Abstract: A bullet compressing device for creating marks imparted by a barrel of a gun on a bullet, has: a first member; a second member spaced from the first member by a gap, a dimension of the gap selected to correspond to at least a length of the bullet, the first and second members slidingly receivable within the barrel of the gun; a biasing member in engagement with the first and second members, the biasing member having a compressed configuration in which the first and second members are biased toward one another thereby decreasing the dimension of the gap, one of the first and second members engageable by an actuator, the first and second members and the bullet received therebetween movable relative to the barrel thereby imparting marks on the bullet by the barrel upon actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: Detection of surface irregularities in coins. Three-dimensional topographic data of at least one surface of a coin, having at least one feature, is acquired and used to determine characteristics of the coin features, based on vector components of normal vectors at various points on the surface of the coin. The feature characteristics are then compared to reference feature characteristics. Based on this comparison, an irregularity indication is provided if differences between the feature characteristics and the reference characteristics are found.

Abstract: A flexible hose comprising: a flexible conduit for carrying a pressurized fluid; a flexible inner support for supporting the conduit; and a compression layer surrounding the flexible conduit.

Abstract: A mechanical link includes a carrier for supporting a conductor within a mechanical link. The mechanical link may include a first arm and a second arm, the second arm being arranged for movement with respect to the first arm, and a flexible helical carrier for supporting a conductor, wherein the flexible helical carrier is received within the first and second arms. The carrier may be, or may include a generally helical member of a flexible material, the generally helical member comprising a continuous support portion having on both sides thereof upstanding wall portions.

Abstract: A mechanical link (100, FIG. 5), the mechanical link comprising a first arm (120), a second arm (140) and an interconnection member (160), wherein: the first arm is rotatable about a first axis of the interconnection member; the second arm is rotatable about a second axis of the interconnection member, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis; and wherein: a flexible member (400) extends along the first and second arms and is adapted to accommodate rotation of the arms about the first and second axes, the flexible member having a single coiled portion (440) which is received within the interconnection member such that the coiled portion can coil and uncoil to accommodate rotation of the first arm, wherein the coiled portion is further configured to twist about an axis of the flexible member to accommodate rotation of the second arm.

Abstract: A technique for operating a communication system includes determining whether a specific node of the communication system is a start node. In response to determining the specific node is the start node, transmission of a header over a communication link of the communication system for each frame period is initiated. The frame period also includes a plurality of address segments each of which has an associated data number. In response to determining the specific node is the start node, data numbers for address segments are compared with associated I/O module address settings to determine if a data number is equal to one of the associated I/O module address settings. In response to determining the data number is equal to one of the associated I/O module address settings, transmission of node configuration and data from an input module (included in associated I/O modules) or zeroes for an output module (included in the associated I/O modules) is initiated.

Abstract: A link assembly has a pair of mechanical links pivotally connected to rotate relative to one another about a pivot axis. A cable protector is provided as part of the link assembly. The cable protector has a cup with an end wall which defines a first end of a winding chamber, and an annular side wall which extends from the end wall and defines a side of the winding chamber. A lid defines a second end of the winding chamber opposite to the first end. The lid is coupled to the cup by a bearing so that the cup and lid can rotate with respect to each other. An opening is formed in the side wall of the cup and a slot is formed in the lid. The assembly is fitted with a cable having a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein the width of the cable is greater than its thickness.

Abstract: A system for transmission of data and electrical power comprising: a plurality of independent power sources, each one of the plurality of independent power sources being connected to a respective one of a plurality of electrical power lines; and a modulator configured to modulate a carrier signal with a data signal received at an input of the modulator so as to generate a modulated carrier signal at an output thereof, wherein the output of the modulator is coupled to each of the plurality of electrical power lines, to permit transmission of the modulated carrier signal over the plurality of electrical power lines, such that the plurality of electrical power lines form a data network while maintaining electrical isolation between each of the plurality of electrical power lines.

Abstract: A vector sensor for use in acoustic instruments is described. The vector sensor includes: a cylindrical bulkhead partition defining a plurality of channels extending longitudinally on a circumferential wall of the bulkhead partition between a first surface and a second surface of the bulkhead partition; first and second cylindrical piezoelectric transducing pieces affixed to the bulkhead partition and extending outwardly as cantilever beams and contained within respective pressure housing capsules. The sensor may include cylindrical foam end pieces fitted over the capsules and having corresponding channels in their outer surfaces that correspond to channels in the bulkhead partition, so as to allow wiring and strength members to pass through. The cylindrical piezoelectric transducing pieces may be formed from a piezoelectric cylindrical tube with a first electrode covering its inner surface and a second electrode on its outer surface.

Abstract: A method and towed sonic array system for defocusing the beampattern of the towed sonic array. The method includes determining an amplitude adjustment and a phase adjustment for each of the sonic projectors; and driving each of the sonic projectors with a drive signal modified by the amplitude adjustment and the phase adjustment for that sonic projector. The amplitude adjustment and phase adjustment for each of the sonic projectors are, at least in part, based upon the distance from that sonic projector to a virtual source. The location of the virtual source may be selected so as to achieve different beampatterns, including wide-sector beams and, in at least one case, a near-omni-directional beampattern. The drive signal may include multiple frequency components, in which case the method may be used to find a set of beamformer coefficients for each of the frequency components and an inverse transform may be used to realize a defocused driving signal.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector system that includes a linear array of acoustic projectors in close proximity such that the acoustic projectors interact with one another when they produce acoustic pressures, wherein each acoustic projector in the linear array is spaced apart from an adjacent acoustic projector by a respective distance, and wherein the respective distance between two acoustic projectors proximate the center of the linear array is greater than the respective distance between two acoustic projectors proximate the end of the linear array.

