Abstract: A method of reducing noise in an audio signal, comprising the steps of: using a furrow filter to select spectral components that are narrow in frequency but relatively broad in time; using a bar filter to select spectral components that are broad in frequency but relatively narrow in time; analyzing the relative energy distribution between the output of the furrow and bar filters to determine the optimal proportion of spectral components for the output signal; and reconstructing the audio signal to generate the output signal. A second pair of time-frequency filters may be used to further improve intelligibility of the output signal. The temporal relationship between the furrow filter output and the bar filter output may be monitored so that the fricative components are allowed primarily at boundaries between intervals with no voiced signal present and intervals with voice components. A noise reduction system for an audio signal.

Abstract: A shower water-saving device with dual functionalities: collecting water from a showerhead and watering household or landscape plants. The device can be used to conveniently catch the leading cold or lukewarm water from the shower head, which would otherwise be wasted, while the person taking the shower is waiting for the water with proper temperature to come and, after collecting the shower water, it can then be easily transformed, by attaching a lid (preferably having a spout) to the top opening of the bucket, into a hand-held watering bucket and be used to water household plants or plants in the garden or on the lawns.

Abstract: The method of retrieving a pig which is stuck in a pipeline including the steps of piercing the pig, establishing a circulation from the near end to the far end of the pig, gripping the central portion of the pig, and pulling the pig back to the proximate end of the pipeline.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an energy storage device comprises a first electrode supported by a first collectors sheet; a second electrode supported by a second collector sheet; and a dielectric separator therebetween, all spirally would together. A container houses this spiral winding, with the first collector sheet having an end in contact with the base and the second collector sheet having an end oriented towards an opening opposite to the base. A collector plate is interposed between the second collector sheet and the opening and is restrained in position by a crimp in the container. A lid is positioned in the opening and has one side in electrical contact with the collector plate and an opposite side oriented outwardly of the container. The lid is restrained in position by rolling the one or more container walls over the lid.

Abstract: Porous separator is sandwiched between electrode films with attached current collector foil to obtain an electrode sheet. The electrode sheet is formed into a jellyroll for use in a double layer capacitor. The jellyroll is inserted into a can through an open end to rest against the can's bottom. A collector plate is pressed against the jellyroll, crunching current collector foil protruding from each end of the jellyroll. The bottom and the collector plate include indentations of reduced thickness. Laser is applied to the indentations to weld the foil on each end of the jellyroll to the bottom or collector plate. The laser application pattern, for example, a zigzag pattern, results in the total length of laser welds along each indentation being considerably longer than the length of the indentation, reducing contact resistance between (1) the foil and the bottom, and (2) the foil and the current collector.

Abstract: A debugger casuality feature is provided. Debugger casuality is the ability of a cooperating debugger to associate an ordered set of casuality related threads, possibly originating from different processes, as a logical thread of execution. In an illustrative implementation, systems and methods are provided allowing for the execution and management of debugger casuality within a computing environment. In the contemplated implementation casuality hooks are provided for integration with calls found in software operating in a computing environment. The hooks help attach a cooperating debugger to be able to step through a call executing in the computing environment. The casuality hooks provide the ability to step between logically related physical threads executing in a given computing environment. The physical threads ranging from single process, multi-threaded applications to multi-machine, multi-process systems.

Abstract: The Laundry composition of the invention contains a particulate brightener comprising a fluorescent whitening agent and a carrier in combination with a deposition aid, in order to deposit particulate brightener on to consumer articles during the wash.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor design minimizes the internal pressure of the cell package by using gas getters, either alone or in combination with a resealable vent in the package. Reducing pressure extends the life of the ultracapacitor. The primary gas types generated within a particular ultracapacitor are measured under multiple possible application conditions. Such conditions may include variables of temperature, application voltage, electrolyte type, length of use, and cycles of use. The primary gas components may be determined and suitable gas getters for different conditions may be formulated. The gas getters may be packed within the ultracapacitor packages, formulated as a negative electrode, doped into the negative current collector, or layered with the negative current collector.

Abstract: Improved data acquisition systems and methods that enable large numbers of data samples to be accumulated rapidly with low noise are described. In one aspect, a data acquisition system includes an accumulator that has two or more parallel accumulation paths and is configured to accumulate corresponding data samples across a transient sequence through different accumulation paths.

Abstract: A long life double layer capacitor and method of making the same including a case and a first terminal with an electrically insulating hermitic seal interposed between the first terminal and the case. A first current collector foil is electrically coupled to an interior portion of the first terminal and a first electrode comprising carbon which is juxtaposed against the first current collector foil. A porous separator is then juxtaposed against the first electrode comprising carbon and separating the first electrode from a second electrode comprising carbon. A second current collector foil is juxtaposed against a side of the second electrode and is electrically coupled to the second terminal.

