Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing time synchronization correction in computer systems. A service processor includes a battery-backed hardware clock, and a hypervisor includes a hypervisor system clock. A common timer resource is accessible by the hypervisor and the service processor. To synchronize the battery-backed hardware clock and the hypervisor system clock, the common timer resource is used to measure the latency in the communication medium between the hypervisor and the service processor. The latency is then added onto the time value received in time of day messages between the hypervisor and the service processor for time synchronization correction in the computer systems.

Abstract: A recovery tank is provided for a floor cleaning unit. The recovery tank comprises an inlet opening and a duct fluidly connected to the inlet. The duct extends horizontally within the tank adjacent a side wall the recovery tank for directing air and liquid from the inlet opening in two opposing directions. A lid covers the tank and has an outlet opening for directing air out of the recovery tank. A pair of shields depends downwardly from the lid and extends from the duct to the side wall of the recovery tank. The outlet opening of the lid is located between the shields such that the shields prevent liquid from coming out of the duct and entering the outlet opening of the lid.

Abstract: An optical coupler for measuring mean wavelength of a broadband optical source is described. Sensitivity of the optical coupler to variations of refractive index and coupler length is minimized. The sensitivity to the variations of the refractive index is minimized by making a difference between the group refractive indices of the symmetric and asymmetric propagation modes approximately constant and independent of the refractive index. The sensitivity to the variations of the coupler length is minimized by selecting the coupler length that makes output powers from two waveguides to the first order insensitive to its length. This selection is possible for broadband optical sources.

Abstract: A fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) includes a sensing coil with a particular magnetic sensitivity magnitude and direction with respect to the geometric axis of the sensing coil. The FOG also includes a plurality of magnetic compensators. Each magnetic compensator is fabricated so as to have a particular magnetic sensitivity magnitude and direction, the magnitude being comparable to that of the sensing coil, with large tolerances relative to the magnitude and direction. The compensators are positioned relative to one another and to the sensing coil such that the combined magnetic sensitivities of the compensators cancel the magnetic sensitivity of the sensing coil.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. A solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface is removably mounted to one of the base portion and handle. A recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle. A suction nozzle is secured to the base portion. A suction source is located downstream of the recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A suction conduit is fluidly connected between the recovery tank and the suction source.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. In one aspect of the invention, the cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a recovery tank removably mounted to the housing. A solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface is removably mounted to the housing. A suction nozzle is secured to the housing and is in fluid communication with the recovery tank. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A first latch is operatively connected to the solution tank to releasably latch the solution tank to the housing and a second latch is operatively connected to the recovery tank to releasably latch the recovery tank to said housing, wherein the second latch is in close proximity to the first latch.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. The handle includes a lower portion and an upper portion pivotally connected to the lower portion and pivoted between an upper position for use and a lower position for storage. A solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface is removably mounted to one of the base portion and the handle. A recovery tank removably mounted to one of the base portion and the handle and is in fluid communication with a suction nozzle secured to said base portion.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a recovery tank removably mounted to the housing. A liquid distribution system is operatively associated with the housing for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface. A suction nozzle is secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the recovery tank. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. The suction nozzle includes a front nozzle portion removably mounted to a rear nozzle portion.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. A solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface is removably mounted to a side of the handle. A recovery tank is removably mounted to the opposite side of the handle. A suction nozzle is secured to the base portion. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank.

Abstract: Fiber optic gyroscope architectures that incorporate both (i) a WDM-based wavelength control and (ii) a wavelength reference based on a narrowband fiber Bragg grating (FBG), with the latter component providing significant improvement in the stability of the wavelength reference by calibrating out wavelength errors associated with a WDM-based wavelength control scheme.

Abstract: An improved floor care appliance if provided. The floor care appliance comprises a base for movement along the surface attached to a housing. The floor care appliance has two liquid storage tanks located in the housing wherein one of the liquid storage tanks generally overlies the other liquid storage tank. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid storage tank located above the other liquid storage tank is a cleaning solution storage tank and the other liquid storage tank is a liquid recovery tank.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensing coil is formed by winding a non-coated optical fiber in a substantially circular loop. The non-coated optical fiber includes a core and a cladding. Once the non-coated optical fiber is wound, turns of the non-coated optical fiber are fused so that the cladding of the individual turns of the optical fiber are fused to one another at points of mutual contact.

