Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for achieving an extended service life for a pressure vessel that has experienced a prior service life. In some embodiments, the service life of the vessel has expired. The service vessel has an unknown damage condition, including defects sustained during the service life. Despite these defects and unknown accumulated damage state, the embodiments described herein may be used to test these vessels, to safely pressurize the vessels beyond pressures deemed safe for the vessel to experience in its damaged state, and to recommission a new service life for the vessel. The recommissioning of the vessel for an additional service interval may include meeting certain requirements for the pressure vessel, and embodiments described herein include exemplary measurements and observations to assure these requirements of the rejuvenated vessel are met.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for real time processing of signals from an array of transducers for detecting transient elastic waves originating from unknown locations in a body, which may propagate in a dispersive fashion. The systems and methods allow real time combination and analysis of signals, including decisions regarding storage as new data is received. The methods described herein include designing arrays of detectors and methods for processing signals in real time given the constraints of the body under test determining whether to store the set of information while a new set of information is received for processing within a real time environment. The methods described herein include methods which result in the determination or small time shifts which place all signals into a coherent time base which are then combined achieving a composite waveform that possesses an increased signal-to-noise ratio over any single element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dehydrating biological materials, such as vaccines and microorganism cultures, in which the materials are dehydrated in an evacuated container which is in a microwave waveguide that is open to the atmosphere. The apparatus comprises means for freezing the container of biological material, a microwave generator, a waveguide, means for introducing the container into the waveguide, means for applying a vacuum to the container and means for removing the dehydrated material from the waveguide. In the method of the invention, the container of biological material is put in a microwave waveguide open to the atmosphere, a vacuum is applied to the container, the material is frozen and is radiated to dehydrate it. The dehydrated material is then removed from the waveguide.

Abstract: A food preparation apparatus and method, including an inventive shelving system, is provided. In accordance with some embodiments, an exemplary embodiment of a food preparation apparatus of the present invention includes at least, but is not limited to, a frame assembly including a permanent shelf secured to the frame assembly, a multiplicity of selectable shelf features vertically offset from the permanent shelf and attached to the frame assembly, and a first non-permanent shelf vertically offset from the permanent shelf and supported by a select number of the multiplicity of selectable shelf features. In an exemplary embodiment of a food preparation apparatus of the present invention, the permanent shelf provides a flavor infusion region.

Abstract: In a robot, a support member is supported to an arm to be reciprocable with respect to one of first and second sides of the arm in a predetermined direction. A rotary member of a converter is coupled to a motor, and a linear movable member of the converter is contacted to the rotary member and linked to the support member. The converter works to transfer rotary motion received by the rotary member from the motor as linear motion to the linear movable member through a transfer contact portion between the rotary member and the linear movable member to thereby move the linear movable member together with the support member in the predetermined direction. The transfer contact portion between the rotary member and the linear movable member is located offset to the one of the first and second sides of the arm relative to the other thereof.

Abstract: A food preparation apparatus and method, including an inventive shelving system, is provided. In accordance with some embodiments, an exemplary embodiment of a food preparation apparatus of the present invention includes at least, but is not limited to, a frame assembly including a permanent shelf secured to the frame assembly, a multiplicity of selectable shelf features vertically offset from the permanent shelf and attached to the frame assembly, and a first non-permanent shelf vertically offset from the permanent shelf and supported by a select number of the multiplicity of selectable shelf features. In an exemplary embodiment of a food preparation apparatus of the present invention, the permanent shelf provides a flavor infusion region.

Abstract: A security system capable of safely performing home device state check or operation. In the security system, a mobile telephone module of a mobile telephone transmits M-series data (call signal) to home device modules provided in home devices such as a door lock and home electric appliances. In response to this call, the home device module returns a home device ID to the mobile telephone module. The mobile telephone module authenticates the home device module according to the home device ID and after authentication, returns a mobile telephone ID and state check or operation command to the home device module. The home device module authenticates the mobile telephone module according to the mobile telephone ID. When this mutual authentication is complete, the home device module performs the home device state check or operation according to the command and returns the result to the mobile telephone module.

Abstract: The present invention provides an authentication card inserted to a portable device. The authentication card 1 is inserted (installed) in a cellular phone 30 and the authentication card 2 is inserted (installed) in a PDA 40. The authentication card 1 comprises an identification code transmission unit 10 and the authentication card 2 comprises a usage restriction cancellation unit 20. The units 10 and 20 exchange the identification code by means of wireless signal and mutually authenticate the identification code mutually. In case that the PDA 40 is moved more than the predetermined distance from the cellular phone 30 and the reception level of signal from the unit 10 received by the unit 20 is smaller than the predetermined value, or the unit 20 can not authenticate the identification code of the unit 10, the unit 20 stops transmission of the usage restriction cancellation signal to the PDA 40.

