Abstract: A robotically mateable connector has a flying-lead plug unit and a receptacle unit adapted for releasable mating engagement with the plug unit. The plug unit includes a robotic manipulator grip assembly. A rear end shell which includes a cable attachment fitting holds a plug module having an outer surface carrying a plurality of axially spaced, annular contacts of gradually decreasing diameter towards a forward end of the module, and is rotatable relative to a plug front shell. The receptacle unit contains a receptacle module having a bore containing spaced annular contact seats of gradually increasing diameter designed for engagement with the plug contacts when the plug and receptacle units are fully mated. This provides a robotically actuated electrical connector that requires no rotational keying and relieves cable torque.

Abstract: A filtering system that may include a backwashing unit that is arranged to clean the filter when the filtering system operates in a backwashing mode; a first pipe that is couples the first auxiliary input to a first auxiliary output of the at least one auxiliary outputs; a second pipe that couples the second auxiliary input to a second auxiliary output of the at least one auxiliary output; wherein at least one of the first and second pipe comprises an external portion that is external to the input chamber, the intermediate chamber and the backwash chamber; wherein when the filtering system operates at the backwash mode, the backwash chamber maintains a backwash pressure that is lower than (a) an input chamber pressure that is maintained in the input chamber, and (b) an intermediate chamber pressure that is maintained within the filter.

Abstract: An electronic headset for a user, the headset including a housing; a first microphone to receive a first audio input provided by the user; a second microphone to receive a second audio input provided by one or more audio sources other than the user; a controller converting the first audio input into a first electronic signal when the controller operates in a first operational mode and converting the second audio input into a second electronic signal when the controller operates in a second operational mode; a first output system active in the first operational mode to communicate the first electronic signal to a second electronic device; a second output system active in the second operational mode and including a sound generator to convert the second electronic signal into an audio signal; and a mode control for setting the controller into one of the operational modes.

Abstract: A method for purifying fluids and a sedimentation tank, the sedimentation tank includes: a perforated plate spaced from an upper and of the sedimentation tank dividing the sedimentation tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; an inlet adapted to inlet fluid into the tank; a first outlet, positioned above the perforated plate for outletting a clarified fraction of the fluid; a second outlet positioned at a bottom of the tank, for outletting a concentrated sludge fraction of the fluid; a pump; and a washing mechanism, positioned at least partially above the perforated plate; wherein the pump is adapted to provide a washing fluid to the washing mechanism when a level of fluid in the sedimentation tank is below a predefined level; and wherein the washing mechanism washes an upper surface of the perforated plate by the washing fluid.

Abstract: A method for purifying fluids and a sedimentation tank, the sedimentation tank includes: a perforated plate spaced from an upper and of the sedimentation tank dividing the sedimentation tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; an inlet adapted to inlet fluid into the tank; a first outlet, positioned above the perforated plate for outletting a clarified fraction of the fluid; a second outlet positioned at a bottom of the tank, for outletting a concentrated sludge fraction of the fluid; a pump; and a washing mechanism, positioned at least partially above the perforated plate; wherein the pump is adapted to provide a washing fluid to the washing mechanism when a level of fluid in the sedimentation tank is below a predefined level; and wherein the washing mechanism washes an upper surface of the perforated plate by the washing fluid.

Abstract: A rotary joint connector has a plug having a plug contact module and a mating receptacle having a receptacle contact module designed for mating engagement with the plug contact module when the connector is fully mated. One of the units has front and rear shells which are rotatably coupled together and contain the contact module which is held in the rear shell so that the rear shell and contact module are free to rotate in the front shell. The mating contact arrangement is such that the plug and receptacle contact modules do not have to be rotationally aligned to maintain electrical contact, so that relative rotation of the electrical contacts of the two contact modules about the mating axis as a result of rotation of the rear shell does not degrade the quality of the connected circuits.

Abstract: A robotically mateable connector has a flying-lead plug unit and a receptacle unit adapted for releasable mating engagement with the plug unit. The plug unit includes a robotic manipulator grip assembly. A rear end shell which includes a cable attachment fitting holds a plug module having an outer surface carrying a plurality of axially spaced, annular contacts of gradually decreasing diameter towards a forward end of the module, and is rotatable relative to a plug front shell. The receptacle unit contains a receptacle module having a bore containing spaced annular contact seats of gradually increasing diameter designed for engagement with the plug contacts when the plug and receptacle units are fully mated. This provides a robotically actuated electrical connector that requires no rotational keying and relieves cable torque.

Abstract: A rotary joint connector has a plug having a plug contact module and a mating receptacle having a receptacle contact module designed for mating engagement with the plug contact module when the connector is fully mated. One of the units has front and rear shells which are rotatably coupled together and contain the contact module which is held in the rear shell so that the rear shell and contact module are free to rotate in the front shell. The mating contact arrangement is such that the plug and receptacle contact modules do not have to be rotationally aligned to maintain electrical contact, so that relative rotation of the electrical contacts of the two contact modules about the mating axis as a result of rotation of the rear shell does not degrade the quality of the connected circuits.

Abstract: An electronic headset and audio enhancement method that improves remote and direct conversations conducted in a noisy environment.

Abstract: A submersible connector has releasably mateable plug and receptacle units. The plug unit has at least one electrical pin while the receptacle unit has at least one electrical socket module which receives a forward portion of the electrical pin when the units are mated. The pin is surrounded by semi-conductive seals and a conductive housing, while the socket module has a semi-conductive outer layer, and front seals of semi-conductive material on the pin and socket modules are in sealing engagement in the mated condition, isolating the pins from sea water exposure and forming a ground plane continuation at least from receptacle to plug in the mated condition and providing shielding from phase to phase interaction in a multiple pin and socket connector.

