Abstract: A method of friction stir welding and a non-consumable retractable shoulderless variable penetration friction stir welding tool. The tool includes a substantially cylindrical body portion, a head portion, and a tip section, each integral to the tool. The body portion has a longitudinal axis about which it is rotable, a diameter, a sidewall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end. The head portion is located at the distal end of the body portion. The head portion has a base with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the body portion thereby forming a smooth transition between the body portion and the head portion, thus the tool has no shoulder. The head portion includes a face that converges to the tip section. The tool is retractable, reduces overheating, improves weld quality by reducing internal voids and lack of fusion, and facilitates variable penetration welds.

Abstract: A virtual coatings application system has several features to enhance the realism of simulated spray painting. The system generally includes a display screen on which is defined a virtual surface (such as a truck door) that is intended to be virtually painted or coated by the user. The user operates an instrumented spray gun controller that outputs one or more signals representing data as to the status of the controls on the spray gun controller. The system also has a motion tracking system that tracks the position and orientation of the spray gun controller with respect to the virtual surface defined on the display screen. Simulation software generates virtual spray pattern data in response to at least the data from the spray gun controller and the position and orientation data received from the tracking system. Virtual spray pattern images are displayed in real time on the display screen in accordance with the accumulation of virtual spray pattern data at each location on the virtual surface.

Abstract: A host library controller employs a plurality of ports for establishing a plurality of communication paths from the host library controller to a medium changer library. The host library controller further employs a processor and a memory storing instructions for the processor to issue a command from a medium changer command set, and to select one or more of the ports for communicating the medium changer command to the medium changer library depending on a command processing status of each port.

Abstract: A suspension is provided, which has proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. A rotating hinge rotates the distal end about the longitudinal axis in response to vertical motion of the distal end relative to the proximal end.

Abstract: A kit and needle assembly for reconstituting a quantity of a lyophilized pharmaceutical. The kit of the invention may include a reconstituting appliance having a non-transparent needle covering portion with a hollow adapted to receive the inserted stoppered end of the injection pen cartridge, which needle covering portion extends around a side-firing cannula to hide the cannula from side view. A shiftable alignment member retained within the needle covering portion at a first axial position, and shiftable to a second axial position when abutted by the injection pen cartridge during its insertion, may be included. The kit includes an injection pen cartridge including a barrel filled with a quantity of a lyophilized drug, a slidable plunger used during pen operation to eject the reconstituted drug, and a stopper penetrable by the cannula during drug reconstituting.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for controlling environmental zones in a residence or other building using radio frequency enabled environmental controllers. At least one damper is associated with each of the various zones. From each environmental controller, a command is wirelessly transmitted, where the command includes an environmental control command and a respective unique identifier associated with the environmental controller. The command is received at a zone controller, and each environmental controller is bound with a respective one of the zones using the respective unique identifier associated with the environmental controller. The damper(s) associated with the zone that is bound with the environmental controller associated with the unique identifier from the command are operated in response to the zone controller. Environmental adjustment equipment is operated, which is responsive to the zone controller to execute the environmental control command.

Abstract: A method for displaying physical address of data storage media residing within an automated data storage library. A drive, including a drive processor and a drive display, recognizes a load display request received from a host computer/application that includes an identification of a data storage medium. The drive generates a request for the physical address of the data storage medium corresponding to the identification and transmits the request to a library controller. The library controller looks up the corresponding physical address and transmits it back to the drive, where it is displayed on the drive display.

Abstract: A device monitors a system's available resources and produces either a deferred notification or an instant notification based on a comparison with an established threshold. The threshold may be adjusted if current or anticipated system resource utilization changes. Changes to the threshold may result in deferred notifications being removed from a queue and an instant notification being transmitted to a reporting facility.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dynamically compressing categories in a data storage library. In one embodiment, the method includes retrieving an identification of a first category in the data storage library, the first category being a last-compressed category. Next, an identification number of a first order of the first category is retrieved, the first order being a last compressed order. Compression is resumed of orders in the first category with an order next following the first order and continued with additional orders in the first category. If a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the identification of the first category and the identification number of the order of the first category being compressed are stored. If, however, the predetermined amount of time has not elapsed and compression of the first category is complete, compression of a second category is begun.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically and transparently mapping tape drives within tape libraries to IP addresses. In one embodiment, the tape library includes, a DHCP server, a LAN to serial switch, and a library manager configured with the necessary modules to map the tape library devices to the proper IP addresses. The entire process may be transparent to users. The result is that the tape library is configured with the proper IP addressing without costly, time-consuming, and error-prone manual intervention. The tape library can be configured more quickly with accurate IP addressing and is able to operate efficiently and properly.

