Abstract: Systems and methods for expanding capacity in a network without the use of frequency gaps between a legacy channel and/or newly added channels are provided. Systems and methods for maintaining legacy node operability in the expanded capacity network are also provided by determining the increased power experienced by a legacy node as a result of the newly added channels, and dynamically adapting the modulation utilized on the legacy channel commensurate with the increased power.

Abstract: A network-capable device is configured to: automatically detect the presence of a MoCA network (or other network, depending on the network protocol in the application environment), and configure itself for communication on that network at the appropriate communication frequencies. The network-capable device can be configured to create a new network (e.g., a new MoCA network) if there is no network broadcast signal within a band. Preferably, the network-capable device requires little or no user intervention to configure itself for operation at network operating frequencies or to create a new network where none is detected.

Abstract: A network-capable device is configured to: automatically detect the presence of a MoCA network (or other network, depending on the network protocol in the application environment), and configure itself for communication on that network at the appropriate communication frequencies. The network-capable device can be configured to create a new network (e.g., a new MoCA network) if there is no network broadcast signal within a band. Preferably, the network-capable device requires little or no user intervention to configure itself for operation at network operating frequencies or to create a new network where none is detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for expanding capacity in a network without the use of frequency gaps between a legacy channel and/or newly added channels are provided. Systems and methods for maintaining legacy node operability in the expanded capacity network are also provided by determining the increased power experienced by a legacy node as a result of the newly added channels, and dynamically adapting the modulation utilized on the legacy channel commensurate with the increased power.

Abstract: A physical layer transmitter that communicates between nodes in a broadband cable network by transmitting and receiving packets containing data and control information. Packets are constructed by the physical layer transmitter and transmitted to one or more receiving nodes that are capable of processing the packets. Packets are directed to specific nodes utilizing link layer control data. The packets may also contain control information that may include formatting, encoding and modulation parameters that are capable of being processed by the appropriate receiving nodes. The physical layer transmitter allows node-to-node communication within a broadband cable network and each node in the network is capable of communicating with every other node in the network.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first aggregate received power level of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signal received at a first network node, adjusting a nominal PHY Margin an amount that is dependent upon a measurement of an aggregate received power level of the OFDM signal, determining a data transmission rate based on the adjusted nominal PHY Margin, and receiving data being transmitted in accordance with the data transmission rate at the first node.

Abstract: A network-capable device is configured to: automatically detect the presence of a MoCA network (or other network, depending on the network protocol in the application environment), and configure itself for communication on that network at the appropriate communication frequencies. The network-capable device can be configured to create a new network (e.g., a new MoCA network) if there is no network broadcast signal within a band. Preferably, the network-capable device requires little or no user intervention to configure itself for operation at network operating frequencies or to create a new network where none is detected.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first aggregate received power level of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signal received at a first network node, adjusting a nominal PHY Margin an amount that is dependent upon a measurement of an aggregate received power level of the OFDM signal, determining a data transmission rate based on the adjusted nominal PHY Margin, and receiving data being transmitted in accordance with the data transmission rate at the first node.

Abstract: A time division duplex (TDD) amplifier switches direction of amplification to amplify signals in both directions as needed for the direction of signal flow in the network. The TDD amplifier switching is controlled by monitoring the time slot information of the communication channel to determine the schedule of transmissions in each direction. The amplifier direction is switched during the inter-frame gaps of the TDD data transmissions. The TDD amplifier can be used for WAN access to homes and in a LAN operating within a home.

Abstract: A method for refining non-ferrous metal wherein a stream of oxygen containing gas is provided from a lance into the headspace of a refining vessel for passage to the molten metal bath within the refining vessel, and a flame envelope is provided around and along the oxygen containing gas stream for a portion of its length, wherein the flame envelope simultaneously serves to keep accretions from forming on the lance face and serves to maintain the oxygen-containing gas stream coherent.

Abstract: Frequency compensated communications reception includes compensating for frequency offset in a received signal by constructing a reference signal for comparison with a training sequence in a received signal. The reference signal is formed from basis functions and the training sequence. It is obtained by minimising a cost function J constructed from an adaptively weighted combination of basis functions, the training sequence, the received signal and a constraint requiring non-zero signal power. Multi-element antenna signals are weighted with a beamforming weight vector w in J given by formula (I), where X is a matrix of received signal samples, C is a diagonal matrix containing elements of the training sequence, F is a matrix having columns defining basis functions, v is a vector of adaptive weights, index H indicates complex conjugate transpose and ? is a Lagrange multiplier constraining beamformer power.

Abstract: A broadband digital communication network transmits a signal with a shaped power spectrum to minimize interference with devices that share the communication medium. In one embodiment using coaxial wiring, devices such as cable converters and televisions that are not part of the network share the communication medium and are exposed to the network signal. Power levels across the network band are selected to reduce interference in the non-networked devices. One area of susceptibility is the tuner of cable channel receivers, which perform mixing and down conversion of RF signals. The power spectrum profile is selected to minimize the IF and base band interference after down conversion. The spectrum can be shaped within each 6 MHz band to further minimize the interference with a TV signal. The power levels can be optimized for both peak power limitation and quantization effects.

Abstract: A pyrometallurgical vessel suitable for continuous or semicontinuous smelting and/or conversion of molten base metal sulfide feed materials. The top blown, bottom stirred vessel includes oxidizing gas lances and feed pipes directing their respective contents directly or indirectly into bath eyes opened up in the molten bath by gas injected through porous plugs disposed at the base of the vessel. Low space velocities in the vessel result in reduced dusting.

Abstract: A pyrometallurgical vessel suitable for continuous or semicontinuous smelting and/or conversion of molten base metal sulfide feed materials. The top blown, bottom stirred vessel includes oxidizing gas lances and feed pipes directing their respective contents directly or indirectly into bath eyes opened up in the molten bath by gas injected through porous plugs disposed at the base of the vessel. Low space velocities in the vessel result in reduced dusting.

Abstract: A double action revolver has a frame on which is mounted a cylinder, a trigger and a hammer. A hammer or main spring is interposed between the trigger and hammer such that pulling the trigger causes the spring to compress and bias the hammer toward its fired position. The position of the hammer remains essentially unchanged during initial trigger pull by virtue of a toggle spring device interposed between the frame and the hammer. When the hammer spring is sufficiently compressed, a surface on the trigger contacts and engenders a deflection or buckling of the toggle spring device. Buckling of the toggle spring device permits the hammer spring to drive the hammer to the fired position in which a cartridge is fired.A spring loaded cylinder stop, having a projection adapted to be received in a locking recess on the cylinder, is adapted to be displaced forwardly, against the bias of its spring load during initial trigger return from the pulled position to its normal or released position.