form pixels for a bolometer array.

Abstract: A filter module for use with a room air-purifying system. The filter module includes a housing and a filter. The housing forms an air inlet, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The outlet ports are configured for fluid connection to commercial ductwork. The filter is maintained by the housing and is configured to retain air-borne contaminants. During use, airflow passes from the filter to the outlet ports. By incorporating at least two outlet ports, the filter module preferably assumes a low-profile configuration, thereby facilitating installation of the filter module at any desired location relative to a room of interest.

Abstract: An ultrasonic distance measuring system for monitoring railroad car loads. The system includes an ultrasonic transducer, a pulse generation and detection circuit and a measurement circuit. The transducer produces a transmitted ultrasonic pulse beam to be directed at a load in a railroad car and receives a return pulse beam from the load. The pulse generation and detection circuit is coupled to the transducer and causes the transducer to produce the transmitted pulse beam. A return pulse beam is detected by the pulse generation and detection circuit. The measurement circuit is coupled to the pulse generation and detection circuit and generates a measurement signal representative of the load as a function of the time delay between the transmitted and return pulse beams.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a computer program product are provided for accurately determining the vertical speed of an aircraft in a manner independent of signals provided by an air data computer, an inertial reference system and an inertial navigation system. Initially, a first vertical velocity of the aircraft is determined based upon a pressure altitude value associated with the aircraft. A second vertical velocity of the aircraft is also obtained from a GPS receiver carried by the aircraft. The first and second vertical velocities are then combined to determine the vertical speed of the aircraft. In this regard, the first and second vertical velocities are combined by complimentarily filtering the first and second vertical velocities. More particularly, the first vertical velocity is typically low pass filtered to remove high frequency noise that is attributable to the relatively low resolution of the first vertical velocity value.

Abstract: An electric control valve for a heavy duty vehicle air parking brake system. The system uses latching electrically controlled solenoid air valves to control the parking brake systems of the tractor and trailer. The system allows electric control devices to be placed in the vehicle's instrument panel. The system maintains a previously set state of the system even in the event of a loss of electrical power to the controller. Indicator lamps provide park status information to the vehicle driver.

Abstract: A microsensor housing having a structure with at least one inlet at one end and a thermal property sensor at the other end. Situated between the inlet and the sensor is a convection shield. Sampled fluid is taken in the inlet from a channel carrying the fluid to be sampled. The convection flow lines of the fluid are barred by the convection shield. The fluid is diffused into a cavity between the shield and sensor. The sensor detects a thermal property of the diffused fluid. One preferred shield has holes about its perimeter with a solid center part of the shield covering at a distance the sensor. The channel carrying the fluid may have screens to reduce turbulence noise and to aid in fluid transport to and from the sensor housing.

Abstract: An adapter is designed to connect a member such as a shaft to the hub forming the output element of an actuator. The adapter includes a connection feature which attaches to the member, and a shaft which mates with the bore in the actuator hub. The adapter has a resilient arm attached to the end of the shaft and which extends through the bore. The shaft also carries a stop element. The arm carries a retainer feature at its end. With the shaft mated with the bore, when the arm is undeflected the retainer feature engages an adjacent end surface of the hub to lock the adapter into place. The arm can be deflected to disengage the retainer feature from the hub and allow the adapter to be removed. In one embodiment, the end surface of the hub and the retainer surface are beveled or slanted to strongly oppose axial loads and yet to allow the adapter to withdraw from the hub's bore upon deflecting the arm.

Abstract: Environmentally safe, non-mercury electronic switches having a sphere lubricated with an arc suppressant. Electronic tilt switches utilize an electrically conductive sphere and have good resistance to physical damage of the sphere caused by electrical arcing. A conductive sphere is coated with a lubricant that partially fills a hollow housing and prevents the electricity from pitting and corroding the ball.

Abstract: A current regulator for a laser tube used in a ring laser gyroscope includes a ballast resistor coupled to the laser tube's anode, an output for the current, such as a current sensing resistor, a current source coupled between the ballast resistor and the output, a control circuit that establishes the amount of current flow through the current regulator, and a voltage divider that senses the voltage across the current source. The current source includes two transistors coupled in series and the voltage divider generates a voltage level that is half the sensed voltage differential and supplies the generated voltage level to one of the transistors so as to control the voltage drop across that transistor to be the same as the voltage drop across the other transistor. The current source may include more than two transistors in series and the voltage drops across the transistors are controlled to be the same.

