Abstract: An autonomous remote device for deployment in an area, comprising: a mechanism for launching the device airborne from a first of a plurality of locations; a mechanism for navigating the device when airborne to a second of the plurality of locations; and a mechanism for landing the device at the second of the plurality of locations.

Abstract: An electrical distribution panel for controlling the distribution of electrical power to a plurality of loads includes a plurality of solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), each including a thermally conductive heatspreader and one or more power semiconductor devices that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an attached load; a distribution panel heatsink configured in thermal contact with the SSCB heatspreaders; one or more cooling fans that blow air onto the distribution panel heatsink; a stacked bus bar with quick-fit pin-mount receptacles for receiving mating/matching press-fit connection pins located on line-side terminals of the SSCBs; a communications and control (comm/control) bus communicatively coupled to the plurality of SSCBs; and a head-end interface and gateway to which an external computer can connect, to, among other things, set and alter trip settings of the plurality of SSCBs via the comm/control bus.

Abstract: An electrical distribution panel for controlling the distribution of electrical power to a plurality of loads includes a plurality of solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), each including a thermally conductive heatspreader and one or more power semiconductor devices that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an attached load; a distribution panel heatsink configured in thermal contact with the SSCB heatspreaders; one or more cooling fans that blow air onto the distribution panel heatsink; a stacked bus bar with quick-fit pin-mount receptacles for receiving mating/matching press-fit connection pins located on line-side terminals of the SSCBs; a communications and control (comm/control) bus communicatively coupled to the plurality of SSCBs; and a head-end interface and gateway to which an external computer can connect, to, among other things, set and alter trip settings of the plurality of SSCBs via the comm/control bus.

Abstract: A solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) with galvanic isolation capability includes an electrical bus with line-side and load-side terminals and a solid-state device connected in series with a closeable air gap between the line-side and load-side terminals. During normal operating conditions, the solid-state device is switched ON and the SSCB forces movable contacts inside the SSCB to close the air gap, so that an electrical current path is maintained between the line-side and load-side terminals and electrical current is allowed to flow through the SSCB and an attached load. Upon a short circuit or overload of unacceptably long duration occurring in the load circuit, the SSCB switches the solid-state device OFF to prevent current from flowing through the load, and releases the movable contacts to open the air gap and thereby establish galvanic isolation between the line-side and load side terminals.

Abstract: An electrical distribution panel for controlling the distribution of electrical power to a plurality of loads includes a plurality of solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), each including a thermally conductive heatspreader and one or more power semiconductor devices that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an attached load; a distribution panel heatsink configured in thermal contact with the SSCB heatspreaders; one or more cooling fans that blow air onto the distribution panel heatsink; a stacked bus bar with quick-fit pin-mount receptacles for receiving mating/matching press-fit connection pins located on line-side terminals of the SSCBs; a communications and control (comm/control) bus communicatively coupled to the plurality of SSCBs; and a head-end interface and gateway to which an external computer can connect, to, among other things, set and alter trip settings of the plurality of SSCBs via the comm/control bus.

Abstract: An electrical distribution panel for controlling the distribution of electrical power to a plurality of loads includes a plurality of solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), each including a thermally conductive heatspreader and one or more power semiconductor devices that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an attached load; a distribution panel heatsink configured in thermal contact with the SSCB heatspreaders; one or more cooling fans that blow air onto the distribution panel heatsink; a stacked bus bar with quick-fit pin-mount receptacles for receiving mating/matching press-fit connection pins located on line-side terminals of the SSCBs; a communications and control (comm/control) bus communicatively coupled to the plurality of SSCBs; and a head-end interface and gateway to which an external computer can connect, to, among other things, set and alter trip settings of the plurality of SSCBs via the comm/control bus.

Abstract: A solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) with galvanic isolation capability includes an electrical bus with line-side and load-side terminals and a solid-state device connected in series with a closeable air gap between the line-side and load-side terminals. During normal operating conditions, the solid-state device is switched ON and the SSCB forces movable contacts inside the SSCB to close the air gap, so that an electrical current path is maintained between the line-side and load-side terminals and electrical current is allowed to flow through the SSCB and an attached load. Upon a short circuit or overload of unacceptably long duration occurring in the load circuit, the SSCB switches the solid-state device OFF to prevent current from flowing through the load, and releases the movable contacts to open the air gap and thereby establish galvanic isolation between the line-side and load side terminals.

Abstract: An autonomous remote device for deployment in an area, comprising: a mechanism for launching the device airborne from a first of a plurality of locations; a mechanism for navigating the device when airborne to a second of the plurality of locations; and a mechanism for landing the device at the second of the plurality of locations.

