Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for hindering formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines during processing of dark fire tobacco, as well as a facility in which at least portions of these methods may be conducted. According to the present invention, dark fire tobacco that has been harvested and that is generally green and/or yellow is exposed to an uncontrolled, yet active, ambient airflow so as to provide a substantially aerobic environment about the tobacco. This exposure of the dark fire tobacco to the ambient airflow may be done until the tobacco is substantially brown and/or substantially free of enzymatic activity. Subsequently, the tobacco is exposed to gaseous emissions (e.g., smoke) from combusting sawdust/wood. This step may be conducted at least until the tobacco exhibits a moisture content of no more than about 16% and/or until the tobacco exhibits a gloss or shine on a surface of the tobacco.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for hindering formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines during processing of dark fire tobacco, as well as a facility in which at least portions of these methods may be conducted. According to the present invention, dark fire tobacco that has been harvested and that is generally green and/or yellow is exposed to an uncontrolled, yet active, ambient airflow so as to provide a substantially aerobic environment about the tobacco. This exposure of the dark fire tobacco to the ambient airflow may be done until the tobacco is substantially brown and/or substantially free of enzymatic activity. Subsequently, the tobacco is exposed to gaseous emissions (e.g., smoke) from combusting sawdust/wood. This step may be conducted at least until the tobacco exhibits a moisture content of no more than about 16% and/or until the tobacco exhibits a gloss or shine on a surface of the tobacco.

Abstract: A power planer having a base, a carriage assembly and a height scale. The carriage assembly includes a cutterhead that may be adjustably positioned relative to a datum that is defined by the base. The height scale has a rotary scale that rotates in response to movement of the carriage assembly relative to the base. A value of a displayed portion of the rotary scale is related to a distance between the cutterhead and the base.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for keeping calendars up-to-date, whereby a person's working hours, events, and actual availability are accurately reflected. In response to user-generated input and/or application-generated input, working hours can be updated and calendar events can be added to, deleted from, or changed on the user's calendar. This makes it easy for users to keep calendars (including working hours) up-to-date and helps both people and applications that use calendar data. Profiles are preferably used to specify working hours, and a particular user may have one or more profiles available (including a default profile); the user can then easily select from among these profiles to update the working hours for a date/day, or a range of dates/days. Preferences may be associated with the profiles, providing a convenient way of isolating information that applies only to a particular set of working hours.

Abstract: A hybrid radar receiver includes an antenna array for receiving an input signal having a radar signal from a signal emitter. Each array element outputs an analog signal on a respective data channel. For each data channel, an activatable A/D converter is provided. A dedicated hardware circuit, which typically includes a detector/log video amplifier that is coupled to a threshold/pulse digitizer, is included to determine when a radar pulse is being received. When the circuit determines that a pulse is being received, the circuit activates each A/D converter to generate a digital signal on each channel. When a pulse is not currently being received, the circuit deactivates each A/D converter and digital signals are not produced. Pulse parameter(s) generated by the hardware circuit and the digital signals on each channel are sent to a software equipped processor which implements a signal emitter identification algorithm.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing free-time searches that exploit information of the type used with electronic calendars. By leveraging advanced calendaring system information and using location, other context information such as corporate policy, legal constraints, and technology constraints, and user-specific preferences to provide a complete picture of a person's availability, the functionality (and therefore the value) of scheduling systems in increased, resulting in an ability to schedule meetings with more accuracy and less rework. Various allowable participation types for meeting invitees may be specified, and each invitee's availability is determined accordingly. Location-sensitive travel times (including optional user-specific travel time adjustments) are used in preferred embodiments when in-person participation is required.

Abstract: A device for activating a signal emitter for use in a firefighter locator system operates in conjunction with the firefighter's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The activation device includes a pressure sensor to monitor pressure on an air line that delivers air from the SCBA air tank to the SCBA air regulator. When the firefighter opens the SCBA air tank valve, pressure is sensed in the air line and the emitter is activated to transmit a signal. The signal is received by base stations that then use the signal to locate/track the signal emitter. Preferably, the activating system also includes a user operated reset button(s) and a shutoff circuit to allow the user to stop transmission of the signal by the signal emitter. The shutoff circuit is designed to stop transmission of the signal only after the air line has been depressurized and the reset button(s) is depressed.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing free-time searches that exploit information of the type used with electronic calendars. By leveraging advanced calendaring system information and using location, other context information such as corporate policy, legal constraints, and technology constraints, and user-specific preferences to provide a complete picture of a person's availability, the functionality (and therefore the value) of scheduling systems in increased, resulting in an ability to schedule meetings with more accuracy and less rework. Various allowable participation types for meeting invitees may be specified, and each invitee's availability is determined accordingly. Location-sensitive travel times (including optional user-specific travel time adjustments) are used in preferred embodiments when in-person participation is required.

Abstract: A wireless system and method for locating the position of a movable signal emitter located inside or adjacent to a structure includes establishing at least three base station sites at known locations around the structure. The signal emitter then transmits an omni-directional, low frequency, RF signal that is received at the base station sites. Phase information is measured at each base station site and communicated to a central processing site. At the central processing site, relative phase delays are used to geometrically calculate the position of the signal emitter.

