Abstract: A system for separating a hydrocarbon/water emulsion may include a radio frequency (RF) power source, an RF load, and a coaxial RF emulsion separator. The coaxial RF emulsion separator may include a coaxial input section coupled to the RF power source, a coaxial output section, and a coaxial separator section coupled in series between the coaxial input and output sections. The coaxial separator section may include an inner separator section conductor and an outer separator section conductor surrounding the inner separator section conductor and defining a separating chamber therebetween. The coaxial separator section may have at least one inlet port to introduce the hydrocarbon/water emulsion to the separating chamber and at least one outlet port to remove separated water and hydrocarbon from the separating chamber after exposure to RF power.

Abstract: A method including detecting a plurality of user inputs via a touch sensitive integrated display system; detecting a tangible device input from a tangible device separate from the touch sensitive integrated display system and configured to interact with the touch sensitive integrated display system; interpreting each user input in accordance with a location of the associated input on the touch sensitive integrated display system and a gesture of the associated input; interpreting each tangible device interaction; generating a display of a graphical image based on the interpretations; updating graphical objects of the graphical image displayed on the touch sensitive display based on the interpretation; determining whether to generate an output via the tangible device interacting with the touch sensitive display based on the interpretations; sending the output to the tangible device based on the determination; generating the received output; and displaying the updated graphical objects of the graphical image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a touch sensitive display are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for operating a touch sensitive display is provided that includes detecting a plurality of inputs via the touch sensitive display, interpreting, using at least one compute processor, each input in accordance with a location of the associated input on the touch sensitive display and a gesture of the associated input, generating a display based on the interpretation; updating a state of objects displayed on the touch sensitive display based on the interpretation, determining whether to generate an output to another device based on the interpretation, sending the output to the other device based on the determination, and displaying the generated display on the touch sensitive display.

Abstract: A system for separating a hydrocarbon/water emulsion may include a radio frequency (RF) power source, an RF load, and a coaxial RF emulsion separator. The coaxial RF emulsion separator may include a coaxial input section coupled to the RF power source, a coaxial output section, and a coaxial separator section coupled in series between the coaxial input and output sections. The coaxial separator section may include an inner separator section conductor and an outer separator section conductor surrounding the inner separator section conductor and defining a separating chamber therebetween. The coaxial separator section may have at least one inlet port to introduce the hydrocarbon/water emulsion to the separating chamber and at least one outlet port to remove separated water and hydrocarbon from the separating chamber after exposure to RF power.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a touch sensitive display are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for operating a touch sensitive display that includes detecting a plurality of inputs via the touch sensitive display, interpreting, using at least one compute processor, each input in accordance with a location of the associated input on the touch sensitive display and a gesture of the associated input, generating a display based on the interpretation; updating a state of objects displayed on the touch sensitive display based on the interpretation, determining whether to generate an output to another device based on the interpretation, sending the output to the other device based on the determination, and displaying the generated display on the touch sensitive display.

Abstract: A leak detector includes a fabric having a conductor. The fabric has an electric property between the conductor and a reference. The electric property has a first value in response to the fabric being in a non-wetted state with regard to a working fluid and the electrical property has a second value different than the first value in response to the fabric being in a wetted state with regard to the working fluid.

Abstract: A microcontroller system for oil and gas wells using a plunger lift device, which responds to the variations in well production and operation. The system requires minimal operator input, and is able to calculate the operational cycles and adjustments to maximize well production and maintain environmental safety using non-linear artificial intelligence processes.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, medical personnel may enter into an electronic medical records (EMR) storage mechanism the precise treatment instructions issued to a patient. A database is accessible to the patient to allow the patient to review the patient's records, including the exact treatment instructions. The most current recommended diagnosis specific treatment guidelines, for example, may be provided to the medical practitioner as a starting point in specifying the treatment instructions. Patients may customize the manner in which the exemplary system interacts with the patients. Patients may also specify the mechanism by which they will receive compliance reminder messages. The patient may also restrict access to the patient's records, even by medical personnel, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: A method for determining the mechanical installation parameters of an oxygen sensor so that it will operate within a predetermined temperature range under all operating conditions of the vehicle by setting the desired exposed area of the sensor element tip (S), taking into account: the recommended maximum operational temperature of the oxygen sensor (Ts); the hottest expected temperature of the exhaust gas (Tg); the effective heat transfer rate from the exhaust gas to the sensor element tip, and ultimately to the surroundings, ie., the exhaust pipe sidewall which is in contact with the surrounding ambient air (Q/t); the thermal conductivity of the oxygen sensor (k); and an effective thickness, which depends on where the temperature is measured in the oxygen sensor (x), according to a relation: S=(Q*x)/((Tg−Ts)(t*c*k)). The exposed surface area is then mechanically set, which may include use of a collar concentrically placed around the sensor element tip.

