Abstract: In an aircraft, latches are used to secure cargo within the cargo hold of the aircraft. Such latches include a base plate configured for rigid attachment to a surface of the cargo hold, a latch head attached to the base plate and configured to prevent a movement of at least one cargo unit in a Y-direction and a Z-direction and to allow a movement of the at least one cargo unit in an X-direction, and a roller assembly attached to the base plate, opposite the latch head, and comprising at least one roller, the roller being configured to provide a vertical support to the at least one cargo unit in the Z-direction while allowing the movement of the at least one cargo unit in the X-direction.

Abstract: In an aircraft, bi-stable power drive units (PDUs) move and secure cargo within an aircraft cargo hold. Such a PDU includes a frame, by which the PDU is rigidly attached to the cargo hold floor; a body pivotably attached, via a hinge, at a first end of the frame at least one drive roller attached at a second end of the body; and an actuator attached to the body and which causes a pivoting angular movement of the body, relative to the frame, about the hinge. The actuator maintains an angular position of the body relative to the frame even upon a loss of power to the PDU. The body is movable between and including a retracted position and a deployed position. A cargo management system includes a plurality of such PDUs, at least one having a controlled area network (CAN) bus interface to control and communicate with a controller.

Abstract: A system for ensuring proper installation of components of a cargo management system within a cargo hold has cleats rigidly attached to a floor of the cargo hold, a first subset of the cleats having insets of a first shape, a second subset of cleats having insets of a second shape, keys and rotatable fasteners attached to the components of the cargo management system, a first subset of the keys having the first shape and a second subset of the keys having the second shape. The first subset of keys can only engage with the first subset of cleats and the second subset of keys can only engage with the second subset of cleats and the rotatable fasteners utilize a rotary movement to secure the components of the cargo management system to a respective cleat, against which the rotary fastener is engaged.

Abstract: A dynamically controlled cargo loading system for an aircraft includes electrical cargo conveying devices for conveying cargo items on a cargo loading deck; speed sensors, which are configured to capture current conveying speeds of the cargo conveying devices and/or the conveyed cargo items; electrical measuring devices, which are configured to capture current electrical parameters of the cargo conveying devices; and a control device which is configured to control the cargo conveying devices depending on the captured current conveying speeds and/or the recoded current electrical parameters such that at least one of the following variables is optimized: the electrical power consumption of the cargo conveying devices, the mechanical wear of the cargo conveying devices, the mechanical load action on the cargo items, the conveying time of the cargo items and the noise generation during the conveying of the cargo items.

Abstract: A system for ensuring proper installation of components of a cargo management system within a cargo hold has cleats rigidly attached to a floor of the cargo hold, a first subset of the cleats having insets of a first shape, a second subset of cleats having insets of a second shape, keys and rotatable fasteners attached to the components of the cargo management system, a first subset of the keys having the first shape and a second subset of the keys having the second shape. The first subset of keys can only engage with the first subset of cleats and the second subset of keys can only engage with the second subset of cleats and the rotatable fasteners utilize a rotary movement to secure the components of the cargo management system to a respective cleat, against which the rotary fastener is engaged.

Abstract: In an aircraft, latches are used to secure cargo within the cargo hold of the aircraft. Such latches include a base plate configured for rigid attachment to a surface of the cargo hold, a latch head attached to the base plate and configured to prevent a movement of at least one cargo unit in a Y-direction and a Z-direction and to allow a movement of the at least one cargo unit in an X-direction, and a roller assembly attached to the base plate, opposite the latch head, and comprising at least one roller, the roller being configured to provide a vertical support to the at least one cargo unit in the Z-direction while allowing the movement of the at least one cargo unit in the X-direction.

Abstract: In an aircraft, bi-stable power drive units (PDUs) move and secure cargo within an aircraft cargo hold. Such a PDU includes a frame, by which the PDU is rigidly attached to the cargo hold floor; a body pivotably attached, via a hinge, at a first end of the frame at least one drive roller attached at a second end of the body; and an actuator attached to the body and which causes a pivoting angular movement of the body, relative to the frame, about the hinge. The actuator maintains an angular position of the body relative to the frame even upon a loss of power to the PDU. The body is movable between and including a retracted position and a deployed position. A cargo management system includes a plurality of such PDUs, at least one having a controlled area network (CAN) bus interface to control and communicate with a controller.

