Abstract: A method for control of the air/fuel ratio of the burner(s) (excess air) of a thermal cracker includes three steps. The thermal cracker has three consecutive zones or portions through which combustion gases pass, a firebox portion, a bridge wall portion and a convection portion The first step is to direct a wavelength modulated beam of near infrared light from two different tunable diode lasers located in the bridge wall portion through combustion gas from the burner to a pair of near infrared light detectors, each positioned to receive the wavelength modulated beam of near infrared light from a different one of the two tunable diode lasers to generate a detector signal. The second step is to analyze the detector signals for spectroscopic absorption at wavelengths characteristic of oxygen and carbon monoxide to determine their respective concentrations in the combustion gas.

Abstract: A switching network for efficiently receiving and transmitting data packets having both frames and messages includes a crossbar switch with a plurality of surrounding ports for exclusively switching frames which normally consist of large data streams of 40 to 60 bytes. Then the ports are connected together in a message ring and small data entity messages, for example 4, 8, or 12 bytes, are switched from an input port to an output port around the ring avoiding congestion of the crossbar switch.

Abstract: Embodiments provide remote control encoders and decoders, encryption algorithms, key generation, systems and methods, singularly and in combination, and not limited thereto.

Abstract: A method for control of the air/fuel ratio of the burner(s) (excess air) of a thermal cracker which includes three steps. The first step is to direct a wavelength modulated beam of near infrared light from a tunable diode laser through combustion gas from the burner to a near infrared light detector to generate a detector signal. The second step is to analyze the detector signal for spectroscopic absorption at wavelengths characteristic for an analyte selected from the group consisting of oxygen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide to determine the concentration of the analyte in the combustion gas. The third step is to adjust the air/fuel ratio of the burner(s) (excess air) in response to the concentration of the analyte of the second step.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, systems and devices including encoders and decoders are disclosed.

Abstract: A switching network for efficiently receiving and transmitting data packets having both frames and messages includes a crossbar switch with a plurality of surrounding ports for exclusively switching frames which normally consist of large data streams of 40 to 60 bytes. Then the ports are connected together in a message ring and small data entity messages, for example 4, 8, or 12 bytes, are switched from an input port to an output port around the ring avoiding congestion of the crossbar switch.

Abstract: In an apparatus for mounting two or more optical elements that are each held in an individual mount or in a support structure, said optical elements are mounted in a common mount. The relative positioning of the optical elements (10, 11) in the common mount (18) can be set.

Abstract: Embodiments provide remote control encoders and decoders, encryption algorithms and methods, singularly and in combination, and not limited thereto.

Abstract: A switching network for efficiently receiving and transmitting data packets having both frames and messages includes a crossbar switch with a plurality of surrounding ports for exclusively switching frames which normally consist of large data streams of 40 to 60 bytes. Then the ports are connected together in a message ring and small data entity messages, for example 4, 8, or 12 bytes, are switched from an input port to an output port around the ring avoiding congestion of the crossbar switch.

Abstract: A high data rate switch is disclosed. The switch may include fiber optic channels where a plurality of switching elements necessarily operate at a significantly lower data rate providing routing of variable or fixed size data packets from a plurality of source ports to a plurality of destination ports via a single serial link. This is may be provided by storing the high rate data temporarily in memory in each of the source ports and then downloading it at a lower rate in a complete data packet to a designated switching element, almost immediately distributing the next data packet that has been received by the source port to a next switching element. The switching element configuration provides automatic redundancy and a minimum amount of frame overhead while sustaining throughput at the high data rate.

Abstract: A friction stir welding system that enables clamping of a pipe to enable friction stir welding around the pipe OD, a movable mandrel that provides a counter-force to the pressure exerted on the outside of a pipe by a tool, and a system for providing friction stir welding and repair inside a nuclear vessel in an underwater environment.

Abstract: A friction stir welding system that enables clamping of a pipe to enable friction stir welding around the pipe OD, a movable mandrel that provides a counter-force to the pressure exerted on the outside of a pipe by a tool, and a system for providing friction stir welding and repair inside a nuclear vessel in an underwater environment.

Abstract: In an apparatus for mounting two or more optical elements that are each held in an individual mount or in a support structure, said optical elements are mounted in a common mount. The relative positioning of the optical elements (10, 11) in the common mount (18) can be set.

Abstract: One or more atmospheric propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between and upper sideband and a lower sideband of a modulated signal. In one embodiment, one or more propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of a satellite navigation signal. In one embodiment, one or more ionospheric propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of a GPS M-code signal.

Abstract: One or more atmospheric propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between and upper sideband and a lower sideband of a modulated signal. In one embodiment, one or more propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of a satellite navigation signal. In one embodiment, one or more ionospheric propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of a GPS M-code signal.

Abstract: One or more atmospheric propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between and upper sideband and a lower sideband of a modulated signal. In one embodiment, one or more propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of a satellite navigation signal. In one embodiment, one or more ionospheric propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of a GPS M-code signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the dynamic deployment of functionality in software agents. The agent which represents a person's identity, is adapted to dock with a dockable module which includes a method means for performing a function. The agent also has an intermodule communication means for mapping a request from a requesting module to the method means in the dockable module. The invention provides efficient dynamic changes of modules in an agent and the capability to decouple modules in such a way that both data exchange and method calls can be executed without prior knowledge of anticipated functionality.

Abstract: A computer having a software agent for representing a person in the virtual environment. The software agent has one or more application specific modules each of which represents application specific features of the agent. In addition, the agent has a core module which contains one or more functional groups which define common or generic features of the agent which assist in facilitating inter-agent communication, such that inter-agent communication supports communication between a combination of the one or more application specific module and the core module, to provide improved messaging between agents and between agents and users.

Abstract: A multiple packaged good article package including a carrier, a multiplicity of packaged good articles, a handle, and retaining means. The carrier includes a base panel and first and second side panels. The packaged good articles each include a bag that defines opposing major faces, a top region, and a bottom region, and are arranged on the carrier in an upright, major face-to-major face fashion with the bottom regions resting on the base panel. Each of a first and second outermost package provides an exposed major face relative to a remainder thereof. The first and second side panels extend along a portion of the respective exposed major faces. The handle is provided apart from the carrier and extends across the top regions of the packaged good articles. Finally, the retaining means secures an interior packaged good article to the outermost packaged good articles.

Abstract: A system and method of using friction stir welding and friction stir processing to perform crack repair or preventative maintenance of various materials and structures, wherein the structures include pipeline, ships, and nuclear reactor containment vessels, wherein the friction stir welding and processing can be performed on various materials including metal matrix composites, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys, and wherein the friction stir welding and processing can be performed remotely and in harsh environments such as underwater or in the presence of radiation.