Abstract: A non-blocking optical switch has a non-dilated architecture wherein dual mode input waveguides are connected to first and second inputs of mode selective couplers through mode conversion devices. Switching is effected by signals from a processing unit applied to a mode converter to convert the signal to be switched from a fundamental mode to a higher order mode. The mode selective coupler then couples the signal to one of the outputs thereof, whereas fundamental mode signals pass through to the other output thereof. An array of rows (layers) and columns of such elements make it possible to switch any incoming signal to be switched to any of a plurality of outputs after reconversion to the fundamental mode.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensing system (20) applies spectral analysis to time-varying disturbances in the output optical power from a Sagnac interferometer. In particular, harmonically related null frequencies in the spectrum (402) of the output optical power from the Sagnac interferometer are used to uniquely determine the location of a disturbance along a fiber cable (50). An optical signal having relatively high coherence is fed into a splitter (25), which creates a pair of subsignals that are sent in opposite directions around a common optical path. The splitter is effective to recombine the subsignals after they have traveled around the common path. The location of the disturbance is determined by the formula: ##EQU1## z is the distance between the locations of the disturbance and the splitter;2L is the length of the common path;c is the speed of light;n.sub.e is the effective index of refraction of the optical fiber path experienced by the subsignals; and.OMEGA..sub.

Abstract: An optical integrated circuit is used to simultaneously test both the transmit fiber and the receive fiber in a fiber optic pair which extends between a telephone central office and a subscriber's site. By testing both fibers simultaneously testing time is cut in half without the loss of any important information, as fibers are replaced in pairs. In addition, the cost of test equipment is reduced considerably, as the expensive portions of the test equipment can be used for twice as many optical circuits as was heretofore possible. Finally, there are half as many connections needed between the optical switch and the optical integrated circuits built in accordance with the present invention, thereby simplifying their interconnections, and eliminating the extra cost in optical ports and interconnecting fiber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing temporary longitudinal wrinkles (29) from a thin or ultra-thin moving web (11) in a web conveyance machine by bending the web through preferably at least 90 degrees around a cylindrical small-radius air bar (13, 35, 39, 61, 63, 65, 73, 79) and for preventing permanent creases from forming in the web by disposing the air bar with the wrinkle-free web in close proximity to the surface of a contact roller (33, 53, 67, 71) and transferring the moving web across a gap (62) of preferably 1 mm or less between the air bar and the contact roller.

Abstract: A method of producing lyocell fibers by spinning a solution of cellulose in an organic solvent through an air gap and into a spin bath in which there is provided a cross-draught of air in the air gap.

Abstract: A method of producing lyocell fibres by spinning a solution of cellulose in an organic solvent through an air gap and into a spin bath in which there is provided a cross-draught of air in the air gap.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic cable connector is provided that exhibits a consistent return loss rating of 60 dB or better. The connector comprises matable connector housings that terminate the ends of respective optical cables to be joined. Within each housing, the optical fiber of the respective cable is secured within a ceramic ferrule that extends axially of the connector. The endface of each optical fiber is exposed at the end of its respective ferrule. The ends of the ferrules are ground and polished in such a way that the endfaces of the optical fibers exhibit a planar undercut with respect to the lip of the axial passageway in which the fibers are secured. When the ferrules are brought and pressed together end-to-end as the connectors are mated, the material of each ferrule compresses until the endfaces of the optical fibers engage each other with near null pressure.

Abstract: First and second feed streams are injected into a molten bath, thereby creating first and second jets. The first and second jets combine to form a substantially planar, or fan jet, region within the molten bath. The first and second feed streams can include a variety of materials, such as oxidant, reducing agents, or waste materials, such as organic waste. In addition, the feed streams can include distinct reactants that are combined in the fan jet region for reaction with each other or with one or more components of the molten bath.

Abstract: Knives (28, 30, 122) are held in tangential, resilient (106, 108) or fixed (132, 136) contact with a surface of an air bar (12-20) or air table (142); so that a web (26) moving on a cushion of air (46) over the air bar or table is cleanly slit into webs (32, 34, 36) of smaller width.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic cable connector is provided that exhibits a consistent return loss rating of 60 dB or better. The connector comprises matable connector housings that terminate the ends of respective optical cables to be joined. Within each housing, the optical fiber of the respective cable is secured within a ceramic ferrule that extends axially of the connector. The endface of each optical fiber is exposed at the end of its respective ferrule. The ends of the ferrules are ground and polished in such a way that the endfaces of the optical fibers exhibit a planar undercut with respect to the lip of the axial passageway in which the fibers are secured. When the ferrules are brought and pressed together end-to-end as the connectors are mated, the material of each ferrule compresses until the endfaces of the optical fibers engage each other with near null pressure.

Abstract: An optical integrated circuit (OIC) 10 and an optical fiber array 20 are joined using index matching material, and mounted on a planar bridging structure 30 to form a device which can be readily connected to other devices using conventional optical connectors. The OIC and the fiber array comprise a silicon substrates 100, 200 having bottom surfaces that include reference areas 14, 24, and top sides that include a number of optical paths 16, 50. These paths are positioned above each reference area by an exact distance. Additionally, the bottom sides of the OIC and the fiber array include alignment features 13, 23 which are etched into their substrates and bear a predetermined horizontal relation to the optical paths. The planar bridging structure also includes a reference surface 34 that interfaces the reference surfaces of the OIC and the fiber array to assure that the optical paths are in vertical alignment. The resulting device achieves excellent alignment (i.e., less than 0.