Abstract: A method for successfully heat treating magnet coils of braided Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2Ox (Bi-2212) strand. The Bi-2212 coil is fabricated using standard round wire powder-in-tube techniques, and braided with a ceramic-glass braid with integrated carbonaceous binder. The coil is heated in an atmosphere controlled furnace below the high current density phase reaction sequence to burn off the carbonaceous binder and evacuated to remove unwanted gases from the inner windings. The oxygen environment is then reintroduced and the coil is heat treated to the high Jc reaction temperature and then processed as normal. As the local atmosphere around the surface of the wire, particularly the concentration of oxygen, is critical to a successful reaction sequence, high current Bi-2212 coils can thereby be obtained.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and an optical device mounted on the vehicle frame. A first temperature sensor senses ambient air temperature surrounding the vehicle frame, a second temperature sensor senses a temperature of a lens of the optical device, and a humidity sensor senses moisture content of air proximal to the lens. An exhaust directs gas at the lens in response to the sensed ambient air temperature, the sensed lens temperature, and the sensed moisture content.

Abstract: A system for the delivery of video on demand (VOD). A wireless remote control device generates keystroke signals for controlling a TV display and has a single button for restarting a selected program at a beginning of the selected program. A head-end unit supports separate downstream virtual channels for each separate TV set connected on a common TV feeder-cable; The head-end unit locally records and stores many programs, and transmits each program using a compressed digital format. The Compressed digital format may use MPEG-2 or MPEG-4. The head-end unit has means for protecting against signal theft. A set top unit encapsulates the keystroke signals and transmits the keystroke signals via a two-way channel to the head-end unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating a low tar, renewable fuel gas from biomass and using it in other energy conversion devices, many of which were designed for use with gaseous and liquid fossil fuels. An automated, downdraft gasifier incorporates extensive air injection into the char bed to maintain the conditions that promote the destruction of residual tars. The resulting fuel gas and entrained char and ash are cooled in a special heat exchanger, and then continuously cleaned in a filter prior to usage in standalone as well as networked power systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing fine particulate matter from a fluid stream without interrupting the overall process or flow. The flowing fluid inflates and expands the flexible filter, and particulate is deposited on the filter media while clean fluid is permitted to pass through the filter. This filter is cleaned when the fluid flow is stopped, the filter collapses, and a force is applied to distort the flexible filter media to dislodge the built-up filter cake. The dislodged filter cake falls to a location that allows undisrupted flow of the fluid after flow is restored. The shed particulate is removed to a bin for periodic collection. A plurality of filter cells can operate independently or in concert, in parallel, or in series to permit cleaning the filters without shutting off the overall fluid flow. The self-cleaning filter is low cost, has low power consumption, and exhibits low differential pressures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating a low tar, renewable fuel gas from biomass and using it in other energy conversion devices, many of which were designed for use with gaseous and liquid fossil fuels. An automated, downdraft gasifier incorporates extensive air injection into the char bed to maintain the conditions that promote the destruction of residual tars. The resulting fuel gas and entrained char and ash are cooled in a special heat exchanger, and then continuously cleaned in a filter prior to usage in standalone as well as networked power systems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a telescoping wing locking system for use in aircraft having wings that collapse and expand in a telescoping fashion, such as aircraft designed for use on roadways. Companion wing segments are locked in place when gas is supplied to inflate a bladder located between overlapping sections of the wing segments. Wing segments are unlocked when gas is removed from the bladder so that it deflates and allows the wing segments to be moved relative to each other. The wing segments may be locked in any position relative to each other in which a section of one segment overlaps a section of the neighboring segment with the bladder between.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing fine particulate matter from a fluid stream without interrupting the overall process or flow. The flowing fluid inflates and expands the flexible filter, and particulate is deposited on the filter media while clean fluid is permitted to pass through the filter. This filter is cleaned when the fluid flow is stopped, the filter collapses, and a force is applied to distort the flexible filter media to dislodge the built-up filter cake. The dislodged filter cake falls to a location that allows undisrupted flow of the fluid after flow is restored. The shed particulate is removed to a bin for periodic collection. A plurality of filter cells can operate independently or in concert, in parallel, or in series to permit cleaning the filters without shutting off the overall fluid flow. The self-cleaning filter is low cost, has low power consumption, and exhibits low differential pressures.

Abstract: A conditional access method and apparatus for use with a system for controlling of digital TV program start time. Subscriber access is authorized to digital program streams. Content are divided into a plurality of working periods. Each working period of the plurality of working periods is scrambled with a different working key. A working key of a given period is delivered ahead of the given period. The working key is synchronized with scrambling control bits in an header. working keys are inserted into an entitlement control message (ECM) packet, and the ECM packet is encrypted using a service key. A time period is inserted into the ECM packet during which the service key is valid. A service key is inserted in an entitlement.

Abstract: A method for generating a wide range of clock rates from a single clock. A delta is generated from a first clock signal and a second clock signal. An accumulative offset is generated from adding the delta to a previous accumulative offset for each clock period of the first clock signal. Whenever an overflow is encountered, the value of the accumulative offset is truncated. The second clock signal is interpolated between adjacent values.