Abstract: The invention provides a crystallizing method and an apparatus for producing a biopolymer capable of simplifying operations for taking out a produced crystal and mounting the crystal onto a crystal structure analyzer, thereby improving efficiency in the operations as well as reducing a labor burden. A crystallizing apparatus for producing a biopolymer crystal from a solution containing a biopolymer includes a crystal-growing chip 10 made of a material allowing electromagnetic waves to permeate through the chip, and in which a circular frame 16 is formed to retain a droplet 20 of a solution containing a biopolymer and a biopolymer crystal 28 produced in the droplet.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal, which can be found promptly when lost, misplaced or stolen, is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a biopolymer crystal mounting device with which a biopolymer crystal having been grown in a solution containing a biopolymer can be taken out of the solution. The device can be manufactured efficiently without requiring labors and can be mass-produced with high yield. A biopolymer crystal mounting device comprises: a film member 12, which is made of a material possessing permeability to an electromagnetic wave, and which is integrally formed of a loop portion 16 holding a drop of solution containing a biopolymer crystal, a neck portion 18 and a body portion 20; and a tubular member 14 including a bearing hole 22 in which the body portion of the film member is inserted and supported. Further, the film member is inserted into and secured to the tubular member.

Abstract: Non-reception-controlled area information is stored in the non-reception-controlled area storage section of the reception control device for each mobile device ID. When the reception control device receives the disconnection signal and position information from the mobile device in accordance with the mobile device moving away from the key terminal, the presence/absence determination section determines whether or not the mobile device is within the aforementioned area. As a result of the determination, if the current position of the mobile device is within the aforementioned area, control for enabling reception for the mobile device is performed, and if the current position is outside the aforementioned area, control for disabling reception for the mobile device is performed.

Abstract: The electronic unit having identification information thereon includes a casing, an electronic circuit contained in the casing, a connector fitted to the casing, the connector including signal terminals connected to the electronic circuit, and an RFID tag having an antenna device and attached to the connector. The RFID tag stores the identification information and is configured to transmit a reply signal containing the identification information through the antenna device in response to a transmission request signal transmitted from outside and received by the antenna device.

Abstract: Non-reception-controlled area information is stored in the non-reception-controlled area storage section of the reception control device for each mobile device ID. When the reception control device receives the disconnection signal and position information from the mobile device in accordance with the mobile device moving away from the key terminal, the presence/absence determination section determines whether or not the mobile device is within the aforementioned area. As a result of the determination, if the current position of the mobile device is within the aforementioned area, control for enabling reception for the mobile device is performed, and if the current position is outside the aforementioned area, control for disabling reception for the mobile device is performed.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal, which can be found promptly when lost, misplaced or stolen, is provided.

Abstract: A combination for preparing a food product and method of using the combination are disclosed. The combination includes a housing supporting a cooking chamber, which communicates with a flavor enhancement chamber. The cooking chamber and the flavor enhancement chamber are selectively and independently controlled by an automated controller. In using the combination, a user provides the food product, places a flavor enhancement substance within the flavor enhancement chamber, arranges the food product on a preparation rack, and position the rack with the food within the cooking chamber. With the food positioned within the combination, the user programs parameters for a food preparation cycle into an operating code resident in the automated controller. Upon activation by the user, the controller executes the operating code. In response, the flavor enhancement chamber releases a flavor enhancement for impregnation into the food product, and the cooking chamber completes preparation of the food product.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ultrasonically scanning cylinders are provided. The methods and apparatus employ as few as one ultrasonic sensor for full immersion scanning and defect detection. Self-centering fixturing spins the cylinder, reducing vibration, allowing for fast ultrasonic scans. To create the 45 degree angle beam shear waves for the circumferential scans, the ultrasonic sensor is offset from the centerline of the cylinder, creating the correct angle for excitation of the shear wave.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ultrasonically scanning cylinders are provided. The methods and apparatus employ as few as one ultrasonic sensor for full immersion scanning and defect detection. Self-centering fixturing spins the cylinder, reducing vibration, allowing for fast ultrasonic scans. To create the 45 degree angle beam shear waves for the circumferential scans, the ultrasonic sensor is offset from the centerline of the cylinder, creating the correct angle for excitation of the shear wave.

Abstract: A device for providing continuous access to a plurality of data, comprising a recording medium on which is recorded multiple data, each data having both a search address for hierarchical searches and a sub search address for direct searches, a search means for searching for desired data on the above recording medium using the sub search codes, a playback display means for playing back the found data, a sub search code storage means for storing multiple sub search codes in a desired sequence to allow playback in that sequence upon command, a means of reading the corresponding sub search code from the stored sequence of sub search codes for the next data to be played back in the sequence after the previous data in the sequence has been played back, and a control means for using the above playback and display means to playback the data which has been found on the recording medium using the sub search code read by the means described above.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ultrasonically scanning cylinders are provided. The methods and apparatus employ as few as one ultrasonic sensor for full immersion scanning and defect detection. Self-centering fixturing spins the cylinder, reducing vibration, allowing for fast ultrasonic scans. To create the 45 degree angle beam shear waves for the circumferential scans, the ultrasonic sensor is offset from the centerline of the cylinder, creating the correct angle for excitation of the shear wave.