Abstract: A method of creating aeronautical lift is described which uses a fast voltage electrostatic force to rapidly simultaneously move the top and bottom surfaces of a lifting device downward, followed by a slow voltage electrostatic force to slowly simultaneously return the top and bottom surfaces to their original positions. This cyclic movement reduces downward air pressure on the top surface of the lifting device and increases air pressure on the bottom surface of the lifting device, thus producing aeronautical lift.

Abstract: Lifting devices are described that provide aeronautical lift by either pushing air sideways off its top surface, or by pulling away from top surface air, without changing upward air pressure on its bottom surface. In a first implementation, a pyramid shaped structure is composed of a stack of thin sections whose dimensions are rapidly extended and retracted using ultrasonic movements. Top surface air is pushed sideways when extended followed by momentary low pressure when retracted, thus providing lift. In a second implementation, a rapidly rotating lifting device is composed of a stack of thin round teethed plates, resembling circular saw blades, in which the diameter of each upper plate is slightly smaller than each lower plate. This device also creates lift as teeth push air sideways and gaps between teeth create momentary low pressure.

Abstract: Lifting devices are described that provide aeronautical lift by either pushing air sideways off its top surface, or by pulling away from top surface air, without changing upward air pressure on its bottom surface. In a first implementation, a pyramid shaped structure is composed of a stack of thin sections whose dimensions are rapidly extended and retracted using ultrasonic movements. Top surface air is pushed sideways when extended followed by momentary low pressure when retracted, thus providing lift. In a second implementation, a rapidly rotating lifting device is composed of a stack of thin round teethed plates, resembling circular saw blades, in which the diameter of each upper plate is slightly smaller than each lower plate. This device also creates lift as teeth push air sideways and gaps between teeth create momentary low pressure.

Abstract: Methods are described to provide a new and improved display of phase identification measurements in a three-phase power distribution network, that is easier and more intuitive to interpret and define tagging reference phase. A short sequence of individual phase measurements are displayed as dots inside a static phase attribute display circle. The 3 primary, 12 secondary, and 6 three-phase attributes are displayed around the outside of the phase circle. When using a touch screen Smartphone or Tablet display device, the user simply touches inside the phase circle to rotate the dots around the center of the phase circle, so they line up with the known conductor phase attribute. This rotation defines the tagging reference phase for the circuit.

Abstract: Methods are described to provide a new and improved display of phase identification measurements in a three-phase power distribution network, that is easier and more intuitive to interpret and define tagging reference phase. A short sequence of individual phase measurements are displayed as dots inside a static phase attribute display circle. The 3 primary, 12 secondary, and 6 three-phase attributes are displayed around the outside of the phase circle. When using a touch screen Smartphone or Tablet display device, the user simply touches inside the phase circle to rotate the dots around the center of the phase circle, so they line up with the known conductor phase attribute. This rotation defines the tagging reference phase for the circuit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for extending the visible daylight range of currently available laser gun sights where a small red or green laser diode pointer is mounted on a firearm to indicate the point of bullet impact. Current devices work extremely well in low light conditions but the laser spot is very difficult to see beyond a few yards in bright sunlight since laser power is restricted by federal law. A first method extends daylight range by mounting a laser viewer on the firearm which contains a narrowband optical filter tuned to the laser pointer wavelength. This eliminates all visible daylight except at the narrow filter wavelength. A second method adds a similar narrowband filter to the laser pointer so all regulated power passes through the laser viewer filter. A third method adds a polarization filter to both the laser pointer and laser viewer to reject polarized glare and to effectively increase regulated power by removing polarization energy not used by the laser viewer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to quickly and easily identify live URD elbow connectivity between junction cabinets in underground electric utility power distribution circuits so URD connected elbows can be correctly tagged. A first method segregates elbows in a cabinet into input elbows from an upstream cabinet, output elbows to a downstream cabinet, and by phase attribute. A second method injects a tracer signal into the elbow capacitive test point of an upstream output elbow and detects the tracer signal at the elbow capacitive test point of a downstream elbow capacitive test point to identify connectivity. A third method compares the output current of an upstream output elbow to that of the input current of a downstream input elbow to identify connectivity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to quickly and easily identify live URD elbow connectivity between junction cabinets in underground electric utility power distribution circuits so URD connected elbows can be correctly tagged. A first method segregates elbows in a cabinet into input elbows from an upstream cabinet, output elbows to a downstream cabinet, and by phase attribute. A second method injects a tracer signal into the elbow capacitive test point of an upstream output elbow and detects the tracer signal at the elbow capacitive test point of a downstream elbow capacitive test point to identify connectivity. A third method compares the output current of an upstream output elbow to that of the input current of a downstream input elbow to identify connectivity.

