Abstract: An aviation transponder system comprising a permanently-mounted antenna, a permanently-mounted receiver module comprising a receiver, a signal splitter, and an external connector, and a portable receiver module, wherein a signal received on the permanently-mounted antenna is passed to the signal splitter of the permanently-mounted receiver module, wherein the signal splitter splits the signal such that the signal is sent to both the receiver and to the external connector, and wherein the portable receiver module is connected to the external connector, whereby the permanently-mounted antenna is used by the receiver of the permanently-mounted receiver module and fed through the permanently-mounted receiver module and made available to the portable receiver module through the external connector.

Abstract: A system and method of image processing is provided, including implementing adaptive pixel replacement techniques or reducing noise. The method includes obtaining a data map of an image frame, wherein the data map comprises good pixels and bad pixels at locations associated with the data map. The method also includes assigning different techniques to the bad pixels, wherein a first technique is assigned to a first bad pixel and a second technique is assigned to a second bad pixel. The method further includes adjusting information associated with the bad pixels for a chosen technique for each of the bad pixels.

Abstract: Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site include flying the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable members; moving the one or more manipulable members when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and utilizing one or more counterbalancing techniques during the moving ensuring a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.

Abstract: Wall blocks, veneers, veneer connectors, walls, and methods of constructing walls are provided. More particularly, the invention relates to constructing walls in which a veneer panel is attached to a wall block with a connector and in which the front faces of the veneers have a desirable texture.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive system for a vehicle includes a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a rechargeable power source. The hybrid vehicle drive system further includes an interface between the transmission and the prime mover for coupling to an electric motor. The electric motor can be in direct or indirect mechanical communication with a hydraulic pump. The electric motor can receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the interface.

Abstract: Heat engine systems having selectively configurable working fluid circuits are provided. One heat engine system includes a pump that circulates a working fluid through a working fluid circuit and an expander that receives the working fluid from a high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and converts a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy. A plurality of waste heat exchangers are each selectively positioned in or isolated from the high pressure side. A plurality of recuperators are each selectively positioned in or isolated from the high pressure side and the low pressure side. A plurality of valves are actuated to enable selective control over which of the plurality of waste heat exchangers is positioned in the high pressure side, which of the plurality of recuperators is positioned in the high pressure side, and which of the plurality of recuperators is positioned in the low pressure side.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods produce image correction data for a lens or sensor based on individual images acquired under different operating parameters. Example apparatus and methods then produce strip correction data based on a strip of images pieced together from the individual images. Example apparatus and methods then produce panoramic image correction data based on a panoramic image pieced together from two or more strips of images. The strip of images is produced without using a hemispherical mirror and thus accounts more accurately for issues associated with making a two dimensional representation of a three dimensional spherical volume. Images are acquired using different imaging parameters (e.g., focal length, pan position, tilt position) under different imaging conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, pan rate, tilt rate) to account for aberrations that may appear or be exacerbated under operating conditions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided for automatically generating a custom user interface (UI) of a control device usable to control a home automation system. A configuration database is maintained, for example, on a host controller, of the home automation system. The configuration database stores logical representations that describe a configuration. The configuration database is transferred (e.g., downloaded) to a control device. The control device accesses the configuration database for one or more of the logical representations, and translates returned information related to the one or more of the logical representations to UI element, using predefined mappings. The controll device then displays the UI elements as a custom UI.

Abstract: A controller comprises a memory, including a maximum rated driveshaft torque for a driveshaft on a vehicle, and an electrical output transmitting an output signal for limiting a torque on the driveshaft of the vehicle during an event while the vehicle is attempting to at least one of maintain and increase velocity. The torque on the driveshaft is limited by controlling braking pressure to at least one brake associated with driven wheels and/or controlling motor torque delivered to the driveshaft.

