Abstract: A lock assembly includes an exterior operator assembly, an interior operator assembly, and a latch assembly. An outer spindle is operatively coupled to a latch assembly, is drivably coupled to the interior operator assembly, and has a longitudinal bore. A coupling mechanism is coupled to the outer spindle. A locking spindle assembly is rotatably received in the longitudinal bore, and is configured to selectively operate the coupling mechanism to couple the exterior operator assembly to the outer spindle upon actuation of a drive assembly. The locking spindle assembly has a fire compliant component made of a first material that melts during a fire to prevent operation of the latch assembly with the exterior operator assembly, and has a fire resistant component made of a second material and configured to block the longitudinal bore of the outer spindle to aid in preventing the spread of the fire through the door.

Abstract: Methods and systems for upgrading passengers from commercial airline flights to private aircraft flights are disclosed. The problem of having a return flight of a private aircraft without revenue generating passengers is solved by selecting a commercial airline flight which best overlaps the return flight of the private aircraft, and offering commercial airline passengers booked on the selected commercial airline flight an opportunity to upgrade to the private aircraft flight. Commercial airline passengers willing to upgrade pay an incremental fee which may be used to offset the cost of the return flight of the private aircraft. Commercial airline passengers may be selected based on their participation in commercial airline marketing programs such as those based on total accumulated miles flown.

Abstract: A lock assembly includes an exterior operator assembly, an interior operator assembly, and a latch assembly. An outer spindle is operatively coupled to a latch assembly, is drivably coupled to the interior operator assembly, and has a longitudinal bore. A coupling mechanism is coupled to the outer spindle. A locking spindle assembly is rotatably received in the longitudinal bore, and is configured to selectively operate the coupling mechanism to couple the exterior operator assembly to the outer spindle upon actuation of a drive assembly. The locking spindle assembly has a fire compliant component made of a first material that melts during a fire to prevent operation of the latch assembly with the exterior operator assembly, and has a fire resistant component made of a second material and configured to block the longitudinal bore of the outer spindle to aid in preventing the spread of the fire through the door.

Abstract: A lock assembly for use with a door movably coupled to a door frame. The lock assembly includes a housing, a control member, a latchbolt, and a locking member. The control member is movably coupled to the housing from a locked position to an unlocked position to allow the door to move with respect to the door frame. The latchbolt moves with respect to the housing in a first direction and a second direction. The locking member is configured for engagement with the control member to move the locking member with respect to the housing into and out of an engaged position with respect to the latchbolt. The locking member includes a surface that contacts the latchbolt when the locking member is in the engaged position to substantially prevent movement of the latchbolt in the first and second directions.

Abstract: A latchbolt configured for use with a door lock assembly. The door lock assembly is configured for interaction with a strike coupled to a door frame, and operable to place the latchbolt in a locked configuration using the strike to generally prevent rotation of the door and an unlocked configuration to allow rotation of the door. The latchbolt includes a first member and a second member movably coupled to the first member. When the latchbolt is in the locked configuration the second member is movable relative to the first member from a first position to a second position in response to a predetermined force applied to the door.

Abstract: A direct conversion digital x-ray detector is provided with inherent high voltage protection for static and dynamic imaging. The detector has an n-channel active matrix TFT array, a coplanar photoconductor structure and a high voltage biasing electrode. In order to achieve high voltage protection, the biasing electrode is set to a negative potential and the TFT “off” gate voltage is set to a predetermined negative value, such that the TFT is essentially non-conductive.

Abstract: A method for producing a multilayer plate for X-ray imaging is disclosed. As the first step in the method, there is provided a plate of a substrate. Then, there is deposited on this substrate a thin film of amorphous arsenic triselenide by thermal evaporation under reduced pressure, followed by condensation on the substrate. A thick photoconductive film of doped amorphous selenium is then deposited by evaporation and condensation on the thin layer of amorphous arsenic triselenide. This thick photoconductive film can also be deposited directly onto the substrate. Then, a thin film of alkali doped selenium is deposited onto the thick photoconductive layer by evaporation or co-evaporation and condensation, and a conducting biasing electrode is formed on top of this alkali doped film.

Abstract: Erasure of an x-ray imaging device is performed by applying high voltage and erasing light simultaneously. The polarity of the high voltage may be reversed during the erasure operation. This produces an erasure that eliminates non-uniformities or ghosts arising from a previous image.

Abstract: A multilayer plate for X-ray imaging is provided, which includes a substrate, a biasing electrode and a selenium-based membrane sandwiched between the substrate and the biasing electrode. The selenium-based membrane comprises a thick photoconductive layer of doped amorphous selenium and one or two thin buffer layers. One of the buffer layers is an amorphous arsenic triselenide layer positioned between the photoconductive layer and the substrate, and the other buffer layer is a unipolar conducting layer of alkali doped selenium positioned between the photoconductive layer and the biasing electrode. Preferably both layers are included. A method of producing such multilayer plates is also disclosed.