Abstract: A common signaling method are apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that enables communication in under-utilized radio frequencies by receiving a master beacon, scanning radio frequencies included in the master beacon, and establishing communications using an unoccupied radio frequency from one of the listed radio frequencies. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method of communicating over a wideband communication channel divided into a plurality of sub-channels comprises dividing a single serial message intended for one of the plurality of communication devices into a plurality of parallel messages, encoding each of the plurality of parallel messages onto at least some of the plurality of sub-channels, and transmitting the encoded plurality of parallel messages to the communication device over the wideband communication channel.

Abstract: A chain pin or pin element for connecting chain links together to form a section of a chain for conveying products along a conveyor line or path of a material handling system includes a shaft portion and a head portion at at least one end of the shaft portion. The shaft portion is received through respective chain links to define a joint of the section of chain, while the head portion or head portions retain the pin at the links. At least one head portion of at least some of the pins includes a reservoir and a channel formed therein. The reservoir is configured to receive a lubricating fluid, such as from a lubricating device of the material handling system, while the channel functions to distribute the lubricant from the reservoir and toward and onto the shaft portion of the pin to lubricate the joint of the chain.

Abstract: A section of chain for conveying product along a material handling system includes a pin connecting a center link between two side links. The pin may be dialable or selectably positioned at the side links to control and adjust the wear surface of the pin relative to the chain links. The pin may have a rotationally non-symmetrical shaft portion to provide different wear surfaces that engage a center link of the section of chain. The different wear surfaces may be sized and shaped to accommodate wear at the wear surface of the center link. The shaft portion may include a rotationally non-symmetrical ball member or portion on the shaft portion to enhance flexibility of the section of chain. The pin may be dialed to the next position or wear surface in response to an output of a wear measurement device or system.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband pulse modulation system and method is provided. One method of the present invention includes transforming data into a ternary data set with data being represented with states of zero, positive one and negative one. The modulation and pulse transmission method of the present invention enables the simultaneous coexistence of the ultra-wideband pulses with conventional carrier-wave signals. The present invention may be used in wireless and wired communication networks such as hybrid fiber-coax networks. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: There is provided an inexpensive and easy-to-use security system whose setting can be changed freely by a user using a target to be managed by the security system and whose presence is not easily perceived by an intruder. The security system comprises security targets and a management system which manages the security targets. The security target comprises a plurality of activation switches which generate activation signals and a plurality of partial signal generating sections that generate partial signals which can constitute a predetermined sequence signal upon receipt of activation signals generated from the activation switches, in accordance with predetermined relationships with these activation switches. The management system compares partial signals generated from the partial signal generating sections with predetermined sequence information and gives an alarm when they do not match each other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that transmit ultra-wideband pulses through twisted-pair wire media are provided. One method includes transmitting an ultra-wideband pulse through the twisted-pair wire media at dissimilar time periods. Another method includes transmitting an ultra-wideband pulse through the twisted-pair wire media at dissimilar radio frequencies. Yet another method includes transmitting an ultra-wideband pulse through the twisted-pair wire media at dissimilar time periods and at dissimilar radio frequencies. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Golf training devices and methods of using a training device, that includes primary for putting and chipping. The invention can include an attachment socket for attaching the device on top of a hand grip of a golf club and a plate extending from the top of the attachment socket at a bent angle approximately 45 degrees in elevation and at a twisted angle or preferably approximately 15 degrees away from the body of the golfer so that it rests against the lower inner forward forearm of a golfer during putting and chipping. The plate is narrow on a proximal end and wider on a distal end where it is slightly concave to conform to the shape of the forearm. The device is removably attached to the golf club by a fastener on the attachment socket having a threaded hole with an adjustment screw tightening an inner clamp against the grip of the golf club so that the grip of the golf club is fastened in the attachment socket.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating, transmitting and receiving ultra-wideband pulses through wire media are presented. One embodiment of the present invention transmits ultra-wideband pulses that occupy radio frequencies that are not used by other electromagnetic signals present in a wire medium of interest. Other embodiments of the invention may create, transmit, and receive ultra-wideband pulses that use radio frequency(s) that are not used by other signals present on wire media within a wire network of interest. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The present invention is a receiver having a radio frequency (RF) front end, a pulse detector operatively coupled to the RF front end, and a data recovery unit operatively coupled to the pulse detector. The data recovery unit is configured to receive spread spectrum RF signals having different pulse repetition frequencies and using different modulation techniques. The receiver may operate in conjunction with a transmitter as a transceiver. The receiver may also operate in a networked environment in which a network of transceiver node devices comprise a first slave transceiver having a receiver configured to receive spread spectrum signals, and a second slave transceiver configured to communicate with the first slave transceiver. Additionally, a master transceiver is in communication with the first slave transceiver and the second slave transceiver. The master transceiver is configured to manage data transmissions and synchronization between the first slave transceiver and the second slave transceiver.

