Abstract: An air-boom spreader has a hopper for containing particulate material, a metering device having a plurality of sluices, a plurality of outlets transversely spaced-apart on a boom in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the spreader, and a plurality of air lines connecting the plurality of sluices to the plurality of outlets for conveying the particulate material in an air stream from the plurality of sluices to the plurality of outlets. The spreader has more than twice as many outlets as sluices, and the plurality of outlets has an innermost outlet, an outermost outlet and at least three other outlets between the innermost outlet and the outermost outlet whereby each of the innermost outlet and the outermost outlet are supplied with half as much of the particulate material as each of the at least three other outlets.

Abstract: A Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) controller comprising a housing, a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, a first controller configured to detect signal pulses the plurality of inputs and store information related to the detected signal pulses, and a second controller comprising an event driven controller configured to make event driven requests to the first controller the stored information.

Abstract: An HVAC controller provides control values to or more output ports of the HVAC controller. Operation of the HVAC controller is monitored for one or more irregularities. When one or more irregularities in the operation are identified, a hold mode is entered. The hold mode includes holding the one or more current control values on the one or more output ports of the HVAC controller until the one or more irregularities in the operation of the HVAC controller are corrected or a predetermined hold time expires, whichever occurs first. When the one or more irregularities in the operation of the HVAC controller are not corrected before the predetermined hold time expires, a back off mode is entered. The back off mode includes setting each of one or more control values on one or more output ports of the HVAC controller to a corresponding configurable back off value.

Abstract: An air-boom spreader has a hopper for containing particulate material, a metering device having a plurality of sluices, a plurality of outlets transversely spaced-apart on a boom in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the spreader, and a plurality of air lines connecting the plurality of sluices to the plurality of outlets for conveying the particulate material in an air stream from the plurality of sluices to the plurality of outlets. The spreader has more than twice as many outlets as sluices, and the plurality of outlets has an innermost outlet, an outermost outlet and at least three other outlets between the innermost outlet and the outermost outlet whereby each of the innermost outlet and the outermost outlet are supplied with half as much of the particulate material as each of the at least three other outlets.

Abstract: An HVAC controller provides control values to or more output ports of the HVAC controller. Operation of the HVAC controller is monitored for one or more irregularities. When one or more irregularities in the operation are identified, a hold mode is entered. The hold mode includes holding the one or more current control values on the one or more output ports of the HVAC controller until the one or more irregularities in the operation of the HVAC controller are corrected or a predetermined hold time expires, whichever occurs first. When the one or more irregularities in the operation of the HVAC controller are not corrected before the predetermined hold time expires, a back off mode is entered. The back off mode includes setting each of one or more control values on one or more output ports of the HVAC controller to a corresponding configurable back off value.

Abstract: An air-boom spreader has a hopper for containing particulate material, a metering device having a plurality of sluices, a plurality of outlets transversely spaced-apart on a boom in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the spreader, and a plurality of air lines connecting the plurality of sluices to the plurality of outlets for conveying the particulate material in an air stream from the plurality of sluices to the plurality of outlets. The spreader has more than twice as many outlets as sluices, and the plurality of outlets has an innermost outlet, an outermost outlet and at least three other outlets between the innermost outlet and the outermost outlet whereby each of the innermost outlet and the outermost outlet are supplied with half as much of the particulate material as each of the at least three other outlets.

Abstract: An air-boom spreader has a hopper for containing particulate material, a metering device having a plurality of sluices, a plurality of outlets transversely spaced-apart on a boom in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the spreader, and a plurality of air lines connecting the plurality of sluices to the plurality of outlets for conveying the particulate material in an air stream from the plurality of sluices to the plurality of outlets. The spreader has more than twice as many outlets as sluices, and the plurality of outlets has an innermost outlet, an outermost outlet and at least three other outlets between the innermost outlet and the outermost outlet whereby each of the innermost outlet and the outermost outlet are supplied with half as much of the particulate material as each of the at least three other outlets.

Abstract: A product distribution system for sectional control in an air boom spreader has a solid product metering assembly having: a first endless conveyor and a second endless conveyor for conveying the product from the container to the air system, the first and second endless conveyors substantially parallel to each other, the first conveyor driven independently of the second conveyor; and, a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft, the first shaft parallel to, separated from and driven independently of the second shaft, the second shaft parallel to and separated from the third shaft, the first shaft driving the first conveyor, the second shaft driving the third shaft to drive the second conveyor.

Abstract: A product distribution system for sectional control in an air boom spreader has a solid product metering assembly having: a first endless conveyor and a second endless conveyor for conveying the product from the container to the air system, the first and second endless conveyors substantially parallel to each other, the first conveyor driven independently of the second conveyor; and, a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft, the first shaft parallel to, separated from and driven independently of the second shaft, the second shaft parallel to and separated from the third shaft, the first shaft driving the first conveyor, the second shaft driving the third shaft to drive the second conveyor.

