Abstract: A dummy valve comprising a housing and a rupture disc disposed within the housing, wherein the housing and the rupture disc define a first internal chamber and associated systems and methods.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal. All received signals are coupled to the same adaptive array or adaptive filter to reduce multipath or other shared interference of the first radio signal, which reduces multipath and other shared interference in the other radio signals before they are separated and processed by their respective receivers, or the individual radio signals are separated before the first signal enters the adaptive array and coupled to a slave weighting network slaved to the weights of the adaptive array of the first signal to reduce interference in all the signals.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal. All received signals are coupled to the same adaptive array or adaptive filter to reduce multipath or other shared interference of the first radio signal, which reduces multipath and other shared interference in the other radio signals before they are separated and processed by their respective receivers, or the individual radio signals are separated before the first signal enters the adaptive array and coupled to a slave weighting network slaved to the weights of the adaptive array of the first signal to reduce interference in all the signals.

Abstract: The present invention retunes adjustable base station antennas of a wireless communications system in order to improve performance metrics that are determined by measurements and that are associated with sub-sectors within the wireless communications system. The present invention calculates and applies control signals to the adjustable antennas to improve the performance in accordance with the performance metrics. Thus, the present invention obviates much of the labor that is required for retuning the wireless communications system with changing radio conditions.

Abstract: A combination garment with panty section and removable, replaceable and interchangeable leg portions and convenient attachment means and method for replacing individual leg portions of the combination garment.

Abstract: A loading probe includes an elongated solid first body portion (1) shaped from a first material and capable of simulating the normal acoustic impedance presented to a transducer to be tested by a medium in which the transducer is to operate and a second elongated solid body portion (2) made from an acoustically absorbent material having acoustic impedance characteristics substantially matched with those of the first material from which the first body portion (1) is made. The material from which the second body portion (2) is made is chosen so as to be mouldable to the first body portion (1) to form the second body portion (2).

Abstract: Apparatus for the precise positioning of an object such as a work platform relative to a base, comprising, for each of three orthogonal axes, a flexure coupling between the work platform and the base, at least one of the flexure couplings having a rotary bearing and rotary positioning device where it connects with the work platform or the base. The apparatus provides precise positioning in up to three orthogonal rotational axes and up to three linear axes, and it is useful in the electro-optics industry.

Abstract: The present invention bills a call in accordance with a measured quality of service (QoS) level afforded by the call and specified in a service level agreement. The measured quality of service is determined from a collection of measurements associated with the call. An adjustment factor is determined by a subscriber class of service and the measured quality of service. The adjustment factor is utilized by a billing processor in rating the call.

Abstract: A loading probe includes an elongated solid first body portion (1) shaped from a first material and capable of simulating the normal acoustic impedance presented to a transducer to be tested by a medium in which the transducer is to operate and a second elongated solid body portion (2) made from an acoustically absorbent material having acoustic impedance characteristics substantially matched with those of the first material from which the first body portion (1) is made. The material from which the second body portion (2) is made is chosen so as to be mouldable to the first body portion (1) to form the second body portion (2).

Abstract: Apparatus for the precise positioning of an object such as a work platform relative to a base, comprising, for each of three orthogonal axes, a flexure coupling between the work platform and the base, at least one of the flexure couplings having a rotary bearing and rotary positioning device where it connects with the work platform or the base.

Abstract: A canister such as may be used for storing metal hydride. The canister includes a thermal fuse designed to relieve pressure in the canister when the temperature of the canister exceeds a threshold, for example, as a result of fire or direct heating. In addition, a latching assembly provides a quick-release connection for securely and reliably attaching the canister to a fuel delivery system, such as an input manifold for a fuel cell.

