Abstract: A waterproof connector has a housing (21) with cavities (22) for accommodating terminal fittings (40). A wire insertion tube (24) is integral to the housing (21) and receives wires (41) connected with the terminal fittings (40). Rubber plugs (42) are mounted on the wires (41) for liquid-tight sealing between the outer circumferential surfaces of the wires (41) and the inner circumferential surface of the wire insertion tube (24). A back retainer (50) retains the rubber plugs (42) in the wire insertion tube (24). Engaging projections (54) project out from the back retainer (50) and engaging recesses (30) are formed in the wire insertion tube (24) to engage the engaging projections (54). Bevels (32) are formed at the inner circumferential surface of the wire insertion tube (24) along opening edges (31A) of the engaging recess (30) extending in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the wire insertion tube (24).

Abstract: An anchor for an implantable sensing device, a sensor unit formed by the anchor and sensing device, and a surgical procedure for implanting the sensor unit for monitoring a physiological parameter within a cavity of a living body, such as an intracranial physiological property. The anchor includes a shank portion and a head portion. The shank portion defines a distal end of the anchor and has a bore defining an opening at the distal end. The head portion defines a proximal end of the anchor and has a larger cross-sectional dimension than the shank portion. The sensor unit comprises the anchor and the sensing device placed and secured within the bore of the anchor so that a sensing element of the sensing device is exposed for sensing the physiological parameter within the cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly severing a decoy towline extending from an aircraft by a mechanical spring actuated cutting blade and a thermal fuse type of release mechanism eliminating a pyrotechnic actuation device. The cutting blade is biased toward cutting engagement with the towline by a preloaded coil compression spring retained in the loaded position by a length of a polymer cord. The polymer cord has a heater wire wrapped about a portion of the cord which is connected to a DC voltage supply. The heater wire melts the cords when electrically connected to the DC power supply which releases the restraint on the spring which then drives the cutting blade into severing engagement with the towline.

Abstract: A system and method that modifies the behavior of the IEEE 802.1D STP standard to thereby decouple the one data domain from the one control domain involves managing multiple spanning tree protocol (STP) instances in a virtual local area network (VLAN). The method includes the step of assigning a unique set of ports within the VLAN to each of the multiple STP instances. Then, each of the multiple STP instances are managed to keep each of the multiple STP instances separate. Finally, when a topology change is detected in one of the multiple STP instances, entries that have been learned on the unique set of ports assigned to the STP protocol instance where the topology change is detected are fast-aged or transitioned from one state to another.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying tension to a cable in a regulator system, include: permitting the cable to slide over a length of the peripheral surface extending between an entry point and exit point on a cable guide tensioner; and urging the cable guide tensioner to rotate where the rotation results in varying at least one of the length and a distance between the entry point and exit point, and induce tension in the cable.

Abstract: A system and method for simulating an attention (AT) command test of a mobile phone reads an AT function from an AT script file. If the AT function is a passive request function, the AT function is executed directly. If the AT function is an active request function, the system receives an AT request from an application program of the mobile phone. The AT request is converted into environment variables recognizable by the AT script file. If the environment variables match the AT function, the AT function is executed and an AT response is generated. The application program receives the AT response.

Abstract: A system including nanostructure arrays for converting carbon dioxide to an organic compound, e.g., methanol, which does so, for example, without any external electric energy. In one embodiment, the system for converting carbon dioxide to an organic compound includes an array of nanotubes, which include nanoparticles of an electron mediator, e.g. palladium, dispersed on a surface of the nanotubes, and an electrically conductive fluid. The array of nanotubes is at least partially immersed in the electrically conductive fluid. The system further includes a light source that irradiates the array of nanotubes, a source of carbon dioxide, and an inlet for delivering the carbon dioxide to the electrically conductive fluid whereat at least a portion of the carbon dioxide is converted to a different organic compound, such as methanol, via contact with an irradiated array of nanotubes. In one example, the array is an ordered array of titania nanotubes.

Abstract: Electrodes with a multilayer or monolayer composite separator are described. The multilayer composite separator comprises multiple individual composite separator layers. Each individual composite separator layer comprises inorganic particulate material(s) and organic polymer(s) with different inorganic particulate material/polymer weight ratios. The multilayer composite separator layer is constructed in a way such that the composite separator layer adjacent to the electrode active material contains a higher weight percentage of the inorganic particulate material and lower weight percentage of the organic polymer than the composite separator layer outermost from the electrode current collector. Laminated cells comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a laminated multilayer or monolayer composite separator layer are described, wherein at least one of the electrodes has a multilayer or monolayer composite separator disposed onto the surface of the electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering process materials in a bulk delivery system includes a plurality of pumps arranged in series along a material supply line, wherein the capacity of each pump is such that less than all of the pumps operating simultaneously can provide a desired level of system performance for a given application. In at least one preferred embodiment, a plurality of pumps include three pumps are arranged in series. Preferred embodiments provide several benefits over a parallel arrangement of two larger pumps including, in the case of a single pump failure, that the remaining pumps are signaled to increase speed to restore system performance to restore supply line pressure with less perturbation than that realized in a two-pump, parallel arranged system. Methods are also provided herein for determining which of the three pumps is a failed pump in such a case.

