Abstract: A frame connector assembly is configured to releasably, rigidly, and safely join large frame members to one another to form temporary structures. A connector assembly typically comprises a housing, a hoop element, a first cam block, a second cam clock and a rotatable actuator adapted to be engaged by a torquing tool. The housing is secured within the first frame member. Rotation of the actuator causes the threadedly-engaged second cam element to force movement of the first cam element in a direction opposing a spring bias. The hoop element is resultingly pulled toward the housing, along with a cleat or other detent element which is affixed to the second frame member. The housing can be manufactured inexpensively by way of extrusion. The frame connector assembly is adaptable to facilitate rapid construction and disassembly of various frame joint configurations, including end-to-face joints, and mitered 90-degree joints.

Abstract: A frame connector assembly is configured to releasably, rigidly, and safely join large frame members to one another to form temporary structures. A connector assembly typically comprises a housing, a hoop element, a first cam block, a second cam clock and a rotatable actuator adapted to be engaged by a torquing tool. The housing is secured within the first frame member. Rotation of the actuator causes the threadedly-engaged second cam element to force movement of the first cam element in a direction opposing a spring bias. The hoop element is resultingly pulled toward the housing, along with a cleat or other detent element which is affixed to the second frame member. The housing can be manufactured inexpensively by way of extrusion. The frame connector assembly is adaptable to facilitate rapid construction and disassembly of various frame joint configurations, including end-to-face joints, and mitered 90-degree joints.

Abstract: A quick release clamp for connecting a first tube section to a second tube section that is perpendicularly oriented to the first tube section. One embodiment includes an upper plate, a lower plate, a handle, a threaded fastener, and a threaded receiver. The handle and the threaded fastener engage the upper plate, the lower plate and the threaded receiver so that the first tube section and the second tube section are secured within the clamp between the upper and lower plates in a perpendicular orientation relative to each other.

Abstract: A light source is injected into an optical path of a camera to provide a controlled background to insure optimum uniformity of performance of the camera. An optical system, camera, image background measurement system, source intensity control, and light source comprise a closed loop control around the light source to control an operating point of the camera. Intensity of the light source is decreased as intensity of a background flux is increased.

Abstract: A connector assembly, method and system for connecting a first tube section to a second tube section or for attaching a single tube member or section to a structure. One embodiment includes an upper body with at least an upper arm, a base body with at least a lower arm, a handle, and a securing fastener wherein the upper body and the lower body are positioned within the open ends of one or more tubular sections so that when the handle is engaged the base body and the upper body together define a cooperating wedge for urging at least a portion of the upper and lower arms in an outward direction so that force is applied towards the interior surfaces of the one or more tubular sections being connected.

Abstract: An optical detector uses an auxiliary integrating capacitor is used to determine the optical flux rate when the charge on the well capacitor approaches or reaches linear saturation. The voltage across the primary linearly operating integrating well capacitor is monitored to detect its linear saturation. The auxiliary capacitor charges at a predetermined rate from the start of the integration interval, and the voltage across it is sampled when the monitored voltage across the primary linear integrating well capacitor reaches linear saturation. The voltage across the auxiliary capacitor at this point is function of the rate at which the primary well capacitor was filling, and this voltage is processed as the illumination level for the integration period.

Abstract: A container cover comprises a central dome, a peripheral rim portion surrounding the central dome, wherein the central dome extends upwardly from the peripheral rim portion, a skirt extending downwardly from an outer edge of the peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of grippers. Each gripper comprises a flange extending downwardly from a lower surface of the peripheral rim portion and at least two gripping fingers extending downwardly from the flange. The skirt and the grippers form a space for receiving an edge protrusion, for example a curled edge, of a container body. Each of the at least two fingers has a protrusion extending toward the skirt and the fingers are adapted to provide a gripping force to an edge protrusion of a container received in the space. The plurality of grippers are spaced from one another around the peripheral rim portion. The container cover may be combined with a container body having an edge protrusion at its opening.

Abstract: A switch including a processor and method for monitoring bandwidth in the storage switch. The switch includes at least one physical port coupling at least one target and at least one initiator via the physical port. The monitoring method may include the steps of determining whether congestion occurs on the physical port and assigning a weight to bandwidth usage between the initiator and the target based on a minimum and maximum bandwidth settings for each target. The switch may further include a step of controlling bandwidth usage by each of said at least two targets based on minimum and maximum bandwidth settings for each of the targets.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments relate to a storage switch including task processing synchronization. In embodiments of the present invention, the packet processing units may generate and store Task Index and Generation Count information that prevents the processing of expired commands or responses. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of the present invention may further employ timeout sequences to prevent previous instances of a stale task resource from disrupting the current use of the task resource.