Abstract: A filter assembly for use with a commercial air filtration unit. The filter assembly includes a frame, a sorbent material filter, and a primary particulate filter. The frame defines an upstream portion and a downstream portion, with the upstream portion forming a lip. The sorbent material filter is coupled to the downstream portion. Conversely, the primary particulate filter is coupled to the upstream portion of the frame. In this regard, the primary particulate filter defines an inner face and an outer face. Upon assembly, the inner face is adjacent the sorbent material filter and the lip projects upstream of the outer face. During use, the lip provides a receiving surface for installation within a housing, while preventing damage to the filter materials. Further, the filter assembly can be selectively maneuvered to a partially released position relative to the housing whereby the filter assembly hangs freely from the housing, supported at the lip.

Abstract: A rectification error reducer for a fiber optic gyroscope, which is an intensity servo or compensator for reducing vibration effects in the optical signals caused by modulation at vibration frequencies induced by the gyroscope-operating environment. The vibration effects may be detected in signals from the photodiode output in amplitude form, which is used in a control system to null out optical intensity variations at the frequencies of vibration.

Abstract: A coupling comprises blade flexures that connect two end members through which control rods extend to cross members that are attached near the mid-points of the blade flexures, providing stable-linear load reaction means for use as end pivots for linkages where stick-slip motion is undesirable. The blade flexures are housed in a rigid cage comprising four separators that are attached to end members, and the flexures are attached to the end members by the separators.

Abstract: A portable electric appliance including a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path therebetween; a conditioner disposed in the air flow path and operable to condition air in the air flow path; a power source; and an electrical switch connected between the conditioner and the power source and having an actuator movable between an inactive position and at least one active position, the switch in its one active position transmitting power from the source to the conditioner, and in its inactive position preventing power transmission therebetween. Also included is a lock mechanism including a release element adapted for predetermined movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, the actuator and release element being shaped and arranged to require independent manipulation by, respectively, first and second body parts; and in its locked position the element prevents the given movement of the actuator, and in its unlocked position allows the given movement of the actuator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a multilayer opaque coating on an integrated circuit or multichip module. First, an opaque coating composition is heated to a molten state and the molten opaque coating composition is applied so as to form an opaque coating that overlies active circuitry on the surface of the integrated circuit or multichip module, to prevent optical and radiation based inspection and reverse engineering of the active circuitry. Further coatings are applied over the opaque coating to shield the active circuitry of the integrated circuit or multichip module from the adverse affects of electromagnetic interference and/or high energy radiation.

Abstract: A local station and a remote station are connected by a single pair of conductors. The local station communicates with the remote station by modulating a power supply within the local station which provides power on the conductor pair for operating the remote station. The remote station modulates its impedance, causing a change in current flow on the conductor pair which the local station can detect. In this way both stations can transmit data to each other at the same time and while the local station is providing operating power to the remote station.

Abstract: An emergency brake backup system is achieved by selectively interconnecting the air suspension as an additional reservoir to the air brake system. That is, if the charging system or primary reservoir fails, compressed air in the air spring reservoirs is used as an energy source to supply the pressurized air required for brake function. This can be achieved with minor modification to existing tractor and trailer brake systems that employ air suspension assemblies.

Abstract: A primary flight display (PFD) for an aircraft generating a 3-dimensional (3D) symbology indicative of the aircraft situational information. The 3D symbology includes a 3D vertical path error symbol and a 3D lateral flight path error symbol. Several 3D altitude symbols are also displayed which collectively render a 3D representation of the aircraft situation. The 3D symbology enhances the pilot's awareness of the aircraft situation to accurately control the aircraft, and to easily to monitor the performance during manual and automatic flight.

Abstract: A spark plug is provided having a copper core side wire including a nickel alloy sheath rolled over the end of the copper core. When the side wire is welded to the steel shell of the spark plug, the rolled over portion of the sheath provides enhanced surface area for bonding to the steel shell. Further, a central portion of the copper core is in direct contact with the steel shell for enhanced thermal conductivity.