Abstract: A technique for operating a communication system includes determining whether a specific node of the communication system is a start node. In response to determining the specific node is the start node, transmission of a header over a communication link of the communication system for each frame period is initiated. The frame period also includes a plurality of address segments each of which has an associated data number. In response to determining the specific node is the start node, data numbers for address segments are compared with associated I/O module address settings to determine if a data number is equal to one of the associated I/O module address settings. In response to determining the data number is equal to one of the associated I/O module address settings, transmission of node configuration and data from an input module (included in associated I/O modules) or zeroes for an output module (included in the associated I/O modules) is initiated.

Abstract: A sensor and housing suitable for harsh environments includes a central axis and first and second housing sections. The first housing section includes a first fitting including a mating surface orthogonal to the axis and a tapered recess formed in the mating surface and coaxial with the axis. The tapered recess has a decreasing internal dimension at points further from the mating surface and terminates at a faceted recess. The second housing section includes a second fitting having a flange and a frusto-conical projection terminating in a faceted tip. When the first and second housing are coupled, the flange and mating surface are aligned, the frusto-conical projection contacts an interior surface of the first fitting that defines the tapered recess, and the faceted tip seats within the faceted recess. The housing may include a head for housing sensor electronics and a shield that encloses the head and is spaced from the head by an air gap.

Abstract: A method and system for maximizing radiated power from a linear array of acoustic projectors. In one case, the method realizes omni-directional acoustic beam patterns from a linear array of acoustic projectors contained within an acoustically-impervious enclosure with an acoustically transparent aperture. In another case, the method realizes an efficient set of beams for a conventional horizontal projector array or a similar acoustic projector array, which may be within an acoustically transparent enclosure. Drive signals are determined by finding a mutual impedance matrix that characterizes the interdependence of the acoustic projectors and solving an eigenvalue problem for the mutual impedance matrix. One of the eigenvalues is selected on the basis that it maximizes radiated power, and the corresponding eigenvectors are used to derive the corresponding drive signals.

Abstract: A linkage guides a flexible cable between two structures. The linkage includes a proximal arm with a proximal pivot joint for coupling the proximal arm to a first one of the two structures; and a distal arm which is coupled to the proximal arm by one or more intermediate pivot joints. The distal arm is shaped to follow a three-dimensional curve along a majority of its length. Shaping the distal arm to form a three-dimensional curve along a majority of its length enables the distal arm to pass through a relatively small aperture as the linkage is adjusted between its retracted and extended positions. It also enables the proximal arm to move in a locus of movement which does not interfere with other system components. The linkage can be used to guide a flexible cable between any two structures, for instance a fixed aircraft wing and a slat.

Abstract: There is provided a method for analyzing at least one object under a first microscope and a second microscope concurrently by linking the two microscopes together. Movement of one microscope will result in movement of the other. This is done by computing a transformation to link a first coordinate system and a second coordinate system and generating guidance data when one of the two microscopes is displaced, the guidance data corresponding to a set of operations to be applied to the other microscope to follow movement of the microscope that is displaced.

Abstract: Apparatus for measurement of a DC voltage of a DC voltage source. An electrode forms a capacitive connection with the DC voltage source. A non-linear capacitor has a first node connected to the electrode. An initial voltage source is arranged to generate an initial voltage. A switch is arranged to selectively apply the initial voltage to a second node of the non-linear capacitor. A voltage sensor is arranged to measure the voltage of the second node of the non-linear capacitor and a processor is programmed to deduce the DC voltage of the DC voltage source by analysing the rate of decay of the measured voltage.

Abstract: A method and system for maximizing radiated power from a linear array of acoustic projectors. In one case, the method realizes omni-directional acoustic beam patterns from a linear array of acoustic projectors contained within an acoustically-impervious enclosure with an acoustically transparent aperture. In another case, the method realizes an efficient set of beams for a conventional horizontal projector array or a similar acoustic projector array, which may be within an acoustically transparent enclosure. Drive signals are determined by finding a mutual impedance matrix that characterizes the interdependence of the acoustic projectors and solving an eigenvalue problem for the mutual impedance matrix. One of the eigenvalues is selected on the basis that it maximizes radiated power, and the corresponding eigenvectors are used to derive the corresponding drive signals.

Abstract: A linkage guides a flexible cable between two structures. The linkage includes a proximal arm with a proximal pivot joint for coupling the proximal arm to a first one of the two structures; and a distal arm which is coupled to the proximal arm by one or more intermediate pivot joints. The distal arm is shaped to follow a three-dimensional curve along a majority of its length. Shaping the distal arm to form a three-dimensional curve along a majority of its length enables the distal arm to pass through a relatively small aperture as the linkage is adjusted between its retracted and extended positions. It also enables the proximal arm to move in a locus of movement which does not interfere with other system components. The linkage can be used to guide a flexible cable between any two structures, for instance a fixed aircraft wing and a slat.