Abstract: Each player earns eligibility into a bonus game by playing a primary game. The play of the bonus game occurs while each player never stops play of the primary game. During the play of the bonus game, each player has the chance to win bonus awards and competes against other players who have qualified to play the bonus game. Each player plays for his traditional pay table awards and for bonus game awards, which are predetermined or randomly selected winning outcomes which are designated as bonus game outcomes. When a qualified player matches one of the bonus game outcomes with a primary game outcome, the player wins the traditional primary game award and the bonus award associated with the bonus game outcome.

Abstract: A device and method for use as an adjunct in assuring that a manufactured wire is substantially free of internal flaws. A plurality of successively adjacent wire bending stations are provided, where each station includes means for bending the wire into bending planes which are different for each of the stations. The wire is passed through the successive stations, whereby the different bending planes at each station subject the wire at each station to tensile bending strain at portions of the wire cross-section which are different for each station. As a result the probability is increased that a given internal flaw in the wire will be exposed to the tensile bending strain condition as the wire passes through the successive stations, increasing likelihood of breakage of the wire at the flaw or of flaw magnification to improve detection of the flaw during subsequent wire inspections.

Abstract: A matrix is populated with playing cards, dice symbols, or slot machine symbols at cell locations in the matrix. The player attempts to select symbol combinations in either horizontal rows, vertical columns or diagonal lines. The game may be played as a single player game, may include specific poker hand categories to find, may include time periods, may include scoring points, may include multiple rounds of play and may include single or multiple player versions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating and transmitting bit rate conversion information to be utilized during bit rate conversion decisions and a method and apparatus for performing bit rate adaptation of media signals to use an available bandwidth of a channel, the media signals being associated with bit rate conversion information, the method for utilizing the bit rate conversion information including the steps of: receiving the media signals and the bit rate conversion information; the bit rate conversion information being indicative of a change in a bit rate of the media signals resulting from bit rate conversion; and converting the multiplexed processed media signals in response to the available bandwidth and the bit rate conversion information.

Abstract: A system for the delivery of video on demand (VOD). A wireless remote control device generates keystroke signals for controlling a TV display and has a single button for restarting a selected program at a beginning of the selected program. A head-end unit supports separate downstream virtual channels for each separate TV set connected on a common TV feeder-cable; The head-end unit locally records and stores many programs, and transmits each program using a compressed digital format. The Compressed digital format may use MPEG-2 or MPEG-4. The head-end unit has means for protecting against signal theft. A set top unit encapsulates the keystroke signals and transmits the keystroke signals via a two-way channel to the head-end unit.

Abstract: A method for successfully heat treating magnet coils of braided Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2Ox (Bi-2212) strand. The Bi-2212 coil is fabricated using standard round wire powder-in-tube techniques, and braided with a ceramic-glass braid with integrated carbonaceous binder. The coil is heated in an atmosphere controlled furnace below the high current density phase reaction sequence to burn off the carbonaceous binder and evacuated to remove unwanted gases from the inner windings. The oxygen environment is then reintroduced and the coil is heat treated to the high Jc reaction temperature and then processed as normal. As the local atmosphere around the surface of the wire, particularly the concentration of oxygen, is critical to a successful reaction sequence, high current Bi-2212 coils can thereby be obtained.

Abstract: Critical current densities of internal tin wire having values of at least 2000 A/mm2 at temperature of 4.2 K and in magnetic field of 12 T are achieved by controlling the following parameters in a distributed barrier subelement design: wt % Sn in bronze; atomic Nb:Sn; local area ratio; reactable barrier; and barrier thickness relative to the filament thickness; and the design for restacking and wire reduction to control the maximum filament diameter at the subsequent heat reaction stage.

Abstract: A method for fabrication of nanometer scale metal fibers, followed by optional further processing into cables, yarns and textiles composed of the primary nanofibers. A multicomponent composite is first formed by drilling a billet of matrix metal, and inserting rods of the metal desired as nanofibers. Hexed or round rods can also be inserted into a matrix metal can. The diameter of this composite is then reduced by mechanical deformation methods. This composite is then cut to shorter lengths and reinserted into another billet of matrix metal, and again the diameter is reduced by mechanical deformation. This process of large scale metal stacking followed by mechanical deformation is repeated until the desired fiber size scale is reached, the fibers being contained in the matrix metal. After size reduction, the composite metal wires may be further processed into built up configurations, depending on intended application, by stranding, cabling, braiding, weaving, knitting, felting, etc.

Abstract: Critical current densities of internal tin wire having values of at least 2000 at temperature of 4.2 K and in magnetic field of 12 T are achieved by controlling the following parameters in a distributed barrier subelement design: wt % Sn in bronze; atomic Nb:Sn; local area ratio; reactable barrier; and barrier thickness relative to the filament thickness; and the design for restacking and wire reduction to control the maximum filament diameter at the subsequent heat reaction stage.

Abstract: A system for managing trading orders comprises a memory operable to store a first order associated with a first discretion range. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to receive a counterorder associated with a second discretion range, wherein the first discretion range intersects the second discretion range. The processor is further operable to determine a midpoint price based at least in part on the intersection of the first and second discretion ranges. The processor is further operable to execute a trade at the determined midpoint price.