Abstract: An adjustable tie rod includes a first end defined by a screw rod, wherein the screw rod includes a threaded portion, and a second end opposite the first end, wherein an overall length of the adjustable tie rod is defined as a distance between the first end and the second end along a longitudinal axis of the adjustable tie rod. A tie rod shaft extends between and couples the first end and the second end, and a gearbox is fixed with respect to the tie rod shaft. An adjustment actuator is operatively coupled to the gearbox such that selective actuation of the adjustment actuator causes translation of the screw rod along the longitudinal axis and with respect to the gearbox when the first end is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis, thereby adjusting the overall length of the adjustable tie rod.

Abstract: An adjustable tie rod includes a first end defined by a screw rod, wherein the screw rod includes a threaded portion, and a second end opposite the first end, wherein an overall length of the adjustable tie rod is defined as a distance between the first end and the second end along a longitudinal axis of the adjustable tie rod. A tie rod shaft extends between and couples the first end and the second end, and a gearbox is fixed with respect to the tie rod shaft. An adjustment actuator is operatively coupled to the gearbox such that selective actuation of the adjustment actuator causes translation of the screw rod along the longitudinal axis and with respect to the gearbox when the first end is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis, thereby adjusting the overall length of the adjustable tie rod.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shaft bearing support assembly for waterborne equipment, including: at least one bearing; at least one tapered forcing ring; a housing; and at least one adjusting device. The outer circumference of each of the at least one bearing is surrounded by one tapered forcing ring which is arranged inside the housing. The at least one adjusting device communicates with each of the at least one tapered forcing ring. A force generated by the at least one adjusting device is transmitted to the at least one tapered forcing ring to longitudinally move the at least one tapered forcing ring, causing the at least one bearing to constrict radially and to adapt to a desired clearance over a diameter of a shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shaft bearing support assembly for waterborne equipment, including: at least one bearing; at least one tapered forcing ring; a housing; and at least one adjusting device. The outer circumference of each of the at least one bearing is surrounded by one tapered forcing ring which is arranged inside the housing. The at least one adjusting device communicates with each of the at least one tapered forcing ring. A force generated by the at least one adjusting device is transmitted to the at least one tapered forcing ring to longitudinally move the at least one tapered forcing ring, causing the at least one bearing to constrict radially and to adapt to a desired clearance over a diameter of a shaft.

Abstract: A universal mount for mounting equipment to a surface in a desired orientation.

Abstract: Emergency call-routing apparatus, and an associated method, for use in a packet-based, telephonic network. An emergency call router is positioned selectably to provide local call handling functionality to a local network that is normally connected by way of an access gateway to the telephonic network whose operation is normally controlled by a softswitch. The apparatus is used when, e.g., a total communication link failure condition occurs between the access gateway and the softswitch. The emergency call router selectably routes calls within the local network to permit continued, local calling functionality in spite of the failure of the communication link. High-priority calls, such as calls placed to an emergency dispatch center, are routed within the local network to a designated, local-network station. And local calls are also selectably routed by the emergency call router. A call priority scheme is also used in the event that call capacity is exceeded.

Abstract: A method for verifying sequential steps using speech processing technologies can include a step of initializing a verification sequence instance. The instance sequence can include one or more sequentially linked verification points. A computer produced speech prompt can be presented for one of the verification points. A speech response can be received from a verifier for the verification point. The speech response can be automatically converted to a text response. The text response can be stored in a response log for the verification sequence instance. The next verification point in the verification sequence instance can be determined. The presenting, receiving, converting, and storing steps can be performed for the new verification point. This method can be repeated until the verification sequence instance is complete.

Abstract: A speech processing method including the step of identifying prerecorded audio comprising an original speech segment and a corresponding original noise segment. An audio stream can be generated from the prerecorded audio. The audio stream can comprise a stream speech segment and a stream noise segment. The stream speech segment can have approximately a same duration as the original speech segment. The stream noise segment can have a longer duration than the original noise segment. The audio stream can be conveyed to a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine can automatically determine an end of utterance condition based upon the stream noise segment. The original noise segment can be of insufficient duration for the speech recognition engine to determine the end of utterance condition. Responsive to the determining of the end of utterance condition, the stream speech segment can be speech recognized.

Abstract: An in-vehicle system that shares speech processing resources among multiple applications located within a vehicle. The system can include one or more software applications, each associated with different functionally independent in-vehicle consoles. Each application can have a console specific user interface. The system can also include a single in-vehicle speech processing system implemented separately from the in-vehicle consoles. The speech processing system can execute speech processing tasks responsive to requests received from the applications. That is, the in-vehicle speech processing system can provide speech processing capabilities for the applications. The provided speech processing capabilities can include text-to-speech capabilities and speech recognition capabilities.

Abstract: A universal mount for mounting equipment to a surface in a desired orientation.

Abstract: A temporary door latch for a door having a face bore and an edge bore where the edge bore extends from the face bore to a lateral edge of the door. The edge bore is disposed in substantial alignment with a strike bore of a door jam. The temporary door latch includes a longitudinal bolt portion that is dimensioned to extend through the edge bore and into the strike bore when the bolt portion is in a latching position. An actuation member is disposed adjacent one distal end of the bolt portion and is selectively operable to move the bolt portion between the latching position and a non-latching position. A flexible neck portion is also provided to connect the actuation member to the bolt portion, the neck portion selectively permitting the actuation member to bend in a substantially perpendicular direction to a longitudinal axis of the bolt portion.

