Abstract: In some aspects, methods of initiating a plasma arc in a plasma cutting system can include providing a plasma gas supply lead line extending between a power supply and a plasma arc cutting torch, where the lead line has a first segment proximate to the power supply and a second segment proximate to the torch, and an in-line valve within the lead line between the first segment and the second segment; selectively closing the in-line valve to capture a static volume of gas in the first segment; establishing a decayable volume of gas in the second segment; and initiating the plasma arc when a pressure of the decayable volume reaches a pressure value within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A cathode electrode for plasma generation. The cathode is made of graphite with highly ordered structure such as Pyrolitic Graphite or Carbon-Carbon composites. Furthermore, carbon containing gases will be used as plasma gas. The cathode will allow for theoretically an unlimited lifetime of the cathode.

Abstract: A lamp module is provided, including a circuit board, at least an LED, an insulator and a metal barrier. The LED is disposed on the circuit board and has two conductive leads on opposite sides thereof. The insulator is disposed on the circuit board, having an opening and two protruding sheets. The metal barrier is disposed on the insulator, wherein the LED and the protruding sheets are extended through the metal barrier. The conductive leads are insulated from the metal barrier by the protruding sheets of the insulating member.

Abstract: A method for performing wear leveling in a memory, and an apparatus corresponding to the method, is provided. The method includes: dividing the lifecycle of the memory which includes more than one physical blocks into at least one sampling interval; for each sampling interval, getting the first physical block by taking statistics of the degree of the wear leveling of each physical block in the memory in the current sampling interval; getting the second physical block by taking statistics of the updating times of each logical address in the current sampling interval; exchanging the logical addresses and data of the first physical block and the second physical block.

Abstract: A cathode electrode for plasma generation. The cathode is made of graphite with highly ordered structure such as Pyrolitic Graphite or Carbon-Carbon composites. Furthermore, carbon containing gases will be used as plasma gas. The cathode will allow for theoretically an unlimited lifetime of the cathode.

Abstract: A DC plasma torch which includes a long lasting thermionic cathode and has a high thermal efficiency. The DC plasma torch employs a solid cathode made of graphite with highly ordered structure such as Pyrolitic Graphite or Carbon-Carbon composites. Furthermore, carbon containing gases will be used as plasma gas. The cathode will allow for theoretically an unlimited lifetime of the cathode.

Abstract: A lamp module is provided, including a circuit board, at least an LED, an insulator and a metal barrier. The LED is disposed on the circuit board and has two conductive leads on opposite sides thereof. The insulator is disposed on the circuit board, having an opening and two protruding sheets. The metal barrier is disposed on the insulator, wherein the LED and the protruding sheets are extended through the metal barrier. The conductive leads are insulated from the metal barrier by the protruding sheets of the insulating member.

Abstract: Poles of this invention have an annular body with a wall structure comprising a number of fiber reinforced resin layers, which can be positioned to form an inside and/or outside portion of the wall structure. A portion of the layers are oriented longitudinally within the wall structure, and the wall structure also includes radially-oriented fiber reinforced resin layers. The pole includes one or more layers or a core of a composite material or polymer mortar disposed within one or more locations of the wall structure, e.g., as an intermediate layer and/or as part of the wall inside and/or outside portion. The pole can include an outside surface resistant to ultra violet radiation. Poles of this invention can be formed using a continuous process on a rotating mandrel, making use of differently positioned stations to form the different portions of the pole as the fabrication is moved axially along the mandrel.

Abstract: The embodiment of the solution provides a method for performing wear leveling in a memory. The method includes: dividing the lifecycle of the memory which includes more than one physical blocks into at least one sampling interval; for each sampling interval, getting the first physical block by taking statistics of the degree of the wear leveling of each physical block in the memory in the current sampling interval; getting the second physical block by taking statistics of the updating times of each logical address in the current sampling interval; exchanging the logical addresses and data of the first physical block and the second physical block.

Abstract: A DC plasma torch which includes a long lasting thermionic cathode and has a high thermal efficiency. The DC plasma torch employs a solid cathode made of graphite with highly ordered structure such as Pyrolitic Graphite or Carbon-Carbon composites. Furthermore, carbon containing gases will be used as plasma gas. The cathode will allow for theoretically an unlimited lifetime of the cathode.