Abstract: A storage switch is disclosed that facilitates mirroring of data. For example, a target is mirrored when an identical (or almost identical) copy of the data is stored in two or more separate physical data stores. Because the various data stores may not be homogenous, they may provide for different burst sizes. To accommodate the different burst sizes, the switch provides different sequence counts for data packets sent to the different data stores that store the mirrored data.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various disclosed embodiments can manage a mirrored virtual target to synchronize the members of the virtual target and/or to verify that the members of the virtual target are synchronized. In one embodiment, a mirrored virtual target is synchronized by first provisioning at least one first internal virtual logical unit (IVLU) corresponding to at least one destination target of the mirrored target and a second IVLU corresponding to a source target of the mirrored target. A write command is first issued, via one or more internal virtual logical units, to each of the destination target members of the mirrored target. When each destination target is available to receive data, as evidenced by a returned transfer ready signal, a read command is provided to the source target via the second internal virtual logical unit. In this manner, a data path between the source and destination targets is established prior to reading data from the source target.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments can manage transfer ready resources of one or more physical targets to avoid deadlock of a storage switch or storage area network when attempting to write data to a mirrored virtual target. When writing data to a mirrored virtual target, a storage switch simultaneously or synchronously routes data from an initiator to multiple physical locations, such as multiple physical targets. A switch or network can become deadlocked while waiting to receive a transfer ready resource from each of the physical targets involved in the operation. In accordance with an embodiment, a storage switch determines the availability of a transfer ready resource from a physical target prior to issuing a write command to the target. In this manner, the switch can ensure that the target will be available to issue a transfer ready signal when a write command is issued, thus alleviating potential deadlock situations.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments can detect and alleviate potential or actual deadlock of a storage switch or storage area network when attempting to write data to a mirrored virtual target. In accordance with one embodiment, a timer is started when a storage switch routes a write command to the physical targets corresponding to a virtual target of the write command. If each physical target does not return a transfer ready resource within a predetermined timeout period, the switch determines that a potential or actual deadlock has occurred. An abort command is sent to each of the physical devices. The abort command can clear the command from the targets and also free any allocated transfer ready resources. After receiving an acceptance response from each physical target, the state of the write command at the switch can be cleared. The write command can then be re-issued to the physical devices.

Abstract: The invention monitors the driving range and tracks golf balls from users at the driving range and informs those users of characteristics such as driving distance. A solid state camera images the range, and preferably one or more tee-off positions, and collects frames of image data to track a ball's motion through space. Simulation routines augment that track and assist in isolating the start location as well as where the ball lands, or would have landed had it not been obstructed (e.g., by a net). Preferably, the invention also determines the ball's position in 3-D to increase the accuracy. In one technique, two or more solid state cameras are used, and synchronized, to specify stereoscopic imaging. In another technique, the ball's energy or physical extent is used to determine an absolute distance between the camera and the ball. A computer at the club house monitors the entire system and further manages a network including an array of displays at the several tee off positions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a molded paper pulp article from a fiber slurry involves the vacuum deposition of a layer of wet paper pulp onto a forming mold, the separation of the wet layer of paper pulp from the forming mold and the pressing and shaping of the layer of wet paper pulp at a solids content of from about 5 to 20 percent solids. A finished product molded paper article is prepared having improved surface appearance and detailing and improved mechanical and physical properties.

Abstract: Mono-pulses of light are generated by time compression of laser energy. A Raman medium is located in a low Q energy storage cavity having low losses for light at a predetermined frequency and energy delivered by a laser is that frequency in the storage cavity. The Raman medium is also located in a Stokes cavity dimensioned for having a high gain at a Stokes frequency. Most of the stored energy at the Stokes frequency is extracted by a single to and fro travel through the Stokes cavity.

Abstract: A filling-thread monitoring device for jet looms in which a filling thread is guided during its introduction into the shed of a loom in a first guide channel which is formed by spaced members and is partially open on its side, contains a first filling thread stop motion means for the giving off of a signal when the filling thread introduced does not reach its normal length and a second filling thread stop motion means spaced from the first stop motion means in order to give off a signal when the filling thread introduced exceeds its normal length by a predetermined amount. Between the two filling thread stop motion means, a guide member is arranged which extends over the space which is free of warp threads and has a second guide channel which lies in the extension of the first guide channel and is closed in the filling direction.

Abstract: For generation of a light beam having a narrow linewidth, an energy extraction beam of narrow linewidth, typically from a pulsed laser, is directed into a Raman medium having a large stimulated line. A second source, typically a pulsed laser, delivers a beam coaxial to the first in the medium. The frequency of the first beam is within the stimulated emission line of the medium induced by the second frequency and energy transfer occurs from the second to the first beam without substantial increase in the spectral linewidth.