Abstract: An apparatus for position finding, including a light source to produce a wave field in a measurement section, a wave field variation device to generate a variation of a wavelength of the wave field over time, an interferometer to produce an interference pattern for the wave field which is dependent on the length of the measurement section, a detector to produce a measurement signal on the basis of the detected interference pattern, and an evaluation circuit to evaluate the measurement signal on the basis of the variation over time.

Abstract: A portable apparatus having an electronic control system and a control method thereof are provided. The portable apparatus comprises an operation system, an accessing device and a basic input/output system (BIOS), and the electronic control system comprises a G-sensor and an embedded controller (EC) for initializing the G-sensor, wherein the G-sensor senses the acceleration of the portable apparatus and compares the acceleration value with the threshold value. The operation system comprises an application program (AP) and an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI). When the acceleration value is higher than the threshold value, the G-sensor sends out a first signal to the EC, and the EC sends out a second signal to the BIOS, and the BIOS sends out a third signal to the ACPI, and the ACPI sends out a fourth signal to the AP to give a park command for parking the reading head of the accessing apparatus.

Abstract: A novel low cost separation process for separating lipid oil from an algal biomass for biofuel production is described herein. The process of the present invention comprises of two steps: (i) breaking the algae cells and (ii) separation of the lipid oils from the broken cells. The separated lipids are extracted by conventional techniques followed by conversion to a biofuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting incidents within an area covered by CCTV network. Specifically, the present invention relates to utilising detections of gunshots to autonomously direct CCTV cameras to cover an area in which a gunshot was detected. The present invention provides a method for automatically directing CCTV cameras, wherein said CCTV cameras are each equipped with a microphone and are at known positions, comprising: filtering sounds received at each said microphone to detect a sound of a gunshot at at least three of the said CCTV cameras; triangulating a position of the gunshot from the three or more CCTV cameras known positions; and sending commands to the CCTV cameras around the position of the gunshot to point at the position of the gunshot.

Abstract: A probe apparatus and method of terminating a probe that probes a semiconductor device with a signal cable from a tester side by side at a proximal end of the probe and a distal end of the signal cable. In one embodiment, the probe apparatus includes: a chassis; a dielectric block mounted in the chassis for retaining the probe, the probe extending on the chassis from a proximal end of the probe to the dielectric block, extending through the dielectric block, and projecting from the dielectric block towards the semiconductor device at a distal end of the probe; and a terminating apparatus, mounted in the chassis, for terminating the proximal end of the probe with a distal end of the signal cable side by side.

Abstract: A remote lighting control system is for remote lighting control of a plurality of discharge lamps. This system has the installed electronic ballasts of each discharge lamp. Each electronic ballast has a transceiver and a controller, the transceiver exchanges control information with the controller. The control command contains the identifiable information to specify one of a plurality of electronic ballasts. When the transmitter is received the control command, the transceiver transfers the received control command to other electronic ballasts further. Moreover, if the control command is the one that the identifiable information specifies own ballasts, the control information based on the received control command is send to own controller, and the controller control the discharge lamp. According to this system, when a lot of lamps was arranged the factory etc. comparatively widely, the user's remote control is not limited to the narrow scope.

Abstract: A spray nozzle is provided that includes a nozzle body. The nozzle body has a fluid passageway extending from an upstream opening in the nozzle body. The fluid passageway has a longitudinal axis. A plurality of spray tips are provided with each supported on the nozzle body. Each spray tip has a discharge orifice in communication with the fluid passageway and configured to discharge fluid in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fluid passageway.

Abstract: A DCS protocol message addressed to a remote DCS station is generated at a local distributed control system (DCS). The DCS protocol message is received at a local tunneling device. The local tunneling device packages the DCS protocol message into a SCADA protocol message. The SCADA protocol message is transmitted from the local tunneling device to a remote tunneling device. The remote tunneling device receives the SCADA protocol message. The SCADA protocol message is unpackaged into a DCS protocol message at the remote tunneling device, and the DCS protocol message is placed on to a remote DCS such that it flows to the remote station. The DCS protocol message is received at the remote station.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of hydrocarbons that are solid or have a high boiling temperature and may be laden with metals, sulfur or sediments, into liquids (gasolines, gas oil, fuels) with the help of a jet of gas properly superheated between 600 and 800° C. The process comprises preheating a feed 5 in a heater 8 to a temperature below the selected temperature of a reactor 10. This feed is injected by injectors 4 into the empty reactor 10 (i.e., without catalyst.) The feed is treated with a jet of gas or superheated steam from superheater 2 to activate the feed. The activated products in the feed are allowed to stabilize at the selected temperature and at a selected pressure in the reactor and are then run through a series of extractors 13 to separate heavy and light hydrocarbons and to demetallize the feed. Useful products appearing in the form of water/hydrocarbon emulsions are generally demulsified in emulsion breaker 16 to form water laden with different impurities.

Abstract: A microneedle-replaceable roller and stamp comprises a main body having a handle portion and a microneedle plate or sheet that is detachably mounted to the main body. According to the roller and stamp, inexpensive and sanitary application can be ensured.

Abstract: An automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser. Servicing the automated banking machine by on-site servicer is facilitated through use of a portable diagnostic article which can instruct the machine computer to gather machine diagnostic data and then record the gathered machine diagnostic data onto the portable diagnostic article. The gathered diagnostic data recorded on the portable diagnostic article can then be analyzed by an analysis computer. The machine computer can verify that a portable diagnostic article is authorized to instruct the machine based on obtaining a secret code from the portable diagnostic article.