Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode and a converter arrangement including an integration amplifier, a comparator amplifier, an integration capacitor and a result register. During a precharge phase the result register is set to a starting value. During an integration phase a current is sampled through the photodiode to update the result register in response to down charges applied to an input of the integration amplifier. During a residue phase the result register is updated in dependence on the charge remaining on the integration capacitor. Measuring the residual charge increases resolution and accuracy of the converter.

Abstract: A method for determining a sensor configuration in a vehicle which includes a plurality of sensors. The method comprises: (i) establishing a preliminary sensor configuration for the vehicle, which sensor configuration includes a first number of real sensors, each of which outputting a real sensor signal, (ii) determining whether at least one of the real sensors can be replaced by a virtual sensor, and (iii) changing the preliminary sensor configuration into a final sensor configuration which includes a second number of real sensors and at least one virtual sensor which has been determined to replace at least one of the real sensors, wherein the second number is smaller than the first number.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode and a converter arrangement including an integration amplifier, a comparator amplifier, an integration capacitor and a comparator capacitor. An offset of the integration amplifier is corrected in that the integrator output signal is compared with a high and a low comparison voltage to repetitively adjust an offset trim value. The use of two comparison thresholds creates noise immunity.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode and a converter arrangement including an integration amplifier, a comparator amplifier, an integration capacitor and a result register. During a precharge phase the result register is set to a starting value. During an integration phase a current is sampled through the photodiode to update the result register in response to down charges applied to an input of the integration amplifier. During a residue phase the result register is updated in dependence on the charge remaining on the integration capacitor. Measuring the residual charge increases resolution and accuracy of the converter.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode and a converter arrangement including an integration amplifier, a comparator amplifier, an integration capacitor and a comparator capacitor. An offset of the integration amplifier is corrected in that the integrator output signal is compared with a high and a low comparison voltage to repetitively adjust an offset trim value. The use of two comparison thresholds creates noise immunity.

Abstract: An article of manufacture and process for manufacturing a reusable stackable resilient container formed from lightweight materials and coated with a polyurea coating to provide structural support. An article of manufacture may be formed in the various dimensions and shape to enclose items and objects that are delicate and of high-value for shipping. The reusable stackable resilient container has advantages of a long service life, less weight, a lower cost of production, impact-resistant, impervious to environmental factors and other improved characteristics.

Abstract: An article of manufacture and process for manufacturing a reusable stackable resilient container formed from lightweight materials and coated with a polyurea coating to provide structural support. An article of manufacture may be formed in the various dimensions and shape to enclose items and objects that are delicate and of high-value for shipping. The reusable stackable resilient container has advantages of a long service life, less weight, a lower cost of production, impact-resistant, impervious to environmental factors and other improved characteristics.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and an apparatus for connecting adjacent concrete structures. In one aspect, a coupling assembly for connecting adjacent concrete structures erected for street, roadway or highway use is provided. The coupling assembly includes a first anchor device with a female end comprising a socket having at least one slot. The coupling assembly further includes a second anchor device with a male end comprising at least one projection configured to mate with the at least one slot in the socket, wherein the second anchor device is movable from a first position to a second position in order to couple the male end to the female end. In another aspect, a method of coupling a first anchor device to a second anchor device is provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for protecting a coupling that is disposable within a concrete structure. In one aspect, a cap for engaging a coupling of a cement coupler bar is provided. The cap includes a body having an engagement portion and a back portion, wherein the engagement portion is configured to engage the coupling of the cement coupler bar. Additionally, the cap includes a flexible tail having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the back portion of the body. In another aspect, a method of using a protective cap with a coupling of a cement coupler bar is provided. In a further aspect, a coupler bar assembly for use in reinforcing a cement structure is provided.

Abstract: A structure for clamping two rods mutually transverse to one another is described. An upwardly open seating surface has a longitudinal direction for rotationally vertically receiving a first rod in the longitudinal direction. A pair of side opening rod retainers are supported above and on opposite sides of the upwardly open longitudinal seating surface. The side openings of the retainers open in opposite directions for rotationally laterally receiving opposite sides of a second rod along a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. The retainers include top portions spaced from the lower seating surface a distance effective to cause a rod rotationally laterally received in the side openings to exert a compressive force against a rod rotationally vertically received on the lower seating surface, thereby clamping the rods mutually transversely to each other.

