Abstract: An atomizer includes an endcap having a nozzle; an annular sidewall extending outward from a surface of the endcap and situated radially outward from the nozzle; and a plurality of vanes extending radially inward from the sidewall and axially outward from the endcap, the vanes being set at a non-zero angle of incidence to the sidewall. The annular sidewall and endcap define an fluid chamber between an inlet and the nozzle, and flow from the inlet to the nozzle is at least partially directed through passageways between the vanes, and the flow is imparted with swirling motion from the vanes.

Abstract: A combustor including a first perforated layer including a first opening having a first diameter, wherein the first opening is configured to receive a flow of fluid including a fuel and air mixture; and impart a first rotational instability to the flow of fluid that is dependent on the first diameter; and a second perforated layer surrounding a combustion area, wherein the second perforated later includes a second opening having a second diameter, and wherein the second layer is located between the first layer and the combustion area.

Abstract: A combustor including a first perforated layer including a first opening having a first diameter, wherein the first opening is configured to receive a flow of fluid including a fuel and air mixture; and impart a first rotational instability to the flow of fluid that is dependent on the first diameter; and a second perforated layer surrounding a combustion area, wherein the second perforated later includes a second opening having a second diameter, and wherein the second layer is located between the first layer and the combustion area.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a combustor suitable for burning emulsified crude oil and seawater, a flow-blurring atomizer positioned at first end configured for introducing atomized crude oil spray into an interior of the combustor. A shroud or combustion duct surrounds a portion of a burning plume of atomized crude oil. The shroud is connected to a base at the first end and is open at the opposite second end. Dilution holes extend through the base and/or the shroud, allow the aspiration and entrainment of air into the plume, and assist in the flame anchoring and propagation, and reduce the amount of soot produced by burning the emulsified oil. At least one ignition port directs an ignition flame or plasma toward the atomized crude oil spray. One or more abrupt expansions at the nozzle or at the shroud sidewalls form toroidal recirculation zones surrounding the atomized crude oil spray.

Abstract: A low temperature radiometer includes a main body, a main cavity, an exit cavity, a suspended thermometer, and an attached thermometer. The main cavity is disposed within the main body and is defined through an off-axis parabolic concentrating cone formed of the inner walls of the main body. The exit cavity is disposed within the main body and is defined through a cylindrical inner surface of the main body. The suspended thermometer is suspended within the exit cavity and is disposed to be in communication with radiation entering the main cavity and being diverted to the exit cavity. The attached thermometer is attached to the outer surface of the main body and is in thermal communication and contact with the main body.

Abstract: A low temperature radiometer includes a main body, a main cavity, an exit cavity, a suspended thermometer, and an attached thermometer. The main cavity is disposed within the main body and is defined through an off-axis parabolic concentrating cone formed of the inner walls of the main body. The exit cavity is disposed within the main body and is defined through a cylindrical inner surface of the main body. The suspended thermometer is suspended within the exit cavity and is disposed to be in communication with radiation entering the main cavity and being diverted to the exit cavity. The attached thermometer is attached to the outer surface of the main body and is in thermal communication and contact with the main body.

Abstract: A filtration material comprising a blend of at least two types of fibers: (a) polypropylene fibers and (b) either acrylic or modacrylic fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the blend contains about 50 weight percent polypropylene fibers and about 50 weight percent modacrylic fibers. In another preferred embodiment, the blend contains about 50 weight percent polypropylene fibers and about 50 weight percent acrylic fibers. The fibers can be blended ranging from 90:10 to 10:90 polypropylene to acrylic or modacrylic. At least one type of fibers includes an extractable agent on the outer surfaces thereof. Performance of the blend is superior to the prior art filtration materials, especially at the preferred compositions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes processor and a control interface. The processor is adapted to in a first mode of operation, operate as part of one of a wireless receiver and a wireless transmitter and in a second mode of operation. The processor also processes a first audio band signal to generate a second audio band signal. The control interface selects one of the first and second modes of operation.

Abstract: An integrated low-IF (low intermediate frequency) terrestrial broadcast receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous and cost-efficient solution. The integrated receiver includes a mixer, local oscillator generation circuitry, low-IF conversion circuitry, and DSP circuitry. And the integrated receiver is particularly suited for small, portable devices and the reception of terrestrial audio broadcasts, such as FM and AM terrestrial audio broadcast, in such portable devices.

