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.

Abstract: A rectifying circuit comprising first and second current doublers is disclosed. In some embodiments, the first and second current doublers are connected in series. In other embodiments, the current doublers are connected in parallel. In phase pairs of inductors can share a common core to reduce parts and ensure voltage balance.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for the management of a remotely-deployed unit such as, for example, a telephone station. A local station revenue signal generated at the remote station corresponds to an amount of revenue generated at the remote unit. The generated revenue signal is processed with a generated cost signal, which corresponds to an amount of cost incurred in supporting the station, whereby the profitability of the station can be determined in an automated and/or real time or near real-time manner, and overall management of the unit becomes more efficient and effective. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for managing a remotely-deployed station wherein at least one local end usage signal is generated, which corresponds to a total amount of usage, such as direct-dial or commission-related telephone line usage for example, measured locally during a given time period.

Abstract: In a process of making gas laid products by entraining particles at least partially coated with a binder in a gaseous stream, passing the stream through a forming chamber and through a permeable collecting surface where the particles build up to form a product like fiber glass insulation, this invention prevents particles from contacting and building up on the walls of the forming chamber and causing wet spots in the finished product by maintaining a high velocity, high pressure layer of gas close to the exposed surface of the walls of the chamber and moving in the general direction of the gaseous stream. This is accomplished by apparatus including a plurality of plenum boxes forming the walls of the forming chamber with the surface exposed to the gaseous stream having gas directing openings therein. Also, an improved method of applying the binder to the particles is disclosed.

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: A method of manufacturing a panel having a foam interlayer. A flexible cover is placed adjacent a first mold in an open tool. A rigid substrate is placed adjacent a second mold, or alternately, is place atop the flexible cover in the first mold, of the opened tool. The first and/or second molds are electrically isolated from one another and from the associated manufacturing equipment. A vacuum draws the cover against the first mold and retains the cover in position during the manufacturing operation. The tool is moved to a closed position and the cover is positioned juxtaposed the substrate. The cover and substrate are positioned a distance apart thus creating a space therebetween. A vacuum is created in the space and a radio frequency (RF) electric field is applied between the first and second molds. The RF electric field causes a plasma to be created within the space. The plasma activates both the cover and the substrate. While the space is still under vacuum, a foaming material is injected into the space.

Abstract: A diagnostic envelope is used to analyze measurements from an internal combustion engine. Measurements may be from a partially assembled engine during a cold test to detect subtle mechanical anomalies, or from a fully assembled engine during a cold test or a hot test (with active fuel and spark). The measurements represent vibrational amplitudes corresponding to various crankshaft angular positions of the internal combustion engine. The first step in generating the diagnostic envelope includes filtering the measurements to enhance local variations. Filtered measurements representing a number of engine cycles are then combined to reduce random cycle-to-cycle variations. The diagnostic envelope is then generated by subtracting corresponding measurements obtained from engines with known operating characteristics. The diagnostic envelope is used in analyzing and/or classifying the engine.

Abstract: Spindle motor electrical- and motor-to-base interfaces. A compliant connector along with a circuit on a support flange is provided below a stator assembly for providing: An insertable spindle motor to drive base with less specific orientation. The support flange may comprise a small printed circuit cable or a printed circuit board. Additionally, non-specific orientation of a spindle motor to drive base assembly is described using circular traces oriented about a support flange. A circular connector is also described, as a biased support flange.

Abstract: In a process of making gas laid products by entraining particles including fibers at least partially coated with a binder in a gaseous stream, passing the stream through a forming chamber and through a permeable collecting surface where the particles including fibers build up to form a product like fiber glass insulation, this invention prevents particles including fibers from contacting and building up on the walls of the forming chamber and causing wet spots in the finished product by maintaining a high velocity, high pressure layer of gas close to the exposed surface of the walls of the chamber and moving in the general direction of the gaseous stream. This is accomplished by apparatus including a plurality of plenum boxes forming the walls of the forming chamber with the surface exposed to the gaseous stream having gas directing openings therein.

