Abstract: A ball bearing stack which includes more than one bearing arranged in face to face relation and sharing a common rotational axis. Each bearing has an inner ring and a concentric outer ring. The inner ring defines an inner race. The outer ring defines an outer race. A plurality of ball bearings are captured within an annular space defined between the inner race and the outer race. Each of the more than one bearing has a ball bearing contact surface on the outer race which is radiused from face to face about a common centre point positioned on the common rotational axis.

Abstract: A wireless repeater with features that improve the server-donor antenna isolation including multi-purpose server and donor mounting plates that each carry an antenna feed circuit board and associated antenna elements mounted in a back-to-back arrangement with the duplex repeater electronics board sandwiched between the server and donor mounting plates. To improve the server-donor antenna isolation, one or both mounting plates may include corner, side tabs, which may be asymmetric, and raised walls around one or both mounting plates. In addition, the radomes covering the donor antenna and/or the server antennas may carry one or more parasitic conductors, such as a two parasitic strips arranged in parallel lines or for parasitic strips arranged in a square configuration.

Abstract: A wireless repeater that can be remotely controlled and reconfigured, either locally or from a remote control center, after it has been installed in a customer's premises. The reconfigurable parameters and controllable settings include the frequency channel profile for the unit and the associated display profile, frequency channel selection, power level and on-off status, feedback circuit parameters, and system firmware. The communication ports for accessing the functionality of the unit include a wireless transmitter/receiver, such as an on-board wireless telephone chip, and a USB port. Once the unit has been connected to a personal computer through the USB port, the unit can be assigned an Internet IP address and addressed as network node on the Internet.

Abstract: A bearing includes an inner race having a rotational axis and an outer race sharing the rotational axis of the inner race. Rolling bearing members are constrained between the inner race and the outer race. A retention lip is provided which is adapted to maintain a peripheral opening of a constant gauge distance between and prevent relative axial movement of the inner race and the outer race. The gauge distance of the peripheral opening is adapted to allow free passage of the rolling bearing members, upon wear on the rolling bearing members reaches a predetermined level. The bearing provides a pass or fail indication, by falling apart when the rolling bearing members have exceeded the predetermined level of wear.

Abstract: A vehicle remote start control system is for a vehicle including a vehicle engine, an electrical system, and a transponder reader. The transponder reader may enable the vehicle engine based upon wirelessly reading an authorized code from a transponder carried by a user and placed proximate the transponder reader. The system may include a remote start transmitter and a remote start controller at the vehicle. The remote start controller may include a transponder code bypass transmitter electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system for wirelessly transmitting the authorized code to the transponder reader responsive to the remote start transmitter to enable the vehicle engine.

Abstract: Instructions involving a relatively significant data transfer or a particular type of data transfer via a cache result in the application of a restricted access policy to control access to one or more partitions of the cache so as to reduce or prevent the overwriting of data that is expected to be subsequently used by the cache or by a processor. A processor or other system component may assert a signal which is utilized to select between one or more access policies and the selected access policy then may be applied to control access to one or more ways of the cache during the data transfer operation associated with the instruction. The access policy typically represents an access restriction to particular cache partitions, such as a restriction to one or more particular cache ways or one or more particular cache lines.

Abstract: An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating a protected plant having a protection mechanism. A population of immature insects (i.e., larvae or nymphs) belonging to an insect species having a plurality of instars is first exposed to the protected plant such that the protected plant is at least contacted thereby. The insect exposure extends for a selected time period corresponding to a sublethal exposure of the insect population to the protected plant. The exposure of the insect population to the protected plant is then halted following the selected time period and insects collected. A physical characteristic of at least some collected insects is measured and the immature insects are then sorted into instars. The measured physical characteristics are then statistically analyzed across the instars so as to determine an efficacy of the protection mechanism of the protected plant with respect to the insect population. Associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: A signature element is attached to a downhole cable or other protected equipment and the signal from a signature position detector is used, at least in part, to control the orientation of a directed perforating device or other directional device. Signal emitting sources can include a radioactive material added to an encapsulating composition of a downhole cable.

Abstract: A compact antenna for use in a device for controlling the power delivered to an electric load and operable to transmit or receive radio frequency signals at a specified frequency is presented. The antenna comprises a first loop of conductive material having a capacitance and an inductance forming a circuit being resonant at the specified frequency, and a second loop of conductive material having two ends adapted to be electrically coupled to an electronic circuit. The second loop is substantially only magnetically coupled to the first loop and is electrically isolated from the first loop. In a first embodiment of the antenna, the first and second loops are formed on respective first and second printed circuit boards, which allow for a small, low-cost antenna that is easy to manufacture and maximizes efficiency. When the antenna is installed in a load control device, such as a dimmer, the first loop of the antenna is mounted on an outer surface of the device.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer for analysis of a sample 5. A laser 1 is provided to illuminate at least part of the surface of the sample 5. Laser light is conducted via an optical fibre 2 and a zoom optical system 3 to the sample. A variable ion optical system 9,10,11 is provided to extract and focus ions released from the sample 5 onto a detector 12. The optical and ion optical systems operate continuously and synchronously to vary the fields of laser illumination and view of the sample such that they are substantially confocal and equal in diameter on the surface of the sample. The sample may be a MALDI sample.

Abstract: A sling clip is disclosed that has a clamping mechanism capable of releasably securing the strap when the strap is slidably received through an opening in the sling clip. The sling clip also has an attachment mechanism configured to secure the sling clip proximate to a weapon bearer's body. The clamping mechanism is operatively configured to secure the strap within the sling clip when the weapon is in a firing position such that the strap minimizes movement of a muzzle end of the weapon caused by recoil of the weapon upon firing. A weapon sling including the sling clip also is disclosed. The weapon sling also includes a flexible strap having a first end and a second end is disclosed. The first end of the strap is configured to be secured to a weapon near a near a butt end of the weapon. The weapon may be a rifle, shotgun, or handgun as well as hand-held equipment such as a binocular or a camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of selectively coating a molecule, in a reversible and random fashion, with a plurality of electromagnetically labile compounds so as to modulate the activity and/or availability of said molecule, and to reverse this modulation on exposure to electromagnetic energy. The invention also concerns the provision of a molecule having reversibly and randomly attached thereto a plurality of electromagnetically labile compounds with a view to modulating the activity/availability of said molecule.

Abstract: A receiver assembly includes a first diaphragm assembly having a diaphragm, and a second diaphragm assembly having a diaphragm. A linkage assembly is coupled to an armature of the receiver. The linkage assembly is also coupled to the first diaphragm assembly and to the second diaphragm assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle remote start control system is for a vehicle including a vehicle engine, an electrical system, and a transponder reader. The transponder reader may enable the vehicle engine based upon wirelessly reading an authorized code from a transponder carried by a user and placed proximate the transponder reader. The system may include a remote start transmitter and a remote start controller at the vehicle. The remote start controller may include a transponder code bypass transmitter electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system for wirelessly transmitting the authorized code to the transponder reader responsive to the remote start transmitter to enable the vehicle engine.