Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a base portion and an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end. The aircraft capture member includes a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight. The first and/or second portions are generally flexible. The system further includes an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a base portion and an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end. The aircraft capture member includes a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight. The first and/or second portions are generally flexible. The system further includes an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for managing gas within one or more receptacles in one or more locations. The system and method comprises a control system that is configured to analyse data relating to gas transfer operations to identify gas leaks and to calculate the rate of any gas leaks identified.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a base portion and an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end. The aircraft capture member includes a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight. The first and/or second portions are generally flexible. The system further includes an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft.

Abstract: A method for operating a decoder includes receiving a complex signal representative of a received symbol from among a plurality of symbols. The received symbol includes a plurality of bits and corresponds to a respective point on a constellation map. Likelihood metrics are generated for the received symbol, with each likelihood metric reflecting a likelihood of the received symbol corresponding to one of the points on the constellation map. The likelihood metrics are arranged in columns and rows. Common likelihood metrics are determined for each column and for each row. The common likelihood metrics are compared to determine a best likelihood metric for the bits in the received symbol that are to be compared by columns, and to be compared by rows.

Abstract: A method for operating a decoder includes receiving a complex signal representative of a received symbol from among a plurality of symbols. The received symbol includes a plurality of bits and corresponds to a respective point on a constellation map. Likelihood metrics are generated for the received symbol, with each likelihood metric reflecting a likelihood of the received symbol corresponding to one of the points on the constellation map. The likelihood metrics are arranged in columns and rows. Common likelihood metrics are determined for each column and for each row. The common likelihood metrics are compared to determine a best likelihood metric for the bits in the received symbol that are to be compared by columns, and to be compared by rows.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for handling an unmanned aircraft in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a base portion and an elongated aircraft capture member having a first end movably coupled to the base portion and a second, free end opposite the first end. The aircraft capture member includes a first portion and a second portion at a distal end of the first portion and positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight. The first and/or second portions are generally flexible. The system further includes an energy capture and dissipation assembly operably coupled to the aircraft capture member and positioned to receive at least a portion of the landing forces from the aircraft.

Abstract: A system for processing lead referrals is capable of assigning leads by product line, language and/or availability of the representative. The system is also capable of high lead referral throughput using steps such as filtering repeat visitors to a company from new leads, non-corporate leads from corporate leads, and avoiding requests for information to external databases during black-out times, such as set by registrars.

Abstract: A system for processing lead referrals is capable of assigning leads by product line, language and/or availability of the representative. The system is also capable of high lead referral throughput using steps such as filtering repeat visitors to a company from new leads, non-corporate leads from corporate leads, and avoiding requests for information to external databases during black-out times, such as set by registrars.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed MEMS package includes a step of providing a supporting GaAs substrate with at least one contact for the MEMS device on the surface of the supporting substrate and forming a cantilever on the surface of the supporting substrate positioned to come into electrical engagement with the contact in one orientation. A metal seal ring is fixed to the surface of the supporting substrate circumferentially around the contact and the cantilever. A cavity is etched in a silicon chip to form a cap member. A metal seal ring is fixed to the cap member around the cavity. The package is hermetically sealed by reflowing a solder alloy, positioned between the two seal rings, in an inert environment without the use of flux.

Abstract: Packages for a micromachined magnetic latching switch, and methods for assembling the packages are described. In one aspect, a substrate is defined by opposing first and second surfaces. A micromagnetic switch integrated circuit (IC) chip is mounted to the first surface. A contact pad on the chip is coupled to a trace on the first surface. A permanent magnet is positioned closely adjacent to the chip. A cap is attached to the first surface. An inner surface of the cap forms an enclosure to enclose the chip on the first surface. The chip can be alternatively mounted to the inner surface of the cap. The chip can be oriented in a standard or flip-chip fashion. In another aspect, a moveable micro-machined cantilever is supported by a surface of a substrate. A cap is attached to the surface. An inner surface of the cap forms an enclosure that encloses the cantilever on the surface of the substrate. A permanent magnet is positioned closely adjacent to the cantilever.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed MEMS package includes a step of providing a supporting GaAs substrate with at least one contact for the MEMS device on the surface of the supporting substrate and forming a cantilever on the surface of the supporting substrate positioned to come into electrical engagement with the contact in one orientation. A metal seal ring is fixed to the surface of the supporting substrate circumferentially around the contact and the cantilever. A cavity is etched in a silicon chip to form a cap member. A metal seal ring is fixed to the cap member around the cavity. The package is hermetically sealed by reflowing a solder alloy, positioned between the two seal rings, in an inert environment without the use of flux.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed MEMS package includes a step of providing a supporting GaAs substrate with at least one contact for the MEMS device on the surface of the supporting substrate and forming a cantilever on the surface of the supporting substrate positioned to come into electrical engagement with the contact in one orientation. A metal seal ring is fixed to the surface of the supporting substrate circumferentially around the contact and the cantilever. A cavity is etched in a silicon chip to form a cap member. A metal seal ring is fixed to the cap member around the cavity. The package is hermetically sealed by reflowing a solder alloy, positioned between the two seal rings, in an inert environment without the use of flux.

