Abstract: The preferred orientation, or planar oscillation plane, of a golf club shaft is located by measuring the oscillation of the shaft when a horizontal impulse is applied and from those measurements determining an orientation in which the oscillation would be substantially planar. In a preferred embodiment an iterative process is used to converge on the preferred orientation. The location of the preferred orientation may be marked on the shaft and used to assemble a golf club with the planar oscillation plane in a predetermined orientation. The assembly of the golf club can be done manually—e.g., in a refitting situation—or automatically—e.g., in a new club manufacturing setting.

Abstract: A system and method for simplifying the testing and manufacturing process of multi-board solid-state storage systems. The system is constructed by placing secondary non-volatile memory components onto every board in multi-board system that carries primary solid-state components. This allows separate or independent testing of the boards, and final construction of the solid-state system by simply connecting these boards, without the need to either test the completely constructed system or to transfer geometry, faulty location and auxiliary records if the boards have been tested independently.

Abstract: A power amplifier has a feedback loop to control the signal level thereof. A current sensing amplifier in the feedback loop is controlled to remove any offset. The input signal is compared with a reference level. When the input signal is below the reference level, an offset compensation value for the current sensing amplifier is stored. When the input signal is above the reference level, the previously stored offset compensation value continues to be applied. The circuit is of particular application in a TDMA radio transmitter.

Abstract: A portable battery-operated electronic device authenticates/identifies a charging unit in order to prevent an incompatible and/or poorly designed or constructed charging unit from possibly damaging the portable battery-operated electronic device. The authentication/identification is effectuated over a wireless interface (e.g., using Bluetooth transceivers) when a portable battery-operated electronic device detects connection to a charging unit. The portable battery-operated electronic device requests data related to source and/or compatibility of the charging unit. If data is received and it indicates a proper source and/or compatibility, the portable battery-operated electronic device permits the charging. Otherwise, the portable battery-operated electronic device executes an action, such as preventing charging and/or memorializing information about the risky charging.

Abstract: Novel vapor compression evaporative cooling systems which use water as a refrigerant are provided, as are methods for using same. Also provided are novel compressors, compressor components, and means for removing noncondensibles useful in such cooling systems.

Abstract: A prepaid communications account is shared by at least a first subscriber and a second subscriber whereby access to the prepaid account is locked in response to a first prepaid call originating from the first subscriber. A first portion of the total prepaid talk time in the account is allocated to the first prepaid call. The total prepaid talk time is updated as a first updated prepaid talk time by subtracting the first portion from the total prepaid talk time; unlocking access to the prepaid account; and, while the first prepaid call is ongoing, locking access to the prepaid account in response to a second prepaid call originating from the second subscriber. A second portion of the first updated prepaid talk time is allocated to the second prepaid call. The first updated prepaid talk time is updated to provide a second updated prepaid talk time by subtracting the second portion from the first updated prepaid talk time; and access to the prepaid account is unlocked.

Abstract: A multiphase induction motor system is disclosed. The system comprises a motor having at least five phases and comprising a stator and a rotor. For each phase, the motor receives a command current to power the motor, where the command current has a fundamental frequency. A processor determines, for each phase, at least one harmonic component of a signal indicative of the fundamental frequency, generates a command current from the harmonic component and the fundamental frequency, and supplies the command current to the stator. A method for operating a multiphase induction motor system is disclosed. A first command current is supplied to a motor having at least five phases, where the first command current powers the motor. The first command current has a fundamental frequency, and the motor comprises a stator and a rotor. For each phase, at least one harmonic component of a signal indicative of the fundamental frequency is determined.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and system for sensing of one or more analytes. A host molecule, which serves as an adapter/carrier, is used to facilitate interaction between the analyte and the sensor element. A detectable signal is produced reflecting the identity and concentration of analyte present.

Abstract: A building board comprises a core of gypsum which has penetrated a glass fiber sheet embedded in one face and a coating of gypsum integral with the core material which has passed through the sheet. An apparatus for making such a board includes; a lower forming surface and an upper forming surface defining a forming zone between them in which the plasterboard is formed. A supply of a first slurry is provided to the lower forming surface. A supply of a second slurry is provided to a glass fiber sheet to coat the upper surface of the sheet with the second slurry. A device is provided for passing the coated sheet into the forming space, whereby the lower surface of the sheet contacts the upper surface of the first slurry. A vibrator roller is provided for vibrating the upper forming surface so that the first slurry passes through the sheet into the second slurry. A method of making the board is also disclosed.

Abstract: A weapon barrel includes a hard chromium layer provided on an inner barrel surface. The hard chromium layer contains at least 500 fissures/cm in a cross-sectional plane.

