Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of extending the life of thin walled tubing by austempering the tubing in a controlled continuous run process involving heating, quenching, and cooling the tubing pursuant to predetermined process parameters. The invention is also directed to a process for austempering tubing having a welded seam and for relieving residual stress in the weld. The invention is further directed to the product of the above processes as well as an austempered weld stress relieved thin walled tubing and such tubing in combination with other apparatus with which it is suitable for use in the production of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Vehicle including a system for preventing injury to an occupant's head and neck during a rear impact includes a support structure for supporting the occupant including an upper body support portion for supporting the occupant's head and neck. The support structure has a deformable upper body support portion which may be filled with a fluid such as air, liquid or a gel and deforms during a rear impact to support the entire back, neck and/or head of the occupant. The upper body support portion may be moved to a support location, regardless of the detection of a crash (a passive mode), or moved only prior to an anticipated impact as determined by a crash sensor (an active mode).

Abstract: System and method for reacting to a impact involving a motor vehicle in which an anticipatory sensor system assesses the probable severity of the impact based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiates deployment of an external safety device via an actuator in the event an impact above a threshold probable severity is assessed. The anticipatory sensor system includes receivers for receiving waves or energy and a pattern recognition system for analyzing the received waves or energy, or data representative thereof, to assess the probable severity of the impact. The pattern recognition system ascertains the identity of an object from which the waves or energy have been emitted, reflected or generated. The pattern recognition system includes a processor embodying a pattern recognition algorithm designed to provide an output of one of a number of pre-determined identities of the object.

Abstract: Printed circuits having conductive traces applied adjacent to a substrate, such as one where the traces have a resistivity of from about 1 to about 0.1 ohms/square, and methods for forming a fluid composition receiving layer adjacent to a substrate. One such method includes depositing a primary treatment fluid having a particle dispersion and a binder in a carrier fluid adjacent to at least a portion of a substrate to provide a treated substrate having a fluid composition receiving layer. The primary treatment fluid is deposited in a pattern using a: micro-fluid ejection head. After deposition, the carrier fluid content of the fluid composition receiving layer is reduced.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for classifying an occupying item in a seat includes at least one force sensor arranged to measure the force applied to the seat at time intervals, and a processor coupled to the force sensor(s) for receiving the force measurements therefrom. The processor analyzes the force measurements from each force sensor over time to discern patterns in the force measurements and analyzes any discerned pattern to determine if it approximates a known pattern indicative of an animate object or an inanimate object. The processor may be trained to discern patterns providing information about the occupying item by conducting tests in which different occupying items are placed in the seat and measurements of the force applied to the seat are obtained by the force sensor, before, during and after placement of the occupying item in the seat.

Abstract: System and method for preventing whiplash injuries to an occupant, in particular, during rear impacts, includes a movable headrest associated with the seat and a system for positioning the headrest adjacent a head of the occupant in an impact involving the vehicle. This latter system includes an anticipatory crash sensor system arranged to produce an output signal when an external object is approaching a rear of the vehicle at a velocity above a predetermined velocity, a headrest movement system arranged to move the headrest and a sensor system arranged to determine when the headrest contacts or is proximate the occupant's head. Upon the determination of a pending rear impact between the object and the vehicle, the output signal is produced by the crash sensor system and the headrest is moved into a position in contact with or proximate the occupant's head as determined by the sensor system.

Abstract: The invention relates to azeotropic and azeotrope-like mixtures of HFC-32, HCl, and Cl2, and processes for separating the azeotrope-like mixtures of HFC-32 and HCL and HFC-32, HCL and Cl2.

Abstract: A cover is adapted to form part of a housing of a laser scanning unit. The cover comprises a main body having walls for defining at least one opening adjacent a lens located in a base of a laser scanning unit housing. At least one of the walls comprising seal structure formed integral with an adjacent portion of the one wall. The seal structure is adapted to engage a side portion of the lens so as to seal a gap between the lens side portion and the one wall.

Abstract: A method and system for detection and remediation of sensor degradation in a monitoring device is disclosed. The method comprises defining or selecting a monitor signal, and setting at least one monitor signal range bounded by one or more upper thresholds and one or more lower thresholds for detecting degradation and/or shut-off. At least one measured sensor output signal is selected from the monitoring device that is within the monitor signal range. A predicted proxy sensor signal is generated concurrently with the measured sensor output signal in real-time. The predicted proxy sensor signal is blended with the measured sensor output signal when shut-down is impending or close to being recovered from. The predicted proxy sensor signal is used in place of the measured sensor output signal when the monitor signal crosses an upper or lower shut-off threshold during a shut-off period. The measured sensor output signal can be used once again when the shut-off period ends.

Abstract: A decorative laminate includes a core layer, a decorative layer and an optional overlay layer. The core layer includes one or more resin impregnated paper sheets. The decorative layer includes a dry paper sheet (i.e., one without any resin impregnation). A plurality of geometric patterns is printed on the decorative paper sheet with photoluminescent material of different colors, where the resulting patterns of different colors are simultaneously visible when exposed to ultraviolet light. The optional overlay layer includes one or more resin impregnated paper sheets. The decorative layer paper sheet is stacked with the core layer and the optional overlay layer, when utilized, and laminated under heat and pressure to form the decorative laminate.

