Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for sending event notifications. In some examples, a controller periodically sends messages concerning a status of an event corresponding to the controller. In some examples, at a first time while periodically sending the messages and in accordance with a determination that the status of the event has changed, the controller sends a message concerning data other than the status of the event. In some examples, at the first time while periodically sending the messages and in accordance with a determination that the status of the event has not changed, the controller continues to periodically send the messages without sending the message concerning data other than the status of the event.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the inspection of pipes, and the like, and more particularly to the remote inspection of ferromagnetic pipes. The invention teaches apparatus comprising, in combination: a vehicle equipped with a plurality of wheels capable of propelling the vehicle within a predetermined ferromagnetic environment to be inspected; means for remotely applying drive forces to said wheels; said wheels including a plurality of passive non-driven rollers; said passive rollers including magnetized means; means for acquiring visual images of the condition of said pipes; and means for remotely accessing said visual images; thereby enabling remote inspection of said pipes. An immediate environment in which the use of the present invention is contemplated is in inspection of ferromagnetic pipes which are located above and/or below ground.

Abstract: A coupling system and a method of coupling two objects is provided. The coupling system including a passive unit having a first side and an opposing second side, the first side having a recess with a lip. The coupling system further having an active unit that includes an actuator, a cam mechanism and a plurality of capture rollers. The cam mechanism is operably coupled to the actuator, the cam mechanism being movable from a stowed position to a deployed position. The plurality of capture rollers is operably coupled to the cam mechanism to move from a first position to a second position in response to the cam mechanism moving from the stowed position to the deployed position, the plurality of capture rollers engaging the lip in the second position when the passive unit is in contact with the active unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the inspection of pipes, and the like, and more particularly to the remote inspection of ferromagnetic pipes. The invention teaches apparatus comprising, in combination: a vehicle equipped with a plurality of wheels capable of propelling the vehicle within a predetermined ferromagnetic environment to be inspected; means for remotely applying drive forces to said wheels; said wheels including a plurality of passive non-driven rollers; said passive rollers including magnetized means; means for acquiring visual images of the condition of said pipes; and means for remotely accessing said visual images; thereby enabling remote inspection of said pipes. An immediate environment in which the use of the present invention is contemplated is in inspection of ferromagnetic pipes which are located above and/or below ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the inspection of pipes, and the like, and more particularly to the remote inspection of ferromagnetic pipes. The invention teaches apparatus comprising, in combination: a vehicle equipped with a plurality of wheels capable of propelling the vehicle within a predetermined ferromagnetic environment to be inspected; means for remotely applying drive forces to said wheels; said wheels including a plurality of passive non-driven rollers; said passive rollers including magnetized means; means for acquiring visual images of the condition of said pipes; and means for remotely accessing said visual images; thereby enabling remote inspection of said pipes. An immediate environment in which the use of the present invention is contemplated is in inspection of ferromagnetic pipes which are located above and/or below ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the inspection of pipes, and the like, and more particularly to the remote inspection of ferromagnetic pipes. The invention teaches apparatus comprising, in combination: a vehicle equipped with a plurality of wheels capable of propelling the vehicle within a predetermined ferromagnetic environment to be inspected; means for remotely applying drive forces to said wheels; said wheels including a plurality of passive non-driven rollers; said passive rollers including magnetized means; means for acquiring visual images of the condition of said pipes; and means for remotely accessing said visual images; thereby enabling remote inspection of said pipes. An immediate environment in which the use of the present invention is contemplated is in inspection of ferromagnetic pipes which are located above and/or below ground.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying ambient signal data in a test signal data set. A cumulative amplitude distribution of data elements is identified in the test signal data set in order by amplitude values. The data elements comprise frequency values and corresponding amplitude values. A subset of data elements from the test signal data set is identified. The subset of data elements comprises the data elements with the amplitude values greater than a first threshold value. The data elements in the subset of data elements are identified wherein a difference between the amplitude values of adjacent data elements in the cumulative amplitude distribution of data elements is greater than a second threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the inspection of pipes, and the like, and more particularly to the remote inspection of ferromagnetic pipes. The invention teaches apparatus comprising, in combination: a vehicle equipped with a plurality of wheels capable of propelling the vehicle within a predetermined ferromagnetic environment to be inspected; means for remotely applying drive forces to said wheels; said wheels including a plurality of passive non-driven rollers; said passive rollers including magnetized means; means for acquiring visual images of the condition of said pipes; and means for remotely accessing said visual images; thereby enabling remote inspection of said pipes. An immediate environment in which the use of the present invention is contemplated is in inspection of ferromagnetic pipes which are located above and/or below ground.

Abstract: An electrical grounding system has a frame containing one or more line component subassemblies supporting multiple lines of conductive material traveling linearly in parallel in a horizontal direction, and one or more preload subassemblies positioned in a vertical direction above the respective line component subassemblies. The line component subassembly has an array of grounding contact rollers positioned below and supporting the respective lines of conductive material traveling in electrical contact thereon. The preload subassembly has an array of preload rollers positioned above and applying a preload force to the respective lines of conductive material in electrical contact with the rollers of the line component subassembly below.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying ambient signal data in a test signal data set. A cumulative amplitude distribution of data elements is identified in the test signal data set in order by amplitude values. The data elements comprise frequency values and corresponding amplitude values. A subset of data elements from the test signal data set is identified. The subset of data elements comprises the data elements with the amplitude values greater than a first threshold value. The data elements in the subset of data elements are identified wherein a difference between the amplitude values of adjacent data elements in the cumulative amplitude distribution of data elements is greater than a second threshold value.

