Abstract: A camera flash is provided with a lens element adjacent a light source, wherein the lens element has a plurality of concentric ridges projecting from a surface of the generally planar member to define facets of a Fresnel lens, and wherein the plurality of concentric ridges define a generally square or rectangular shape having rounded corners.

Abstract: A single or multistage signal predistorter includes an input coupled to receive an information signal comprising input samples and an output coupled to the high power amplifier, the signal predistorter configured to receive an input sample, generate a distortion sample based on an estimate of nonlinearity of the high power amplifier at an operating saturation level, modify the input sample with a correction term to generate a predistortion signal, wherein the correction term is proportional to the distortion sample, and further wherein the predistortion signal comprises the information signal modified to account for nonlinearities in the high power amplifier.

Abstract: A polymer activation assembly is provided for separating monomer from the oil in which it is suspended in a polymer forming suspension and mixing the monomer with water supplied from another stream. The supply water is supplied through a primary fluid channel extending through the activation assembly and which transitions to a relatively wide rectangular activation channel. A secondary fluid inlet is formed in a side of the activation assembly for injection of the polymer forming suspension therein. A nozzle section of the secondary fluid inlet is formed between an initial section of the inlet and the activation channel. The nozzle section is generally rectangular in cross section and relatively shallow. The distal end of the nozzle section has a width that approximates the width of the activation channel. The nozzle section angles at an acute angle toward the outlet.

Abstract: An electrical machine includes a rotor, a stator having a slot liner including an electrical insulator which extends beyond the stator ends, and a strengthening element provided at each of the slot liner ends, wherein the strengthening strip reduces the splitting of the corresponding slot liner end.

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: A novel system and method for degassing H2S and H2Sx from liquid sulfur (sulphur) is disclosed. The system includes a degassing vessel with a plurality of cells. The cells include a sparging gas mat with a perforated surface at the bottom of the cell to allow the release of air bubbles (or sparging gas) into the cells. A catalyst may be used during the process. As a result, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen polysulfide are efficiently and effectively removed from the liquid sulfur.

Abstract: Communications antennae suitable for operating in harsh environmental conditions and methods for providing such antennae are disclosed. Exemplary implementations of the communications antenna may provide an ability to transmit and receive radio frequency signals while being exposed to formidable conditions for many years. Such conditions may include one or more of shallow and deep ocean, radioactive, ultraviolet, ultra cold, ultra-high pressure, and/or other harsh environments. The antenna may be ruggedized to withstand attacks by marine mammals and fish, encounters with fishing equipment including nets and lines, entanglement with marine debris, abrasion (e.g., by coral, sand, rock, and/or other objects), collision with maritime vessels and submersibles, and/or other unpredictable events. The efficient radio frequency design and efficient form factor may provide users with a small, unobtrusive device with a capacity for extensive integration in the radio frequency domain.

Abstract: A system for an aircraft and method of determining intrusion of an avionics component or system in an aircraft having multiple avionics components and systems communicating over an aircraft communications network monitored by a system, including monitoring, by the system, data communication over the aircraft communications network for at least some of the avionics components or system and comparing, by the system, the monitored communications for the at least some of the avionics components to corresponding operational profiles.

Abstract: An electric machine having a rectifier assembly placed within a rotating shaft of the electric machine to convert the AC output of the electric machine to the DC input prior to transmission of the electricity from the electric machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for PLL bandwidth expansion including a compensation filter and a phase locked loop, where the compensation filter is programmed with a compensation function derived based on programmable coefficients and parameters of a transmitting device, a frequency response of the phase locked loop, and a wanted frequency response.

Abstract: Maintaining an operational temperature range of a fuel dispenser component may be accomplished by a variety of systems, devices, and techniques. In one aspect, a fuel dispenser temperature maintenance system includes a centrifugal fan and an airflow separator. The centrifugal fan is detachably mounted to a fuel dispenser and adapted to circulate an airflow from an exterior to an interior of the fuel dispenser; separate the airflow into a conditioning airflow and an ejected airflow; and direct the conditioning airflow directly to a fuel dispenser component. The ejected airflow includes a plurality of particulates. The airflow separator includes a separator inlet adapted to receive the ejected airflow. The airflow separator is adapted to guide the ejected airflow from the separator inlet directly to an exterior of the fuel dispenser through an outlet channel, where the outlet channel is disposed between the airflow separator and the exterior of the fuel dispenser.