Abstract: A floor cleaning device comprises a base portion for movement along a surface and a handle portion pivotally connected to the base. The base portion further includes a suction nozzle and a brush assembly for agitating the surface, wherein the brush assembly and the nozzle assembly are in a first position raised off of the surface for vacuuming the surface, and the nozzle assembly is lowered to a second position contacting the surface for collecting and picking up liquid and dirt from the surface. A method of cleaning a surface by first dry vacuuming the surface using a cleaning unit in which the nozzle assembly is raised to pick up particles and then wet vacuuming the floor with the nozzle assembly lowered to collect and pick up dirt from the floor mixed with cleaning solution distributed on the floor.

Abstract: A floor cleaning device comprises a base portion for movement along a surface and a handle portion pivotally connected to the base. The base portion further includes a suction nozzle and a brush assembly for agitating the surface, wherein the brush assembly and the nozzle assembly are in a first position raised off of the surface for vacuuming the surface, and the nozzle assembly is lowered to a second position contacting the surface for collecting and picking up liquid and dirt from the surface. A method of cleaning a surface by first dry vacuuming the surface using a cleaning unit in which the nozzle assembly is raised to pick up particles and then wet vacuuming the floor with the nozzle assembly lowered to collect and pick up dirt from the floor mixed with cleaning solution distributed on the floor.

Abstract: A targeted elastic laminate material is provided having at least one low tension zone with first filaments having a first basis weight and at least one high tension zone having second filaments with a second basis weight greater than the first basis weight. The second basis weight is greater due to increased average thickness of the second filaments and/or increased frequency of second filaments relative to the first filaments. Methods and modifications of those methods are provided to produce a targeted elastic laminate material according to the preferred embodiments of this invention.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing time synchronization correction in computer systems. A service processor includes a battery-backed hardware clock, and a hypervisor includes a hypervisor system clock. A common timer resource is accessible by the hypervisor and the service processor. To synchronize the battery-backed hardware clock and the hypervisor system clock, the common timer resource is used to measure the latency in the communication medium between the hypervisor and the service processor. The latency is then added onto the time value received in time of day messages between the hypervisor and the service processor for time synchronization correction in the computer systems.

Abstract: A fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) including a depolarizer having substantially equal first and second fiber segments of polarization maintaining (PM) fiber coupled to a single mode (SM) fiber loop. The first PM fiber segment includes sections of fiber connected together via a splice having an angle from about 35° to 55° between major axes of polarization of the sections which it connects. Similarly, the second PM fiber segment includes sections of fiber connected together via a splice having an angle from about 35° to 55° between major axes of polarization of the sections which it connects. The length of each fiber section is chosen to maintain the thermal and mechanical symmetry of the SM fiber loop.

Abstract: A fiber optic fault detector and generic fiber optic sensor system for detecting breaks in an optical fiber using a low coherence interferometric technique. The system comprises a light source configured to produce light traveling along the optical path, a modulator optically coupled to the light source configured to modulate at least a portion of the light as a function of a modulation signal, a detector optically coupled to the modulator configured to produce a detector output based upon a sensed intensity of the light, and an electronic array configured to receive the detector output and determine the optical fault. The low coherence interferometric technique allows for detection of a fault in the fiber with a minimal amount of test equipment and with higher measurement sensitivity and resolution. The system may alternatively include a transducer, positioned in place of the fiber under test, having a response which changes in reflective or optical path length.

Abstract: A method is provided for sensing an environmental effect upon a sensing element and includes exposing the sensing element into the environmental effect, producing a light signal in the sensing element, modulating the light signal with a modulation signal, and determining a path length of the light signal as a function of the modulation signal. A fiber optic sensor is provided that includes a light source producing a light, a sensing element optically coupled to the light source such that the light propagates through the sensing element, a detector optically coupled to the sensing element. The detector detects light intensity propagating in the sensing element. An electronics processor receives the detector output and produces a modulation signal for the light. The processor further produces an output signal indicative of the environmental effect as a function of the modulation signal.

Abstract: An exemplary WDM coupling device may include optical fibers. The coupling device may also include region(s) having varying coefficients of thermal expansion. During a temperature variation, one or more of the region(s) may alter in size to substantially cancel temperature-dependent changes associated with the WDM coupling device.