Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying biochar to turf and landscape to allow the turf and landscape to be effectively maintained under reduced water and/or reduced fertilizer applications.

Abstract: A method of three-dimensional printing can include iteratively applying a polymer build material as individual layers to a powder bed, where the polymer build material includes from about 80 wt % to 100 wt % polymeric particles, and based on a three-dimensional object model, selectively applying a coalescing agent onto individual layers of the polymer build material. The coalescing agent can include an aqueous liquid vehicle and a coalescing solvent that depresses a melting point of the polymeric particles. The method can include exposing the powder bed to heat to selectively coalesce portions of individual layers of the polymer build material in contact with the coalescing solvent. The heat may not be sufficient to coalesce the polymer build material that is not in contact with the coalescing solvent and may be sufficient to fuse the polymeric particles in contact with the coalescing solvent together to form a three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A flying object has an elongate, thin body with two tapered ends on opposite sides of a medial portion.

Abstract: A timing-training method includes displaying, via a sweep function, a real-time visual indicator responsive to user input and generating a plurality of sounds synchronized with the sweep function.

Abstract: A universal mount for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to an instrument has a link connected to the tuner at one end, the link adapted and arranged to have selectable loose and fixed states, with the link including complementary first and second clamping halves joined by a compression element, and a clamp connected to the other end of the link for acoustically coupling the tuner to the musical instrument.

Abstract: A universal mount for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to an instrument has a link connected to the tuner at one end, the link adapted and arranged to be repositionable, and a clamp connected to the other end of the link for acoustically attaching the tuner and link to the musical instrument.

Abstract: The invention includes a device for measuring the velocity of a target that includes an array of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers having an energy output, a first lens configured to capture the energy output of the array and project it onto the target whose velocity is to be monitored, a second lens configured to capture the energy output reflected from the target, and at least one detector configured to detect the energy transmitted from the second lens, where the energy of the array projected onto the target creates pulses of light from reflectance off of surface imperfections on the target, and the velocity of the target is determined by monitoring the frequency of the pulses of light.

Abstract: The invention includes a device for measuring the velocity of a target that includes an array of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers having an energy output, a first lens configured to capture the energy output of the array and project it onto the target whose velocity is to be monitored, a second lens configured to capture the energy output reflected from the target, and at least one detector configured to detect the energy transmitted from the second lens, where the energy of the array projected onto the target creates pulses of light from reflectance off of surface imperfections on the target, and the velocity of the target is determined by monitoring the frequency of the pulses of light.

Abstract: Signal processing methods are disclosed for processing Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) signals. A true Doppler frequency is extracted from the phase noise frequencies by maintaining a highest frequency value. The highest frequency value is replaced with any measured frequency values that are higher than the current highest frequency value. This is continued for a predetermined lifetime period, after which the highest frequency value is stored and then reinitialized. The highest detected frequency values over a window of lifetimes are then averaged to provide a moving or rolling average value which is indicative of the velocity of a medium.

Abstract: A lyre mounting bracket (14) is provided for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner (12) to a lyre (16) for a musical instrument (10). The tuner (12) includes an electronics section (26) having a vibratory sensor. A hinged elbow member (44) secures the mounting bracket (14) to the tuner (12). The mounting bracket (14) has a main body (42) which includes two oppositely facing, planar surfaces (50, 52) for securing directly between a clamp (20) of the lyre (16). Support braces (58, 60) extend outward from opposite sides of the main body (42), each having arcuately shaped sides (66-76) which extend orthogonal to and adjacent to the peripheral edges of respective ones of the planer mounting surfaces (50, 52). The sides (66-76) have profiles which fit substantially flush with portions of a profile (94) defined by the peripheral edges of a first half (90) of the lyre clamp (20).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for detecting the tampering of the vehicle speed signal in a vehicle having electronic engine control. An algorithm that forms part of the present invention is operable to detect a tampering mode producing a constant transmission out-of-gear signal to the vehicle speed sensor input of the electronic controller, and tampering mode disallowing the electronic controller from acting upon a vehicle owner or manager-programmed top gear ratio, or maximum vehicle speed limit. In response to detecting a possible vehicle speed signal tampering condition, a vehicle speed signal tampering fault code is logged into a memory portion of the controller, a vehicle operator warning lamp is activated and the engine speed is electronically controlled to a vehicle owner/manager programmable maximum engine speed limit. The system is operable with a number of transmission embodiments including manual and automatic types intended for either on or on/off highway applications.