Abstract: A media processing system for processing media having differing properties, the media processing system having a base. The base has a base radial alignment portion, a base vertical alignment portion, and a base retention portion. A set of removable media clamps is included, where each of the set of removable media clamps is adapted for the differing properties of the media, each removable media clamp has a removable media clamp radial alignment portion for engaging the base radial alignment portion and radially aligning the removable media clamp with the base, a removable media clamp vertical alignment portion for engaging the base vertical alignment portion and vertically aligning the removable media clamp with the base, and a media engagement portion for engaging the media. The retention portion is controllable by the media processing system to selectively retain and release a mounted one of the removable media clamps without manual intervention.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an OSA having a TO-can-type configuration that is relatively low-cost to manufacture and that has functionality for monitoring and controlling the temperature of the laser diode without the need for additional pins or an increase in the size of the OSA. Thus, the OSA typically includes four or five pins at most. These features of the invention are achieved by providing a thermal control circuit, a temperature sensor and a heater that are integrated along with a laser output power monitor photodiode into the submount assembly substrate.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an OSA having a TO-can-type configuration that is relatively low-cost to manufacture and that has functionality for monitoring and controlling the temperature of the laser diode without the need for additional pins or an increase in the size of the OSA. Thus, the OSA typically includes four or five pins at most. These features of the invention are achieved by providing a thermal control circuit, a temperature sensor and a heater that are integrated along with a laser output power monitor photodiode into the submount assembly substrate.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing and one or more working elements. A muffler is located downstream of the discharge plenum. A centerbody is located in the discharge plenum upstream of the muffler spanning a major portion of a length between a bearing case and the muffler.

Abstract: The present invention implements open fiber control in an optical transceiver. During normal operation, the transceiver transmits signals through a connection to an optical network. When the connection is intact, the total power transmitted can be greater than the eye-safety limit. When the connection breaks, the transceiver detects the loss of signal and disables transmissions over all channels except for one. The transceiver continues transmission on the single enabled channel at an eye-safe level. When the connection is fixed and a signal reappears, the transceiver detects the signal reappearance and re-enables all channels that had previously been disabled. By allowing the transceiver to transmit with greater optical power when the connection is intact, an increased data rate and longer transmission distances can be achieved. At the same time, safety is preserved, because transmissions drop to acceptable power levels whenever a break is detected.

Abstract: A method for determining a condition of the laser system includes determining a change in a laser current from an initial value. A method for measuring a laser current includes determining a difference between the values of a power supply current, which is the value of the laser current. A method for measuring a transmitted power includes generating a first control signal that sets a magnitude of a bias current supplied to a laser, generating a second control signal that sets a of a modulation current supplied to the laser, and determining a difference between values of a high and a low transmitted powers. A method for measuring a received optical power includes determining a received OMA corresponding to the power signal, which is the transmitted OMA minus a known loss through a calibration fiber that couples the laser transmitter to the laser receiver.

Abstract: A circuit for disabling an energy-generating component. The circuit comprises an input operable to receive a disable signal and a disable circuit operable to disable the component in response to the disable signal for a predetermined duration of time sufficient to maintain an average power generated by the component at or below a predetermined level. The disable circuit further comprises a signal-detection circuit operable to detect the presence of disable signals having a respective rising edge and falling edge, a mask-signal generating circuit coupled to the signal detection circuit and operable to generate a mask signal when one of the edges of a first disable signal is detected; and a latching circuit coupled to the mask-signal generating circuit and operable to generate a mask disable signal if the mask signal is being generated and the other edge of a subsequent disable signal is detected.

Abstract: A method for determining a condition of the laser system includes determining a change in a laser current from an initial value. A method for measuring a laser current includes determining a difference between the values of a power supply current, which is the value of the laser current. A method for measuring a transmitted power includes generating a first control signal that sets a magnitude of a bias current supplied to a laser, generating a second control signal that sets a of a modulation current supplied to the laser, and determining a difference between values of a high and a low transmitted powers. A method for measuring a received optical power includes determining a received OMA corresponding to the power signal, which is the transmitted OMA minus a known loss through a calibration fiber that couples the laser transmitter to the laser receiver.

Abstract: The invention includes a mount having an input side attachment member and a plurality of isolation pads positioned within the input side attachment member. At least two of the pads have different performance characteristics. The invention further includes an output side attachment member positioned within the input side attachment member and one or more of the pads are post-vulcanization bonded to at least one of the input side attachment member and the output side attachment member.

Abstract: A one piece slide in place “butterfly” valve plate for a short runner manifold of a vehicle. A method of reducing friction in an anti-chatter device.

Abstract: The present invention implements open fiber control in an optical transceiver. During normal operation, the transceiver transmits signals through a connection to an optical network. When the connection is intact, the total power transmitted can be greater than the eye-safety limit. When the connection breaks, the transceiver detects the loss of signal and disables transmissions over all channels except for one. The transceiver continues transmission on the single enabled channel at an eye-safe level. When the connection is fixed and a signal reappears, the transceiver detects the signal reappearance and re-enables all channels that had previously been disabled. By allowing the transceiver to transmit with greater optical power when the connection is intact, an increased data rate and longer transmission distances can be achieved. At the same time, safety is preserved, because transmissions drop to acceptable power levels whenever a break is detected.

Abstract: A method and computer system for generating detailed cost estimates and leveraging suppliers therewith during price negotiations. Computer software reaches input defining items to add to a cost estimate. Automatically, detailed burden information is provided for each item. Additionally, a supply chain including pictures is provided for each item by the item's constituent components and corresponding supplier tier. Detailed burden information is provided for each constituent component. Estimates are output in a format similar to supplier estimates/quotes to facilitate comparison during negotiation. A negotiation method is provided in which suppliers are leveraged with the detailed cost burden and value chain information during price negotiations with the computer software provided.