Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating an adaptive illumination system of an imager are presented. An example method includes causing the system to enter a calibration mode and providing a calibration illumination level from an illumination source to an environment. An imager captures one or more images of the environment. A processor determines, from the one or more images, a first illumination intensity to provide during an object detect mode operation of the system. The first illumination intensity has an illumination sufficient for detecting a presence of an object in the environment during the object detect mode. The processor stores the first illumination intensity in a memory, and configures the illumination source to provide illumination at the first illumination intensity while the adaptive illumination system is in the object detect mode, and (ii) provide illumination at a second illumination intensity while the adaptive illumination system is in a scanning mode.

Abstract: Systems and devices for airflow measurements in rooms and air delivery ducts with low-cost, low-power, accurate, calibration-free, and compact wireless airflow sensors are provided. The system uses room and duct flow sonic anemometers and processing to measure air velocities and temperatures as well as allow control over the environmental conditioning systems. The anemometers use arrays of transmitter/receivers to simultaneously measure multiple sound paths and determine velocity vectors and volumetric flow paths. By transmitting in both directions along the paths between transceivers, differential times of flight (TOF) are measured. These determine both the velocity and temperature of the air along each path.

Abstract: The invention is a method to improve the prediction of the corrosivity of organic acids in petroleum crudes, feedstocks and distillation fractions by providing a more accurate, repeatable, and rapid means of determining the TAN from the IR spectrum of the material. The method can be easily practiced in refinery, terminal, and assay laboratories. It can be used in conjunction with models and hardware to optimize the usage and improve the valuation of corrosive feed stocks. The invention can be implemented on-line for blending optimization. It comprises the steps of irradiating a heated petroleum sample with IR radiation to produce its IR absorption spectrum, and predicting the TAN from the spectrum using a linear, multivariate regression model. The IR TAN value is then used as input to blending, valuation, and corrosion models.

Abstract: The invention is a method to improve the prediction of the corrosivity of organic acids in petroleum crudes, feedstocks and distillation fractions by providing a more accurate, repeatable, and rapid means of determining the TAN from the IR spectrum of the material. The method can be easily practiced in refinery, terminal, and assay laboratories. It can be used in conjunction with models and hardware to optimize the usage and improve the valuation of corrosive feed stocks. The invention can be implemented on-line for blending optimization. It comprises the steps of irradiating a heated petroleum sample with IR radiation to produce its IR absorption spectrum, and predicting the TAN from the spectrum using a linear, multivariate regression model. The IR TAN value is then used as input to blending, valuation, and corrosion models.

Abstract: The invention is a method to improve the prediction of the corrosivity of organic acids in petroleum crudes, feedstocks and distillation fractions by providing a more accurate, repeatable, and rapid means of determining the TAN from the IR spectrum of the material. The method can be easily practiced in refinery, terminal, and assay laboratories. It can be used in conjunction with models and hardware to optimize the usage and improve the valuation of corrosive feed stocks. The invention can be implemented on-line for blending optimization. It comprises the steps of irradiating a heated petroleum sample with IR radiation to produce its IR absorption spectrum, and predicting the TAN from the spectrum using a linear, multivariate regression model. The IR TAN value is then used as input to blending, valuation, and corrosion models.

Abstract: A composite having fibers of relatively high elastic modulus embedded in a matrix of relatively low elastic modulus is provided with an interphase of elastic modulus less than the matrix modulus and cohesive energy higher than the matrix cohesive energy. The resulting composite has enhanced strength and toughness.

Abstract: Composite fiber reinforced structures, such as pipes or storage tanks, having improved resistance to microcracking and delamination and improved containment strength are disclosed. The walls of the structures comprise at least one layer comprising a plurality of continuous reinforcing glass fibers having an average diameter of ≦about 10 microns impregnated in a resinous binder such as a thermoset epoxy resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microporous ceramic materials having a surface area in excess of 70 m.sup.2 /gm and an open microporous cell structure wherein the micropores have a mean width of less than 20 Angstroms and wherein said microporous structure comprises a volume of greater than about 0.03 cm.sup.3 /gm of the ceramic. The invention also provides for a preceramic composite intermediate composition comprising a mixture of a ceramic precursor and finely divided silicon carbide or silicon nitride, whose pyrolysis product in inert atmosphere or in an ammonia atmosphere at temperatures of up to less than about 1100.degree. C. gives rise to the microporous ceramics of the invention. Also provided is a process for the preparation of the microporous ceramics of the invention involving pyrolysis of the ceramic intermediate under controlled conditions of heating up to temperatures of less than 1100.degree. C. to form a microporous ceramic product.

