Abstract: A dual media spray nozzle assembly for cleaning an optical viewer or sensor lens is disclosed. The assembly includes two media pathways that terminate in two arrays at the target cleaning area. The nozzle arrays are coplanar. The two media may be activated sequentially or simultaneously. The assembly includes a cover, a spray element, and a media inlet body. The nozzles are formed in a curved, semi-annular opening of the spray element. The spray element includes front and back sides. Formed on the front side is a first media flow path associated with a first media inlet formed on the media inlet body. The first media flow path is associated with the first array of nozzles. Formed on the back side is a second media flow path associated with second media inlets formed on the media inlet body. The second media path is associated with the second array of nozzles.

Abstract: The disclosed inventive concept provides a fluid accessory for facilitating the dispensing of fluid onto a vehicle's windshield, cameras, sensors, or the like. The fluid accessory includes a body having an inlet portion and an outlet portion in which an inlet adapter and an outlet adapter, respectively, are fitted. The fluid accessory also includes a sleeve which is fitted within the body and around the inlet adapter. The body includes a plurality of longitudinal protrusions extending radially into the body. The sleeve and longitudinal projections cooperate to define a plurality of debris collection channels for collecting debris flowing within the fluid and through the fluid accessory. The fluid accessory also includes a filter media, such as a filter media, which is positioned between the outlet adapter and the body.

Abstract: PLA-containing materials, and building components containing such materials, include: polylactic acid (PLA); one or more inorganic pigments; and one or more stabilizers that includes one or more carbodiimide groups.

Abstract: A technique for simultaneously releasing a plurality of control lines, and in particular to facilitate an oilfield operation with respect to a subsea wellbore. A hose reel or a plurality of hose reels may be mounted on a skid which, in turn, may be positioned on a vessel that works in cooperation with an offshore platform. Each hose reel is designed to engage a hose bundle via a release mechanism which releasably couples a plurality of control lines carried by the hose bundle. The release mechanism includes a primary release and a secondary release to selectively enable disconnection of the control lines and release of the hose bundle from the skid.

Abstract: Provided are a computer-implemented system and method for generating real-time store sales data. Sales data is stored regarding items located at multiple retail stores. A user may enter a store with a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device accesses sales data pertaining to sales of at least one preselected target item in each of the multiple stores. Generated from the sales data is a sales analysis report in real-time on the mobile electronic device. The sales data of the store accessed in real-time is compared with comparable sales data of other stores.

Abstract: Members including components of windows and doors are formed by a method that includes obtaining a biopolymer and a filler, feeding them into an extruder, controlling at least the temperature of the biopolymer and the filler within the extruder to promote the initiation of nucleation of the biopolymer, extruding the composite through a die of the extruder to form an extruded member and controlling at least the cooling rate of the extruded member after it leaves the die to promote crystallization of the biopolymer. Methods are disclosed for compounding and pelletizing as well as direct extrusion of the composite. In a preferred embodiment, the biopolymer is polylactic acid (PLA) and the filler is wood fiber. In addition, neat PLA formulations are also disclosed. Further, the heat distortion temperature and the hydrolysis resistance of these members are greatly increased through specific processing conditions and the addition of strategic quantities of additives.

Abstract: Retrofit light fixtures suitable for installation without tools. One or more spring bands deform as the fixture is forced through a ceiling opening and resume their preloaded shape to hold the fixture in place. Some embodiments may be installed in round ceiling openings and may utilize LED light sources.

Abstract: A light fixture that allows for customization and easy adjustability of various properties of the distributed light. The light fixture includes a threaded ring that engages with threads of a heat sink to support and retain a lens and/or reflector within the fixture. Because the threaded ring retains the lens and reflector within the fixture, unscrewing the threaded ring allows the lens and/or the reflector to be replaced without having to remove the entire fixture.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises determining a gain tilt based on power measurements from a power measurement block, determining a noise figure penalty based on the gain tilt, determining a gain tilt compensation to compensate for the gain tilt taking into account the noise figure penalty, and communicating the gain tilt compensation to an amplifier block to apply the gain tilt compensation to subsequently received wavelengths.

Abstract: Retrofit light fixtures suitable for installation without tools. One or more spring bands deform as the fixture is forced through a ceiling opening and resume their preloaded shape to hold the fixture in place. Some embodiments may be installed in round ceiling openings and may utilize LED light sources.

Abstract: A light fixture that allows for customization and easy adjustability of various properties of the distributed light. The light fixture includes a threaded ring that engages with threads of a heat sink to support and retain a lens and/or reflector within the fixture. Because the threaded ring retains the lens and reflector within the fixture, unscrewing the threaded ring allows the lens and/or the reflector to be replaced without having to remove the entire fixture.