Abstract: A method and a satellite gateway for minimizing an impact of a noise floor variation in a spot beam satellite system. A demodulator processes digitized signals from multiple channels. Digitized signals are automatically gain controlled by respective automatic gain control components associated with respective channels. Automatic gain controlled digitized signals are downconverted and provided to a burst processor. The burst processor processes each downconverted signal and provides, with respect to each downconverted signal, an automatic gain control estimate, a code rate, and an inroute number to a processor component. The processor component determines an average automatic gain control value for each inroute, provides automatic gain control references to the respective automatic gain control components, and periodically sends noise map information to satellite terminals served by the satellite gateway. In some embodiments, the automatic gain control values are biased according to corresponding code rates.

Abstract: An anchor for lightning protection systems include a base and pad that extend over a sufficient area and a sufficient bearing length to hold in shear and in tension against the weight, shear force, and moment of cables, points, and other components of a lightning protection systems. The mounting anchor is non-penetrating, and adheres to a vertical surface almost immediately without requiring damage to structures, long term support over days waiting for cure, and works in overhang situations as well. An integrated clip may be constructed with the base from sheet material. Adhesion of the base to a cover material on a wall or parapet may be promptly followed by snapping cable into clips formed monolithically with the base.

Abstract: A surveillance camera includes a primary power connection for electrically connecting the camera to a primary power source. The camera includes a housing and a test port in the housing. The test port includes a port connection for electrically connecting the camera to a secondary local power source such that the camera receives power from the secondary power source. The port connection is further for connecting the camera to a portable monitor such that video from the camera is displayed on the monitor when the camera is electrically connected to the secondary power source independent of whether the camera is electrically connected to the primary power source.

Abstract: A method of reducing the size of data representing an image in a graphical display wherein the data comprises triangle strings representing polygons that form the image, includes steps to determine a size of a pixel in the image; compare the size of a pixel in the image to a narrowest dimension of a polygon that encompasses the pixel and determine a number of triangles in a triangle string that represents the polygon. If the narrowest dimension of the polygon is larger than the image size, reducing the number of triangles in the triangle string using triangle decimation and if the polygon is similar to the image size, leaving the number of triangles in the triangle string unchanged.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for reading both chip and magnetic stripe cards, and in particular for preventing use of a magnetic stripe when a chip is present, in various settings such as fuel dispensers, ATMs, and retail settings. For example, a card reading device is provided that includes a housing and at least one card slot. A smart card reader and a magnetic stripe card reader are disposed within the housing. In one embodiment, a gate is configured to prevent insertion of a card into a rear portion of the card slot when a chip is detected to prevent the magnetic stripe card reader from reading a magnetic stripe. In another embodiment, a first card slot has a first depth that prevents insertion of a magnetic stripe but allows reading of a chip, and a second slot has a depth that allows insertion of a magnetic stripe.

Abstract: A ballistic resilient run-flat tire device, kit and method for manufacturing the same are presented for providing a vehicle a capability of traveling for at least 30 miles at 30 miles per hour, after the device has been compromised as of result of exposure due to ballistic ordinance rifle shots such as 7.62×39 mm and 7.62×54R or air loss from road hazard punctures. The device includes a tire carcass and a polyurethane inner coating inside the tire carcass that defines an inflatable hollow chamber within the ballistic resilient run-flat tire. The tire carcass has an annular tread, sidewalls, and beads. The polyurethane inner coating inside the tire carcass defining a hollow chamber provides additional protection along the sidewalls and tread of the tire carcass. The kit includes the un-interconnected elements of the device. The method includes the steps of curing, discharging, filling, injecting, introducing, mounting, obtaining, and preparing.

Abstract: A method for automatically taking an image of a participant in an event with a timing system determining a time of a passing a detection line on a route by a participant having an RFID tag, the system includes a RFID tag reader system obtaining the RFID tag numbers of the RFID tag in RFID tag reads, time stamping each RFID tag read, and transmitting a tag read message including the RFID tag number, an image capture device capturing images of participants when in proximity to one of the monitored points, generating image data, an image capture system creating an image capture message including the image data, and transmitting the image capture message, and the timing system determining the RFID tag number within the tag read messages, associating the received image data with the identified participant, and storing the image data associated with the determined RFID tag number.

Abstract: A veneer product and system includes a body having an aesthetic front surface and a back surface for installation adjacent the building. The body has a top side and a bottom side and a bracket attached to body and projecting away from the back surface of the body, the bracket further comprising a first end adjacent the top side for attachment to the building and a first protrusion for positioning the back surface a predetermined distance from the building and a second end having a second protrusion for positioning the bottom of the back surface a predetermined distance from the building and a bottom projection adjacent the bottom side for engagement with a second body to retain the bottom end of the veneer product.