Abstract: A ratiometric clock system for an integrated receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous solution for combining digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry on the same integrated circuit as mixer and local oscillator (LO) generation circuitry. The generation circuitry generates an oscillation signal that is passed through a first divider to generate mixing signals for the mixer and that is passed through a second divider to generate a digital clock signal that is utilized by the DSP circuitry. This digital clock signal can be utilized by integrated analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, as well.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention includes an apparatus having a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller coupled to the DSP to provide control signals to the DSP, and a one-time programmable (OTP) memory coupled to the DSP and the controller. The OTP memory may include multiple code portions including a first code block to control the DSP and a second code block to control the controller.

Abstract: A frequency modulation (FM) radio receiver includes a processing unit that may generate a magnitude value corresponding to a signal strength of each of a plurality of digital samples of a received FM signal. The receiver also includes a noise estimation unit that may filter the magnitude values using a high pass filter and may generate a noise value representative of a noise portion of the received FM signal based upon the filtered magnitude values.

Abstract: An integrated low-IF (low intermediate frequency) terrestrial broadcast receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous and cost-efficient solution. The integrated receiver includes a mixer, local oscillator generation circuitry, low-IF conversion circuitry, and DSP circuitry. And the integrated receiver is particularly suited for small, portable devices and the reception of terrestrial audio broadcasts, such as FM and AM terrestrial audio broadcast, in such portable devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amplifier having a transistor stage coupled between a supply voltage and a bias current. The transistor stage has an input to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal obtained from an antenna. The amplifier has an input impedance that is unmatched to a source impedance of the antenna. In some embodiments, this unmatched input impedance may be substantially greater than the source impedance, and may further be controlled based on a strength of the RF input signal.

Abstract: Components of a radio-frequency (RF) apparatus including transceiver circuitry and frequency modification circuitry of a crystal oscillator circuit that generates a reference signal with adjustable frequency may be partitioned in a variety of ways, for example, as one or more separate integrated circuits. The frequency modification circuitry may be implemented as part of a crystal oscillator circuit that includes digitally controlled crystal oscillator (“DCXO”) circuitry and a crystal. The frequency modification circuitry may include at least one variable capacitance device and may be employed to generate a reference signal with adjustable frequency. The adjustable reference signal may be provided to other components of the RF apparatus and/or the RF apparatus may be configured to provide the adjustable reference signal to baseband processor circuitry.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amplifier having an input to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an output node of a source. An input stage coupled to the amplifier input may include one or more components to aid in processing of incoming signals. One such component coupled between the source and the input of the amplifier is a coupling capacitor used to maintain a bias voltage of the amplifier at a different potential than a DC voltage of the output node. In certain applications, the amplifier and the coupling capacitor may be integrated on a single substrate.

Abstract: A receiver includes a gain stage, a peak detector and a processor. The gain stage provides an output signal, and the peak detector provides a binary indication of whether the output signal has reached a predetermined threshold. The processor controls the gain stage in response to the binary indication.

Abstract: A technique includes using a first stored energy source to generate a reference signal to circuitry of a supply regulator in response to the regulator being in a startup state. The technique includes using an output signal that is provided by the regulator to generate the reference signal in response to the regulator not being in the startup state.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes a receiver analog circuitry and a receiver digital circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry resides within a first integrated circuit and the receiver digital circuitry resides within a second integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit couples to the first integrated circuit via a one-bit digital interface. The receiver analog circuitry receives an RF signal and processes the received RF signal to generate a digital signal. The receiver analog circuitry provides the digital signal to the receiver digital circuitry. The receiver digital circuitry includes a digital down-converter circuitry that mixes the digital signal with an intermediate frequency (IF) local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a digital down-converted signal. The receiver digital circuitry also includes a digital filter circuitry that filters the digital down-converted signal to generate a filtered digital signal.

Abstract: A technique includes selectively coupling impedances to an oscillator to establish a first frequency of operation of the oscillator. The technique includes repeating the selective coupling in a feedback loop to cause the first frequency to be near a second frequency.