Abstract: A temporary door latch for a door having a face bore and an edge bore where the edge bore extends from the face bore to a lateral edge of the door. The edge bore is disposed in substantial alignment with a strike bore of a door jam. The temporary door latch includes a longitudinal bolt portion that is dimensioned to extend through the edge bore and into the strike bore when the bolt portion is in a latching position. An actuation member is disposed adjacent one distal end of the bolt portion and is selectively operable to move the bolt portion between the latching position and a non-latching position. A flexible neck portion is also provided to connect the actuation member to the bolt portion, the neck portion selectively permitting the actuation member to bend in a substantially perpendicular direction to a longitudinal axis of the bolt portion.

Abstract: A method of imaging in an imaging device includes optically mapping a surface area of media to be imaged by the imaging device and controlling the imaging device based on the mapped surface area such that imaging occurs only on the media. Preferably, the surface area includes substantially an entire area of the media associated with at least one given scan line of the imaging device. Mapping of the surface area includes identifying peripheral bounds of the media and voids, if any, in the media. In a laser printer employing the present invention, image development is controlled by enabling and disabling the laser beam based on image data in coordination with the mapped surface area of the media.

Abstract: Emergency call-routing apparatus, and an associated method, for use in a packet-based, telephonic network. An emergency call router is positioned selectably to provide local call handling functionality to a local network that is normally connected by way of an access gateway to the telephonic network whose operation is normally controlled by a softswitch. The apparatus is used when, e.g., a total communication link failure condition occurs between the access gateway and the softswitch. The emergency call router selectably routes calls within the local network to permit continued, local calling functionality in spite of the failure of the communication link. High-priority calls, such as calls placed to an emergency dispatch center, are routed within the local network to a designated, local-network station. And local calls are also selectably routed by the emergency call router. A call priority scheme is also used in the event that call capacity is exceeded.

Abstract: A system for projecting electrically conductive or semi-conductive toner directly on to print media using a direct electrostatic projection printing device that includes a projection control electrode positioned between a reference electrode and an orifice plate. A mechanism is provided for generating a first electric field between the reference electrode and the orifice plate to form a cloud of toner particles between the reference electrode and the orifice plate. A mechanism is also provided for intermittently generating a second electric field between the projection control electrode and the orifice plate to project toner particles through the orifice plate on to a sheet of paper.

Abstract: A method of scheduling service events for a hard copy output engine includes (i) estimating when a service event is likely to occur, (ii) estimating, from a record of past usage, when peak usage is likely to occur, (iii) determining when the service event estimate is contemporaneous with the peak usage estimate and (iv) executing a predetermined protocol when determining is indicative of contemporaneous estimates.

Abstract: An electrostatic printing apparatus includes a rotating transfer drum having an outer transfer surface. A plurality of direct toner projection units are positioned adjacent the transfer surface of the rotating transfer drum to project toner patterns of different colors onto the transfer surface in response to modulated signals. After the patterns are applied to the drum, they are transferred to paper and fused. The drum is constructed of two components: a base layer or core which is conductive, and a surface layer which is chosen primarily for its surface properties. The surface layer is conductive enough to allow toner particles to dissipate their electrical charges before additional toner is applied by downstream toner projection units.

Abstract: A laser printer produces a raster image of plural scan lines of image pixels, each raster scan line separated from an adjacent raster scan line by a pitch distance p. The printer includes a movable photoreceptor and n laser sources, where n.ltoreq.2. The laser sources produce n optical beams, separated by a distance of (n+1)p in a direction of movement of the photoreceptor. A scanner scans the n optical beams in parallel paths across the photoreceptor as they are modulated in accordance with pixel data provided from an image buffer. Control circuitry modulates the n optical beams, respectively, with pixel values from one set of n raster scan lines. The n raster scan lines of the set are separated from each other by a distance of (n+1)p. At the completion of each scan, the photoreceptor is moved by a distance (n.times.p). The n optical beams are again modulated with pixel values from another set of n raster scan lines that are respectively, (n+1)p distant from the n raster scan lines of the first set.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer such as a laser printer uses a liquid toner solution in order to deliver toner having a small toner particle size. A developer roller is immersion coated with the liquid toner solution, and return fluid is scraped from the developer roller with a scraper blade or other wiper in order to provide a clean surface for re-coating the developer roller. The return fluid is reintroduced into the fluid supply stream without adversely affecting image quality while at the same time maintaining a homogeneous coating on the developer roller of fluid supplied to the optical photoreceptor (OPR). The return fluid is maintained in a homogeneous state by the use of a plurality of nozzles which control flow to an immersion bath for the roller. An absorptive nib roller forms a nib for the purpose of separating toner from the OPR, and a pressure roller forcibly removes excess fluid from the nib roller, thereby increasing the efficiency of the nib roller in removing fluid from the OPR.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer such as a laser printer uses a liquid toner solution in order to deliver toner having a small toner particle size. In order to maintain homogeneity of the liquid toner solution, an in-line mixer is used in the supply to an immersion bath for the developer roller. In order to further enhance mixing, return fluid from the developer roller is scraped from the developer roller with a scraper blade. The return fluid is reintroduced into the fluid supply stream through a nozzle arrangement which controls flow to the an immersion bath for the roller.