Abstract: A laser ablation tomography system includes a specimen stage for supporting a specimen. A specimen axis is defined such that a specimen disposed generally on the axis may be imaged. A laser system is operable to produce a laser sheet in a plane intersecting the specimen axis and generally perpendicular thereto. An imaging system is operable to image the area where the laser sheet intersects the specimen axis.

Abstract: Electromagnetic rotary machines, such as electrical power generators and electric motors, that have one or more active portions modularized into a set of modules. Each of the modules is secured to a support frame via a sliding-interlock system that allows that module to be slidingly engaged with the support frame. In some embodiments, each module can include an integrated coolant conduit that carries a coolant to cool the active portion during operation. The modules can each be self-contained in the respect that essentially all that needs to be done to form the active portion and corresponding portion of the cooling system is to install the modules and make any remaining electrical and coolant conduit connections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the installation and removal of permanent magnets in a permanent magnet electromechanical machine, for example a wind turbine power unit generator. A magnet holder is mounted on a magnet carrying structure such as a rotor. Permanent magnets may be inserted into and removed from the magnet holder after the electromechanical machine is assembled. In this manner, permanent magnets may be installed on the magnet carrying structure by an interference fit, without using bolts or adhesives, to facilitate both assembly and removal for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Abstract: A RF pick-up probe, RF choke, and DC output line that simultaneously receives RF radiation from a waveguide and provides a detected DC voltage provided by a diode RF detector disposed in said waveguide to one or more output video lines. The RF pick-up probe, RF choke, and DC output line are preferably disposed with an antenna transition element for coupling a horn antenna to a matched diode detector which provides the aforementioned DC voltage. The transition preferably includes a ridged waveguide operatively coupled to the horn antenna; a substrate for supporting a diode chip, carrying said matched diode detector, adjacent the waveguide, the substrate also supporting a pair of RF pick-up probes, each RF probe having a portion which is coupled with the diode chip, the substrate also supporting conductors coupled to the diode chip and to the pair of RF pick-up probes; and a waveguide short circuit at least partially enclosing the diode chip and disposed adjacent the substrate.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Abstract: Electromagnetic rotary machines, such as electrical power generators and electric motors, that have one or more active portions modularized into a set of modules. Each of the modules is secured to a support frame via a sliding-interlock system that allows that module to be slidingly engaged with the support frame. In some embodiments, each module can include an integrated coolant conduit that carries a coolant to cool the active portion during operation. The modules can each be self-contained in the respect that essentially all that needs to be done to form the active portion and corresponding portion of the cooling system is to install the modules and make any remaining electrical and coolant conduit connections.

Abstract: A millimeter wave module for providing one pixel having a pixel resolution in a millimeter wave focal plane array includes a horn antenna having a first cross section area less than or equal to the pixel resolution, a detector for detecting the millimeter wave signals received by the horn antenna, the detector mounted in a recess in the horn antenna and having a second cross section area less than or equal to the first cross section area, and a video output adapter connected to the horn antenna and electrically connected to the detector for providing a connection from the detector, the video output adapter having a third cross section area less than or equal to the first cross section area.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the installation and removal of permanent magnets in a permanent magnet electromechanical machine, for example a wind turbine power unit generator. A magnet holder is mounted on a magnet carrying structure such as a rotor. Permanent magnets may be inserted into and removed from the magnet holder after the electromechanical machine is assembled. In this manner, permanent magnets may be installed on the magnet carrying structure by an interference fit, without using bolts or adhesives, to facilitate both assembly and removal for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a phosphorus solid-phase buffering system that can be spatially localized, i.e., banded on top of, or at specific depths, in media, e.g., soil, by which phosphorus concentrations in the media are reduced or maintained at levels sufficient for optimal plant performance. Also provided are methods for improving the cultivation of plants growing in different media. The present invention provides benefits, such as reduced water and pesticide requirements, reduced phosphorus leaching and runoff, and enhanced root growth. The invention can be used in connection with containerized or field-grown plants, e.g., crops, grasses, trees, and the like. The invention is particularly useful for greenhouse and nursery plants, ornamental propagation, vegetable and bedding transplants, and for turf used for stadium fields, golf courses, lawns and the like, where phosphorus leaching is particularly undesirable.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Abstract: A wind turbine (100) comprising an electrical generator (108) that includes a rotor assembly (112). A wind rotor (104) that includes a wind rotor hub (124) is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle (160) via a bearing assembly (180). The wind rotor hub includes an opening (244) having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity (380) inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret (140) supported by a tower (136). Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity (172, 176, 368) that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system (276) for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Abstract: A planar multi-layer transreflector for generating collimated coherent energy comprises one or more of insulating layers between two or more metallic layers. The transreflector substantially reflects a cross-polarized component of an incident millimeter-wave signal and substantially transmits the remaining portions of the incident millimeter-wave signal. Each of the metallic layers comprises a plurality of rectangles arranged in a grid pattern radially varying in size within circumferential regions. The reflected cross-polarized component may be substantially orthogonal to the transmitted remaining portions. A substantially collimated and coherent wavefront comprising the remaining portions may be produced in a first direction, and substantially collimated and coherent wavefront comprising the cross-polarized components may be produced in a second direction.

Abstract: A planar multi-layer transreflector for generating collimated coherent energy comprises one or more of insulating layers between two or more metallic layers. The transreflector substantially reflects a cross-polarized component of an incident millimeter-wave signal and substantially transmits the remaining portions of the incident millimeter-wave signal. Each of the metallic layers comprises a plurality of rectangles arranged in a grid pattern radially varying in size within circumferential regions. The reflected cross-polarized component may be substantially orthogonal to the transmitted remaining portions. A substantially collimated and coherent wavefront comprising the remaining portions may be produced in a first direction, and substantially collimated and coherent wavefront comprising the cross-polarized components may be produced in a second direction.

Abstract: An integrated communication device having a substrate layer of substantially electrically nonconductive material with two substantially parallel surfaces, an antenna element disposed on one of the surfaces, a ground layer of substantially electrically conductive material disposed on the other surface and having an opening formed therethrough opposite from the antenna element, and a transceiver device mounted to the ground layer to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic energy through the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for frequency up conversion and down conversion using frequency multiplier circuits. The frequency multiplier circuits receive a lower frequency signal and are operated in a forward direction to provide a higher frequency output. The same frequency multiplier circuits are operated in a reverse direction by receiving a higher frequency signal and producing a lower frequency output. The frequency multiplier circuits preferably use heterojunction barrier varactor diodes to eliminate the need for DC bias or idler circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus for frequency up conversion and down conversion using frequency multiplier circuits. The frequency multiplier circuits receive a lower frequency signal and are operated in a forward direction to provide a higher frequency output. The same frequency multiplier circuits are operated in a reverse direction by receiving a higher frequency signal and producing a lower frequency output. The frequency multiplier circuits preferably use heterojunction barrier varactor diodes to eliminate the need for DC bias or idler circuitry.