Abstract: A multi-interface telecommunication device includes a multitude of communication interfaces including: a telephone network interface configured to interface with a telephone network, a personal computer interface configured to interface with a personal computing device, a user communication interface configured to interface with a two-way audio device of a user operating the multi-interface telecommunication device, and a programmable mixer configured to process a multitude of audio signals associated with the multitude of communication interfaces according to a mixing instruction received from the personal computing device.

Abstract: An anchor spike and a method of using it with landscape edging are provided. The anchor spike has a novel feature that causes the anchor spike to have a changing angle of entry as it is being driven into the ground or other landscape material. The anchor spike is comprised of an elongate shaft, a head located at a first end of the elongate shaft and a tip section located at a second end of the elongate shaft and arranged at an angle to the elongate shaft. The method of using the anchor spike to secure landscape edging to the ground includes arranging a landscape edging strip having a plurality of apertures in a desire location on the ground, providing the anchor spike, aligning the tip section of the anchor spike with an aperture on the landscape edging strip and driving the anchor spike into the ground.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a polygonal fuel cell comprises: a cathode layer having a tubular shape; a contact layer electrically coupled to and disposed on the cathode layer to leave an uncovered cathode surface portion; an electrolyte layer disposed on the uncovered cathode surface portion; and an anode layer electrically isolated from the contact layer, disposed on the electrolyte layer such that the polygonal fuel cell has a polygonal cross section to facilitate dense packing.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a power controller for an AC load comprises: a user interface adapted to interact with a user to produce at least one user interface signal; and a control module adapted to electrically couple a line voltage supply, electrically couple the AC load, and provide electrical power to the AC load as a function of the at least one user interface signal by implementing a low-flicker, cycle-skipping control algorithm, the control algorithm comprising a plurality of cycle patterns, the cycle patterns comprising a plurality of main power levels.

Abstract: A method of detecting faults in a fuel cell system, the method comprising: comparing a plurality of fuel cell measurements to respective ones of a plurality of range limits to yield a plurality of range flags; differentiating the fuel cell measurements to yield a plurality of fuel cell rates; comparing the fuel cell rates to respective ones of a plurality of rate limits to yield a plurality of rate flags; and classifying the range flags and the rate flags to yield a fault detection decision.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a temperature of a thermal load comprises: a dynamic compensator for calculating a heater command as a function of a user input signal without using a temperature measurement; and a heater for controlling temperature of the thermal load by applying heat in response to the said heater command.

Abstract: Systems for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client according to the invention include apparatus that implement the steps of detecting at a teleworking client when an emergency number is dialed, disconnecting the teleworking client from the PBX/MLTS, connecting the teleworking client to the PSTN, and dialing an associated stored number. Though the invention is described with reference to a teleworking client, it may also be applied to any other dialup network connection.

Abstract: A method of detecting faults in a fuel cell system, the method comprising: comparing a plurality of fuel cell measurements to respective ones of a plurality of range limits to yield a plurality of range flags; differentiating the fuel cell measurements to yield a plurality of fuel cell rates; comparing the fuel cell rates to respective ones of a plurality of rate limits to yield a plurality of rate flags; and classifying the range flags and the rate flags to yield a fault detection decision.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a polygonal fuel cell comprises: a cathode layer having a tubular shape; a contact layer electrically coupled to and disposed on the cathode layer to leave an uncovered cathode surface portion; an electrolyte layer disposed on the uncovered cathode surface portion; and an anode layer electrically isolated from the contact layer, disposed on the electrolyte layer such that the polygonal fuel cell has a polygonal cross section to facilitate dense packing.

Abstract: Methods for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client according to the invention include detecting at the teleworking client when an emergency number is dialed, disconnecting the teleworking client from the PBX/MLTS, connecting the teleworking client to the PSTN, and dialing an associated stored number. The apparatus of the invention resides in software that is installed in off the shelf hardware. Though the invention is described with reference to a teleworking client, it may also be applied to any other dialup network connection.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a power controller for an AC load comprises: a user interface adapted to interact with a user to produce at least one user interface signal; and a control module adapted to electrically couple a line voltage supply, electrically couple the AC load, and provide electrical power to the AC load as a function of the at least one user interface signal by implementing a low-flicker, cycle-skipping control algorithm, the control algorithm comprising a plurality of cycle patterns, the cycle patterns comprising a plurality of main power levels.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling a temperature of a thermal load comprises: a dynamic compensator for calculating a heater command as a function of a user input signal without using a temperature measurement; and a heater for controlling said temperature of said thermal load by applying heat in response to said heater command.