Abstract: A solar blind corona camera designed specifically for use on 60 Hz or 50 Hz AC power distribution equipment is based on the fact that electrical discharge corona only occurs above some voltage threshold level on the positive and negative voltage peaks of the AC power waveform. Between these peaks, when the AC voltage is below the discharge corona voltage threshold, the electrical discharge and resulting corona are extinguished. An image sensor is used to both capture the corona-plus-ambient light image during the corona period and the ambient light image during the non-corona period. The ambient light image is then subtracted from the corona-plus-ambient light image leaving only the corona light image which is annunciated and displayed along with the ambient light image. This process effectively renders the corona camera solar blind so it can be used both at night and during daylight.

Abstract: A remote phase identification system identifies the unknown phase attribute of any energized conductor within a three-phase power distribution network. A base station at a reference location obtains a reference phase each GPS second and stores it on one or more servers. A field probe at a remote location obtains an instantaneous phase measurement at a GPS second and communicates this phase to a field client. The field client communicates with the server either by wireless Internet or satellite modem to compare its field location phase measurement with the reference location phase measurement taken at the same GPS second. Field client tagging reference phase configuration files are automatically created for any circuit. Configuration files can be named, saved, and loaded and are used by the field client to identify and display the unknown field location phase attribute. A field client can be any personal computer, smartphone, or personal digital assistant.

Abstract: A Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM) communication systems is implemented in which each subcarrier data stream is individually FEC encoded instead of FEC encoding the overall input data stream as implemented in conventional COFDM systems. Specifically, each subcarrier is independently encoded using pseudo orthogonal QPSK M-QAM FEC modulators, transmitted, and decoded using pseudo orthogonal QPSK M-QAM FEC demodulators. Multiplexers and demultiplexers randomize subcarrier symbols across all subcarriers to prevent contiguous subcarrier data errors due to fading or corruption by narrowband interference. This technology can be applied to many wireless and wired communication systems including wireless underwater RF communications.

Abstract: A probe uses a small diameter insulated needle to accurately penetrate the jacket and thin outer semiconductor sheath of URD cable so as to capacitive couple to the high voltage center conductor and determine its energized status (live or dead) and phase attribute. A precision needle depth gauge, mechanical hard stop, and digital display ensures that the needle does not penetrate the thick center conductor insulation material and provides an indication of the center conductor voltage. The probe can be combined with either internal or external phase identification circuitry to determine the phase attribute of the URD cable.

Abstract: A probe uses a small diameter insulated needle to accurately penetrate the jacket and thin outer semiconductor sheath of URD cable so as to capacitive couple to the high voltage center conductor and determine its energized status (live or dead) and phase attribute. A precision needle depth gauge, mechanical hard stop, and digital display ensures that the needle does not penetrate the thick center conductor insulation material and provides an indication of the center conductor voltage. The probe can be combined with either internal or external phase identification circuitry to determine the phase attribute of the URD cable.