Abstract: A two and one half inch form factor disk drive has a metallic base and a metallic cover to enhance the rigidity of these components with respect to plastic components. The sealing of a controlled environment established between the base and cover is enhanced by the increased rigidity of the base and by providing a gasket groove in the base and a gasket having a tongue which mates with the groove. In addition, the metal base and cover provide isolation from the noisy environment of a computer. The two and one half inch form factor is established by providing the disk drive with a length equal to the width of a 31/2 inch disk drive and a width equal to half of the length of a 31/2 inch disk drive. The disk drive includes a disk having a diameter of approximately 2.6 inches (65 mm) and weighs approximately 6 ounces. A closed-loop, embedded servo tracking system provides a large storage capacity relative to the area of storage media available.

Abstract: A predictive model is derived for subsequent use in a misfire detector in an internal combustion engine. Data collected using a test engine is curve-fitted using NARMAX techniques to obtain a computational formula for the predictive model which relates deviant acceleration at the accessible crankshaft section to deviant acceleration at the inaccessible crankshaft section. Thus, the model can be used during actual misfire detection to reduce the effects of the torsional oscillations.

Abstract: A composite power supply comprises a master ZVS power supply and a slave ZVS power supply. Using a phase lock loop circuit, the composite power supply detects a phase relationship between switching of the first switch and switching of the second switch, and adjusts timing of switching of the second switch if the first switch and the second switch are not being switched at a predetermined phase relationship with each other. The outputs of the two power supplies are connected together. Thus, the master power supply contributes approximately half the output power and precision control on the output/load voltage while the slave power supply contributes approximately half the output power.

Abstract: A method of automating the calibration of lookup tables containing correction values to be used in an on-board vehicle system is disclosed. The method includes training a neural network to model engine behavior by outputting cylinder specific crankshaft acceleration correction values in response to any engine speed and load input conditions. The correction values generated are stored in a memory device. The training takes place off-board the vehicle, using a data set previously obtained from operating a representative engine under normal operating conditions.

Abstract: A planar transformer wherein a conformal dielectric epoxy composition is provided on the planes containing the primary and secondary windings to encapsulate the windings and to insulate the windings from the perimeter of each plane to prevent the primary windings from electrically contacting the secondary windings around the edges of the planes. Also, a conformal dielectric epoxy composition separates the plane with the primary windings from the plane with the secondary windings from primary and secondary circuits directly and below windings.

Abstract: Irregularities in crankshaft velocity introduced when measuring crankshaft rotation at a section of a crankshaft in an internal combustion engine that is less damped to torsional oscillations than is another more accessible crankshaft section are corrected using a NARMAX-generated model to predict rotation measurements that would have been obtained at the inaccessible section based on data actually collected at the accessible crankshaft section. Thus, the effects of torsional oscillations in the crankshaft are substantially filtered away, resulting in crankshaft acceleration values that form the basis of a misfire detector having nearly maximum signal-to-noise performance.

Abstract: A method of detecting the displacement of a target in a given environment includes storing reference data having data representative of the environment; transmitting a transmit signal towards the target; sensing the return signals from the target and the environment; and detecting the displacement of the target by comparing the return signals and the stored reference data. A method of detecting the level of a sample in a container is also disclosed. Analogous apparatus features are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for identifying engine combustion failure of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a crankshaft and a crankshaft position sensor includes the steps of operating the internal combustion engine to rotate the crankshaft, measuring rotational quantities of the crankshaft corresponding to events created by each of the plurality of cylinders during operation of the internal combustion engine, correcting the rotational quantities measured to remove periodic position irregularities to generate a corrected temporal signal, generating an acceleration signal of the crankshaft using the corrected temporal signals, and identifying combustion failures as a function of the acceleration signal. A time-lagged recurrent neural network utilizes the acceleration signal, along with other engine parameters to identify the cylinder-specific misfire events.