Abstract: Methods for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client according to the invention include detecting at the teleworking client when an emergency number is dialed, disconnecting the teleworking client from the PBX/MLTS, connecting the teleworking client to the PSTN, and dialing an associated stored number. The apparatus of the invention resides in software that is installed in off the shelf hardware. Though the invention is described with reference to a teleworking client, it may also be applied to any other dialup network connection.

Abstract: Systems for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client according to the invention include apparatus that implement the steps of detecting at a teleworking client when an emergency number is dialed, disconnecting the teleworking client from the PBX/MLTS, connecting the teleworking client to the PSTN, and dialing an associated stored number. Though the invention is described with reference to a teleworking client, it may also be applied to any other dialup network connection.

Abstract: A fuel control system for controlling the ratio of ring temperature adjustment in rings of a combustor in a gas turbine. The fuel control system consists of employing a computer to perform the steps of; defining an operational boundary inner ring temperature adjustments versus outer ring temperature adjustments that defines a safe operating region for the annular combustor of the gas turbine; calculating a point of operation of the inner ring temperature adjustment versus the outer ring temperature adjustment within a safety margin of the operational boundary, wherein nitrous oxide (NOx) emission levels of the gas turbine is reduced; and regulating the ring temperatures to maintain a near global minimum point of operation, while maintaining normal operation of the gas turbine.

Abstract: An ultrasonic ranging system for providing a distance to a subject signal for use in positioning a movable imaging element support structure with respect to a subject of examination includes a collar assembly disposed around a portion of the imaging element structure disposed towards an imaging region; a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed in a sensing pattern around the collar assembly; and an ultrasonic ranging processing unit coupled to the transducers to control processing of ultrasonic ranging signals from the transducers. The transducers are typically disposed in one or more rows on the surface around the circumference of the collar assembly such that the lobes of ultrasonic signals generated provide a desired ranging field.

Abstract: A capacitive proximity detection system for positioning a movable radiation imaging element support structure with respect to a subject includes a plurality of sensor plates disposed in a collar assembly around a portion of an imaging component disposed towards a subject; a multiplexer coupled to the plurality of capacitive plate elements and adapted to selectively electrically couple the sensor plate elements in one of a plurality of sensing range modalities; and a capacitive sensing processor coupled to the sensor plate elements via the multiplexer so as to detect proximity of object to the sensor plate as a function of the capacitance between the sensor plates and the subject. The imaging system typically further includes a shield system coupled to the multiplexer and disposed so as to focus the capacitive sensing of the sensor plate elements towards the subject.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic material (18,20) in ink or tape form is sinterable using a same firing profile as and has approximately the same thermal shrinkage characteristics as low-temperature-cofired-ceramic (LTCC) tape, and is chemically non-reactive therewith. The ferromagnetic material (18,20) is applied to the surfaces of LTCC tape sheets (12,14,16) to form desired elements such as cores for inductors (22) and transformers and magnetic shields. Ferromagnetic vertical interconnects (vias) (54) can be formed by punching holes (56) through tape sheets (46) and filling them with ferromagnetic ink. The tape sheets (12,14,16) and ferromagnetic elements (18,20) are laminated together and cofired to form an integral structure (10). Ferromagnetic and non-magnetic components (114) can be fabricated separately and inserted into cavities (104a,-106a,108a) in tape sheets (104,106,108) prior to cofiring.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic material (18,20) in ink or tape form is sinterable using a same firing profile as and has approximately the same thermal shrinkage characteristics as low-temperature-cofired-ceramic (LTCC) tape, and is chemically non-reactive therewith. The ferromagnetic material (18,20) is applied to the surfaces of LTCC tape sheets (12,14,16) to form desired elements such as cores for inductors (22) and transformers and magnetic shields. Ferromagnetic vertical interconnects (vias) (54) can be formed by punching holes (56) through tape sheets (46) and filling them with ferromagnetic ink. The tape sheets (12,14,16) and ferromagnetic elements (18,20) are laminated together and cofired to form an integral structure (10). Ferromagnetic and non-magnetic components (114) can be fabricated separately and inserted into cavities (104a, 106a,108a) in tape sheets (104,106,108) prior to cofiring.