Abstract: An adjustable global timepiece includes a minute pointer, a hour pointer, a movement mechanism, an inner time dial, a time zone dial, and an outer time dial. The movement mechanism has a shaft. The inner time dial has 12 or 24 blocks configured for displaying a first time in a first time zone. The inner dial is coupled to the shaft so as to be driven by the movement mechanism. The time zone dial has 12 or 24 blocks. The time zone dial is manually adjustably rotatable relative to the shaft. The outer time dial has 12 or 24 blocks configured for displaying a second time in a second time zone. The outer time dial has a time zone pointer located at the location of 12 or 24 o'clock thereof configured for indicating the second time zone. The outer time dial is manually adjustably rotatable relative to the shaft.

Abstract: Poles of this invention have an annular body with a wall structure comprising a number of fiber reinforced resin layers, which can be positioned to form an inside and/or outside portion of the wall structure. A portion of the layers are oriented longitudinally within the wall structure, and the wall structure also includes radially-oriented fiber reinforced resin layers. The pole includes one or more layers or a core of a composite material or polymer mortar disposed within one or more locations of the wall structure, e.g., as an intermediate layer and/or as part of the wall inside and/or outside portion. The pole can include an outside surface resistant to ultra violet radiation. Poles of this invention can be formed using a continuous process on a rotating mandrel, making use of differently positioned stations to form the different portions of the pole as the fabrication is moved axially along the mandrel.

Abstract: An adjustable global timepiece includes a minute pointer, a hour pointer, a movement mechanism, an inner time dial, a time zone dial, and an outer time dial. The movement mechanism has a shaft. The inner time dial has 12 or 24 blocks configured for displaying a first time in a first time zone. The inner dial is coupled to the shaft so as to be driven by the movement mechanism. The time zone dial has 12 or 24 blocks. The time zone dial is manually adjustably rotatable relative to the shaft. The outer time dial has 12 or 24 blocks configured for displaying a second time in a second time zone. The outer time dial has a time zone pointer located at the location of 12 or 24 o'clock thereof configured for indicating the second time zone. The outer time dial is manually adjustably rotatable relative to the shaft.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assigning at least one sound class to a sound signal, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: dividing the sound signal into temporal segments having a specific duration, extracting the frequency parameters of the sound signal in each of the temporal segments, by determining a series of values of the frequency spectrum in a frequency range between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency, assembling the parameters in time windows having a specific duration greater than the duration of the temporal segments, extracting from each time window, characteristic components, and on the basis of the extracted characteristic components and using a classifier, identifying the sound class of the time windows of the sound signal.

Abstract: Classification process for a colour image with a view to determining the shot location, i.e.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting drive train vibration. The system includes a programmable controller programmed to generate an output signal based on information from a wheel sensor located to sense the rotational behavior of an individual wheel. The controller is programmed to conduct a period test and a pattern test. A vibration of the drive train is detected in the event that both the period test and the pattern test are satisfied.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting drive train vibration. The system includes a programmable controller programmed to generate an output signal based on information from a wheel sensor located to sense the rotational behavior of an individual wheel. The controller is programmed to conduct a period test and a pattern test. A vibration of the drive train is detected in the event that both the period test and the pattern test are satisfied.

Abstract: A method and system of improving the performance of an embedded control system by reducing the complexity of an averaging process. An average windowing filter with an average window size is implemented. A first processed data value is retrieved from memory and a current data value is determined. A past data value within the average data window is determined and the difference between the current data value and the past data value is calculated. An average of the difference over the average data window size is then determined. Finally, an output signal is generated based on the sum of the average and the first processed data value.

Abstract: The interaction structure with integral coupling and bunching section and method of use of the present invention produces backward wave oscillations in an RF structure which combines ballistic bunching and extended beam-wave interaction in a complex resonator assembly. The complex extended interaction structure includes a five-gap electromagnetically-coupled cavity structure with a coaxial section inserted between the first and second cavities. The first cavity serves as a buncher cavity while the four subsequent cavities serve as energy cavities. In the coaxial section, beam and wave propagate in separate channels. The field in the buncher cavity is coupled to the four subsequent energy extraction cavities through the wave channel between the inner and outer conductors of the coaxial section, while the electron beam drifts along a cylindrical channel cut through the inner conductor of the coaxial section.

Abstract: A bi-level image is pre-processed by dividing the image into rectangular blocks, and rearranging the dots in each rectangular block into a pattern determined by the density of black dots in the block. The resulting rearranged image is suitable for further processing such as resolution conversion or compressive encoding.