Abstract: A device for rehabilitating a knee after knee surgery includes a support adapted to support the leg at the popliteal fossa while allowing the knee to be bent about the support with little interference from the support. A method of knee rehabilitation includes the step of supporting the patient's leg on the support and allowing the patient to control to movement in order to overcome muscle guarding. The support is carried by uprights that are spaced apart far enough to allow the patient to be positioned on his back between the uprights with the knee to be rehabilitated disposed over the support and the other leg stretched straight under the support.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The CO2 level of air drawn into the system (10) is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the CO2 level in the air drawn into the system (10), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves (26, 28) are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system (10) immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the CO2 level. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the CO2 levels are continually monitored to ensure that the captured volume of air corresponds to the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. Once the captured volume of air is positively identified as the end-tidal portion of an exhalation, the captured volume is routed through a gas analyzer (44) for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels.

Abstract: A digital wireless loudspeaker system includes an audio transmission device for selecting and transmitting digital audio data, and wireless speakers for receiving the data and broadcasting sound. The audio transmission device selects digital audio data together with a sample clock from a stereo compact disk, or decoded DVD data. The sample clock clocks an element that generates frames of data and adds error protection. Status messages are included in the transmission frames to control speaker attributes such as speaker group, enabling or disabling a sub-woofer, and volume of the loudspeaker digitally. These transmission frames are clocked into an RF transmitter and transmitted to the speakers. The received bit stream and symbol clock are output from the RF receiver in each speaker and input to a framing and error protection decoder and a sample clock generator. The recovered audio sample data and sample clock are input to a digital to speaker input conversion and channel selector.

Abstract: A method of thermal compression bonding conductors of a multiconductor flat cable or electrical component by melting through a base layer from the reverse side of a base layer supporting the conductors. The multiconductor flat cable or electrical component comprises a base layer with conductors disposed thereon and a flat cover having an opening provided therein at a bonding site, preferably by die cutting. The flat cover with the opening is laminated to the base layer, overlaying the conductors, so that the conductors are mechanically stabilized by the base layer while being exposed through the bonding opening. The shape of the multiconductor flat cable or electrical component of the present invention may be highly varied. In one embodiment, the flat multiconductor electrical component circumferentially extends around a central area, for example, totally encompassing in IC chip which may be connected to the conductors thereof at a bonding site.

Abstract: A transmission line electromagnetic reflection reduction treatment is disclosed herein. This invention relates to radar cross section reduction in vehicles including aircraft, submarines, warships, tanks, troop carriers, and mobile weapons, and reduction of electromagnetic (EM) interference from civil engineering structures including bridges, buildings, power lines, and antennas.

Abstract: A bonding opening exposing conductors through a cover of a multiconductor flat cable or electrical component to allow direct bonding thereof is described. The multiconductor flat cable or electrical component having a base layer with conductors disposed thereon and a flat cover having an opening provided therein at a bonding site, preferably by die cutting. The flat cover with the opening is laminated to the base layer, overlaying the conductors, so that the conductors are mechanically stabilized by the base layer while being exposed through the bonding opening. The shape of the multiconductor flat cable or electrical component of the present invention may be highly varied. In one embodiment, the flat multiconductor electrical component circumferentially extends around a central area, for example, totally encompassing in IC chip which may be connected to the conductors thereof at a bonding site.

Abstract: A nib for use in a capillary feed marker. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nib comprises a bundle of substantially parallel, absorbent fibers fashioned into a porous structure, some of the fibers being made of a water-soluble (or solvent-soluble) material, other of the fibers being made of a water-insoluble (or solvent-insoluble) material. By dissolving the soluble fibers of the nib while keeping the insoluble fibers of the nib intact, capillaries of an enlarged size may be formed in the nib.

Abstract: An index tab and assemblages thereof to be used in conjunction with hanging file folders and the like, in lieu of individual plastic tab holder and paper insert combinations of the prior art. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of paper or plastic tabs, backed by pressure-sensitive adhesive, are carried on a release sheet, comprising tab stock. Each such tab includes opposing bilaterally symmetric portions. The shape of each half of such tabs may be generally similar to the clear individual plastic tabs holders of the prior art, including a message portion and a base portion. A message is places on the message portion of either, or both halves of a tab. The tab is then peeled from the release paper and the two adhesive-backed opposing halves folded together. In this configuration the base portion may be inserted into the tab slots of a file folder. In lieu of mounting adhesive-backed tabs to a release sheet, the tabs may be interconnected by lands, or may be defined by score lines or perforations.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein several gas resupply valves for replenishment of lost gas in gas lasers in general and argon ion lasers in particular. The first embodiment uses a valve which controls flow of gas into a metering volume. The metering volume has an aperture therein which is microscopically small and which has a diffusion constant for gas moving through the aperture which is less than the time the valve is held open. The second embodiment uses the same general structure, but separates the soft sealing member of the valve from the solenoid core which moves to open and close the valve. The soft sealing member is attached to the valve body and supported above a valve seat surrounding the opening of the metering volume. The third embodiment uses a thin diaphragm which overlies a flat surface of the valve body in which are formed an input port and an output port. A solenoid applies pressure against the diaphragm to cause it to flatten against the flat surface thereby sealing the valve.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein several gas resupply valves for replenishment of lost gas in gas lasers in general and argon ion lasers in particular. The first embodiment uses a valve which controls flow of gas into a metering volume. The metering volume has an aperture therein which is microscopically small and which has a diffusion constant for gas moving through the aperture which is less than the time the valve is held open. The second embodiment uses the same general structure, but separates the soft sealing member of the valve from the solenoid core which moves to open and close the valve. The soft sealing member is attached to the valve body and supported above a valve seat surrounding the opening of the metering volume. The third embodiment uses a thin diaphragm which overlies a flat surface of the valve body in which are formed an input port and an output port. A solenoid applies pressure against the diaphragm to cause it to flatten against the flat surface thereby sealing the valve.