Abstract: A single-inductor dual-output buck converter facilitates power conversion by converting a single DC power source/supply into two separate DC outputs, each of which can be configured to provide a selected/desired voltage. The converter includes a single inductor and three power switches, which control operation of the converter. The converter has four basic stages of operation in which power is initially supplied to a first output that also stores charge. Subsequently, the stored charge of the first output is employed to provide power to a second output.

Abstract: A number of integrated floor structures made of lightweight composite materials for use in an aircraft are disclosed. Generally, each of such floors includes a top-layer skin, a bottom-layer skin disposed below the top-layer skin and a first structural core disposed between the top-layer skin and the bottom-layer skin, the first structural core being composed of a honeycomb composite material. One or more denser structural cores can also be incorporated at strategic locations.

Abstract: Laminate structures and methods for forming same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a laminate structure includes a metal-polymer composite lamina. The metal-polymer composite lamina has a first face and a second face spaced apart, and extends to a terminal edge. The lamina includes a ply of fiber-reinforced polymer that extends between the first face and the second face and has an interior edge. The interior edge defines at least one cutout. A ply of metal foil extends between the first face and the second face substantially from the interior edge filling the at least one cutout.

Abstract: A switching mode converter, having a switching transistor and an inductor, has a discontinuity detector coupled to the inductor which detects when the converter enters the discontinuous mode. The discontinuity detector determines the portion of the cycle of the switching transistor in which the converter is in the discontinuous mode. A feedback controller is coupled to the output of the converter and to the discontinuity detector which alters a feedback control signal of the converter.

Abstract: A single-inductor dual-output buck converter and control method that facilitates power conversion by converting a single DC power source/supply into two separate DC outputs, each of which can be configured to provide a selected/desired voltage by selection of respective duty cycles. The topology of the inverter includes a pair of diodes or switches that can selectively re-circulate inductor current. The converter is generally operated at a fixed frequency with four stages of operation. A first and third stage of operation provide power to a first and second output, respectively. A second and fourth stage of operation re-circulate inductor current and can partially recharge a battery type power source. The power output for each stage (voltage and current) can be selectively obtained by computing and employing appropriate time periods for the stages of operation that correspond to appropriate duty cycles.

Abstract: A DC/DC switching regulator has a semiconductor switch coupled to an inductor, a first capacitor and a rectifier. A circuit to improve the switching efficiency of the semiconductor switch has a transmission gate coupled between the gate of the semiconductor switch and a second capacitor. The transmission gate is turned ON only when the gate of the semiconductor switch is about to make a positive or negative transition and isolated from the first and second voltage sources. A portion of the charge stored in the parasitic capacitance of the gate of the semiconductor switch can be stored in the second capacitor and reused to partially drive the semiconductor switch from the second to the first ON/OFF state. A further embodiment employs this technique with a synchronous rectifier in the regulator circuit.

Abstract: Startup operation of a DC/DC switching regulator is controlled by providing a first signal (MAXDC) whose waveform has a duty cycle that varies over time, providing a second signal (620, 622) indicative of a load condition of the regulator, and combining the first and second signals to produce a third signal (312, 311). The third signal is used to control a power switch (231, 324) of the regulator.

Abstract: A system and method for network based marketing is presented. A server computer resides on a network and maintains a dynamically populated database of clients, patients, colleagues, and other recipients. A service provider authors or selects a communiqué to be sent to a set of recipients and submits to the server the communiqué and criteria defining the set of recipients. A service provider authors or selects a communiqué to be sent to a set of recipients and submits to the server the communiqué and criteria defining the set of recipients. The server receives the communiqué and the criteria, filters the database to determine the list of recipients, personalizes the communiqué for each of the recipients in the list and then delivers the personalized communiqué to each recipient, using the network as the delivery medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a hybrid laminate and skin panels of hybrid laminate structure that are suitable for a supersonic civilian aircraft. The hybrid laminates include layups of layers of titanium alloy foil and composite plies, that are optimally oriented to counteract forces encountered in use, that are bonded to a central core structure, such as titanium alloy honeycomb. The reinforcing fibers of the composite plies are selected from carbon and boron, and the fibers are continuous and parallel oriented within each ply. However, some plies may be oriented at angles to other plies. Nevertheless, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a substantial majority of, or all of, the fibers of the hybrid laminates are oriented in a common direction. The outer surfaces of the laminates include a layer of titanium foil to protect the underlying composite-containing structure from the environment, and attack by solvents, and the like.