Abstract: A system and method to deliver a pre-recorded audio broadcasted promotional message (advertising, commercial, announcement, or other related activities) to people in the public when the targeted users use a prepaid telephone calling card to make a call. As an incentive to entice users in the public to use this unique calling card, the card will be provided either FREE, sold at deep discount to the users, or credit for additional minutes in usage to other calling card that the users possess. In return, the inventors plan to collect advertising revenues from their clients to cover the expenses of producing the calling cards and the promotional messages and obtain profit. The promotional message will be short but mandatory during the first and/or each calling card usage. Once the promotional message is broadcasted, it is followed by normal usage for the remaining duration of the calling card.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a networking hardware element (1100, 3100) capable of coupling together computer network elements (1010) includes a network diagnostic mechanism (2140) and a display (2110, 3110, 5110). The display is electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and is capable of displaying network information and additional information.

Abstract: System and method for conveying information from a vehicle to a fixed structure includes a data generating system arranged on the vehicle to obtain and/or generate information about conditions around the vehicle, one or more data processing facilities each arranged at a fixed structure or fixed location to process information about the vehicle, and a communications system coupled to the data generating system for communicating with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) and arranged to enable the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet to the data processing facility. The data generating system may obtain or generate information about at least one of a road on which the vehicle is traveling, environmental conditions around the vehicle, traffic in the vicinity of the vehicle, and construction in the vicinity of the vehicle.

Abstract: A printing blanket is provided including a base layer, a print layer, and at least one barrier layer positioned against the print layer which functions to substantially reduce or eliminate the penetration of printing chemicals and other liquids below the print layer of the printing blanket. The barrier layer may comprise a variety of polymers or rubbers. The barrier layer may include fillers or absorbent materials therein to improve the barrier properties of the layer.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a hybrid radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes circuitry, a battery, and a first antenna. The circuitry includes one or more passive RFID elements and one or more semi-active RFID elements operable to transmit and receive communications to and from one or more RFID tag tracking systems. The battery is coupled to the one or more semi-active elements. The first antenna is coupled to the passive RFID elements and to the semi-active RFID elements, the first antenna comprising a shape that defines a first open area and a second open area. The circuitry is positioned within one of the first and second open areas defined by the shape of the first antenna, and the battery is positioned within the other of the first and second open areas defined by the shape of the first antenna.

Abstract: Electrical system in a vehicle includes crash sensor systems each arranged to sense a crash involving the vehicle and occupant protection systems each including an occupant protection device arranged to protect an occupant in the event of a crash involving the vehicle. The crash sensor system(s) and the occupant protection system(s) are connected to a bus and supplied with power by the bus and communication through the bus. Each occupant protection device is actuated in the event of a crash involving the vehicle as sensed by a crash sensor system. Each occupant protection system may include a power supply for providing power to enable actuation of the occupant protection device, diagnostic circuitry for self-diagnosis, an occupant sensor and a controller for controlling actuation of the occupant protection device based on a signal received from a crash sensor system over the bus, and data from the occupant sensor.

Abstract: Methods for improving adherence of conductive traces, such as in a printed circuit, and circuits having conductive traces formed in accordance with such methods. One such method includes depositing a fluid composition receiving layer adjacent to a substrate, and depositing a gradient layer adjacent to the fluid composition receiving layer. The gradient layer is comprised of a fluid composition providing the fluid composition receiving layer and a fluid composition providing a conductive layer. A conductive layer composition is deposited adjacent to the gradient layer to provide the conductive layer.

Abstract: An electric machine is disclosed herein comprising a core with a plurality of slots, the core including an insertion side and an opposing side. A winding arrangement is provided in the plurality of slots of the core. The winding arrangement is comprised of a plurality of differently shaped hairpin conductors. Each of the plurality of differently shaped hairpin conductors includes at least one leg inserted into one of the plurality of slots, with a leg end of the at least one leg extending from the opposing side of the core. All the leg ends extending from the opposing side of the core are bent the same number of slots and connected to immediately adjacent leg ends at the opposing side of the core. Thus, all connections between the differently shaped hairpin conductors are provided at the opposing side of the core.

Abstract: Stable concentrated suspensions readily dispersible in water comprising one or more agricultural solids, a single non-ionic surfactant and a water-soluble glycol liquid. The agricultural solids include fertilizers, adjuvants, herbicides, pesticides and combinations thereof approved for use with foods. The non-ionic surfactant is an alkyl-phenoxy-poly(ethylenoxide)alkanol, an ethoxylated aliphatic C11 to C15 alcohol, an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer or an ethoxylated fatty acid. Preferably, the surfactant has an average molecular weight from about 300 to about 1000. The water-soluble glycol liquid is ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof. The agricultural solid particles are at least about 99 wt. % passable through a Tyler #48 sieve. The suspensions of the invention exhibit physical stability during normal storage conditions, good pourability, and are readily dispersed in water.

Abstract: A novel inbred maize line designated PHC78 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize line PHC78 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHC78 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred line PHC78 or a trait conversion of PHC78 with another maize line. Inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHC78, methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHC78 and the inbred maize lines and their parts derived by the use of those methods.