Abstract: An optical apparatus and method comprising a light source, an array detector for area imaging and an optical cell assembly. The optical cell assembly comprises a chamber which is arranged to receive a sample of a material including an analyte, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet coupled to the chamber. A fluid dissolution medium stream passes through the chamber such that the sample can dissolve into the dissolution medium. The chamber is in at least one light path created between the light source and the array detector. The array detector comprises a two dimensional array of detector locations arranged to provide an output signal indicative of the light absorbance of the analyte within the chamber such that the output of the array detector is indicative of the concentration profile of the analyte near the surface of the sample.

Abstract: This invention is a packaged propellant air-induced variable thrust rocket engine that has a vast number of uses and applications for this invention. The primary purpose of the device described here is to provide a light weight, torque and vibration free thrust generator for the propulsion of aircraft. This device will facilitate the fabrication of very light weight aircraft because of the lack these forces. This device can also be used anywhere high velocity air flow and or the resulting thrust is needed. The invention uses aerodynamic principles to compress and accelerate the incoming air, prior to it being heated and accelerated by a short duration burst of thermal and kinetic energy from discrete packets of a mixture of oxidizable fuels. The heated and accelerated air then expands as it travels thru the device providing thrust.

Abstract: A method and system for generating high pressure superheated steam on demand that uses nano-sized aluminum particles to allow oxidation and heat generation using photonic initiation. This invention uses the unique properties of nano-sized aluminum either alone or with other energetics to provide the needed heat to quickly vaporize and superheat water directly in either a flowing water or static water environment to produce steam as needed. Due to its compact design it can be used in new or existing steam applications. This steam use may be any application that needs an on demand high pressure steam supply. Applications include steam catapults, boost steam for turbines, steam cleaners, surge power for powerplant turbines and any other use.

Abstract: A mobile device collects information about application usage and associates collected application information with a location of the mobile device and/or a time that the application is accessed. The application is stored on the mobile device or on an external device and accessed via a network. The application information, location of the mobile device and time the application is accessed are communicated to another device and stored in a storage device which may be operated or managed by a service provider or another entity. The application information may comprise identification of a website, a network device or URL, the application and/or data that is input and/or output from the application. The location of the mobile device and/or the time, are determined utilizing a GNSS receiver and/or utilizing information from a network device. The application information, the location of the mobile device and/or the time may be utilized for targeted advertizing.

Abstract: A communication device within a GNSS group propagates GNSS assistance data to one or more other communication devices in the GNSS group utilizing direct device-to-device connections. The GNSS assistance data comprises ephemeris received from one or more GNSS satellites and/or predicted ephemeris. As a source device, the communication device generates, and/or acquires from other resources such as a remote location server, the predicted ephemeris. As a destination device, the communication device receives existing GNSS assistance data from a source device and/or other communication devices in the GNSS group. A GNSS position for the communication device and corresponding time information are used to refresh the received GNSS assistance data.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating and positioning a radiation therapy treatment table with a high degree of precision and accuracy. The treatment table includes radiographic indexing markers embedded or inlaid therein. The radiographic indexing markers can include a density different from density of the table material, or a radio-frequency or magnetic contrasting matter, something that the imaging system and detector of the radiation therapy system can detect, so that when scanned, with or without a patient or phantom on the table, the precise location of the patient treatment table in the x, y and z planes is known. This is important so that the table may be reconstructed, alone or with a phantom on it, by the radiation therapy system software, providing a very good indication of where the table top is prior to treatment.

Abstract: A container cap (80) positioned within a sealing chamber (84) has an openable aperture to allow the increase in pressure in the container headspace (231) before the aperture is resealed. In alternative embodiments the container (1) may include vacuum compensation panels (801, 802,803, 804) in its sidewall and/or base.

Abstract: A semi-rigid collapsible container has a side-wall with an upper portion, a central portion, a lower portion and a base. The central portion includes a vacuum panel portion having a control portion and an initiator portion. The control portion is inclined more steeply in a vertical direction, i.e. has a more acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, than the initiator portion. On low vacuum force being present within the container panel following the cooling of a hot liquid in the container the initiator portion will flex inwardly to cause the control portion to invert and flex further inwardly into the container and the central portion to collapse. Raised ribs made an additional support for the container in its collapsed state. In another embodiment the telescoping of the container back to its original position occurs when the vacuum force is released following removal of the container cap.

Abstract: An improved blow molded plastic container having generally rounded sidewalls that are adapted for hot-fill applications has two adjacent sides and two pairs of controlled deflection panels, each pair reacting to vacuum pressure at differing rates of movement, whereby one pair inverts under vacuum pressure and the other pair remains available for increased squeezability or extreme vacuum extraction. The opposing sidewalls are symmetric relative to vacuum panel and rib shape and placement. The ribs and controlled deflection panels cooperate to retain container shape upon filling and cooling and also improves bumper denting resistance, decreases vacuum pressure within the container, and increases light weight capability.