Abstract: Zero tension system conveyor. A conveyor belt is driven by at least a portion of the conveyor belt being in continuous contact with a block chain within at least a portion of an overall conveyor belt system. Such a conveyor belt system may be implemented in a spiral configuration such that a relatively small portion of the overall width of the conveyor belt is in contact with the block chain above and/or below the conveyor belt. The static force/weight of the conveyor belt in conjunction with the continuous contact between at least a portion of the conveyor belt and the block chain effectuates the driving of the conveyor belt through the overall conveyor belt system. The block chain is composed of a number of links, at least some of which include a respective hook/protrusion on one side thereof, for being directly engaged by drum bars implemented within a drum assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder.

Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and apparatuses that include a focusable lens, as well as methods for focusing the optical lens. The focusable lens system includes a single element lens having a concave refractive surface characterized by a first radius of curvature and a convex refractive surface characterized by a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature. A detector element generates electrical signals representative of infrared rays refracted by the single element lens and incident on the detector element, and an aperture stop is disposed around an optical axis of the optical system and secured in a constant position relative to the detector element, the aperture stop configured to limit a cone angle of rays refracted by the single element lens. They system also includes image processing circuitry configured to generate digital pixilation data based on electrical signals generated by the detector element.

Abstract: An uplink power control system and a machine-implemented method for determining clear sky and adjusting uplink power are provided. A receiving station, which may be a satellite terminal or a satellite gateway, receives a reference signal from a satellite. The reference signal may be sampled over a sampling time period in order to compute a filtered short-term average downlink SINR. A filtered long-term average downlink SINR may be adjusted toward the filtered short-term average downlink SINR using either a first time constant or second time constant, based on a relationship between the filtered long-term average downlink SINR and the filtered short-term average downlink SINR. In some implementations, the second time constant is less than the first time constant.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a gateway subgroup module, a tunnel management module, and a packet processor. The gateway subgroup module operates the switch in conjunction with a remote switch to form a gateway subgroup. The switch and the remote switch actively operate as tunnel gateways. The tunnel management module maintains a data structure indicating whether a tunnel source subnet is associated with the gateway subgroup. The packet processor decapsulates a tunnel-encapsulated packet in response to a tunnel source subnet of the tunnel-encapsulated packet being associated with the gateway subgroup.

Abstract: Various avionics systems may be enhanced by methods and systems for bearing reception. For example, a traffic alert and collision avoidance system, or other surveillance system, can be provided with a system or configured for a method of improved bearing reception. For example, a method can include performing traffic alert and collision avoidance surveillance of a target aircraft using an interrogation over a bottom antenna of an own aircraft. The method can also include enhancing determination of a bearing of the surveillance by obtaining a bearing of the target aircraft using an alternative to making a bearing determination based on signal characteristics of a reply to the interrogation.

Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a three-dimensional, multi-layered fabric product with a moisture barrier is provided. A partially seamed inner lining fabric assembly having at least a two-dimensional shape is laminated with a membrane barrier film having flaps left un-laminated to cover at least one seam. The inner lining fabric assembly is further seamed and flaps of the of the membrane barrier film overlapped into contact with each other and sealed to provide a continuous moisture barrier. A process for fabricating a stretchable section of a garment with a moisture barrier is also provided. At least a section of a garment is formed from fibers arranged in a pattern having a direction of stretch in one direction and a three-dimensional surface texture such that a portion of the fibers protrude above another portion of the fibers. The stretchable section is stretched in the direction of stretch.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.

Abstract: An antibiotic delivery system including an intramedullary stem that is adapted to be removably mounted into a medullary canal of a bone. The stem includes a body having an inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with a source of liquid-borne antibiotic and a plurality of outlets disposed along the stem. A channel extends between the inlet and the plurality of outlets for delivering a fluid-borne antibiotic from the inlet to the plurality of outlets so as to distribute the antibiotic along the medullary canal in a controlled fashion. A method of treating an infected joint during a two-stage re-implantation of an orthopedic implant is also disclosed.