Abstract: A geolocation system for locating a cellular phone in a service area includes an auxiliary receive channel incorporated into the cellular phone. A plurality of transmitters are mutually dispersed at known locations to transmit low frequency beacon signals into the service area. Each beacon signal includes an identifying characteristic that can be used to identify the particular transmitter the signal emanated from. The low frequency of the signal prevents urban features within the service area from acting as signal waveguides and altering the path of the signal. When the user dials a predetermined number such as “911”, the auxiliary receive channel is activated to receive the transmission signals and extract phase related information and the identifying characteristic from each signal. The extracted information is then transmitted to a base station using the cellular phone's normal communication link where the information is processed to determine the location of the cellular phone.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a carriage assembly and a carriage elevation mechanism for translating the carriage assembly. The carriage elevation mechanism includes a plurality of threaded guide posts and an elevation mechanism that employs a plurality of threaded structures that are threadably engaged to the guide posts. A locking mechanism is also provided to inhibit movement of the carriage assembly along the guide posts.

Abstract: A passive navigation system for an airborne platform includes an on-board computer having a database that contains preprogrammed information regarding pre-existing ground-based signal emitters (e.g. cell-phone, television and radio broadcast transmitters). For each emitter, the database includes the geolocation of the emitter and identifying signal characteristic(s) of each emitter's signal such as frequency, bandwidth and strength. An antenna array and digital receiver cooperate with the computer on the platform to passively receive signals from the emitters and determine a direction of arrival (DOA) for selected signals. The computer also extracts identifying signal characteristic(s) from selected received signals and matches them against the database information to ascertain the geolocation of the emitter that corresponds to the received signal. The platform location is then calculated from the DOA(s) and emitter geolocations using a triangulation-type algorithm.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a base, which defines a reference surface, a cutting blade, which defines a cutting plane, and a setting mechanism may be employed to prevent a distance between the reference surface and the cutting plane from being adjusted to a dimension that is smaller than a height dimension that is selected from a group of predetermined dimensions. The setting mechanism includes first and second stop members, one being coupled to the base and the other being associated with the cutting blade. One of the stop members includes a plurality of differently dimensioned sectors or contact points that may be selectively positioned inline with the other stop member to inhibit movement of the cutting blade toward the base if the dimension therebetween is equal to a dimension associated with a given one of the contact points.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a base, which defines a reference surface, a cutting blade, which defines a cutting plane, and a setting mechanism may be employed to prevent a distance between the reference surface and the cutting plane from being adjusted to a dimension that is smaller than a height dimension that is selected from a group of predetermined dimensions. The setting mechanism includes first and second stop members, one being coupled to the base and the other being associated with the cutting blade. One of the stop members includes a plurality of differently dimensioned sectors or contact points that may be selectively positioned inline with the other stop member to inhibit movement of the cutting blade toward the base if the dimension therebetween is equal to a dimension associated with a given one of the contact points.

Abstract: A sensing mechanism (12) for detecting user contact with an active portion (26) of the power tool (10) is provided. In addition, a safety mechanism (14) for preventing prolonged user contact with the active portion (26) of a power tool (10) is provided. The safety mechanism (14) is configured to actuate upon receipt of a signal from the sensing mechanism (12). According to a first aspect, the safety mechanism (14) is arranged to rapidly displace the active portion (26) away from a user extremity. Alternatively, according to a second aspect, the safety mechanism (14) is arranged to rapidly urge an extremity of the user away from the active portion (26) of the power tool (10).

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a carriage assembly and a carriage elevation mechanism for translating the carriage assembly. The carriage elevation mechanism includes a plurality of threaded guide posts and an elevation mechanism that employs a plurality of threaded structures that are threadably engaged to the guide posts. A locking mechanism is also provided to inhibit movement of the carriage assembly along the guide posts.

Abstract: A system for tracking a moveable object such as a soldier in an urban environment includes a receiver that is positioned on the movable object and a plurality of signal transmitters. The transmitters are mutually dispersed at known locations within the urban environment and each transmitter is configured to generate a low frequency electromagnetic signal capable of penetrating into buildings in the urban environment. At the receiver, phase related information and the receiver location information are extracted from received signals and used to determine the location of the receiver. Phase related ambiguities can be eliminated by a processor to find the real receiver position using an algorithm such as the maximum likelihood method (MLM) algorithm. Once the real receiver position is calculated, it can be transmitted to a central location using a low probability of intercept (LPI) waveform to prevent hostile parties from intercepting the location of the soldier.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a target object through foliage includes a transmitter for generating a low-frequency electromagnetic signal. The signal is directed toward a potential target object for reflection from the potential target object. The system further includes a plurality of mutually dispersed sensors for receiving the reflected signal from the target object. A mechanism is provided to determine the relative locations of the sensors. Signal information from the received signals is sent to a central processor. The central processor inputs the signal information into a beamformer algorithm such as the Maximum Likelihood Method (MLM) to reduce sidelobe ambiguities and resolve the true location of the target from the signal information.

Abstract: A system for tracking a moveable object such as a soldier in an urban environment includes a receiver that is positioned on the movable object and a plurality of signal transmitters. The transmitters are mutually dispersed at known locations within the urban environment and each transmitter is configured to generate a low frequency electromagnetic signal capable of penetrating into buildings in the urban environment. At the receiver, phase related information and the receiver location information are extracted from received signals and used to determine the location of the receiver. Phase related ambiguities can be eliminated by a processor to find the real receiver position using an algorithm such as the maximum likelihood method (MLM) algorithm. Once the real receiver position is calculated, it can be transmitted to a central location using a low probability of intercept (LPI) waveform to prevent hostile parties from intercepting the location of the soldier.