Abstract: An apparatus which may be used to protect a user's mouth, nose, chin, ears, and jaw from projectiles, direct impacts, air contaminants, and reduce concussive impact to the ears. Before air flowing into the apparatus is filtered by a filter member upstream of a mouthpiece, the air flow first passes through a plurality of conduits in a nose and protection member, where the nose and chin protection member is fabricated from an impact resistant material. Each of the conduits has a deflection member which changes the direction of the air flow. The user's exhalations do not flow back through the filter member but are rather redirected through side ports in the mouth piece.

Abstract: An apparatus which may be used to protect a user's mouth, nose, chin, ears, and jaw from projectiles, direct impacts, air contaminants, and reduce concussive impact to the ears. Before air flowing into the apparatus is filtered by a filter member upstream of a mouthpiece, the air flow first passes through a plurality of conduits in a nose and protection member, where the nose and chin protection member is fabricated from an impact resistant material. Each of the conduits has a deflection member which changes the direction of the air flow. The user's exhalations do not flow back through the filter member but are rather redirected through side ports in the mouth piece.

Abstract: A fluidic structure has a first chamber having a connection to a fluid reservoir and a connection to an array of apertures, the chamber forming a flow path between the fluid reservoir and the array of apertures, a second chamber having a connection to at least one vent connected to an atmosphere external to the fluidic structure, and at least one path between the first chamber and the second chamber.

Abstract: A helicopter rotor head system has direct mounted mechanical phasing and pitch control levers. The system reduces drag and friction from the conventional four-point connection used today by using a two-point connection at the swash plate. Input movements from the swash plate are transmitted through a linkage arm fixed to ball bearing raced levers. The levers are ball bearing raced in two positions, with two different inner race sizes to reduce wear and side load while maintaining precision and accuracy. These levers are mounted to fixed support studs on the center hub (yoke). This causes them to set the phase of the swash plate precisely. Movements from these levers are reduced to a single connection point and allow only pitch up/down movements that transmit to blade grips through a link rod.

Abstract: A method for operating an inkjet printer includes identifying a pattern of ink drops ejected from an inkjet with reference to image data for a printed image, identifying a waveform component for an electrical signal operating the inkjet to eject an ink drop in the pattern of ink drops with reference to at least a portion of the image data, and generating the electrical signal with the identified waveform component to eject the ink drop in the pattern of ink drops at a first velocity onto a first location of an image receiving surface.

Abstract: A method for operating an inkjet printer includes identifying a pattern of ink drops ejected from an inkjet with reference to image data for a printed image, identifying a waveform component for an electrical signal operating the inkjet to eject an ink drop in the pattern of ink drops with reference to at least a portion of the image data, and generating the electrical signal with the identified waveform component to eject the ink drop in the pattern of ink drops at a first velocity onto a first location of an image receiving surface.

Abstract: A protective face covering includes a protective shell sized and shaped to fit only over certain areas of a user's face. The protective shell includes a protective airway covering extending substantially over the nose and mouth of the user, the protective airway covering having a plurality of openings to allow the passage of air. The protective shell also includes first and second protective jaw coverings that extend away from the protective airway covering along either side of the user's jaw. A protective chin covering extends from the protective airway covering substantially beneath the chin of the user. A filter filters air passing through the openings on the device. A fastener secures the device to the lower back of the skull of the user. The fastener extends between openings in the first and second jaw coverings, respectively, and extends around the head of the user.

Abstract: A fluidic structure has a first chamber having a connection to a fluid reservoir and a connection to an array of apertures, the chamber forming a flow path between the fluid reservoir and the array of apertures, a second chamber having a connection to at least one vent connected to an atmosphere external to the fluidic structure, and at least one path between the first chamber and the second chamber.

Abstract: A method of assembly produces a printhead having a polymer aperture plate and outlet plate that are at least 25 mm in length. The method includes bonding the polymer aperture plate to the outlet plate, which is configured with outlets. A laser is aligned with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate and the outlet plate is bonded to an inkjet stack to couple the outlets in the outlet plate to pressure chambers in a body plate in the inkjet stack.

