Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit local-oscillator (LO) light and pulses of light, the emitted pulses of light including a first emitted pulse of light, where an optical frequency of the first emitted pulse of light is offset from an optical frequency of the LO light by a first frequency offset. The lidar system further includes a receiver configured to detect the LO light and a first received pulse of light, the first received pulse of light including light from the first emitted pulse of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector, where: the LO light and the first received pulse of light are coherently mixed together at the detector, and the detector is configured to produce a photocurrent signal corresponding to the coherent mixing.

Abstract: A therapy system includes a patient support apparatus and a pneumatic therapy device that is coupleable to the patient support apparatus. The therapy device may receive power and air flow from the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymeric composition comprising an impact modifier, a processing aid and a mineral filler and its process of preparation and its use. In particular the present invention relates to a polymeric composition comprising an impact modifier, a processing aid and a mineral filler and its use for thermoplastic polymers. More particularly the present invention relates to the process of preparation of polymeric composition comprising an impact modifier, a processing aid and a mineral filler and its use for the transformation and/or processing of thermoplastic polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymeric composition comprising an impact modifier, a processing aid and a mineral filler and its process of preparation and its use. In particular the present invention relates to a polymeric composition comprising an impact modifier, a processing aid and a mineral filler and its use for thermoplastic polymers. More particularly the present invention relates to the process of preparation of polymeric composition comprising an impact modifier, a processing aid and a mineral filler and its use for the transformation and/or processing of thermoplastic polymers.

Abstract: A valve including a valve body having a bore and a spindle received in the bore, the spindle being actuatable to open and close the valve. A compression gland seal is provided about the spindle for compression between the spindle and the bore. A first seal ring is provided about the spindle at a position spaced along the spindle from the gland seal, and provides a seal between the spindle and the bore of the valve body. A second seal ring is provided about the spindle at a position spaced along the spindle from the gland seal and the first seal ring, and provides a further seal between the spindle and the bore of the valve body.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a layer on a polymer substrate comprises a polymer substrate with at least one precursor, and applying ultraviolet light to decompose the at least one precursor and deposit a layer onto the polymer substrate. Also provided is a doped layer comprising zinc oxide deposited on a polymer substrate obtained by introducing at least one precursor comprising zinc and a dopant into a vessel containing a polymer substrate, and applying an ultraviolet light to decompose the at least one precursor and to deposit a layer comprising doped zinc oxide onto the polymer substrate.

Abstract: A valve including a valve body having a bore and a spindle received in the bore, the spindle being actuatable to open and close the valve. A compression gland seal is provided about the spindle for compression between the spindle and the bore. A first seal ring is provided about the spindle at a position spaced along the spindle from the gland seal, and provides a seal between the spindle and the bore of the valve body. A second seal ring is provided about the spindle at a position spaced along the spindle from the gland seal and the first seal ring, and provides a further seal between the spindle and the bore of the valve body.

Abstract: A gas generant composition used in pressure activated restraint system devices such as micro-gas generator applications such as seat belt pretensioners is provided. The gas generant composition includes a potassium perchlorate gas generant additive in addition to a non-azide nitrogen-containing gas generating fuel, a metal ammine nitrate oxidizer, and a metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive. The gas generant composition desirably has improved ignitability as compared to a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive. The gas generant composition also desirably produces or results in effluents having either or both reduced carbon monoxide and NOx contents as compared to the effluent produced or resulting from a similar composition but without the inclusion of the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.

Abstract: A heat transfer core for a water-cooling tower has a film fill sheet made from formed resin. The sheet then has a pattern of buttons, channels, dimples, and spacers formed on one surface of the sheet. Along the edges of the sheet, stiffening bars with spacers are formed. The sheets are positioned upright, spaced horizontally between the upper heated water and the lower cooled water reservoirs for a generally horizontal flow of cooling air across films of water flowing downwardly over the film fill sheets. The buttons, channels, and dimples direct water across the sheet to flow down in a meandering manner and to increase the length of time for water to descend the sheet and thereby maximize cooling.

Abstract: The invention provides an effective and efficient method of making a hexammine cobaltic salt, such as hexammine cobaltic nitrate, in a consistent fashion through the control of one or more selected parameters of manufacture. Specific parameters considered and evaluated as a part of the invention included: order of addition of reactants, reaction temperature, oxidation, air or oxidant flow, catalyst content, and amount of ammonia.

Abstract: A porous igniter body and a method of making the same are provided wherein a blowing agent component including at least one thermally decomposable blowing agent solid is mixed with at least one igniter fuel and at least one igniter oxidizer to form an igniter body precursor. The igniter body precursor is subsequently subjected to a temperature sufficient to decompose at least a portion of the blowing agent to form the porous igniter body.