Abstract: A power cable jacket tearing tool. A first tool body portion has a first aperture for receiving the cable therethrough, and a second tool body portion has a second aperture for receiving the cable therethrough. The first and second tool body portions are rotatably connected to one another to form a joint allowing each tool body portion to rotate relative to the other about a pivot axis that passes through the first and second apertures. The second tool body portion supports a rotatable spool for receiving and spooling the end of a selected conductor of the cable. The tool also includes a motor for driving the spool, a power source for powering the motor, and a control mechanism for controllably coupling the power source to the motor. The motor is carried by the second tool body portion, whereas the control mechanism is carried by the first tool body portion.

Abstract: A power cable jacket tearing tool. A first tool body portion has a first aperture for receiving the cable therethrough, and a second tool body portion has a second aperture for receiving the cable therethrough. The first and second tool body portions are rotatably connected to one another to form a joint allowing each tool body portion to rotate relative to the other about a pivot axis that passes through the first and second apertures. The second tool body portion supports a rotatable spool for receiving and spooling the end of a selected conductor of the cable. The tool also includes a motor for driving the spool, a power source for powering the motor, and a control mechanism for controllably coupling the power source to the motor. The motor is carried by the second tool body portion, whereas the control mechanism is carried by the first tool body portion.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises determining a gain tilt based on power measurements from a power measurement block, determining a noise figure penalty based on the gain tilt, determining a gain tilt compensation to compensate for the gain tilt taking into account the noise figure penalty, and communicating the gain tilt compensation to an amplifier block to apply the gain tilt compensation to subsequently received wavelengths.

Abstract: Members including components of windows and doors are formed by a method that includes obtaining a biopolymer and a filler, feeding them into an extruder, controlling at least the temperature of the biopolymer and the filler within the extruder to promote the initiation of nucleation of the biopolymer, extruding the composite through a die of the extruder to form an extruded member and controlling at least the cooling rate of the extruded member after it leaves the die to promote crystallization of the biopolymer. Methods are disclosed for compounding and pelletizing as well as direct extrusion of the composite. In a preferred embodiment, the biopolymer is polylactic acid (PLA) and the filler is wood fiber. In addition, neat PLA formulations are also disclosed. Further, the heat distortion temperature and the hydrolysis resistance of these members are greatly increased through specific processing conditions and the addition of strategic quantities of additives.

Abstract: An airbag module includes an airbag cushion, a cover configured to break open to allow the airbag cushion to deploy into a vehicle occupant compartment, an emblem attached to the cover, and a light source connected to the cover and/or the emblem. The light source can provide a safe aesthetic airbag lighting option.

Abstract: A cooling system for use with a heat source is disclosed. The cooling system has an oil cooler, a fluid pump driving fluid through the cooling system, a first heat exchanger, and a first bypass line to direct fluid around the first heat exchanger. The cooling system also has a first electrically-controlled valve to selectively direct at least a portion of the fluid to at least one of the first heat exchanger and the first bypass line based on a fluid temperature. The cooling system further has a second heat exchanger, and a second bypass line to direct fluid around the second heat exchanger. The cooling system additionally has a second electrically-controlled valve located upstream of the oil cooler and configured to selectively direct at least a portion of the fluid to at least one of the second heat exchanger and the second bypass line based on an oil temperature.

Abstract: Timing Advance information is obtained from base stations (103–105), and is utilized by a remote unit (113) to approximate the Time of Arrival (TOA) of the signals from each base station. The remote unit (113) accesses a single base station to determine its timing advance. In order to increase accuracy, the remote unit (113) then repeats the process, but during the next iteration, the transmission timing is advanced or delayed by a fraction of a bit (e.g. ¼ bit). The base station responds with a new timing advance value. This process is repeated until it is determined how many fractions of bit increments the remote unit (113) is away from a known timing advance boundary of the base station. Once known, this information is utilized to determine the location of the remote unit (113).

Abstract: Timing Advance information is obtained from base stations (103-105), and is utilized by a remote unit (113) to approximate the Time of Arrival (TOA) of the signals from each base station. The remote unit (113) accesses a single base station to determine its timing advance. In order to increase accuracy, the remote unit (113) then repeats the process, but during the next iteration, the transmission timing is advanced or delayed by a fraction of a bit (e.g. ¼ bit). The base station responds with a new timing advance value. This process is repeated until it is determined how many fractions of bit increments the remote unit (113) is away from a known timing advance boundary of the base station. Once known, this information is utilized to determine the location of the remote unit (113).

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes for preparing extruded foam products and more particularly to a process for producing such products wherein surface defects are minimized. There has been a movement to replace conventional halo-carbon blowing agents in favor of purportedly more environmentally safe halo-carbon free blowing agents such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, water, air, nitrogen, and helium. However, these halo-carbon free blowing agents, in particular carbon dioxide, have higher foaming rates and higher volatility leading to greater surface defects in the extruded foam. The present invention employs polyethylene wax to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of surface defects where halo-carbon free blowing agents are employed in an extruded foam manufacture process.