Abstract: A digital modulation technique, broadcast system, and apparatus for the spectral superposition of an analog AM signal and a novel digitally modulated signal. Multiple mutually orthogonal, continuous-valued noise-like sequences are amplitude and phase modulated. Preferably, modulation coefficients are mapped from the formatted data to be transmitted and basis waveforms are generated which are then modulated by the modulation coefficients. These modulated waveforms may be ASK modulated lowpass waveforms and QAM or in-phase ASK modulated bandpass waveforms. Alternatively, the modulated waveforms may be double sideband QAM modulated lowpass waveforms and QAM modulated bandpass waveforms. In the broadcast system of the present invention, an amplitude modulated signal having a first frequency spectrum is broadcast simultaneously with a plurality of amplitude and/or phase modulated orthogonal noise-like signals having a bandwidth which encompasses the first frequency spectrum.

Abstract: The invention provides a hybrid laminate and skin panels of hybrid laminate structure that are suitable for a supersonic civilian aircraft. The hybrid laminates include layups of layers of titanium alloy foil and composite plies, that are optimally oriented to counteract forces encountered in use, that are bonded to a central core structure, such as titanium alloy honeycomb. The reinforcing fibers of the composite plies are selected from carbon and boron, and the fibers are continuous and parallel oriented within each ply. However, some plies may be oriented at angles to other plies. Nevertheless, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a substantial majority of, or all of, the fibers of the hybrid laminates are oriented in a common direction. The outer surfaces of the laminates include a layer of titanium foil to protect the underlying composite-containing structure from the environment, and attack by solvents, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods of treating oak wilt, decline, or other fungus-induced diseases of trees. A mixture is applied to the root system comprising sulfur and pentachloronitrobenzene or pentachlorophenol as its active ingredients, and optionally other ingredients such as a wetting agent, nitrogen, an insecticide, and a nutrient source. It is preferable to simultaneously treat the bark and crown of the tree with a composition which includes a fungicide and an insecticide. Other ingredients, such as a wetting agent or a fungicide/nutrient, can also be present in the Bark & Crown Composition.

Abstract: A vision test apparatus illuminated by internal light source generating a constant, predetermined light intensity in the vicinity of the eye chart. The unit employs at least one photocell to monitor the light intensity near the eye chart and thereby adjust the amount of light generated by the light source to provide a constant level of illumination near the eye chart.

Abstract: An angled conveyor for document packages comprises a transition conveyor belt, having an angled direction of motion relative to the direction of feed of document packages to the transition conveyor belt, and an output conveyor belt in line with and having a direction of motion that is substantially the same as the motion of the transition conveyor belt. Conveyor belts are of the endless type having their upper surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane. The transition conveyor belt is disposed laterally adjacently to the downstream end of a feed conveyor. A post extends from the apparatus frame structure vertically upward through a gap between the upstream end of the output conveyor belt and the downstream end of the transition conveyor belt in a transversally adjustable position. The post protrudes above the upper horizontal belt surfaces by a distance that is at least equal to the thickness of document packages conveyed.

Abstract: Glare testing apparatus enclosed in a housing includes multiple discrete light sources for creating a glare condition in the field of view from an individual being tested to a target, and provision is made for selecting the location or locations of active glare sources, which includes a centrally located source of headlight glare, and a plurality of peripheral sources which can be energized selectively or collectively. Provision is also made for adjusting target luminance, glare intensity and the apparent distance between the target and the eye position in order to test near and far visual acuity under varied conditions of luminance and glare.

Abstract: In a system of real-time coherent optical filtering of visual imagery which encompasses a laser and a set of lenses for transmitting a visual target image of an input, a Fabry-Perot interferometer for filtering the target image to produce a filtered target image at an output having a predetermined bandwidth of spatial frequency information, the improvements relate to transmitting and original unfiltered image to the output for overlaying the filtered image for spatial enhancement of the predetermined spatial frequency bandwidth of information in the filtered image, and flickering the filtered image to achieve temporal enhancement of the visual information in the spatial frequency bandwidth of interest.

Abstract: In a system of real-time coherent optical filtering of visual imagery having a Fabry-Perot interferometer for use as a variable bandpass spatial filter, the improvement of having the pair of mirrors of the interferometer mounted in spaced parallel relationship to one another for rotation about a common axis. The mirrors each have a reflectivity value which changes as a function of rotation. Thus, the bandwidth of the interferometer in acting as a filter can be adjusted by merely rotating one or both of the mirrors.

Abstract: In a system for real-time coherent optical filtering of visual imagery which encompasses a laser and a set of lenses for transmitting a visual target image of an input, a Fabry-Perot interferometer for filtering the target image to produce a filtered target image at an output having a predetermined bandwidth of spatial frequency information, the improvements relate to the output being in the form of a low-light level video system capable of detecting the filtered image even when at a low level of luminance, and a laser adjustable in operating power between low and high levels and in operating wavelength within a wide range for adjusting the bandwidths of the interferometer between narrow and broad ranges.