Abstract: A friction stir spot welding device includes a tool head configured for traveling in a first direction towards a workpiece and in a second direction away from the workpiece. A weld tool is rotatably coupled relative to the tool head and includes a free end. The weld tool travels in concert with the tool head. A clamping mechanism is supported by the tool head and substantially surrounds at least the weld tool. The clamping mechanism travels in concert with the tool head and includes a free end defining a contact surface. A portion of the clamping mechanism is movable relative to the tool head between a first position, in which the contact surface is positioned further from the tool head than the free end of the weld tool, and a second position, in which the contact surface is positioned closer to the tool head than the free end of the weld tool. Biasing means bias the clamping mechanism to the first position.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are provided for bridging data to and from different communication physical layers and protocols. The present invention comprises a communication system structured to “bridge” between conventional, narrowband carrier wave communication technology and ultra-wideband communication technology. The present invention may be used in wireless and wire communication networks such as hybrid fiber-coax networks. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna array is provided. One embodiment of the present invention employs a multi-element antenna for UWB beam forming and also for time-of-arrival vector processing to resolve multi-path problems in an UWB communication system. Another embodiment of the present invention recovers the energy contained in the multi-path reflections to increase signal-to-noise ratios of received UWB pulses.

Abstract: Synchronization is maintained among a plurality of network devices having local clocks that participate in a network. A first packet is broadcast from a first network device to other network devices that participate in the network. The first packet includes a global time reference derived from the local clock of the first network device. The clocks of the network devices that receive the first packet are adjusted to be closer to the local clock of the first network device. A first network local time reference and a second network local time reference may be maintained for a device that participates in a first network and a second network. A free running clock is maintained on the device. The difference between the free running clock and a first network global time reference is determined. A first network offset is calculated to account for the difference between the free running clock and the first network global time reference.

Abstract: A wireless communication network system apparatus which provides for isochronous data transfer between node devices of the network, which provides at least one master node device which manages the data transmission between the other node devices of the network, which avoids or reduces interference from other wireless products and which resolves random errors associated with wireless technology including multipath fading. The system provides a communication protocol which shares the wireless transport medium between the node devices of the network, and which provides each node device on the network a designated transmit time slot for data communication.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus structured to transmit a plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through an electric power medium is provided. One embodiment of the method comprises an ultra-wideband transmitter structured to transmit the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through the electric power medium and an ultra-wideband receiver structured to receive the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses from the electric power medium. Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a power supply that provides ultra-wideband communications to devices that obtain power from the power supply. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A wireless communication network system apparatus which provides for isochronous data transfer between node devices of the network, which provides at least one master node device which manages the data transmission between the other node devices of the network, which avoids or reduces interference from other wireless products and which resolves random errors associated with wireless technology including multipath fading. The system provides a communication protocol which shares the wireless transport medium between the node devices of the network, and which provides each node device on the network a designated transmit time slot for data communication.

Abstract: A pin detection system and/or method for detecting a pin or bolt in a section of chain comprises a chain or section of chain having a plurality of chain links connected together by a plurality of pins or bolts or the like. At least one end of at least one of the pins or bolts may have an extension extending longitudinally therefrom. A sensor or detector is provided along a conveying path of the chain for sensing the presence of the pin or bolt and/or extension as the section of chain is conveyed along the conveying path. The sensor provides a signal indicative of a detection of the pin or bolt or extension. A control may control at least one accessory associated with the conveyor system in response to a signal generated by the sensor.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing the transmission suitability of a channel in a multi access scheme. In general, information relating to noise associated with a channel is obtained. A potential effect of the noise on a transmission quality of the channel is then estimated based on the obtained information. Next, a rating is assigned to the channel based on the estimated potential effect. Based on the assigned rating, the channel is classified into a grade of service class. Information relating to the channel and its associated rating and grade of service class is then stored in a database.