Abstract: Reversible sweatshirt has a pair of contiguous configurations, each of which may have distinct coloration and distinct embroidery and a secure pocket slot, the application of such embroidery is facilitated through a secure pocket slot having a secure interior pocket pouch, accessible from one or more of the contiguous configurations, for safely securing items and for facilitating the embroidery process of both contiguous configurations. A wearer may select which side of the reversible sweatshirt to wars outside and/or inside, to expose the secure pocket slot and display the distinct coloration and distinct embroidery of the exposed configuration.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for protecting a coupling that is disposable within a concrete structure. In one aspect, a cap for engaging a coupling of a cement coupler bar is provided. The cap includes a body having an engagement portion and a back portion, wherein the engagement portion is configured to engage the coupling of the cement coupler bar. Additionally, the cap includes a flexible tail having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the back portion of the body. In another aspect, a method of using a protective cap with a coupling of a cement coupler bar is provided. In a further aspect, a coupler bar assembly for use in reinforcing a cement structure is provided.

Abstract: Reversible sweatshirt has a pair of contiguous configurations, each of which may have distinct coloration and distinct embroidery and a secure pocket slot, the application of such embroidery is facilitated through a secure pocket slot having a secure interior pocket pouch, accessible from one or more of the contiguous configurations, for safely securing items and for facilitating the embroidery process of both contiguous configurations. A wearer may select which side of the reversible sweatshirt to wars outside and/or inside, to expose the secure pocket slot and display the distinct coloration and distinct embroidery of the exposed configuration.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for dispensing a metered volume of a fluid product having a storage chamber for storing the fluid product in; a dispensing outlet through which the fluid product is dispensable from the dispenser; a metering chamber which is adapted to provide the metered volume of the fluid product for dispensing through the dispensing outlet by movement of the metering chamber between a contracted state and an expanded state, movement of the metering chamber from the contracted state to the expanded state placing the metering and storage chambers in fluid communication to enable the metering chamber to receive from the storage chamber an excess volume of the fluid product comprising the metered volume and a surplus volume; and a bleed arrangement adapted to bleed the surplus volume of the fluid product from the metering chamber is described.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for dispensing a metered volume of a fluid product having a storage chamber for storing the fluid product in; a dispensing outlet through which the fluid product is dispensable from the dispenser; a metering chamber which is adapted to provide the metered volume of the fluid product for dispensing through the dispensing outlet by movement of the metering chamber between a contracted state and an expanded state, movement of the metering chamber from the contracted state to the expanded state placing the metering and storage chambers in fluid communication to enable the metering chamber to receive from the storage chamber an excess volume of the fluid product comprising the metered volume and a surplus volume; and a bleed arrangement adapted to bleed the surplus volume of the fluid product from the metering chamber is described.

Abstract: A controller for an adjustable-frequency oscillator includes a first counter supplied with a stop-count value to count adjustable-frequency oscillator cycles divided by the ratio of desired frequency to reference oscillator frequency, to produce a stop signal when the first counter reaches the stop-count value. A second counter counts cycles of a reference oscillator starting from an initial number related to the stop-count value. The second counter stops counting and produces an end-count when the second counter receives the stop signal from the first counter. A resonant tank circuit includes a bank of capacitors with switches to select resonant tank circuit capacitors. The switches are selectively controlled using the end-count in the second counter. The stop-count value is set for the first counter so that the end count number in the second counter using a ones-complement binary format can be used to iteratively set the switches with minimal digital computation.

Abstract: A digital sigma-delta modulator requiring minimal die area and dissipating minimal power is formed with a plurality of integration stages coupled in tandem between an input node and an output node. The bit width of signals in the integration stages is progressively reduced from the first to the last integration stage without compromising modulator accuracy. A quantizer between the last integration stage and the output node provides the final reduction of signal bit width. The gain of the modulator feedforward and feedback paths are integer powers of two to further simplify the digital computation. In an exemplary implementation, three integration stages to form a third-order modulator are coupled in tandem between the input node and the output node. The gains of feedback and feedforward paths in one preferred embodiment are unity, and in some embodiments, one feedforward path has gain of 0.5.

Abstract: A removable vehicular container assembly is provided that may be selectively secured upon a seat by the use of existing and standardized securing members. Container assembly may be utilized to securely maintain within the vehicle: various food and beverage containers, audio cassettes and compact discs, personal computing devices, and video gaming systems.