Abstract: An electronic card reader testing system includes a robot assembly that is used to manipulate one or more credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, or similar electronic cards, and selectively swipe one of the electronic cards through a first slot of the electronic card reader and/or selectively insert (or “dip”) one of the electronic cards into the second slot of the electronic card reader. Operation of the robot assembly is managed by a control system. The testing system may also include a computer program that operably connects the control system of the robot assembly to a point-of-sale (POS) system, thus further automating the testing protocol.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a cargo drive unit for a cargo hold of an aircraft. The cargo drive unit includes at least one driven power transmission element, which is configured to transmit drive forces to a load arranged in the cargo hold, in order to move the load inside the cargo hold. The cargo drive unit also includes a sensor unit configured to acquire at least one movement parameter of the load. The cargo drive unit also includes a control unit configured to control the power transmission element according to the acquired movement parameter. Also disclosed here is a cargo hold that includes such a cargo drive unit, and a related method for operating such a cargo hold.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a cargo drive unit for a cargo hold of an aircraft. The cargo drive unit includes at least one driven power transmission element, which is configured to transmit drive forces to a load arranged in the cargo hold, in order to move the load inside the cargo hold. The cargo drive unit also includes a sensor unit configured to acquire at least one movement parameter of the load. The cargo drive unit also includes a control unit configured to control the power transmission element according to the acquired movement parameter. Also disclosed here is a cargo hold that includes such a cargo drive unit, and a related method for operating such a cargo hold.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo compartment, comprising a housing receivable in a vehicle, and at least one latch mounted to the housing for locking a cargo unit in a fixed position. The latch comprises a latch housing mounted to the housing, and at least a first latch claw moveably mounted to the latch housing moveable between a latched and an unlatched position. A latch sensor system comprises a position sensor and a target, the position sensor adapted to detect and generate a latch signal when the target is in the predetermined position. The vehicle cargo compartment can be monitored easily and reliably when the first latch claw is in the latched position due to the position sensor and the target being arranged and adapted such that the predetermined position of the target is detected and the latch signal is generated, when the first latch claw is in the latched position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energetic active composition comprising a dihydroxylammonium salt or diammonium salt of 5,5?-bistetrazole-1,1?-diol, 5,5?-bistetrazole-1,2?-diol or 5,5?-bistetrazole-2,2?-diol or a mixture of at least two of these salts.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo compartment, comprising a housing receivable in a vehicle, and at least one latch mounted to the housing for locking a cargo unit in a fixed position. The latch comprises a latch housing mounted to the housing, and at least a first latch claw moveably mounted to the latch housing moveable between a latched and an unlatched position. A latch sensor system comprises a position sensor and a target, the position sensor adapted to detect and generate a latch signal when the target is in the predetermined position. The vehicle cargo compartment can be monitored easily and reliably when the first latch claw is in the latched position due to the position sensor and the target being arranged and adapted such that the predetermined position of the target is detected and the latch signal is generated, when the first latch claw is in the latched position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energetic active composition comprising a dihydroxylammonium salt or diammonium salt of 5,5?-bistetrazole-1,1?-diol, 5,5?-bistetrazole-1,2?-diol or 5,5?-bistetrazole-2,2?-diol or a mixture of at least two of these salts.

Abstract: An optically pumped semiconductor (OPS) structure includes a multilayer gain-structure surmounting a mirror structure. One surface of a diamond heat spreader is attached to the mirror structure via a contact bond. The opposite surface of the heat spreader is bonded to a metal heat sink. In one example, the OPS-structure also has a diamond window contact bonded to the gain-structure.

Abstract: A waveguide including a folded, coated reflector highly reflective of radiation having two different wavelengths over a wide range of incidence angles, including grazing incidence angles. The waveguide can be employed for guiding laser radiation useful for medical or other applications, such as a combined HeNe and CO.sub.2 laser beam. In some embodiments, the invention is a hollow waveguide formed by folding a flat, coated substrate into a polygonal shape. Because the coated substrate is folded, rather than rolled into a cylindrical tube, the bending stress on the coating is concentrated at the corners of the polygonal waveguide rather than distributed over the waveguide's entire surface. Although the coating may crack at the corners of the waveguide's polygonal cross-section, the flat surfaces between the waveguide edges will be intact, and the cracks in the corners will have an insignificant effect on waveguide performance.

Abstract: A dichroic optical filter including a substrate that is substantially transparent to visible radiation, and an oxide semiconductor layer on the substrate for reflecting an infrared wavelength (such as an infrared treatment beam wavelength). An example of a suitable oxide semiconductor for reflecting a treatment beam from a CO.sub.2 layer is indium tin oxide. Preferably, the filter includes a specially designed multilayer coating on the oxide semiconductor layer to enhance the reflection of infrared and longer wavelength radiation. This multilayer coating includes alternating quarter-wave layers of high and low refractive index materials, each having an optical thickness substantially equal to a quarter-wavelength of infrared radiation to be reflected.

Abstract: A coated reflector reflective of radiation having two different wavelengths over a wide range of incidence angles, including grazing incidence angles. The coated reflector can be employed in a waveguide for laser radiation useful for medical or other applications, such as a combined HeNe and CO.sub.2 laser beam. Preferably, the coated reflector includes a metal substrate and a multi-layer stack thereon, the multi-layer stack consists of alternating dielectric layers of high and low refractive index material, each pair of adjacent high and low index layers of the stack has a combined matched optical thickness substantially equal to an incident short (e.g., visible) wavelength multiplied by a factor M/2, and the total matched optical thickness of the stack is substantially equal to (2N-1).lambda..sub.L /8, where M and N are positive integers and .lambda..sub.L is an incident long wavelength (such as the wavelength of a CO.sub.2 laser beam).

Abstract: A dichroic optical filter including a substrate that is substantially transparent to visible radiation, and an oxide semiconductor layer on the substrate for reflecting an infrared wavelength (such as an infrared treatment beam wavelength). An example of a suitable oxide semiconductor for reflecting a treatment beam from a CO.sub.2 layer is indium tin oxide. Preferably, the filter includes a specially designed multilayer coating on the oxide semiconductor layer to enhance the reflection of infrared and longer wavelength radiation. This multilayer coating includes alternating quarter-wave layers of high and low refractive index materials, each having an optical thickness substantially equal to a quarter-wavelength of infrared radiation to be reflected.

Abstract: A wedge mirror is disclosed for suppressing the high gain wavelengths in a laser. The mirror is provided with a pair of opposed surfaces lying in nonparallel planes. Each of the surfaces is provided with a wavelength selective coating. The coating on the surface of the mirror facing the gain medium is highly reflective of the high gain wavelength and highly transmissive of the low gain wavelength. This surface is oriented so that the light from the high gain wavelength is reflected out of the cavity. The outer surface of the mirror is highly transmissive of the high gain wavelength and highly reflective of the low gain wavelength. The combination of the wavelength selective coatings and the wedge configuration allows the high gain wavelength to be suppressed while the low gain wavelength oscillates. The subject mirror is particularly suited for suppressing the 1.06 and 1.33 micron wavelengths in Nd:YAG while allowing the 1.44 micron wavelength to lase.