Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A first membrane is coupled to the frame and includes a seat portion with first and second openings. A second membrane is couplable to the first membrane and/or the frame and is configured to be moved between a first position in which the second membrane covers the first and second openings, and a second position in which the first and second openings are not covered by the second membrane. The frame and the first membrane are configured to support a user in a seated position when the second membrane is in the first position and the frame is expanded, the first and second openings are each configured to receive a leg of a user when the second membrane is in the second position and the frame is expanded to support the user in a standing position.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A first membrane is coupled to the frame and includes a seat portion with first and second openings. A second membrane is couplable to the first membrane and/or the frame and is configured to be moved between a first position in which the second membrane covers the first and second openings, and a second position in which the first and second openings are not covered by the second membrane. The frame and the first membrane are configured to support a user in a seated position when the second membrane is in the first position and the frame is expanded, the first and second openings are each configured to receive a leg of a user when the second membrane is in the second position and the frame is expanded to support the user in a standing position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for channel estimation in a rake receiver of a CDMA communication system operates with a finite-impulse-response channel estimation filter with L taps and having a fixed delay. A pilot sequence of a received sequence of data from a channel of the communication system on the rake receiver is input. A quality of the channel of the communication system is determined using noise or Doppler measurements. These measurements are used in adjusting a bandwidth of the filter to accommodate the channel quality while keeping the fixed delay, which minimizes the delay buffer size. The filter is then used to operate on the received sequence of data to provide coherent modulation.

Abstract: A brewing apparatus for infusing compacted ground coffee in a grounds cup at a brewing station with heated water under pressure. At a brewing station, a piston head with an active seal that is spaced from the grounds cup wall during motion, extends into the grounds cup. When the piston head begins to compact the ground coffee it activates the seal to form a sealed upper end of a brewing chamber. Hot water is admitted to the brewing chamber to produce the coffee. When the brewing cycle is completed, the piston head displaces further to force additional coffee from the grounds. Then the piston head retracts to allow the infusion chamber assembly to be removed for cleaning.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communications device, for example, 3rd Generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) user equipment, including estimating (210) noise power of a signal, estimating signal power (220) of the signal, estimating a signal to noise ratio (230) based on the estimated noise power and the estimated signal power, and at least partially unbiasing (240) the estimated signal to noise ratio based on the interval over which the noise power is averaged.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communications device, for example, 3rd Generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) user equipment, including estimating (210) noise power of a signal, estimating signal power (220) of the signal, estimating a signal to noise ratio (230) based on the estimated noise power and the estimated signal power, and at least partially unbiasing (240) the estimated signal to noise ratio based on the interval over which the noise power is averaged.

Abstract: The pulse-shaping look-up table with transient suppression (530) avoids hard turn-on and turn-off transients by modifying word segments of initial and final digital words during transmission of a digital data sequence. A controller (570) sends a mode signal and a digital data sequence to the pulse-shaping look-up table with transient suppression (530). A mode buffer and command block (560) uses the mode signal to control the creation of initial and final digital words created by a data buffer and control block (550) from the digital data sequence. The digital words are used by a look-up table (540) to create a sampled digital output waveform sequence. The pulse-shaping look-up table with transient suppression (530) provides an accurate output waveform sequence with reduced spectral emissions even during start-up and shut-down of digital data transmissions.

Abstract: A transient-suppressing mode switch (100) uses a state machine (120) in conjunction with a soft switch (114) to control a first mode signal sent from a first mode signal source (112) to a first soft switch input and a second mode signal from a second mode signal source (130) to a second soft switch input. When switching from a first mode to a second mode, the state machine delays the transition of the second mode signal from a constant zero value to a non-zero value until after the amplitude of the first mode signal at the first soft switch input has decayed to a sufficiently small value in order to reduce transients caused by switching.

Abstract: A quick connect light fixture is provided which may be used in conjunction with and attached to a ceiling fan, or alternatively may comprise a ceiling-mounted light fixture or a wall-mounted sconce. The light fixture includes an adapter plate, which may be mounted to a structure such as a substantially flat lower surface of a ceiling fan switch housing, with the structure varying with application, and an electrical connector secured to the plate. The fixture further includes an open-ended bracket and a second, mating electrical connector secured thereto. The plate includes a pair of flanges which are configured to define a channel and the bracket includes a pair of sidewalls having a first portion integral with a web separating the sidewalls and a second portion terminating in a lip.

