Abstract: An improved e-track connector, or lockdown, is presented that can be installed in single locations instead of provided in tracks as in the industry. It also possesses a finished slot that accepts logistics straps buckles. The slot is a complete rectangle with no excess material folded under it and has been deburred and finished smooth. The device also possesses a drain slot along the side of the tang and drain holes in the buckle receiver such that liquid will drain out of the connector when it is mounted horizontally.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an adjustable simulator apparatus for testing vehicle components are disclosed herein. The apparatus can be used to test linearly translatable components, such as transmission or brake components, without connecting them to every cooperating component as they would be in a vehicle. In one embodiment, an adjustable simulator apparatus includes a housing having a bore along a generally longitudinal axis and a first retainer and a second retainer disposed in the housing and spaced apart from one another. At least one of the first and the second retainer is adjustable in its position and a compressible member is disposed between the retainers. The apparatus further includes a piston translatable within the bore and a mechanical stop disposed at least partially within the bore of the housing and extends through the second end of the compressible member.

Abstract: An illumination system reduces a level of light output, and hence power consumption, at a time after turning ON a light source, and increases the level of light output at a time prior to turning OFF the light source. A control subsystem can determine when to increase the level of light based on a predicted time when the light source will be turned OFF. The control subsystem may determine an average or median length of time that the light source has been turned on for a number of recent daily cycles. A control subsystem may be an integral part of a luminaire or may be a retrofit.

Abstract: A high capacity satellite communications system including a satellite with a beam for a forward downlink focused on a geographic area for which disproportionately higher capacity is desired, a hub located in a geographic area for which disproportionately lower capacity is desired, compared to the location of a VSAT, and the VSAT located in area where a beam for a forward downlink received by the VSAT from the satellite does not overlap with a beam for a return downlink received by the hub from a satellite.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a receiver for a frame of media packets employing the real-time transmission protocol (RTP) and forward error correction (FEC) is disclosed. The receiver comprises a packet buffer and an FEC decoder. After a packet is received by the packet buffer, the FEC decoder reads the packet and, as part of FEC processing, performs an XOR operation on the packet, without waiting for the entire frame (or, indeed, for any subsequent packet of the frame) to be received. The XOR operation results are accumulated until sufficient packets are received to reconstruct a missing packet in the frame. Because the XOR operations are performed immediately after a packet is received, without any delay from waiting for subsequent packets, the receiver has a very low latency, and the packet buffer may be relatively small.

Abstract: A rod persuader assembly includes a tubular body, an inner shaft and an outer shaft. The inner shaft is axially displaceable relative to the tubular body, and has a gripping end and a handle end. The outer shaft is axially displaceable relative to the tubular body, and has a rod reducing end. In one embodiment, the handle end is rotatable relative to the gripping end. In another embodiment, the gripping end includes a cylindrical socket. In yet another embodiment, the rod persuader assembly is operable in two separate and independent stages to secure the instrument to an implant, and advance a rod into the implant.

Abstract: A communication system and method includes a main bus that operates in accordance with a standard limited to a linear topology, a bus controller coupled to the main bus and configured to send and receive messages on the main bus, and a first remote terminal coupled to the main bus and configured to send and receive messages on the main bus including the messages sent by the bus controller. The system and method also includes a repeater coupled to the main bus and configured to send and receive messages on the main bus including the messages sent by the bus controller and by the first remote terminal, and second and third remote terminals coupled to the repeater, wherein the second and third remote terminals send and receive messages on the main bus via the repeater.

Abstract: A controller unit facilitates determining that a fast approaching forward vehicle has breached a fast approach threshold and may initiate brake regeneration to slow a commercial hybrid host vehicle in which the controller is employed. The controller determines whether there is capacity in the state of charge (SOC) of a high voltage battery to permit brake regeneration, and/or determines whether there is capacity in on board air tanks to permit a compressor motor to compress air, thereby drawing charge from the battery to create brake regeneration capacity. When battery SOC is below a predetermined threshold and a fast approaching vehicle breaches a fast approach threshold, the controller sends a brake regeneration command to a traction motor to act as a generator to supply charge to the battery, which in turn slows the vehicle.

Abstract: A battery management system includes one or more lithium ion cells in electrical connection, each said cell comprising: first and second working electrodes and one or more reference electrodes, each reference electrode electronically isolated from the working electrodes and having a separate tab or current collector exiting the cell and providing an additional terminal for electrical measurement; and a battery management system comprising a battery state-of-charge monitor, said monitor being operable for receiving information relating to the potential difference of the working electrodes and the potential of one or more of the working electrodes versus the reference electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for adjusting a voltage supplied to an IC by a power supply circuit that produces a regulated-output voltage based on an output-control signal generated by a resistive voltage divider. The circuit includes a PVT detector configured to generate an interface control signal and an interface circuit (i) connected to PVT detector and to the resistive voltage divider and (ii) configured to adjust its resistance in response to the interface control signal. Adjusting the resistance of the interface circuit causes the voltage of the output-control signal to be adjusted, thus causing the power supply circuit to adjust the regulated output voltage.