Abstract: An article separation conveyor system includes a plurality of conveyors which are independently and/or collectively operable to destack, separate and/or align articles being conveyed along the article separation conveyor. The conveyor system includes a destacking conveyor, a side by side eliminating conveyor and/or an aligning conveyor. The destacking conveyor includes a plurality of conveying portions, which are inclined to convey articles up and then drop or guide them onto the next adjacent conveyor. The side-by-side eliminating conveyor includes a pair of diverting members and is operable to redirect articles from one side of the conveyor to the other to destack and separate articles as they are continuously conveyed along the conveyor. The aligning conveyor is operable to align articles along one side of the discharge conveyor so the articles are arranged for identification at a downstream scanning device and induction onto a sortation system.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed MEMS package includes a step of providing a supporting GaAs substrate with at least one contact for the MEMS device on the surface of the supporting substrate and forming a cantilever on the surface of the supporting substrate positioned to come into electrical engagement with the contact in one orientation. A metal seal ring is fixed to the surface of the supporting substrate circumferentially around the contact and the cantilever. A cavity is etched in a silicon chip to form a cap member. A metal seal ring is fixed to the cap member around the cavity. The package is hermetically sealed by reflowing a solder alloy, positioned between the two seal rings, in an inert environment without the use of flux.

Abstract: A new and improved cargo holder for pickup trucks is disclosed which is adaptable to a pickup truck bed of any size. The cargo holder is designed to hold and maintain cargo within the bed of a pickup truck without ropes and/or ties. The cargo holder could be manufactured from aluminum, galvanized steel, or heavy gauge plastic.

Abstract: Packages for a micromachined magnetic latching switch, and methods for assembling the packages are described. In one aspect, a substrate is defined by opposing first and second surfaces. A micromagnetic switch integrated circuit (IC) chip is mounted to the first surface. A contact pad on the chip is coupled to a trace on the first surface. A permanent magnet is positioned closely adjacent to the chip. A cap is attached to the first surface. An inner surface of the cap forms an enclosure to enclose the chip on the first surface. The chip can be alternatively mounted to the inner surface of the cap. The chip can be oriented in a standard or flip-chip fashion. In another aspect, a moveable micro-machined cantilever is supported by a surface of a substrate. A cap is attached to the surface. An inner surface of the cap forms an enclosure that encloses the cantilever on the surface of the substrate. A permanent magnet is positioned closely adjacent to the cantilever.

Abstract: A method of cooling bulk or draught beverages prior to dispensing comprising: (i) introducing the beverage from a bulk container into a circulation loop that incorporates a pump, and a cooling unit, and (ii) returning cooled beverage as a heat exchange medium to a heat exchange unit associated with the container, whereby the residual beverage in the container is itself cooled by the returning cooled beverage, whereby after a period of time, both the residual beverage in the container and the beverage and the loop are at the same, or generally the same, temperature.

Abstract: A new and improved cargo holder for pickup trucks is disclosed which is adaptable to a pickup truck bed of any size. The cargo holder is designed to hold and maintain cargo within the bed of a pickup truck without ropes and/or ties. The cargo holder could be manufactured from aluminum, galvanized steel, or heavy gauge plastic.

Abstract: An article separation conveyor system includes a plurality of conveyors which are independently and/or collectively operable to destack, separate and/or align articles being conveyed along the article separation conveyor. The conveyor system includes a destacking conveyor, a side by side eliminating conveyor and/or an aligning conveyor. The destacking conveyor includes a plurality of conveying portions, which are inclined to convey articles up and then drop or guide them onto the next adjacent conveyor. The side-by-side eliminating conveyor includes a pair of diverting members and is operable to redirect articles from one side of the conveyor to the other to destack and separate articles as they are continuously conveyed along the conveyor. The aligning conveyor is operable to align articles along one side of the discharge conveyor so the articles are arranged for identification at a downstream scanning device and induction onto a sortation system.