Abstract: An engine misfire detection system (10) for detecting engine misfire. System (10) includes a conventional controller (12) having a memory unit (14) and a plurality of sensors (16). Controller (12) includes a plurality of neural networks, which are trained by system (10), and which determine whether a firing event is a misfire based upon events occurring before the firing event and events occurring after the firing event. The neural networks are adaptively trained to compensate for the effects of engine variability and aging.

Abstract: A biosoluble glass fiber filtration media includes a fibrous filtration layer of randomly oriented, entangled glass fibers which has an initial efficiency of 25% or greater as measured by ASHRAE 52.1 test method. The glass fibers forming the media have a biodissolution rate in excess of 150 ng/cm2/hr and a mean diameter between about 2.5×10−5 inches and about 11.0×10−5 inches. Typically, the filtration layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.12 inches to about 0.35 inches and a density ranging from about 3.0 g/ft2 to about 8.0 g/ft2. The filtration has an initial pressure drop of about 0.35 inches of water or less and a dirt holding capacity of about 1.5 g/ft2 or greater.

Abstract: Method for the removable sealing of a component housing, and apparatus to practice the method using an elastic or conformable sealing band. The present invention teaches a sealing band, preferably elastic, to apply a horizontal seal to the horizontal seam defined by vertically assembled component case elements. The seal is maintained in position over the seam by an alignment element disposed on at least one of the seal and the case. The sealing band is rendered electrically conductive by admixing therewith a conductive material, or by plating thereon a conductive coating. A retaining element may be further added to at least one of the sealing band and the case to minimize tampering with the sealing band once installed.

Abstract: Relatively viscous glass is fiberized in a rotary fiberization process at relatively high disk speeds and through relatively large diameter holes to form long, fine diameter glass fibers which preferably are rapidly solubilized in biological fluids. The method of forming the long, fine diameter glass fibers includes maintaining a ratio of the velocity of the external surface of the peripheral wall of the fiberizing disk to the velocity of the glass passing through the fiberizing orifices within a specific range (the disc/glass velocity ratio); maintaining a ratio of the velocity of the air exiting the air ring to the velocity of the glass passing through the fiberizing orifices within a specific range (the air-ring/glass velocity ratio); and maintaining a ratio of the BTU content of the fuel expended forming the hot attenuating combustion gases to the BTU content of a pound of molten glass being fiberized within a specific range (the attenuating combustion gases/glass heat content ratio).

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the use of subcritical compressed fluids, such as carbon dioxide or ethane, to reduce viscosity and to enhance atomization when spray applying coating compositions containing low molecular weight polymers to substrates, by using spray conditions that produce choked flow in the liquid mixture being sprayed, wherein the subcritical compressed fluid is a gas at standard conditions of 0° C. temperature and one atmosphere pressure and is miscible with the coating composition.

Abstract: A fibrous insulation media is formed from a non-woven mat of thermoplastic fibers having a mean diameter of less than about 15 microns. Preferably, when used as an acoustical insulation, the media is formed of fibers having a mean diameter of less than about 13 microns; the media has a density of less than about 60 Kg/m3; and the media has a Fraiser air permeability of less than 75 cubic feet per minute per square foot of surface area. The media has first and second major surfaces and a fibrous core with at least one of the major surfaces having an integral skin thereon. The skin is formed by melting fibers at and immediately adjacent the major surface of the mat formed into the media to form a thermoplastic melt layer which is subsequently solidified into a skin on the major surface of the mat. The thermoplastic fibers of the mat are point bonded together at spaced apart locations to increase the integrity of the mat.

Abstract: A radar system adapted to be installed on a vehicle (1) is operable to detect objects in different fields of view of the system. The system has transceiver means (2, 3; 44, 46) for transmitting a radar signal and receiving the signal after the latter has been reflected from an object to be detected. A reflected signal is sampled by sampling means (12; 66) during a succession of sampling periods each of which is delayed with respect to a corresponding portion of the transmitted signal. The gating of the reflected signal effectively generates range shells, each of which corresponds to the time taken for a transmitted signal to reach an object at the shell, and to be reflected back to the system and is hence related to the delay between the transmission of the signal and the corresponding sampling period. The range shells define the field of view of the system, which can be changed by altering said delay.

Abstract: A disc mounting system for mounting the discs of a disc drive in a fixed radial relationship to the hub of a spindle motor. The disc mounting system includes a radially-loaded, snap-fit disc mounting ring associated with each disc. The disc mounting rings include disc contact features for interaction with the inner diameters of the discs, and hub contact features for axially positioning the discs and associated disc mounting rings relative to the spindle motor hub. Various embodiments of the disc mounting ring are disclosed.

Abstract: Method for the removable sealing of a component housing, and apparatus to practice the method using an elastic or conformable sealing band. The present invention teaches a sealing band, preferably elastic, to apply a horizontal seal to the horizontal seam defined by vertically assembled component case elements. The seal is maintained in position over the seam by an alignment element disposed on at least one of the seal and the case. The sealing band is rendered electrically conductive by admixing therewith a conductive material, or by plating thereon a conductive coating. A retaining element may be further added to at least one of the sealing band and the case to minimize tampering with the sealing band once installed.

