Abstract: A barrier isolator port assembly for connecting to a conventional docking port of an isolated enclosure is provided. The port assembly includes an annular body, a door assembly and a lock. The annular body is configured to engage a docking port of the isolated enclosure. The port assembly also includes a door assembly mountable within the annular body and a lock operatively connected to the annular body. The lock includes a lever and a pin. The lever is pivotably connected to the annular body about a pivoting member and configured to pivot about the pivoting member to removably insert the pin into the recess of the door assembly.

Abstract: A piston nest (10) is provided that includes a plurality of spaced apart single nesting units (12) interconnected by a web (13). Each of the single nesting units is configured a hollow cylindrical body having a first open end about a distal end of the body and a second open end about the proximal end. The hollow cylindrical body also includes a first (24) and a second (26) retention member for retaining a piston within the single nesting unit. The first and the second retention members are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical body.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a scanning mechanism, a memory, a processing mechanism, and a scan rate adjustment mechanism. The scanning mechanism scans a media sheet having an image thereon at a variable scan rate, to yield raw data. The memory temporarily stores the raw data. The processing mechanism converts the raw data within the memory into processed data. The raw data is removed from the memory as the raw data is converted. The scan rate adjustment mechanism adjusts the variable scan rate, based on one or more of an amount of free space within the memory, a fill rate at which the raw data is filling the memory, and a removal rate at which the raw data is being removed from the memory, so that the memory does not become completely full.

Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a least one wheel rotatable about a first axis while movably supporting a reflected light gathering unit extending along a second axis are disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous sludge decant system and associated methods are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment an apparatus for decanting sludge includes: a decant vessel configured to receive sludge influent, to contain the sludge to be heated and decanted, and to discharge the sludge and a decanted liquid from the sludge, and a heating/directional grid disposed within an interior of the decant vessel and around which the sludge is circulated, mixed, and stirred, the heating/directional grid comprising a plurality of heating coils and configured to circulate heat from a heat source through the decant vessel to decant the sludge. The vessel and the heating/directional grid are configured to contain, heat, mix, and decant the sludge without shearing the sludge.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for holding a document sheet in place against a scanning surface of an image capture system. One such apparatus is a document cover comprising: a body that is oriented parallel to the scanning surface when the document cover is in the closed position; a compliant and elastic document backing that is partially attached to the body and configured to reflect light originating from the image capture system; and a backing constraint configured to secure a central region of the document backing to the body and further configured to constrain movement of the central region in a first direction that is normal to the scanning surface while allowing movement in the same direction of outer regions that are lateral to the central region. The document backing generates a downward spring force which biases the outer regions toward the platen.

Abstract: The utility of the present invention is comprised of an elongated tubular member with a motor end at one end and a working end with a working disc mounted thereon at the opposing end. The motor end includes a motor that is connected to the working end by means of a shaft. A working disc is mountable on the working end in a way that the working surface is rotated when the motor is energized. The working disc is comprised of a working surface that is selected from a group of working surfaces including sanding discs, polishing discs, grinding discs, and buffing discs.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for developing failure prediction software for a storage system. The present invention allows a user to edit and revise a failure prediction algorithm that includes fuzzy logic rules. The failure prediction algorithm is generated in a human readable format and uses terms and operators familiar to experts in the field of storage systems. In addition, the present invention generates the machine-readable code necessary to implement or test a draft failure prediction algorithm. If the results of the failure prediction algorithm are unsatisfactory, the user may revise the failure prediction algorithm and re-run the tests until the results correspond to expected results. In addition, the present invention includes a performance monitor, processor, and determination module. The performance monitor gathers performance data for a storage system. The processor executes the failure prediction algorithm on the performance data to produce a result.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a scanning mechanism, a memory, a processing mechanism, and a scan rate adjustment mechanism. The scanning mechanism scans a media sheet having an image thereon at a variable scan rate, to yield raw data. The memory temporarily stores the raw data. The processing mechanism converts the raw data within the memory into processed data. The raw data is removed from the memory as the raw data is converted. The scan rate adjustment mechanism adjusts the variable scan rate, based on one or more of an amount of free space within the memory, a fill rate at which the raw data is filling the memory, and a removal rate at which the raw data is being removed from the memory, so that the memory does not become completely full.

Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a least one wheel rotatable about a first axis while movably supporting a reflected light gathering unit extending along a second axis are disclosed.