Abstract: A positive electrode material is provided including an electroactive material having one or more phases comprising lithium (Li), an electroactive metal (M), and phosphate (PO4), wherein in the fully lithiated state, the overall composition has a ratio of Li:M ranging from greater than about 1.0 to about 1.3, a ratio of (PO4):M ranging from about 1.0 to about 1.132, M is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, and at least one phase includes an olivine lithium electroactive metal phosphate. In some instances, a composite cathode material including an electroactive olivine transition metal phosphate and a lithium and phosphate rich secondary phase is disclosed for use in a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: When employing an adaptive cruise-with-braking (ACB) system to control host vehicle braking reaction distance, a following distance limit shape (FDLS) is defined using a lateral offset function, and a lateral offset of a forward vehicle is detected and analyzed. If the vehicle has a lateral offset greater than a lateral offset defined by the lateral offset function, deceleration requests from an engine controller are limited to requesting deceleration by an engine retarder and/or a dethrottling module. If the lateral offset of the forward vehicle is less than a lateral offset defined by the lateral offset function, foundation brakes may be requested. In other embodiments, road curvature is determined, and a braking reaction distance is reduced when the radius of curvature is smaller than a threshold curvature, in order to reduce false positive braking reactions triggered by, e.g., a forward vehicle on an exit ramp while the host vehicle remains on the highway.

Abstract: Disclosed are fiber optic assemblies having at least one optical fiber disposed within a tube and/or cavity along with a powder or powder blend that is at least partially mechanically attached thereto. In one embodiment, the powder or powder blend includes a water-swellable component that is mechanically attached to about 30 percent or less of the surface area of the tube wall while still effectively blocking the migration of water along the tube. Other embodiments may have the powder or power blend mechanically attached to the tube, cavity, or the like at relatively high percentage levels of the total powder or powder blend within the assembly, thereby inhibiting unintentional migration along the tube, cavity, or the like. Other embodiments may use powder or powder blends that may or may not include a water-swellable powder to provide other desired characteristics.

Abstract: Instruments and methods for inserting a spinal fixation rod include various components for inserting a rod with visual guidance. One kit includes a plurality of hollow elongated extension tubes and rod templates. The tube connectors connect the extension tubes in series. Another kit includes a rod guidance instrument having a sleeve. A guide member is attachable to the midsection of the sleeve, and a spinal fixation rod is attachable to the distal end of the sleeve. A method for inserting a spinal fixation rod into a plurality of rod receiving implants includes the steps of contouring a fixation rod to conform to a predetermined shape, contouring a guide member to match the shape of the contoured rod, and guiding the fixation rod into a rod receiving implant by maneuvering the guide member through a guide slot representing the location of the rod receiving implant.

Abstract: Ferrule retainers for retaining and supporting fiber optic ferrules in an optical fiber connector are disclosed. In one embodiment, the ferrule retainers include one or more access windows for accessing an alignment feature(s) of the ferrule located inside the ferrule retainer when the ferrule is assembled in the ferrule retainer. In this manner, the alignment feature(s) of the ferrule is accessible for referencing, if desired, when processing (e.g., polishing) the optical fiber(s) disposed in the ferrule when the ferrule is assembled in the ferrule retainer. The access window(s) provided in the ferrule retainers allows fiber processing equipment to reference the alignment feature(s) of the ferrule when assembled in a ferrule retainer regardless of whether the fiber processing equipment also references the ferrule retainer to reference the ferrule. The embodiments disclosed herein also include related fiber optic connector assemblies, connectors, and referencing methods.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for inserting elongated fixation elements into screw implants include one or components for visualizing the insertion process from a unique vantage point. One apparatus features a steering apparatus for adjusting the position of a receiver element on a screw implant, so that an elongated fixation element, such as a rod, can be inserted through a transverse passage in the receiver element. The steering apparatus may include an extension tube and a steering control member coupled to the extension tube. The extension tube may be configured for coupling to the receiver element, and the steering control member may be configured for coupling to the extension tube. The steering control member may include an opening for receiving an endoscope. The endoscope may be used to visually monitor the elongated fixation element as it is inserted into the transverse passage of the receiver element.

Abstract: A laundry dryer having a front opening tumbler basket rotatably driven in opposite rotary directions during a drying operation by a drive motor mounted on a rear panel of the dryer cabinet. The drive motor drives a drive belt disposed about a drive pulley, a rear portion of the basket, and a plurality of idler pulleys. A support rod upon which the motor is supported and shafts of the idler pulleys each are affixed to and supported by a metal stabilizing member fixed to the rear cabinet panel and dimensioned so as to be stronger and more robust than the relatively thin walled rear cabinet panel for stabilizing the axes of the idler pulleys and drive motors for more reliable reversible operation.

Abstract: A system and method for data transmissions in a wireless communications system, which accommodates for a periodic blockage of the transmission signal, is provided. A data stream is segmented into packets of a predetermined fixed-size for a burst-mode transmission over a channel of the communications system, wherein the transmission is subject to a periodic blockage. A forward error correction outer code is then applied to the packets of the data stream for recovery of packets subjected to the periodic blockage, and a unique word is added to each packet for acquisition of frequency, carrier phase and symbol timing of the respective packet. The packets of the data stream are interleaved based on an interleaver of a depth based at least in part on a ratio of a blockage free duration between two consecutive blockages of the periodic blockage to a duration of each blockage of the periodic blockage.

Abstract: A method of transmitting aircraft flight data for an aircraft from the aircraft to a destination server via a wireless communication link with the method including determining an operational status of the aircraft, determining flight data to be transmitted, and transmitting the determined flight data to be transmitted to the destination server.