Abstract: The pulse-shaping look-up table with transient suppression (530) avoids hard turn-on and turn-off transients by modifying word segments of initial and final digital words during transmission of a digital data sequence. A controller (570) sends a mode signal and a digital data sequence to the pulse-shaping look-up table with transient suppression (530). A mode buffer and command block (560) uses the mode signal to control the creation of initial and final digital words created by a data buffer and control block (550) from the digital data sequence. The digital words are used by a look-up table (540) to create a sampled digital output waveform sequence. The pulse-shaping look-up table with transient suppression (530) provides an accurate output waveform sequence with reduced spectral emissions even during start-up and shut-down of digital data transmissions.

Abstract: Thermoformable polyisocyanurate foams are prepared by reacting together under foam-forming conditions an organic polyisocyanate and an isocyanate-reactive compound, especially an aromatic polyester polyol, the equivalent ratio of isocyanate groups to isocyanate reactive groups being at least about 1.2:1. The foams and faced composites thereof can be thermoformed for a wide range of uses, such as in the interior of motor vehicles, aircraft, ships and other transport means, and of both residential and commercial buildings.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a rigid, closed-cell polyisocyanurate foam from a foam forming mixture comprising an organic polyisocyanate, a polyol, a blowing agent, and a catalyst, utilizing a polyester polyol as the sole polyol, and chlorodifluoromethane or a mixture of chlorodifluoromethane and at least one co-blowing agent as the blowing agent.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ball valve which includes a ball closure rotatably mounted within a cavity formed in a main portion of the valve body and spring pressed against a seat ring on one side of the ball closure, and an end portion of the valve body which is removably connected to the main portion to close an opening from the end of the cavity through which the ball closure, seat ring and spring may be removed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bi-directional sealing valve having a pair of ball type closure members mounted in the flowway through the body of the valve, one to control flow in one direction and the other to control flow in the opposite direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ball valve which includes a ball closure rotatably mounted within a cavity formed in a main portion of the valve body and spring pressed against a seat ring on one side of the ball closure, and an end portion of the valve body which is removably connected to the main portion to close an opening from the end of the cavity through which the ball closure, seat ring and spring may be removed.

Abstract: Rigid polyisocyanurate foams are prepared by (a) bringing together on a continuously advancing conveyor an organic polyisocyanate, a minor amount of a polyester polyol, a blowing agent and, in an organic solvent, a catalyst mixture comprising: (i) a salt of a low molecular weight carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal salt and an alkaline earth metal salt and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a tertiary amine, the amount of the salt of the low molecular weight carboxylic acid being sufficient and the molecular weight of the carboxylic acid of the salt being sufficiently low to provide a firm foam having a non-friable surface, and (b) foaming the foam-forming mixture.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gate valve having a cast body which is of sufficiently low height that the upper end of the gate remains partially within a cavity in the bonnet connected to the body as it moves between opened and closed positions. Guide surfaces are formed in the open end of the bonnet cavity for guiding the side edges of the gate as it is so moved. The stem is of a non-rising type having a ring mounted for rotation without reciprocation between upper and lower axial thrust bearings in the bonnet and connected to a one-piece stem by means of a pin which is adapted to shear in response to a predictable axial load on the stem.

Abstract: There are disclosed alternative embodiments of a downstream sealing gate valve of the type in which a pair of seats are carried within the body of the valve for sealing between the body and either side of the gate.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing an insulation board comprising a rigid plastic foam core having two major surfaces and a facing material on one or both of the major surfaces, the method including conveying a facing material along a production line, depositing a partially expanded froth foam of a plastic mixture, which contains at least one frothing agent, on the facing material, and further expanding and curing the froth foam in contact wiht the facing material to form the insulation board. The board is particularly useful as roof insulation.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing an insulation board comprising a rigid plastic foam core having two major surfaces and a facing material on one or both of the major surfaces, the method including conveying a facing material along a production line, depositing a partially expanded froth foam of a plastic mixture, which contains at least one frothing agent, on the facing material, and further expanding and curing the froth foam in contact wiht the facing material to form the insulation board. The board is particularly useful as roof insulation.