Abstract: A keyless harsh environment connector has a plug unit containing a pin having an outer surface carrying a plurality of axially spaced, annular contacts of gradually decreasing diameter towards a forward end of the pin, and a receptacle unit having a fluid-filled chamber containing a corresponding number of axially spaced, annular contacts of gradually increasing diameter towards a forward end of the receptacle unit, configured for mating engagement with corresponding contacts on the plug pin when the units are mated. A sealing mechanism at a forward end of the chamber seals the chamber when the units are unmated and forms a seal with the plug pin on mating of the units. The plug pin is hollow and extends through an interface between opposing seals at the front end of the receptacle contact chamber during mating.

Abstract: A multiple layer conductor pin for a harsh environment connector or penetrator has a conductive shaft, an outer layer of non-conductive, insulating material extending along at least part of the length of the shaft, and an intermediate layer of conductive or semi-conductive material sandwiched between the outer layer and conductive shaft and bonded substantially void-free to the outer insulating layer.

Abstract: An electrical penetrator assembly has a ceramic housing with a through bore, a first electrical conductor extending through a first end of the bore and terminating short of a second end of the bore and having an outer end engageable with a first cable, and a second electrical conductor extending through a second end of the bore and terminating short of the first end of the bore, the second conductor having an outer end engageable with a second cable. The conductors are in electrical communication at their inner ends and at least one of the conductors is movable relative to the other conductor to accommodate expansion and contraction as a result of temperature variations, and first and second seals extend between respective ends of the ceramic housing and the first and second conductor, respectively.

Abstract: A submersible connector has releasably mateable plug and receptacle units. The plug unit has at least one electrical pin while the receptacle unit has at least one electrical socket module which receives a forward portion of the electrical pin when the units are mated. The pin is surrounded by semi-conductive seals and a conductive housing, while the socket module has a semi-conductive outer layer, and front seals of semi-conductive material on the pin and socket modules are in sealing engagement in the mated condition, isolating the pins from sea water exposure and forming a ground plane continuation at least from receptacle to plug in the mated condition and providing shielding from phase to phase interaction in a multiple pin and socket connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing lengths of flexible elongate elements between two fixed points has a single spool with a track of predetermined width sufficient for winding alternate turns of the elongate element about opposite side regions of the track in a folded figure eight pattern. A first turn of the elongate element is wound about a first side region of the track, then the element is crossed over to the second side region of the track and a second turn is wound about the second side region of the track. The elongate element is crossed back over to the first side region and a third turn is wound about the first side region. The process is repeated until at least the majority of the slack between the fixed points on the element has been taken up.

Abstract: A submersible connector has releasably mateable first and second connector units. The first connector unit has at least one electrical pin extending through a bore in a retaining base and projecting outward from the forward end of the base. The second connector unit has at least one electrical socket module which receives a forward portion of the electrical pin when the units are mated. A pin seal device is located in one of the connector units and has a through bore which engages part of the pin at least in the mated condition of the units. The seal device has a first and second seals in sealing engagement with portions of the connector units when mated, and a chamber between the seals extends over an opposing portion of the pin at least in the mated condition of the units.

Abstract: A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium carrying program instructions for verifying a fingerprint when executed using a computing system, the executed program instructions executing a method, the method: producing a test image of a fingerprint-under-test; producing a test ridge map from the test image and a reference ridge map from each of one or more reference fingerprint images; extracting fingerprint points of interest from the ridge maps; screening candidate reference ridge maps based upon a correspondence between the points of interest from the reference ridge maps and the points of interest from the test ridge map wherein the correspondence includes a first threshold and one or more candidate ridge maps having the correspondence within the first threshold are included in a set of candidate ridge maps; comparing local ridge data surrounding one or more points of interest of the test ridge map within a second threshold with local ridge data surrounding corresponding one or more po

Abstract: First and second connector units each have a contact chamber with a front wall having an opening closed by a stopper. Seals in the respective openings surround and seal the stoppers prior to mating. The stopper in the first connector unit is retracted into the housing during mating while the front wall of second connector unit is retracted into its housing during mating, pushed back by the front wall of the first connector unit, separating the stoppers from the end wall openings and allowing communication between the contact chambers through a passageway defined by the aligned openings. The seals in the end walls seal the passageway during and after mating. A contact assembly in the first connector unit moves transversely into alignment with the passageway for contact with a corresponding fixed contact assembly in the second connector unit as the units move into mating engagement.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, method, and computer program product for ridge map formation. The method for processing an image data structure to extract a feature defined by a plurality of contiguous data elements includes identifying a set of candidate image feature pixels, the set including one or more pixels from the image data structure; examining local image data surrounding one or more pixels of the set of candidate image feature pixels to identify a set of potential image feature pixels with each of the potential image feature pixels having a characteristic consistent with being associated with the feature; and identifying the feature in the image data using the set of potential image feature pixels by locating one or more of the plurality of contiguous data elements neighboring one or more pixels of the set of potential image feature pixels. The computer program product includes instructions executable by a processing unit, and those instructions perform the feature extraction as described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a universal wireless security device that provides multiple access control functions in one device without subjecting an owner to increased risk arising from unauthorized use. Authorization is established via one or more biometric characteristics of a user attempting to operate the device.