Abstract: An electronic engine control monitors engine speed, vehicle speed and determines various engine RPM values and RPM ranges used in fueling a molar vehicle engine to achieve desired engine speeds prior to and during an automatic gear shift sequence. The engine is coupled to a manual/automatic transmission that includes manually selectable gear operation modes and automatically selectable gear operation modes. In order to assist gear engagement of the automatically selectable gears, the engine is fueled to a series of predetermined RPM levels to rock the transmission gears into engagement. In so doing, throttle control by the operator is first inhibited and the engine is first governed to a synchronous RPM value. Throttle control is returned to the operator if gear engagement is verified within a first predetermined delay period.

Abstract: An electronic engine control controls the selection and confirmation of automatically selectable gears in a manual/automatic transmission. Failure to disengage the engine from the transmission within a predetermined time period, failure to reach a predetermined synchronous engine RPM window within another predetermined time period and failure to confirm gear engagement within yet another predetermined time period are three automatic shift failure modes which may cause an automatic shift attempt to fail or be aborted. A fourth automatic shift failure may occur if the clutch pedal is depressed during an automatic shift attempt. If any of the foregoing automatic shift failure mechanisms is detected, an error recovery algorithm which forms a part of the present invention determines the easiest/safest transmission gear to command to prevent the driver from having to manually attempt to engage the transmission after a failed automatic shift attempt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of electronically controlling a manual/automatic transmission after a power reset is provided. Within a predetermined time period after a power reset, the current commanded transmission gear is held, or alternatively the highest of the electronically selectable gears is commanded, until an accurate determination of the vehicle speed can be made. If the vehicle speed is thereafter determined to be below a minimum vehicle speed value, the transmission is commanded to the neutral position, or alternatively, the lowest of the electronically selectable gears is commanded. If the vehicle speed is above the minimum vehicle speed value, or alternatively, above a maximum vehicle speed value, then the transmission is commanded to the highest of the electronically selectable gears. In either case, further electronic shifts are inhibited for a predetermined time period after recovery from the power reset is accomplished.

Abstract: An electronic engine control monitors engine speed, vehicle speed and determines various engine RPM values and RPM ranges used in fueling a motor vehicle engine to achieve desired engine speeds prior to and during an automatic gear shift sequence. The engine is coupled to a manual/automatic transmission that includes manually selectable gear ratio operation modes and automatically selectable gear ratio operation modes. In order to verify engagement of the automatically selectable gear ratio operation modes, a predetermined reverse torque is introduced into the drivetrain by fueling the engine to certain predetermined levels after an automatic gear shift sequence begins and monitoring engine speed to test whether engine speed is within calculated synchronous engine speed ranges corresponding to the gear ratio of the desired automatically selectable gear ratio operation mode.

Abstract: A light based distance, velocity and acceleration sensor which uses phase difference to determine the desired measurement. A laser signal is modulated by an oscillator signal and reflected off an object to a signal receiver. The reflected laser signal and the oscillator signal then pass through a dual path conditioning circuit, where the path lengths and circuit elements of the two paths are identical to cancel the effects of propagation delays in an output signal. The conditioned signals are passed through a phase comparator, to produce a signal indicative of the phase difference between the oscillator signal and the reflected laser signal. The phase difference is directly proportional to the distance between the sensor and the object.

Abstract: A portable cooking oil filtering apparatus for cleaning cooking oil which includes a tank having a top and a bottom, for receiving soiled cooking oil. A pump assembly, which includes a reversible pump and piping connecting with the tank through an opening and to the reversible pump allows pumping of soiled cooking oil into and out of the tank. A frame is provided which includes a pair of wheels supporting the tank, and a handle to facilitate easy portability of the oil filtering apparatus. A wand assembly is connected with the piping. The wand assembly includes a hose and a wand. A wand housing which is adapted to store the wand and is formed in a portion of the top of the tank. The wand housing is connected with the interior of the tank. A lid is arranged over the top of the tank. The lid includes a latch which is operative to secure it in a closed position.

Abstract: A turbidity sensor is provided with a light source and a plurality of light sensitive components which are disposed proximate a conduit to measure the light intensity directly across the conduit from the light source and at an angle therefrom. The conduit is provided with a plurality of protrusions extending radially inward from the walls of the conduit to discourage the passage of air bubbles through the light beam of the sensor. The direct light beam and scattered light are compared to form a relationship that is indicative of the turbidity of the liquid passing through the conduit. The rate of change of turbidity is provided as a monitored variable.