Abstract: Porous separator is sandwiched between electrode films with attached current collector foil to obtain an electrode sheet. The electrode sheet is formed into a jellyroll for use in a double layer capacitor. The jellyroll is inserted into a can through an open end to rest against the can's bottom. A collector plate is pressed against the jellyroll, crunching current collector foil protruding from each end of the jellyroll. The bottom and the collector plate include indentations of reduced thickness. Laser is applied to the indentations to weld the foil on each end of the jellyroll to the bottom or collector plate. The laser application pattern, for example, a zigzag pattern, results in the total length of laser welds along each indentation being considerably longer than the length of the indentation, reducing contact resistance between (1) the foil and the bottom, and (2) the foil and the current collector.

Abstract: For generation and delivery of ions from an ionization chamber through an ion entrance orifice to a mass analyzer operating at high vacuum, high pass ion filtration is effected within the ionization chamber by application of electrical potentials to an electrode associated with the ion entrance orifice and to an electrode between the ionization region and the ion entrance orifice to create a retarding electric field upstream from the ion entrance orifice. The retarding electric field hinders the movement to the ion entrance orifice of ions having drift velocities below a lower limit, and as the retarding voltage gradient is made steeper, the lower limit increases.

Abstract: The invention provides a multipole device for a mass spectrometer system. In general, the multipole device contains a plurality of conductive rods each comprising a conductive layer, a resistive layer, and an insulative layer between the conductive and resistive layers. The invention finds use in a variety of applications, including ion transport, ion fragmentation and ion mass filtration. Accordingly, the invention may be employed in a variety of mass spectrometer systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for delivering ions to a vacuum chamber. The apparatus comprises an ionization chamber, an ionization region within the ionization chamber, a vacuum interface at a vacuum interface voltage and a vacuum chamber, wherein the ionization chamber communicates with the vacuum chamber through the vacuum interface. Sample is introduced into the ionization chamber from an electrospray assembly at approximately ground potential. Two electrodes are provided within the chamber such that three electric fields are generated, a first field extending from the electrospray assembly to the first electrode, a second field extending from the second electrode to the first electrode, and a third field extending from the second electrode to the vacuum interface. Ions are forced to travel through the fields in order before entering the vacuum chamber. In addition, the invention provides a method of delivering ions to a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling airflow in a desiccant drying system having a plurality of desiccant beds, in which each desiccant bed is located in a chamber, and multi-position valves can be operated to cause the gas to be dried to flow in a serial manner through a plurality of desiccant bed chambers while another desiccant bed is isolated from the gas flow and undergoing regeneration. Once regenerated, the multi-position valves are repositioned to establish a new serial flow gas path in which the freshly regenerated desiccant bed becomes the final bed in the series, and another bed undergoes regeneration.

Abstract: The invention provides a multipole device for a mass spectrometer system. In general, the multipole device contains a plurality of conductive rods each comprising a conductive layer, a resistive layer, and an insulative layer between the conductive and resistive layers. The invention finds use in a variety of applications, including ion transport, ion fragmentation and ion mass filtration. Accordingly, the invention may be employed in a variety of mass spectrometer systems.

Abstract: For generation and delivery of ions from an ionization chamber through an ion entrance orifice to a mass analyzer operating at high vacuum, high pass ion filtration is effected within the ionization chamber by application of electrical potentials to an electrode associated with the ion entrance orifice and to an electrode between the ionization region and the ion entrance orifice to create a retarding electric field upstream from the ion entrance orifice. The retarding electric field hinders the movement to the ion entrance orifice of ions having drift velocities below a lower limit, and as the retarding voltage gradient is made steeper, the lower limit increases.

Abstract: Reformulated diesel fuels for automotive diesel engines which meet the requirements of ASTM 975-02 and provide significantly reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) relative to commercially available diesel fuels.

Abstract: An automobile monitoring arrangement tracks and records automobile operation for post-use automobile operation analysis and in a manner with default-operation modes that facilitate use by automobile owners/supervisors and by those supervised by the automobile owners/supervisors. In one specific embodiment, a record of automobile-operation data contains periodic recordings of speed and direction of an automobile while it was being driven, as such data is provided by a conventional electronic compass and the automobile's electronic speed indicating signal. A processor performs calculations using speed and directional data to calculate acceleration and rate of directional change. Automobile operation data from the recording devices and the calculations performed is compared to stored reference data to determine if the vehicle was abused or driven in an unsafe manner by the operator.

Abstract: A long life double layer capacitor and method of making the same including a case and a first terminal with an electrically insulating hermitic seal interposed between the first terminal and the case. A first current collector foil is electrically coupled to an interior portion of the first terminal and a first electrode comprising carbon which is juxtaposed against the first current collector foil. A porous separator is then juxtaposed against the first electrode comprising carbon and separating the first electrode from a second electrode comprising carbon. A second current collector foil is juxtaposed against a side of the second electrode and is electrically coupled to the second terminal.