Abstract: A Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) controller comprising a housing, a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, a first controller configured to detect signal pulses the plurality of inputs and store information related to the detected signal pulses, and a second controller comprising an event driven controller configured to make event driven requests to the first controller the stored information.

Abstract: A Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) controller comprising a housing, a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, a first controller configured to detect signal pulses the plurality of inputs and store information related to the detected signal pulses, and a second controller comprising an event driven controller configured to make event driven requests to the first controller the stored information.

Abstract: A self-propelled air boom spreader has a container mounted on a frame, the container having a product hopper and a noise-reducing fan assembly compartment therein with a fan assembly including at least a fan and a motor for operating the fan mounted in the noise-reducing fan assembly compartment within the container. The spreader has a product distribution system for receiving product from the hopper and an air system, including the fan assembly, for receiving product from the distribution system and distributing the product to the environment. Situating the fan assembly in the container provides a quieter operating spreader and distributes the center of gravity of the spreader forward to reduce overloading of the rear axle, to avoid overbalancing the spreader at the rear axle and to reduce undesirable torque of the frame at the rear.

Abstract: A self-propelled air boom spreader has a container mounted on a frame, the container having a product hopper and a noise-reducing fan assembly compartment therein with a fan assembly including at least a fan and a motor for operating the fan mounted in the noise-reducing fan assembly compartment within the container. The spreader has a product distribution system for receiving product from the hopper and an air system, including the fan assembly, for receiving product from the distribution system and distributing the product to the environment. Situating the fan assembly in the container provides a quieter operating spreader and distributes the center of gravity of the spreader forward to reduce overloading of the rear axle, to avoid overbalancing the spreader at the rear axle and to reduce undesirable torque of the frame at the rear.

Abstract: A Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) controller comprising a housing, a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, a first controller configured to detect signal pulses the plurality of inputs and store information related to the detected signal pulses, and a second controller comprising an event driven controller configured to make event driven requests to the first controller the stored information.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for non-intrusive testing of an information processing system. This includes stimulating a system-under-test, capturing an image from the system-under-test visual output and one or more of the following: converting the captured image to a grey-scale bitmap, deriving pixel patterns from sub-portions of the captured image, normalizing the derived pixel patterns, scoring pixels in a pixel pattern according to color intensity, comparing pixel patterns with graphical object definitions, and finding and outputting matches taking into consideration tolerances for color, resolution, object spacing and overlap, and font kerning variation. The output is optionally a text string representing the recognized text within the captured image. The method and system also automatically learns new graphical object definitions when appropriately provided with graphical objects.

Abstract: An interactive exercise apparatus engages a user's mind and body. The apparatus comprises an exercise mechanism, a steering mechanism, and a control mechanism for manipulation by the user to achieve exercise, to indicate a direction of motion, and to interact with virtual objects in a simulated environment. The exercise mechanism can be, for example, the steps of a stair climbing simulator or the pedals of a bicycle, preferably a recumbent bicycle. A simulated environment (e.g., an interactive simulated three-dimensional environment or an interactive simulated three-dimensional fluid environment) is generated by a computer and displayed on a display system for the user. In one embodiment, the simulated environment comprises an enclosed space representing a game field. In this embodiment, an interactive competitive ball game is played using networked exercise apparatus.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell using hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen containing air as the oxidant. The fuel cell including a hydrogen side electrode; an air side electrode; an electrolyte positioned between the electrodes; a hydrogen diffuser/collector plate including hydrogen channels; and an air diffuser/collector plate including air channels. A method of operation of the fuel cell including introducing hydrogen into the hydrogen channels and introducing air into the air channels at a pressure of less than 5 psig and with a channel velocity of between about 0.15 and 7.0 meters/second.

Abstract: An interactive exercise apparatus engages a user's mind and body. The apparatus comprises an exercise mechanism, a steering mechanism, and a control mechanism for manipulation by the user to achieve exercise, to indicate a direction of motion, and to interact with virtual objects in a simulated environment. The exercise mechanism can be, for example, the steps of a stair climbing simulator or the pedals of a bicycle, preferably a recumbent bicycle. A simulated environment (e.g., an interactive simulated three-dimensional environment or an interactive simulated three-dimensional fluid environment) is generated by a computer and displayed on a display system for the user. In one embodiment, the simulated environment comprises an enclosed space representing a game field. In this embodiment, an interactive competitive ball game is played using networked exercise apparatus.

Abstract: A water ski having an elongated body of generally uniform thickness from its nose to its aft end, and including a body having a nose portion which inclines gradually upwardly, a forward body portion, and a rear body portion. The forward body portion has a width which is generally uniform and which is like that of a conventional water ski. The rear body portion extends rearwardly from the forward body portion and has side edges which diverge outwardly and rearwardly toward the rear end of the ski, with the width of the ski at its rear end being at least 150% of the width of the forward body portion. The longitudinal length of the rear body portion is from 25 to 75% of the length of the ski.