Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising: a tank for in use receiving a cleaning liquid and an item to be cleaned; a plurality of transducers arranged, when driven, to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into the tank; and a controller arranged in use to drive the transducers. First and second transducers from the plurality of transducers are arranged in use to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into an overlapping volume; and the controller is arranged in use to drive the first and second transducers to produce ultrasonic pressure waves at different frequencies from each other. The controller is arranged to in use produce first and second drive signals for the transducers using first and second frequency generators to each switch between primary and secondary operation, with the sequential switching taking place to cause different combinations of primary and secondary operation for the first and second frequency generators to occur over time.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and method, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus (10) comprising a tank (12) for in use receiving a cleaning liquid and for receiving an item to be cleaned in a cleaning region (16) thereof, a transducer (21) arranged, when driven, to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into cleaning liquid received in the tank (12) and a controller (30) arranged in use to drive the transducer (21), a gas introducer (40) arranged to in use provide a supply of gas into cleaning liquid in the tank so that macroscopic bubbles of gas are produced wherein the gas introducer (40) provides a plurality of bubble sources distributed below the cleaning region of the tank. The apparatus further comprises an assembly arranged in use to enable movement of the item to be cleaned in the cleaning region.

Abstract: A combustible fire starting kit for conveniently stacking and burning fuel. The combustible fire starting kit includes a rectangular base frame having four side members and an aperture placed along an exterior wall. A bottom layer and a top layer are secured to the base frame, each layer having a plurality of parallel slats positioned at regular intervals. The side members, top layer and bottom layer form an interior volume where kindling material is placed. Vertical side support members are secured to the base frame in order allow for easy stacking of fuel. A wick is placed in the aperture, extending from the interior volume to beyond the exterior wall of the base frame. The base frame, top and bottom layers, and side support members are made from combustible material, allowing a user to burn the combustible fire starting kit along with the fuel.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and method, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus (10) comprising a tank (12) for in use receiving a cleaning liquid and for receiving an item to be cleaned in a cleaning region (16) thereof, a transducer (21) arranged, when driven, to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into cleaning liquid received in the tank (12) and a controller (30) arranged in use to drive the transducer (21), a gas introducer (40) arranged to in use provide a supply of gas into cleaning liquid in the tank so that macroscopic bubbles of gas are produced wherein the gas introducer (40) provides a plurality of bubble sources distributed below the cleaning region of the tank. The apparatus further comprises an assembly arranged in use to enable movement of the item to be cleaned in the cleaning region.

Abstract: Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising: a tank for in use receiving a cleaning liquid and an item to be cleaned; a plurality of transducers arranged, when driven, to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into the tank; and a controller arranged in use to drive the transducers. First and second transducers from the plurality of transducers are arranged in use to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into an overlapping volume; and the controller is arranged in use to drive the first and second transducers to produce ultrasonic pressure waves at different frequencies from each other. The controller is arranged to in use produce first and second drive signals for the transducers using first and second frequency generators to each switch between primary and secondary operation, with the sequential switching taking place to cause different combinations of primary and secondary operation for the first and second frequency generators to occur over time.

Abstract: Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.

Abstract: Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.

Abstract: The present invention is a system to describe software requirement logic that includes a plurality of software requirements and an exclusive natural deduction style of formal reasoning that includes a plurality of connectives and a plurality of corresponding Latinate. The connectives include the group consisting of and, if-then, or, or not and the Latinate include the group consisting of conjunction, implication, disjunction or negation. The software requirements are included in a requirement phase and an implementation phase of a traditional software development cycle. The present invention also includes a method for describing software requirement logic.

Abstract: Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.

Abstract: Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a wide area network platform for use in conjunction with multiple distinct bus applications. The wide area network platform may include a hardware module for connection with system hardware, the hardware module including a universal serial bus interface and a wide area network interface. The hardware module is operable with multiple distinct bus applications. The platform may further include a universal device driver for interfacing with an operating system and with the system hardware and operating transparently through the multiple distinct bus applications.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a flexible protocol engine for operation with multiple communication protocols. The flexible protocol engine may include a programmable protocol processor operable to process data by implementing a selected technique, the selected technique selectable from multiple selectable techniques. Each of the multiple selectable techniques may correspond to a distinct communication protocol. The flexible protocol engine may also include a first interfacing component operatively connecting the programmable protocol processor to a transceiver device and a second interfacing component operatively connecting the programmable protocol processor with a host device.

Abstract: A highly abrasion resistant and durable, low density ablator composition is provided that comprises a base silicone resin, silica microballoons as a filler, a catalyst, and a thinning fluid to control the viscosity of the base silicone resin. The density of the resulting composition is approximately 0.32 g/cc yet the composition has excellent abrasion resistance. Furthermore, the ratio of filler to base silicone resin, by weight, is approximately 0.91. The ablator composition is also RF (radio frequency) transparent, moisture resistant, and low cost. Methods of mixing the ablator composition and forming ablative structures are also provided.

Abstract: A highly abrasion resistant and durable, low density ablator composition is provided that comprises a base silicone resin, silica microballoons as a filler, a catalyst, and a thinning fluid to control the viscosity of the base silicone resin. The density of the resulting composition is approximately 0.32 g/cc yet the composition has excellent abrasion resistance. Furthermore, the ratio of filler to base silicone resin, by weight, is approximately 0.91. The ablator composition is also RF (radio frequency) transparent, moisture resistant, and low cost. Methods of mixing the ablator composition and forming ablative structures are also provided.

Abstract: Electroconductive doped tin (IV) oxide is produced in bulk by combining a first material which is selected from:a) a thermal precursor of a dopant element;b) a tin (II) compound comprising a dopant element; andc) a mixture of materials each falling within (a) or (b);with a second solid material which is tin (II) oxide or a thermal precursor thereof, heating the combined materials and oxidising the heated combined materials, wherein the dopant element is or comprises phosphorus, boron, tungsten, tantalum or niobium. Halogen may also be present. Preferably the combined materials are in solid form, and the oxidation step includes atmospheric oxidation at an elevated temperature. The conductive oxide may be used in a non-consumable electrode, or as a filler for a polyolefin, for example.

Abstract: An auxiliary door opening device comprises an extendible motor driven rotatable output shaft that engages and rotates a pivot shaft of a conventional door closing mechanism. The pivot shaft is drivingly connected to a pair of pivotally connected arms of the door closing mechanism, such that rotation of the pivot shaft causes the arms of the door closing device to pivot, urging the door open. The door opening device is activated by a remote switching device so that a handicapped person may open the door with a minimum of effort. A limit switch causes the motor to shut off and the output shaft to retract out of engagement with the pivot shaft when the door is fully opened. A solenoid apparatus holds the door open long enough to allow a handicapped person to pass through the door before allowing the door closing mechanism to urge the door closed.

Abstract: A thermistor material of between 99% and 50% by weight of praseodymium oxide and 1 to 50% by weight of zirconium oxide provides a stable thermistor with desired resistance value changes over a temperature range of 100.degree.C to 600.degree.C. Other selected oxides may be used in place of zirconium. Small amounts of indium or gallium oxides can also be added to the mixture to lower the resistivity and temperature coefficient of resistance.