Abstract: A system is adapted to extract energy from flowing liquid. The system includes at least one vertically-extending vane adapted to move in response to the flowing liquid. The vane has a vertical length wherein at least a portion of the vane can be positioned below a surface of a body of liquid such that the vane forms a swept area defined at least partially by the vertical portion of vertical lengths of the vane positioned below the surface. The system further includes a mechanism adapted to selectively vary the swept area.

Abstract: An optical object detector including a feed path, a reference pattern facing the feed path, and an optical sensor configured to view the reference pattern through the feed path, absence of the reference pattern from the view of the optical sensor indicating presence of an object in the feed path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for enhancing the learning of a student, where such system contains a memory with a stored program, a user interface, a processor, and a power source, wherein the program contains one or more codified pedagogical principles. A method for teaching a student is also taught, whereby a scenario from a program is generated, interaction with the student is facilitated, feedback is delivered to the program, the feedback is analyzed, another scenario is generated wherein further scenarios are modified using codified pedagogical principles.

Abstract: Novel estrogenic compounds of Formula I are provided. wherein the bond represented by the wavy line may be a single or double bond such that when the wavy line is a single bond, R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sulfate and glucoronate or other esters, and when the wavy line is a double bond, R1 does not exist; R2 is lower alkyl; R3 may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sulfate, or glucuronide or other esters; and R4 through R13 may independently be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, ketone, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, and carbonyl groups and R14 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sulfate and glucoronide and other esters. When R1 is hydroxy, the hydroxy or ester substituent may have either an ? or a ? orientation. Compositions of matter including compounds of the present invention are also provided as are methods of treating mammals in need of treatment using compounds of the present invention.

Abstract: A wireless tracking system that uses antenna multiplexing. According to the invention, a system for tracking an object includes at least one transmitter, a plurality of receiver stations, and at least one processor. The transmitter is carried on or embedded within the object, and transmits an electromagnetic signal using multiple, physically separated antennas on or within the object. The receiver stations are operative to receive the electromagnetic signal from the antennas, and the processor is operative to determine the position of the object in multiple dimensions based upon the time difference of arrival of the signal transmitted by each antenna. In the preferred embodiment, the phase center of the antennas is used as a point of reference to determine the position of the device without the need for multiple transmitters. The processor is preferably operative to determine the position of the object in three dimensions using up to six degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) signal transmission device (the “device”) is used as a tracked target in a position tracking system (the “system”). In the preferred embodiments, the device's position is determined by analyzing the time difference of arrival of the device's RF signals received at multiple receivers which are part of the system. The device has two antennas spaced a known distance apart and the device alternately transmits on these antennas or can use code-division multiplexing for individual antenna's signal detection. The system detects the position of both antennas at their respective phase center and determines the distance between the two calculated antenna positions. By comparing the calculated distance to actual known distance the system can assess the quality of the calculated positions.

Abstract: Methods of forming optoelectronic devices include forming an electrically conductive layer on a first surface of a substrate and forming a mirror backing layer from the electrically conductive layer by forming an endless groove that extends through the electrically conductive layer. A step is then performed to remove a portion of the substrate at a second surface thereof, which extends opposite the first surface. This step exposes a front surface of the mirror backing layer. An optically reflective mirror surface is then formed on the front surface of the mirror backing layer.

Abstract: A method of managing advanced engineering activities is provided. First, customer requirements are collected from a plurality of customers. Next, a plurality of projects tailored to satisfy the customer requirements are proposed. Then, internal capabilities are compared with the customer requirements for each proposed project. A gap is defined for each proposed project as the difference between the customer requirements and the internal capabilities. Finally, each proposed project is scored to determine which proposed projects to activate.

Abstract: A receptacle having an end cap, a pliable sidewall, and a fastener, for receiving and retaining a fuel cell stack in its stacked configuration during fabrication of a multi-stack fuel cell assembly, is shown and described. Methods of fabricating the assembly include stacking the fuel cell in the receptacle, compressing the fuel cell, and engaging the fastener to retain the stack in its stacked configuration and, or to retain the stack under at least partial compression.

Abstract: An optical object detector including a feed path, a reference pattern facing the feed path, and an optical sensor configured to view the reference pattern through the feed path, absence of the reference pattern from the view of the optical sensor indicating presence of an object in the feed path.