Abstract: A device for recording the content of live communications sessions allocates each session with a unique identifier which is also communicated to a server, exchange, switch or endpoint having control of that session. A log of events occurring in the session is updated with the unique identifier of the recorded content, and following the session, the log of events is communicated to the recording device, indexed under the unique identifier, and stored with the recorded content of the session itself.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for measuring forces in the space of a knee during surgery. Such forces can be caused by tension in the ligaments of the knee. A femoral member is engaged with a distal femur. While the knee is flexed, partially extended, or fully extended, a force sensor and a gauge shim can be placed in the gap between the femoral member and the tibial plateau to measure the forces therebetween. The force sensor provides an accurate and quantifiable measurement of force, making knee replacement surgery and ligament tension balancing more accurate, standardized and repeatable. The force sensor comprises an elongate housing which comprises a thin force sensing distal portion and a proximal handle portion.

Abstract: A method for eliminating or reducing interference in a receiver, for example, interference in a satellite positioning system receiver caused by a co-located TDMA transmitter, including detecting (210) the presence of a jamming signal, generating a synchronous blanking signal (220), and reducing the jamming signal by blanking (230) the receiver with a blanking signal. In one embodiment, the jamming signal is detected in the receiver, for example, at a correlator output of a satellite positioning system receiver.

Abstract: A Method of Processing a Container and Base Cup Structure For Removal of Vacuum Pressure A plastic container (10) has a wall extending to a lower portion including a pressure panel (20). The panel (20) is transversely oriented and can move from a downwardly inclined position providing a geometrically unstable configuration to an upwardly inclined position providing a geometrically stable configuration to control pressure change in the container. This movement may be provided by suitable actuating means such as rod (22). In the unstable configuration a base cup 50 or any other suitable holder can support the container and enable it to be conveyed in a container handling or processing system.

Abstract: A stump grinder has a grinding arm that durably mounts a rotatable grinding wheel by securing the drive shaft of a motor to the grinding wheel such that a pair of bearings within the motor support one side of the grinding wheel and by supporting the other side of the grinding wheel with a stub shaft received within a third bearing. The grinding arm is laterally offset on the frame of the stump grinder to have a swing angle that is not symmetrical relative to the width of the frame, but with the swing angle starting at one side of the frame and then traversing across substantially the entire width of the frame to improve the ability of the operator to see the grinding wheel. A single joystick is movable in orthogonal directions corresponding to desired up and down and side-to-side pivoting motions of the grinding arm. The joystick includes a depressible trigger for starting and stopping the operation of the grinding wheel.

Abstract: A container (1) is intended for filling with a hot liquid (21). The container (1) has a neck finish (2) with an opening closed off by a primary seal (4) which has an expandable side wall (4a). As the liquid (21) cools, the side wall (4a) is drawn into the container (1) to remove vacuum pressure created within the container (1). A permanent cap (25) can provide a secondary seal for the container and define a secondary headspace (24b) between the primary and secondary seals (4) (25). In other embodiments the seal (4) can be replaced by a mechanically movable seal which may be locked in its downward position. Also the secondary seal can be provided with a port or aperture to provide access into the secondary headspace for a commodity. Also a commodity such as a tablet or pill may be provided within the secondary headspace.

Abstract: An aircraft check valve assembly where the fluid check valve is indexed in rotational position relative to a first duct flange and to a second opposed duct flange and to a clamping band where the check valve includes an annular check valve flange having at least one index tab extending therefrom. The index tab formed in the check valve annular flange engages a void area formed in an outer annular ridge formed in the first and second duct flanges. A clamping band holds the first duct flange to the check valve flange and to the second duct flange where the clamping band is rotationally indexed to the check valve by index fingers formed on the index tab which and extends to occupy a gap formed in a hinge point of the band clamp. The index finger is oriented relative to the operating direction of the check valve to provide for confirmation of the correct orientation of the check valve for error proofing.

Abstract: A fluid check valve for use in an aircraft fluid handling system having a confined surrounding structure where a first distance is defined between a fluid duct and the surrounding structure where the design of the fluid check valve is configured to facilitate removal of a first flange and the flow duct by moving the first flange and flow duct a second distance that is less than the first distance. The check valve is offset into the upstream side of a second flange to provide the reduction in the distance that the first flange has to be displaced to remove the first flange and flow duct from the check valve. A first alternate configuration of the fluid check valve utilizes rotational stops attached to the downstream surface of the flow flaps and in a second alternate embodiment configuration, rotational stops extend upstream from the flow flaps and make contact with at least one tower structure to limit the flow flap rotation in the open position.

Abstract: A hot-fill PET container or bottle (10) for filling with a liquid at an elevated temperature has a side wall (9) extending to a lower portion including a pressure panel (11) and a base (2) in its unfolded or pre fill position. The panel (11) is transversely oriented and has a decoupling or hinge structure (13), an initiator portion (1) and control portion (5) of a steeply angled inverting conical section between 30 and 45 degrees. The control portion enables the inversion of the panel (11) into the container (10) to compensate for vacuum or reduced pressure induced within the container as the liquid cools down. The base (2) can also have a plurality of reinforcing ribs (3).

Abstract: A system for routing communication sessions between a contact and an agent of a contact center is disclosed. The system is arranged to simultaneously connect more than one contact to an agent of the contact center capable of simultaneously handling a plurality of contacts. Typically, the contacts comprise non-voice contacts The system is arranged to obtain a respective time-varying characteristic associated with the various agents indicating an intermediate level of activity for the agents between the agents being unoccupied and the agents being fully occupied with handling contacts. New contacts received at the contact center are routed to an agent based at least partially the time-varying characteristic for the agents.