Abstract: An apparatus is electrically connected to a battery unit consisting of multiple batteries, an energy conversion system, and power-driven equipment. The apparatus sets number requirements of batteries to be connected to a discharge unit and a charge unit of the battery unit. When the power-driven equipment is started, the apparatus receives an open-circuit voltage of each battery detected by a sensor connected to the battery, and establishes connections of the batteries with the discharge unit or the charge unit according to the open-circuit voltages of the batteries and the number requirements. During the discharge unit supplying power to the power-driven equipment and the energy conversion system charging the charge unit, the apparatus monitors variations of the open-circuit voltages of the batteries, and switches the connections of batteries with the discharge unit or the charge unit according to associations between open-circuit voltages, cut-off discharge voltages, and nominal voltages of the batteries.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying oxygen masks that includes a pre-packaged modular system that does not require manual repacking of oxygen masks by aircraft technicians. The cartridge is for use with a manifold having a passageway in fluid communication with a source of breathable gas. The cartridge includes an end wall, a sidewall extending from the end wall and terminating at a distal end adjacent to an opening. A flexible member defines a chamber inside the cartridge. The chamber is in fluid communication with the passageway when the cartridge is coupled to the manifold. The flexible member has an outlet. A mask assembly is disposed inside the cartridge. The mask assembly has a hose coupled to the outlet of the flexible member. A cover is removably attached to the distal end of the at least one side wall.

Abstract: A method for detecting a format of a frame in a communication system is presented. An embodiment of the method includes receiving the frame comprising a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. The plurality of OFDM symbols may include at least one signal field symbol. The method further includes determining a modulation associated with the at least one signal field symbol. The modulation may be a first modulation or a second modulation. Also, the method includes estimating a position of the at least one signal field symbol among the plurality of symbols, and extracting a coding rate of the received frame. The method then includes detecting the format of the received frame based on the determined modulation and the estimated position of the at least one signal field symbol, and the extracted coding rate of the received frame.

Abstract: A large screen display drive mechanism. A drum is rotatably mounted to a truss by an axle that extends centrally through the drum and mounted by bearings, in turn, mounted to the truss. A large screen display is wrapable on the drum and is electrically connected by a cable assembly extending through the drum and outwardly thereof through a sprocket fixedly mounted to an end of the drum. The cable assembly is wrapped around a portion of the axle extending outwardly of the drum. A motor with sprocket and chain drives the sprocket attached to the drum.

Abstract: Techniques and structure are disclosed for providing and using an exercise device which is mobile and self-contained. In some instances, the device may include a binding positionable on a user's leg, an anchoring device positionable on the user's torso, and a resistive element which operatively couples the leg binding to the anchoring device. In some such instances, the resistive element may be directed over one or more of the user's shoulders. In some cases, the device can be configured to be used on both of a user's legs. In some instances, the device may be used to exercise (e.g., develop, train, work out, exert, condition, etc.) a user's leg muscles, for example, without outside or otherwise external support/anchoring (e.g., from a person or other stationary object).

Abstract: A connector (A) includes a resiliently deformable resilient receiving portion (35) arranged to traverse an opening area of a lock hole (32) formed in a holder (30) and linked to an inner surface of the lock hole (32) at links (36) on opposite ends in a longitudinal direction. A locking rib (15) projects from a lock projection (12) formed in a housing (10) and extends along the longitudinal direction of the resilient receiving portion (35). The locking rib (15) causes the resilient receiving portion (35) to curve and deform in the process of assembling the housing (10) and the holder (30). Escaping edges (18) are formed on opposite longitudinal ends of a projecting edge (16) of the locking rib (15). The escaping edges (18) are oblique to the longitudinal direction of the resilient receiving portion (35) that is not resiliently deformed, and substantially face the links (36).

Abstract: A system for the non-destructive inspection of a conveyor belt which includes a cover on the carrying side, a cover on the backing side, each cover being made of elastomeric material, and embedded tension members. While the conveyor belt is moving, a radiation source emits rays to the belt surface which are of such high energy that the rays pass through the belt within a region free of material disposed on the belt. A sensor detects the rays passing through the belt. A processor is operatively connected to the sensor and evaluates the result of the radiographic check. The radiation source and the sensor are accommodated in a housing, wherein, between the radiation source and the sensor, there are two housing openings through which the moving belt runs without contact.

Abstract: A terminal fitting (10) includes a terminal main body (11) and a shell (12), which is a component separate from the terminal main body (11). The terminal main body (11) has a fitting portion (18) and resilient contact pieces (14). The shell (12) is a rectangular tube engaged with the fitting portion (18) of the terminal main body (11) and surrounding the resilient contact pieces (14). Even though being relatively expensive, an electrically conductive material such as copper alloy needs to be used as the material of the terminal main body (11) formed with the resilient contact pieces (14). However, an inexpensive material can be used for the shell (12) since electrical conductivity is not required. Therefore, cost can be reduced as compared with the case where a terminal fitting is made entirely of an expensive electrically conductive material.

Abstract: Crater-like intricate indents formed by melting and scattering of a metal surface are provided by irradiating with high density energy such as a laser beam or an electron beam the surface of the metal member. By using the irradiation condition that the crater-like indents have partially overlapped regions, gangue-like prominent portions formed by melting and scattering of the metal surface, a spherical metal splash formed at the top end of the prominent portions, and a roughed surface shape where particulate sputtering formed upon fabrication is secured. Thus, the molded resin intrudes into the constricted space formed by surface roughening to provide an anchoring effect against volume change of the resin in the direction where the resin is peeled from the surface of the metal member.