Abstract: A computer model calculates a critical aspect ratio for a discontinuous fiber composite having fibers dispersed in a matrix. The critical aspect ratio is a function of the elastic modulus and the cohesive energy of the fiber and the matrix. The composite incorporates physical features such as fiber shape features or additives in the fiber or matrix which adjust the elastic modulus and/or cohesive energy of the fiber, of the matrix or both to a value different than the corresponding value for unmodified fiber material or matrix material. These adjustments are selected so that the critical aspect ratio for the material including the modifications will be less than the corresponding critical aspect ratio for the material without the modifications. The resulting composite provides enhanced load sharing between fiber and matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microporous ceramic materials having a surface area in excess of 70 m.sup.2 /gm and an open microporous cell structure wherein the micropores have a mean width of less than 20 Angstroms and wherein said microporous structure comprises a volume of greater than about 0.03 cm.sup.3 /gm of the ceramic. The invention also provides for a preceramic composite intermediate composition comprising a mixture of a ceramic precursor and finely divided silicon carbide or silicon nitride, whose pyrolysis product in inert atmosphere or in an ammonia atmosphere at temperatures of up to less than about 1100.degree. C. gives rise to the microporous ceramics of the invention. Also provided is a process for the preparation of the microporous ceramics of the invention involving pyrolysis of the ceramic intermediate under controlled conditions of heating up to temperatures of less than 1100.degree. C. to form a microporous ceramic product.

Abstract: A composite having fibers of relatively high elastic modulus embedded in a matrix of relatively low elastic modulus is provided with an interphase of elastic modulus less than the matrix modulus and cohesive energy higher than the matrix cohesive energy. The resulting composite has enhanced strength and toughness.

Abstract: A ceramic article having good fractured toughness comprising substantially spherical ceramic particles, which may be a ceramic oxide such as zirconia or zirconia combined with yttrium oxide. The ceramic particles are compacted and sintered to a density greater than 90 percent of theoretical density. The article is characterized by a substantially uniform chemical composition and a substantially inclusion-free, homogeneous microstructure, which may be a metastable crystalline phase with less than 10 volume percent monoclinic crystalline phase. The article is produced by dissolving, such as in water, a soluble compound containing a metal, e.g. zirconium, to form a solute. A precipitation agent, such as sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide, is combined with the solute to precipitate a hydrophilic colloid of the metal hydroxide, such as zirconium hydroxide. The precipitate is formed into particles which are rapidly solidified while preventing agglomeration thereof.

Abstract: Metering apparatus includes a casing defining spaced first and second chambers and respective first and second piston members sealingly slidable by applied fluid pressure in the chambers. Support member coupled to and moveable with the second piston members projects from the casing to receive a load to be metered. Located within the first piston member is a third chamber in which a plunger is sealingly slidable. The second and third chambers are in communication whereby respective opposed transverse faces of the second piston members and the plunger are engageable to determine a limit position for the second piston means in the second chamber. In a preferred application, the metering apparatus is incorporated in a block forming machine, for example a cheese block forming machine, in which the load support platform is positioned within an upright housing to receive a column of a solid medium confined within the housing.

Abstract: A closure assembly especially adapted for use with the mould of cheese block forming machines, includes structure defining an opening and a closure member mounted to the structure for movement to and from a position in which it closes the opening. Co-operable locking means on the structure and closure member include a first element fixedly mounted to a shaft for rotation with the shaft, which is in turn rotatably supported on the closure member, and a second element defining a seat for the first element in a particular rotational position of the shaft. Seated engagement between the elements at this position physically locks the closure member in its closed position. Drive means coupled between the structure and the shaft is reversibly actuable to execute a first motion in which it drives the closure member from an open condition to its closed condition and then a succeeding second motion in which it causes rotation of said shaft to effect seated engagement of the co-operating locking means.

Abstract: An elongate opaque shield that may be transversely adjusted to encircle a sun visor of an automotive or air borne vehicle, and the shield when so mounted capable of being longitudinally adjusted on the sun visor to serve as an extension thereof in blocking out sun rays to an occupant of the vehicle. The shield is preferably of substantially the same length as the sun visor. When the shield is not in use, it is longitudinally moved to a first position on the sun visor when the ends of the sun visor and shield are substantially transversely aligned, and the shield then being inconspicuous. The shield is capable of being used on automotive vehicles, sun visors of both the single support and dual support type.

Abstract: ‘Patriot’ is an improved clonal turf bermudagrass cultivar suitable for many applications including golf course fairways and tees athletic fields, home and commercial landscape sites, and parks and playgrounds. It is a tetraploid (2n=4x=36 chromosomes) interspecific F1 hybrid from a cross of Cynodon dactylon by C. transvaalensis characterized by dark blue-green color, vigorous growth, good winter hardiness, and good turf quality.