Abstract: An ultra light, noise reducing composite (1) comprises an acoustically transparent, light weight film (6) between an underlay layer (5) and an air flow resistance layer (4). This composite allows to easily tune the acoustic properties by balancing the absorption and sound transmission behaviour of the composite (1). This air flow resistance layer (4) has an air flow resistance of between 500 N s/m3 and 10,000 Ns/m3 and an area mass between 200 g/m2 and 3,000 g /m2. The underlay layer (5) has a stiffness value in the range between 100 Pa and 100,000 Pa. The light weight film (6) may consist of a synthetic foil and preferably has a thickness of 0.01 mm.

Abstract: An orthopaedic screw is provided. The orthopaedic screw includes a shank defining an end and a periphery of the shank. A portion of the periphery defines a thread form The thread form includes a first flank, a crest adjacent the first flank and a second flank spaced from the first flank and adjacent the crest. The crest and the first flank form a first angle between the crest and the first flank. The crest and the second flank form a second angle between the crest and the second flank. The first angle and the second angle are different from each other.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail assembly for use in a medullary canal of a long bone is provided. The assembly includes a nail for positioning at least partially in the medullary canal. The nail includes an aperture therethrough. The assembly also includes a screw fittably positioned in the aperture of said nail. The screw has a shank defining a end and a periphery of the shank. A portion of the periphery defines a thread form. The thread form includes a first flank, a crest adjacent the first flank and a second flank spaced from the first flank and adjacent the crest. The crest and the first flank form a first angle therebetween. The crest and the second flank form a second angle therebetween. The first angle and the second angle are different from each other.

Abstract: An orthopaedic screw is provided. An orthopaedic screw for positioning in an aperture of an intramedullary nail is provided. The screw includes a shank defining a end and a periphery of the shank. A portion of the periphery defines a thread form. The thread form including a first flank, a crest adjacent the first flank and a second flank spaced from the first flank and adjacent the crest. The crest and the first flank form a first spatial relationship therebetween. The crest and the second flank form a second spatial relationship therebetween. The first spatial relationship and the second spatial relationship are asymmetrical with each other.

Abstract: A method of friction stir welding and a non-consumable retractable shoulderless variable penetration friction stir welding tool. The tool includes a substantially cylindrical body portion, a head portion, and a tip section, each integral to the tool. The body portion has a longitudinal axis about which it is rotable, a diameter, a sidewall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end. The head portion is located at the distal end of the body portion. The head portion has a base with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the body portion thereby forming a smooth transition between the body portion and the head portion, thus, the tool has no shoulder. The head portion includes a face that converges to the tip section. The tool is retractable, reduces overheating, improves weld quality by reducing internal voids and lack of fusion, and facilitates variable penetration welds.

Abstract: A device monitors a system's available resources and produces either a deferred notification or an instant notification based on a comparison with an established threshold. The threshold may be adjusted if current or anticipated system resource utilization changes. Changes to the threshold may result in deferred notifications being removed from a queue and an instant notification being transmitted to a reporting facility.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to shutdown a library manager while the library system remains in a partially online state. A message module is included to send a suspend message to a host such that the host stops sending library manager commands, a shutdown module is included to shutdown a library manager while a data storage device remains coupled to the host in an online state, a startup module is included to restart the library manager in response to a completed library manager maintenance operation, and a resume module is included to send a resume message to the host that the library manager is available for library manager commands.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for controlling environmental zones in a residence or other building using radio frequency enabled environmental controllers. At least one damper is associated with each of the various zones. From each environmental controller, a command is wirelessly transmitted, where the command includes an environmental control command and a respective unique identifier associated with the environmental controller. The command is received at a zone controller, and each environmental controller is bound with a respective one of the zones using the respective unique identifier associated with the environmental controller. The damper(s) associated with the zone that is bound with the environmental controller associated with the unique identifier from the command are operated in response to the zone controller. Environmental adjustment equipment is operated, which is responsive to the zone controller to execute the environmental control command.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for performing an abbreviated calibration of an automated data storage library. An abbreviated calibration apparatus includes a calibration module, a tracking module, and a system availability module. The calibration module calibrates one or more accessors within the library. Calibration refers to the physical relationship between an accessor and a data storage location, such as a shelf, drive, or I/O station. The calibration module may comprise a run-time calibration module, a successive calibration module, or a cooperative calibration module. The tracking module tracks the calibration progress of the accessors. The system availability module notifies a host when the library is available. The library is made available prior to calibration completion of all of the accessors and, in some embodiments, prior to calibration completion of any of the accessors.