Abstract: A control valve comprises a first spool 22, a second spool 24 encircling at least part of the first spool 22 and angularly moveable relative thereto, and a sleeve 32 encircling at least part of the second spool 24, the second spool 24 being angularly moveable relative to the sleeve 32, the first and second spools 22, 24 having first and second series of ports 28, 30 registrable with one another, depending upon the relative angular positions of the first and second spools 22, 24, to control communication between at least a pressure line 16, a return line 18 and a control line 50 provided in or connected to the sleeve 32, the second spool 24 and the sleeve 32 having third and fourth series of ports 66, 68, axially spaced from the first and second series of ports 28, 30 and registrable with one another, depending upon the relative angular positions of the second spool 24 and the sleeve 32, to control communication between at least the control line 50 and the return line 18, and latch means 56 operable to resist

Abstract: A boot assembly that reliably seals the secondary containment area utilizing a split boot device that can be installed without disconnecting the primary piping is disclosed. The seal includes first and second containment housings, each supporting a pair of partial ring shaped seals. The containment housings can be positioned about the primary and secondary pipes from opposing sides thereof so that disconnection of the primary pipe is not required to secure the seal in place.

Abstract: Roof ridge vent system adapted for housing a plurality of fans in a central airflow channel positioned directly over the opening in a ridge portion of a roof for ventilating a plurality of vent chutes or attic space comprising: a hood member engaged with outer edge portions of vent members having air-passageway holes defined therein and inner edge portions preferably being hinged respectively to inner edge portions of base members so as to be adapted for installation on variously-pitched roofs, each base member also having outer edge portions defining a wall adapted for blocking wind from being blown into the vent and for causing airflow over the top of the vent to encourage airflow through the vent system. Vent member sections may be installed end-to-end to define an elongated airflow channel adapted for ventilating with or without assistance from the fans.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for reducing the start-up time of an aerobic granular sludge reactor, said process comprising starting said reactor with an active biomass comprising fragmented aerobic sludge granules.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for processing a sequence of images of a scene, the method including: tracking a region of interest in the sequence of images (e.g. using a Self Adaptive Discriminant filter), selecting a particular image in the sequence, selecting a set of images from the sequence, the set of images including one or more images that precede the particular image in the sequence of images; and determining a value indicative of the level of change between the region of interest in the particular image and the regions of interest in the images in the set of images (e.g. using a Change Detection Process).

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a power converter providing a low output voltage from an offline AC. The power converter defines a voltage window for the input AC signal. Inside the voltage window, the rectified DC waveform is passed through to the output and the storage capacitor; outside the voltage window, the power converter is idle (or the output is blocked from input) and let the output storage capacitor alone supply the load.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processing information generated by GNSS receivers received signals such as GPS, GLONASS, etc. GNSS receivers can determine their position in space. The receivers are capable of determining both coordinates and velocity of their spatial movement. When a receiver is used in any machine control systems, velocity vector heading (in other words, velocity vector orientation) should be determined along with velocity vector's absolute value. Angle, determining velocity vector orientation, is calculated based on velocity vector projections which are computed in navigation receivers. The accuracy of velocity vector orientation calculated based on velocity vector projections strongly enough depends on velocity vector's absolute value. To enhance the accuracy, a method of smoothing primary estimates of velocity vector orientation angles using a modified Kalman filter has been proposed.

Abstract: A power on reset signal generating apparatus is provided. The power on reset signal generating apparatus includes a trigger capacitor, a reference current supplying circuit, and a current regulator. One end of the trigger capacitor is coupled to a ground voltage, and the other end of the trigger capacitor generates a power on reset signal. The reference current supplying circuit is coupled to a signal generating end. The current regulator is coupled to the signal generating end, and the signal generating end draws a splitting current to adjust the value of the current received by the trigger capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication and analysis system that can manage data operations with a vehicle centric system with a planned route path. A vehicle that is in a communications link with a network can also manage its activities based on real time, historical and predictive knowledge, without having this all knowledge processing on board. Such data processing would include a cluster analysis of geo-spatial, internal functions and operator specific requirements. The rule based system would also incorporate the use patterns of a specific vehicle, or a specific user. A vehicle operator or vehicle multiple operators could share or upload information that would assist with efficient data processing and display, including fuel conservation and time management. Cluster weighting patterns can be assigned based on activities as efficient operation, safe travel and navigation.

Abstract: There is provided solid imaging methods and apparatus for making three-dimensional objects from solid imaging material. A tray with a film bottom is provided to hold solid imaging material that is selectively cured into cross-sections of the three-dimensional object being built. A coater bar is moved back and forth over the film to remove any uncured solid imaging material from a previous layer and to apply a new layer of solid imaging material. A sensor is provided to measure the amount of resin in the tray to determine the appropriate amount of solid imaging material to be added, from a cartridge, for the next layer. A shuttle, which covers the tray when the exterior door to the solid imaging apparatus is opened for setting up a build or removing a three-dimensional object, can also be used to move the coater bar and to selectively open one or more valves on the cartridge to dispense the desired amount of solid imaging material.

Abstract: The flexible bearing of the wave generator for a wave gear device is a deep-groove ball bearing in which an outer race and an inner race form an annular flexible bearing ring capable of bending in a radial direction. A ball diameter Da is set to be 5 to 15% greater than that of each model of the currently available product. Dimensions of orbital plane radii ro, ri of the inner and outer races are set so that the ratio ro/Da of the orbital plane radius ro of the inner race and the ball diameter Da, as well as the ratio ri/Da of the orbital plane radius ri of the outer race and the ball diameter Da, are both in the range of 0.51 to 0.52. With this configuration, the service life of the flexible bearing can be extended.