Abstract: This invention provides novel hippocampus-associated proteins and DNA sequences coding therefor. In an investigation of hippocampus-associated proteins by differential screening of a rat hippocampus cDNA library, a cDNA species encoding a novel protein designated Hct-1 was isolated and shown to be a to cytochromes P450. The use of hybridization probes based on the rat Hct-1 sequence has led to the identification of homologues in other mammalian species.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for spraying liquid compositions containing volatile solvent by using compressed fluids, such as carbon dioxide or ethane, to form solid particulates, coating powders, and catalyst materials, which can be produced with narrow particle size distributions and can be sprayed at higher solids levels, in ambient air or with heated air applied to just the spray instead of a spray chamber. Novel catalyst supports can be produced having a beneficial morphology such as for olefin catalysis. Drier water-borne coatings can be applied to substrates by using compressed fluids to spray water-borne coating compositions having conventional water levels, thereby reducing runs and sags and shortening dry times.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for achieving load balance between parallel inverters in an AC power supply. Load balancing reduces undesirable cross conduction current between the parallel inverters. Load balancing and the resulting reduction in cross conduction current are achieved without the need for common control circuitry between the parallel inverters. Thus, the single-fault protection offered by redundant parallel inverters is not compromised by the disclosed load balancing techniques.

Abstract: An improved limit stop system for defining the extremes of the range of motion of the actuator of a disc drive. An elongated slot having inner and outer contact surfaces is provided in the bobbin inside the coil of the actuator voice coil motor. A pin member having a compliant portion is assembled through the elongated slot in the coil bobbin and into engagement with stationary components of the disc drive. When the intended extreme of the range of motion of the actuator is reached, either the inner or outer contact surface of the elongated slot contacts the compliant portion of the pin member preventing further motion of the actuator in that direction.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for spraying liquid compositions containing volatile solvent by using compressed fluids, such as carbon dioxide or ethane, to form solid particulates, coating powders, and catalyst materials, which can be produced with narrow particle size distributions and can be sprayed at higher solids levels, in ambient air or with heated air applied to just the spray instead of a spray chamber. Novel catalyst supports can be produced having a beneficial morphology such as for olefin catalysis. Drier water-born coatings can be applied to substrates by using compressed fluids to spray water-born coating compositions having conventional water levels, thereby reducing runs and sags and shortening dry times.

Abstract: An automotive instrument panel having a concealed airbag. A molded substrate having first and second surfaces and an aperture therethrough receives an airbag. A curved metal door is secured to the second surface of the substrate by a plurality of fasteners extending through the substrate. The metal door has a generally U-shaped slot with first and second ends being spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the aperture. The slot is positioned radially outwardly of the aperture. The door also has a plurality of indentations to maintain a curved shape conforming with the surface of the substrate. A molded covering overlies the second surface and the door and is secured thereto with an intermediate layer of foam. A foam gasket overlies the slot between the door and the substrate. A foam impermeable layer is placed between the gasket and door to prevent injected foam from impregnating the foam gasket and interfering with the opening of the door.

Abstract: A noise suppression circuit for use with a DC/DC converter having an output and an input responsive at least in part to the output of the converter is provided. The noise suppression circuit includes multiple parallel feedback loops, wherein the first feedback sets the steady state nominal output voltage, the second feedback loop prevents the output voltage from exceeding a predefined high voltage level, and the third feedback loop prevents the output voltage from decreasing below a predefined low voltage level. In some embodiments, the first, second, and third feedback loops comprise a operational amplifier, a diode, and an internal feedback loop, wherein the internal feedback loops of each of these loops share a common node. The common node configuration provides the circuit with quick transitions between output voltage states and dynamic regulation of the DC/DC converter output voltage.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for coating substrates by a liquid spray so as to avoid entrapment of gaseous bubbles, particularly air bubbles, in the coating and desirably to thereby obtain bubble-free coatings. More particularly, the invention involves spray applying the coating to a substrate in an atmosphere consisting of gases having appreciable solubility in the applied coating, such as carbon dioxide, such that gas bubbles that may become entrapped in the coating are removed after application by the gases dissolving into the coating and diffusing to the surface.

Abstract: This invention provides novel hippocampus-associated proteins and DNA sequences coding therefor. In an investigation of hippocampus-associated proteins by differential screening of a rat hippocampus cDNA library, a cDNA species encoding a novel protein designated Hct-1 was isolated and shown to be a to cytochromes P450. The use of hybridization probes based on the rat Hct-1 sequence has led to the identification of homologues in other mammalian species.

Abstract: A FET drive circuit is disclosed. The disclosed drive circuit develops a unipolar voltage from a bi-polar source voltage and facilitates fast turn-off of the driven FET. Preferably, the drive circuit includes a first diode having a first reverse recovery time, a transistor, and a second diode having a second reverse recovery time which is longer than the first reverse recovery time.

Abstract: Fine fibers are formed and carried in a high energy, high temperature gaseous stream to a primary fine fiber collection surface where fine fibers are collected from the gaseous stream. Gases of the gaseous stream along with fine fibers not removed from the gaseous stream by the primary collection surface are drawn through the primary collection surface and formed into an exhaust gas stream which is passed through a secondary fine fiber collection surface to remove additional fibers from the exhaust gas stream before it is discharged to the atmosphere. To reduce the operating temperatures at and surrounding the primary and secondary collection surfaces, the gas streams are cooled by evaporative cooling. Water is sprayed into the gas streams by nozzles, shielded from the gas streams by scoops, so that fibers do not collect on the nozzles and form fiber wads.