Abstract: The system for increasing the call capacity of a wireless communications system degrades voice quality of the communications connections within a predetermined limit in order to increase the efficiency of the available RF spectrum as measured by the call carrying capacity of this allocated RF spectrum. This is accomplished by adjusting the transmission rate of the speech coder at the mobile subscriber unit and/or the speech coder that may be located at the mobile switching center so that the call carrying capacity of the wireless communications system is therefore increased. Additionally, the situation of call blocking is monitored to determine if frame error rate targets should be adjusted to further increase the call capacity. At times when the wireless system is not experiencing peak usage, the voice quality is restored to normal levels. The term “mobile subscriber unit” does not imply that the mobile unit is restricted to a moving vehicle.

Abstract: A canister assembly includes a canister, a plug enclosure, a vent mechanism, a delivery valve mechanism, and a protective handle. The plug enclosure may be attached to the canister at an opening and forms a pressurized seal of the interior cavity of the canister. The vent mechanism automatically reduces pressure when pressure inside the canister exceeds a preset level. The delivery valve mechanism can be automatically and remotely activated subject to a user's control to provide gaseous flow from the canister. The protective handle is fastened to the canister and includes the handle docking element. A docking assembly includes a canister assembly, a manifold assembly, a docking station, and a docking mechanism. The docking mechanism includes a handle docking element and a port docking element. The manifold assembly includes a manifold and at least one port attached to the manifold. The docking station includes a canister bay, protective housing, and the port docking element.

Abstract: The present invention bills a call in accordance with a measured quality of service (QoS) level afforded by the call and specified in a service level agreement. The measured quality of service is determined from a collection of measurements associated with the call. An adjustment factor is determined by a subscriber class of service and the measured quality of service. The adjustment factor is utilized by a billing processor in rating the call.

Abstract: A canister assembly includes a canister, a plug enclosure, a vent mechanism, a delivery valve mechanism, and a protective handle. The plug enclosure may be attached to the canister at an opening and forms a pressurized seal of the interior cavity of the canister. The vent mechanism automatically reduces pressure when pressure inside the canister exceeds a preset level. The delivery valve mechanism can be automatically and remotely activated subject to a user's control to provide gaseous flow from the canister. The protective handle is fastened to the canister and includes the handle docking element. A docking assembly includes a canister assembly, a manifold assembly, a docking station, and a docking mechanism. The docking mechanism includes a handle docking element and a port docking element. The manifold assembly includes a manifold and at least one port attached to the manifold. The docking station includes a canister bay, protective housing, and the port docking element.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a warning of, and greater immunity from, an impending call drop in a digital wireless telecommunications system. During normal operations, data is transmitted at an initial information frame rate and a corresponding initial physical frame rate. Upon the data transmission producing errors in excess of a threshold, which indicates an impending call drop, the initial information frame rate is reduced while error correction codes are introduced into the data transmission to maintain the initial physical frame rate. The reduction in the information frame rate produces a subtle yet noticeable change in acoustic voice quality, which serves as a warning of the impending call drop. The introduction of error correction codes into the transmission provides greater immunity to the impending call drop by improving data integrity.

Abstract: A modified process for chemical/mechanical polishing semiconductor wafers is provided. The process includes polishing a surface of the wafer, contacting the polished surface of the wafer with a surfactant, and drying the surface of the disengaged wafer for a sufficient period of time before contacting the surface of the wafer with a rinse media or subsequent process liquid. The process reduces defects, including etching stains, on the polished surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A canister assembly includes a canister, a plug enclosure, a vent mechanism, a delivery valve mechanism, and a protective handle. The plug enclosure may be attached to the canister at an opening and forms a pressurized seal of the interior cavity of the canister. The vent mechanism automatically reduces pressure when pressure inside the canister exceeds a preset level. The delivery valve mechanism can be automatically and remotely activated subject to a user's control to provide gaseous flow from the canister. The protective handle is fastened to the canister and includes the handle docking element. A docking assembly includes a canister assembly, a manifold assembly, a docking station, and a docking mechanism. The docking mechanism includes a handle docking element and a port docking element. The manifold assembly includes a manifold and at least one port attached to the manifold. The docking station includes a canister bay, protective housing, and the port docking element.