Abstract: This application discloses a computing system implementing part number consolidation functionality can determine part numbers available for assignment to components represented in a printed circuit board assembly design based on electrical or physical characteristics associated with the components. The computing system can compare the available part numbers for the components to each other to determine a commonality among the available part numbers for a plurality of the components. The computing system also can compare the available part numbers for the components to part numbers associated with a different product to be manufactured at one or more manufacturing facilities. The computing system can assign one or more of the available part numbers to the components based, at least in part, on the commonality among the available part numbers, which consolidates the assigned part numbers to the components in the printed circuit board assembly design.

Abstract: This application discloses a computing system implementing part number consolidation functionality can determine part numbers available for assignment to components represented in a printed circuit board assembly design based on electrical or physical characteristics associated with the components. The computing system can compare the available part numbers for the components to each other to determine a commonality among the available part numbers for a plurality of the components. The computing system also can compare the available part numbers for the components to part numbers associated with a different product to be manufactured at one or more manufacturing facilities. The computing system can assign one or more of the available part numbers to the components based, at least in part, on the commonality among the available part numbers, which consolidates the assigned part numbers to the components in the printed circuit board assembly design.

Abstract: This application discloses a computing system implementing a schematic capture tool to utilize physical test capabilities of a manufacturer of a printed circuit board assembly during generation of a logical design for the printed circuit board assembly. The schematic capture tool can utilize the physical test capabilities of the manufacturer to trim a list of parts representing electronic components available for use in the printed circuit board assembly, and generate the logical design for the printed circuit board assembly utilized the trimmed list of parts. The schematic capture tool can utilize the physical test capabilities of the manufacturer to determine which nets in the logical design to assign test points. The schematic capture tool can provide an indication of the assigned test points to a layout tool, which can include the test points in a layout design for the printed circuit board assembly based on the assignment.

Abstract: This application discloses a computing system implementing a schematic capture tool to utilize physical test capabilities of a manufacturer of a printed circuit board assembly during generation of a logical design for the printed circuit board assembly. The schematic capture tool can utilize the physical test capabilities of the manufacturer to trim a list of parts representing electronic components available for use in the printed circuit board assembly, and generate the logical design for the printed circuit board assembly utilized the trimmed list of parts. The schematic capture tool can utilize the physical test capabilities of the manufacturer to determine which nets in the logical design to assign test points. The schematic capture tool can provide an indication of the assigned test points to a layout tool, which can include the test points in a layout design for the printed circuit board assembly based on the assignment.

Abstract: A device for providing a relatively constant rate of dissolution of a solid article (2) within it has one or more opening (22) to allow the passage of water. There is a flow pathway between said one or more openings and the solid article, which flow pathway is obturated by a water-permeable packing (26), through which water must pass, in entering or leaving the device.

Abstract: Method for making carbon-carbon composite friction product, by: fabricating carbon fiber preform; heat-treating the carbon fiber preform; infiltrating the carbon fiber preform with a high carbon-yielding pitch using VPI (vacuum pressure infiltration) or resin transfer molding (RTM) processing; carbonizing the preform with an intermediate heat-treatment at 800-2000° C.; repeating the pitch infiltration and carbonization steps to achieve a final density of >1.75 g/cc; machining the surfaces of the preform; and applying an oxidation protection system. This approach overcomes problems inherent in lower density carbon-carbon composites by employing high carbon-yielding pitches to densify the carbon-carbon composites to a high density. The high carbon yielding pitches may include isotropic pitches, 100% anisotropic (mesophase) pitches, or mixtures of the two. They may be derived from petroleum, coal tar, or synthetic feedstocks.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining crosslinking between netlists is provided. The first netlist and second netlist may have nets that have different net names but may be the same net. It is also possible that the content of individual nets in one list may need to be split or combined to accurately match the other list. Complete results will not be obtained if only 1 to 1 content matches are considered. The method determines an exploded list of one of the netlists, such as the second netlist, where the netlist is reversed such that the pins of the netlist are used as keys to an associated net name. A pin in the first netlist is then determined. The pin may be associated with a first net name in the first netlist. The pin is looked up in the exploded list using it as a key to determine a second net name for the pin. The process continues using each pin in the first netlist to determine the net name associated with the pin in the second netlist.

Abstract: Method for making carbon-carbon composite friction product, by: fabricating carbon fiber preform; heat-treating the carbon fiber preform; infiltrating the carbon fiber preform with a high carbon-yielding pitch using VPI (vacuum pressure infiltration) or resin transfer molding (RTM) processing; carbonizing the preform with an intermediate heat-treatment at 800-2000° C.; repeating the pitch infiltration and carbonization steps to achieve a final density of >1.75 g/cc; machining the surfaces of the preform; and applying an oxidation protection system. This approach overcomes problems inherent in lower density carbon-carbon composites by employing high carbon-yielding pitches to densify the carbon-carbon composites to a high density. The high carbon yielding pitches may include isotropic pitches, 100% anisotropic (mesophase) pitches, or mixtures of the two. They may be derived from petroleum, coal tar, or synthetic feedstocks.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining crosslinking between netlists is provided. The first netlist and second netlist may have nets that have different net names but may be the same net. It is also possible that the content of individual nets in one list may need to be split or combined to accurately match the other list. Complete results will not be obtained if only 1 to 1 content matches are considered. The method determines an exploded list of one of the netlists, such as the second netlist, where the netlist is reversed such that the pins of the netlist are used as keys to an associated net name. A pin in the first netlist is then determined. The pin may be associated with a first net name in the first netlist. The pin is looked up in the exploded list using it as a key to determine a second net name for the pin. The process continues using each pin in the first netlist to determine the net name associated with the pin in the second netlist.