Abstract: A packaged optical micro-mechanical device. A die includes one or more optical micro-mechanical devices on a first surface of a substrate. The first surface includes a die reference surface. A package frame includes an aperture and a package frame reference surface proximate the aperture adapted to receive the die reference surface such that the optical micro-mechanical devices are located in the aperture. One or more V-grooves are positioned relative to an optical interface reference plane adjacent to the micro-mechanical devices and terminating adjacent to the aperture. One or more optical fibers are located in the V-grooves optically coupled with one or more of the optical micro-mechanical devices.

Abstract: A method for preparing pyrotechnics oxidized by basic metal nitrate is provided wherein basic metal nitrate is formed in an aqueous slurry to which is added at least one additional pyrotechnic ingredient including at least one fuel material to form a pyrotechnic mixture. The so-formed pyrotechnic mixture is then dried to form a pyrotechnic powder and such may, if desired, be appropriately formed or shaped to assist or facilitate use in inflator devices such as used in vehicle occupant safety restraint systems.

Abstract: A porous igniter body and a method of making the same are provided wherein a blowing agent component including at least one thermally decomposable blowing agent solid is mixed with at least one igniter fuel and at least one igniter oxidizer to form an igniter body precursor. The igniter body precursor is subsequently subjected to a temperature sufficient to decompose at least a portion of the blowing agent to form the porous igniter body.

Abstract: A MEMS-based device to steer and manipulate beams of light traveling in free-space in an optical switch. The optical switch is based on a rotating vertical micro-mirror constructed on a surface of a substrate. At least one input optical fiber is arranged to direct at least one optical signal through free-space along a first optical path parallel to the surface of the substrate. A plurality of output optical fibers are arranged to receive the optical signal traveling through free-space along other optical paths not co-linear with the first optical path. At least one substantially vertical, rotating micro-mirror assembly is constructed on the substrate. The assembly includes a rotating micro-mirror with a vertical centerline and an axis of rotation both perpendicular to the surface, but not co-linear. The rotating micro-mirror is rotatable between a first position not in the first optical path and at least a second position redirecting the optical signal to one of the output optical fibers.

Abstract: A micrometer sized, single-stage, vertical thermal actuator capable of repeatable and rapid movement of a micrometer-sized optical device off the surface of a substrate. The vertical thermal actuator is constructed on a surface of a substrate. At least one hot arm has a first end anchored to the surface and a free end located above the surface. A cold arm has a first end anchored to the surface and a free end. The cold arm is located above the hot arm relative to the surface. A member mechanically and electrically couples the free ends of the hot and cold arms such that the member moves away from the substrate when current is applied to at least the hot arm. The hot arm can optionally include a grounding tab to minimize thermal expansion of the cold arm.

Abstract: Gas generating compositions containing or including a sufficient quantity of a non-nitrate containing ammonia source whereby, upon reaction of the gas generating composition, NOx products are present in the product gas in a reduced amount as compared to reaction product gas resulting from reaction of the same composition without said quantity of non-nitrate containing ammonia source. Also disclosed are associated methods of reducing NOx products present in an effluent of a gas generating composition that upon combustion forms gas useful for inflating a vehicle occupant safety restraint device.

Abstract: A gas generant composition used in pressure activated restraint system devices such as micro-gas generator applications such as seat belt pretensioners is provided. The gas generant composition includes a potassium perchlorate gas generant additive in addition to a non-azide nitrogen-containing gas generating fuel, a metal ammine nitrate oxidizer, and a metal oxide burn rate enhancing and slag formation additive. The gas generant composition desirably has improved ignitability as compared to a similar composition without the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive. The gas generant composition also desirably produces or results in effluents having either or both reduced carbon monoxide and NOx contents as compared to the effluent produced or resulting from a similar composition but without the inclusion of the potassium perchlorate gas generant additive.

Abstract: A micro-mechanical device including a gimbaled micro-mirror position able by a one or more thermal actuators. The thermal actuators are not attached to the micro-mirror. Rather, the micro-mirror is retained to the substrate by one or more gimbals. The micrometer sized thermal actuators are capable of repeatable and rapid moving the micro-mirror out-of-plane to accurately and repeatably steer a beam of light.

Abstract: The invention provides an effective and efficient method of making a hexammine cobaltic salt, such as hexammine cobaltic nitrate, in a consistent fashion through the control of one or more selected parameters of manufacture. Specific parameters considered and evaluated as a part of the invention included: order of addition of reactants, reaction temperature, oxidation, air or oxidant flow, catalyst content, and amount of ammonia.