Abstract: A vacuum bed (110,210,310,410,510) for holding an article on and to the top sheet (25) of the bed is disclosed. The top sheet (25) includes a plurality of holes (34) therein. The bed further has a bottom sheet (21) spaced apart from and below the top sheet (25). A vacuum chamber (30) is formed between the bottom and top sheets (21,25). A vacuum source (8) in communications with the vacuum chamber (30) draws air through the holes (34) in the top sheet (25) forming a vacuum zone (120,220,320,420,520). Means are disclosed within the vacuum chamber (30) to control and adjust the size of the vacuum zone created on the top sheet (25) to hold articles of different widths and heights.

Abstract: This invention is related to flow meter instrumentation. More particularly, the invention is related to obstruction flow meters which are used in series in a flow conduit to determine the volume flow rate of liquid and gas phases of fluid flowing within the conduit. Multiple flow meters including at least one obstruction type flow meter are positioned serially within a flow conduit such as a pipe. Mathematical equations are developed for each flow meter based upon measured quantities and phase flow rates within the liquid stream. These equations are then solved simultaneously to obtain the desired phase flow rates. Two flow meters are used to determine the gas and liquid flow rates. Alternately three flow meters are used to determine the flow rates of a gas and two liquid phases.

Abstract: A communication device is provided having a speech encoder and a speech decoder and being able to retrieve and store voice messages in a memory. The messages are stored in the memory according to a message format. This format is more compressed than the speech encoding format which is provided by the speech encoder. The device includes a frame interpolation block for decompressing a stored message and thereby creating a signal according to the speech encoding format. A frame decimation block is also provided for compressing a speech encoded signal thereby allowing a corresponding voice message to be stored in the memory according to the message format.

Abstract: An apparatus for lining up micro-balls in accordance with the present invention includes: ball carrying pallets having a plurality of pits for holding the micro-balls, respectively, on its surface, a pallet holder for holding the ball carrying pallets, a lining-up container defining a sealed chamber in association with the pallet holder hermetically fitted thereto, a storing tank for storing liquid carrier in which micro-balls are dispersed, and applying/collecting device for communicating the storing tank with the lining-up container via a passage to supply the micro-balls together with the liquid carrier from the storing tank to the sealed chamber and return the surplus micro-balls together with the liquid carrier from the sealed chamber to the storing tank.

Abstract: A method of supporting functionality for roamer port calls in a radio telecommunications network in which Number Portability (NP) is implemented, the network having a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs) and home location registers (HLRs). The network includes a roamer port MSC having a roamer port which is shared with at least one neighboring MSC. A number portability database (NPDB) associates a location routing number (LRN) with each distinct MSC/HLR pair in the network. When a roamer port call, which includes the mobile directory number (MDN) of the called mobile station, is received in the roamer port MSC, the roamer port MSC determines whether the MDN falls within a ported range. If so, a request is sent to the NPDB to retrieve a LRN for the called mobile station. From the LRN, a HLR associated with the mobile station is identified.

Abstract: A method includes providing a starting material having a Young's modulus (202). Second, from a plurality of possible modifiers, a modifier is identified and selected that has a Young's modulus comparable to or greater than that of the starting material and that, when blended with the starting material, creates a blend with a stable morphology (204). Third, the scratch resistance of the starting material is increased by blending the modifier with the starting material to form a blend (206). Alternatively, the scratch resistance of the stating material is maintained while the toughness of the starting material is increased by blending the modifier with the starting material to form a blend.

Abstract: A receptacle for receiving telephone plug and wide-band cable plug includes a body with a terminal having at least 8 pins connected to the body and an inlet defined in the body. A first recess and a second recess are respectively defined in the body so as to respectively receive a first checking member and a second checking member. The first checking member has a first contact portion and the second checking member has a second contact portion which extends in the inlet so that when a smaller telephone line plug is inserted in the inlet, the second contact portion is not pushed, and the second contact portion is pushed to contact the first contact portion when a lager wide-band cable plug is inserted in the inlet.

Abstract: A treatment for urushiol induced contact dermatitis is provided for in a topical treatment. According to the invention, a method is provided for applying a composition of substances to the effected area, working the composition into the effected area, and removing the composition from the effected area. The composition comprises at least one ethoxylate in combination with Sodium Lauryl Sarcosininate (or “SLS”). It is believed that this combination binds to the available urushiol receptors rendering it inactive. The affinity of the receptors for the ethoxylates also appears to cause a release of the urushiol from its epidermal bonds for bonding to the composition. An inert scrubbing agent, such as polyethylene beads, can also be included to assist in the release of the urushiol. Acetylated lanolin alcohol, sodium lauroyl sarconinate, EDTA, a foam stabilizer, and water can also be added to the composition without effecting performance.