Abstract: A drop emitting device that includes a drop generator, a drive signal including a plurality of fire intervals applied to the drop generator, wherein the drive signal includes in each fire interval a bi-polar drop firing waveform or a non-firing waveform.

Abstract: A method of assembly produces a printhead having a polymer aperture plate and outlet plate that are at least 25 mm in length. The method includes bonding the polymer aperture plate to the outlet plate, which is configured with outlets. A laser is aligned with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate and the outlet plate is bonded to an inkjet stack to couple the outlets in the outlet plate to pressure chambers in a body plate in the inkjet stack.

Abstract: A method forms apertures in a polymer aperture plate configured for use in a piezoelectric print head. The method includes bonding a polymer aperture plate to an outlet plate configured with outlets, and aligning a laser with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate that are aligned with the outlets.

Abstract: A method for bonding a polymer layer to an outlet plate for an inkjet print head has been developed that enables the polymer layer to be attached to the outlet plate with little or no bowing of the polymer layer. The method includes aligning recesses in a bonding plate with channels in an outlet plate, interposing a polymer layer between the bonding plate and the outlet plate, and pressing the bonding plate against the polymer layer to bond the polymer layer to the outlet plate.

Abstract: An inkjet ejector has been developed that enables the ejector to be operated at a frequency greater than 80 kHz. The inkjet ejector includes a body layer in which a pressure chamber is configured with an outlet having a volume that is less than a predetermined volumetric threshold, a flexible diaphragm plate disposed on the pressure chamber to form a wall of the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric transducer having a bottom surface attached to the diaphragm plate, and an inlet layer in which an inlet channel is configured to connect the pressure chamber to a source of liquid ink, a cross-sectional area of the inlet channel at the pressure chamber divided by a length of the inlet channel being greater than a predetermined linear threshold.

Abstract: A method forms apertures in a polymer aperture plate configured for use in a piezoelectric print head. The method includes bonding a polymer aperture plate to an outlet plate configured with outlets, and aligning a laser with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate that are aligned with the outlets.

Abstract: A method for bonding a polymer layer to an outlet plate for an inkjet print head has been developed that enables the polymer layer to be attached to the outlet plate with little or no bowing of the polymer layer. The method includes aligning recesses in a bonding plate with channels in an outlet plate, interposing a polymer layer between the bonding plate and the outlet plate, and pressing the bonding plate against the polymer layer to bond the polymer layer to the outlet plate.

Abstract: An inkjet ejector has been developed that enables the ejector to be operated at a frequency greater than 80 kHz. The inkjet ejector includes a body layer in which a pressure chamber is configured with an outlet having a volume that is less than a predetermined volumetric threshold, a flexible diaphragm plate disposed on the pressure chamber to form a wall of the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric transducer having a bottom surface attached to the diaphragm plate, and an inlet layer in which an inlet channel is configured to connect the pressure chamber to a source of liquid ink, a cross-sectional area of the inlet channel at the pressure chamber divided by a length of the inlet channel being greater than a predetermined linear threshold.

Abstract: A method for assembling a micro-fluidic device better preserves the integrity of a filter in a filter layer and simplifies the bonding of the filter layer to the channel layers on each side of the filter layer. The method includes aligning a polymer layer having a plurality of filter elements and a plurality of fluid passages arranged between the filter elements between two substrates of a micro-fluidic device, and bonding the polymer layer between the two substrates to seal an area between the filter elements and the fluid passages to enable fluid flow through the filter elements to be segregated from fluid flow through the fluid passages.

Abstract: Zero-coupon swap indices are provided for tracking characteristics of nominal, inflation-linked liabilities and other aspects of swaps. A zero-coupon nominal swap index is based on a portfolio of assets consisting of a cash investment at a reference rate combined with a zero-coupon swap, where periodic payments can be exchanged for a single fixed cash flow at maturity. A zero-coupon inflation swap index is based on a portfolio of investments in a zero-coupon inflation swap, a zero-coupon nominal swap and cash invested at a reference rate. Periodic payments on the cash investment can be exchanged, in a zero-coupon nominal swap transaction, for a single fixed payment at maturity.