Abstract: A Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM) communication systems is implemented in which each subcarrier data stream is individually FEC encoded instead of FEC encoding the overall input data stream as implemented in conventional COFDM systems. Specifically, each subcarrier is independently encoded using pseudo orthogonal QPSK M-QAM FEC modulators, transmitted, and decoded using pseudo orthogonal QPSK M-QAM FEC demodulators. Multiplexers and demultiplexers randomize subcarrier symbols across all subcarriers to prevent contiguous subcarrier data errors due to fading or corruption by narrowband interference. This technology can be applied to many wireless and wired communication systems including wireless underwater RF communications.

Abstract: A remote phase identification system identifies the unknown phase attribute of any energized conductor within a three-phase power distribution network. A base station at a reference location obtains a reference phase each GPS second and stores it on one or more servers. A field probe at a remote location obtains an instantaneous phase measurement at a GPS second and communicates this phase to a field client. The field client communicates with the server either by wireless Internet or satellite modem to compare its field location phase measurement with the reference location phase measurement taken at the same GPS second. Field client tagging reference phase configuration files are automatically created for any circuit. Configuration files can be named, saved, and loaded and are used by the field client to identify and display the unknown field location phase attribute. A field client can be any personal computer, smartphone, or personal digital assistant.

Abstract: A bistatic radar receiver is located on a wind turbine and surrounded by multiple bistatic transmitters to detect and precisely track the positions of nearby birds. Bird target reflections from multiple transmitters are received by the radar receiver and their position and track determined from the transmitter locations, receiver location, and measured transmitter-to-target-to-receiver ranges. Target position and altitude accuracy is similar to GPS. When birds are detected to be on a collision course with the wind turbine, a deterrent is activated to scare them away. Deterrents can be flashing strobe lights, intense sound, air cannon, or any other effective bird deterrent.

Abstract: A bistatic radar receiver is centrally located within an array of multiple bistatic transmitters at an airport to precisely determine bird positions and altitudes. Bird target reflections from multiple transmitters are received by the radar receiver. Target location is determined by the transmitter location, receiver location, and measured transmitter-to-target-to-receiver ranges. Target position and altitude accuracy is similar to GPS. The radar receiver antenna is composed of a vertical array of elements and rotated 360 degrees in azimuth. The output of each element is downconverted, digitized, and digitally beamformed to provide multiple simultaneous antenna beams each electronically scanned in elevation. When bistatic transmitters cannot be deployed, a narrow-azimuth wide-elevation transmit antenna beam is overlapped with a wide-azimuth narrow-elevation receive antenna beam electronically scanned in elevation to provide a composite narrow azimuth and elevation beamwidth.

Abstract: A wireless star topology communication network is implemented in which a centrally located access point supports a very large number of fixed location nodes distributed over a large metropolitan area. Communication is by direct sequence spread spectrum modulating m-ary quadrature amplitude modulation symbols. The access point and all nodes are synchronized using GPS or other means to prevent data collisions. Multiple access is primarily based on signal propagation time between the access point and a node which allows nodes at different ranges to use the same direct sequence code.

Abstract: A low level secondary communication signal is summed with an existing primary communication signal in a manner that prevents interference to the existing primary communication signal while providing secondary communication signal benefits such as increased data rate, range, or interference immunity. Examples are presented in which a M-QAM secondary signal is summed with either an ATC Mode S PPM reply or DPSK interrogation primary signal. Legacy Mode S transponders, TCAS, and ADS-B equipment continue to demodulate and decode the primary signal information in accordance with preexisting formats while new enhanced equipment obtains the benefits of the secondary signal.

Abstract: A wireless star topology communication network is implemented in which a centrally located access point supports a very large number of fixed location nodes distributed over a large metropolitan area. Communication is by direct sequence spread spectrum modulating m-ary quadrature amplitude modulation symbols. The access point and all nodes are synchronized using GPS or other means to prevent data collisions. Multiple access is primarily based on signal propagation time between the access point and a node which allows nodes at different ranges to use the same direct sequence code.