Abstract: A device for providing a relatively constant rate of dissolution of a solid article (2) within it has one or more opening (22) to allow the passage of water. There is a flow pathway between said one or more openings and the solid article, which flow pathway is obturated by a water-permeable packing (26), through which water must pass, in entering or leaving the device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of water-softening using a water-softening product and products useful in such methods. The invention describes such products and processes wherein a change to the product occurs during the water-softening process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of water-softening using a water-softening product and products useful in such methods. The invention describes improved products and processes for their preparation wherein a water-softening composition is held between a water permeable water-insoluble web.

Abstract: A method for synchronising data between a client device and a server device, at least one of the client device and the server device having synchronisation means, the method comprising: defining a first folder in a memory of the client device; defining a second folder in a memory of the server device; storing in the first folder data items of a certain type to be synchronised from the client device; storing in the second folder data items of the same type to be synchronised from the server device; and associating with each data item stored in the first and second folders an identifier for identifying the item; the client device and the server device being arranged such that a user of the devices cannot create subfolders within the first or second folders; and the synchronisation means being adapted to synchronise data items in the first and second folders on connection of the client device to the server device.

Abstract: An apparatus for bonding a first carbon composite to a second carbon composite through a reactant layer includes a housing, and a pair of conductive press plates electrically isolated from the housing. The press plates are adapted to position the two parts to be bonded with a reactant layer therebetween. The press plates are subjected to an electrical potential and a clamping force, sufficient to initiate a combustion reaction that creates a molten ceramic to bond together the carbon-carbon composites.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for transferring powder material from a storage drum to a processing container is disclosed. The apparatus has a dumper which receives a container of powder. The dumper moves the storage container between a loading position and an unloading position where the container is at least partially inverted.

Abstract: Constraint fixture for processing annular preforms. The constraint fixture is made up of a lower plate, a top plate, a ring for the outside diameter of an annular preform being treated within the constraint fixture, and a ring for the inside diameter of the annular preform. The outside diameter and inside diameter rings are made of thin flexible sheet metal strips or thin flexible carbon-carbon composite strip material. The thin flexible strips are joined together by deformable joints, so that the flexible constraint system retains pitch within the fibrous matrix of the preform. The outside diameter strips may be joined together by expandable joints and the inside diameter strips may be joined together by collapsible joints. Also, a method of avoiding damage to an annular fibrous preform, e.g., an aircraft brake disc preform, during a carbonization procedure. This method involves carbonizing the annular fibrous preform in the constraint fixture of the invention.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing dense carbon-carbon composite material by: infiltrating a fibrous preform with pitch to form pitch-infiltrated preform; carbonizing the pitch-infiltrated preform; injecting resin or pitch into the preform in a mold; oxygen stabilizing the filled preform and carbonizing and heat-treating the oxygen-stabilized impregnated preform; and subjecting the preform to a single final cycle of chemical vapor deposition. This process reduces densification time as compared to comparable conventional carbon-carbon composite manufacturing procedures.

Abstract: Method of carbonizing pitch-infiltrated fibrous annular preform by: infiltrating the preform with pitch; placing the pitch-infiltrated preform in a constraint fixture having an ejector base plate, an inner wall, an outer wall, and a top press plate; selecting the relative sizes of the preform and the constraint fixture so that a layer of inert friable material may be situated between the preform and walls of the constraint fixture; placing inert friable material (e.g., activated carbon) between the preform and the top, bottom, and walls of the constraint fixture; and subjecting the pitch-infiltrated fibrous preform to carbonization in the constraint fixture. The activated carbon or other inert friable material adsorbs pitch molecules that escape the preform during carbonization, which reduces problems with foaming.

Abstract: Process for producing carbon-carbon composite preform, by: providing short carbon fiber segments or short carbon fiber precursor segments; providing pitch in particulate form; combining blend comprising the fiber segments and pitch particles in a mold; subjecting the resulting mixture of fibers and pitch in the mold to an elevated pressure ranging at a temperature above the melting/softening point of the pitch to create an uncarbonized preform; cooling the preform to below its softening point and removing it from the mold; placing the preform in a constraint fixture; and carbonizing the combined components in the constraint fixture at an elevated temperature for a period of time of sufficient to provide a preform having a density in the range 0.8-1.6 grams per cubic centimeter.

Abstract: A resin transfer molding (RTM) apparatus (10) that includes: an extruder (4); at least two mold cavities (15) contained within a mold (16, 18) in the apparatus, arranged so that resin can be extruded from the extruder (4) into the mold; a nozzle (20) for delivering resin from the extruder (4) into the mold; runners (25) in the body of the mold to deliver resin from the nozzle (20) to a mold cavity (15) within the mold; a venting area (29) contiguous to each mold cavity to permit gases to escape from the mold cavity (15) when the mold cavity is infiltrated with resin; and a press (12) to force the mold (16, 18) closed during at least resin injection. An advantageous feature of the present invention is that the mold may be configured to accept a part (19) that is characterized by variations in length, width, and/or thickness, such as a wheel beam key. Also, an RTM process. The process includes: placing a porous preform, e.g.