Abstract: An actuator and integral position sensor has increased reliability with a fail-safe mode. The actuator and sensor assembly includes a rotary actuator that has a driving shaft. A sensor rotor has the driving shaft mounted in a bore. A contactor is mounted to an outer edge of the rotor. The contactor is engaged with a resistor film as the rotor rotates. A driven shaft is mounted to the rotor in another bore. The rotor couples the driving shaft and the driven shaft together.

Abstract: A new and enhanced device and technique for mixing and dispensing a preserved agent is disclosed. The syringe-like device employs a novel piston fluid channel allowing for various chambers of the syringe to come into fluid communication when the piston is actuated. More especially, the person administering the preserved agent may visually confirm full resuspension and deliver an accurate dosage of the agent.

Abstract: An extended, box-like, metal, industrial size, rapidly deployable, food, medicine and water container employing an intermodal shipping container, or other similar article of manufacture, for safely and reliably transporting and/or storing relatively large quantities of food, medicine and potable water for a substantial period of time (7+days), useful for such delivery/storage in emergencies, disasters, etc. The container includes a potable water tank and compartments for the storage of food and/or medicine.

Abstract: The invention presents a chipset for a mobile wallet system in a communication terminal having a SIM socket and a RFID antenna. The chipset includes a wallet module and a controller module. The wallet module has a contactless interface port coupled to the RFID antenna and a wallet memory for storing wallet applications. The controller module, connected to the SIM socket of the communication terminal, has a controller memory stored with SIM function software, mobile wallet application software and software to control the wallet module. The controller module is powered through the SIM socket, and the wallet module is powered through the SIM socket and the RFID antenna.

Abstract: A subscriber identity module (SIM) card includes: a printed circuit board; a circuit provided on the printed circuit board and capable of executing SIM and RFID functions; a set of circuit contacts provided on the printed circuit board, electrically connected to the circuit via conductive paths, and conforming to a SIM specification; a set of antenna contacts provided on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the circuit via conductive paths; and a protective plate fixed to the printed circuit board and conforming to standard dimensions of the SIM card. An assembly of the SIM card and a RFID antenna is also disclosed.

Abstract: An actuator and integral position sensor has increased reliability with a fail-safe mode. The actuator and sensor assembly includes a rotary actuator that has a driving shaft. A sensor rotor has the driving shaft mounted in a bore. A contactor is mounted to an outer edge of the rotor. The contactor is engaged with a resistor film as the rotor rotates. A driven shaft is mounted to the rotor in another bore. The rotor couples the driving shaft and the driven shaft together.

Abstract: In a method for adaptive synchronization of a data sink device to a data source device coupled by a USB, data is received and stored in a buffer of the sink device at an average data rate representative of the data rate of the source device. A data level for the buffer is determined based on input packet size and output packet size. An accumulated data level for the buffer is compared with a threshold level. A clock frequency for the sink device is corrected when the accumulated data level exceeds the threshold level.

Abstract: An actuator and integral position sensor has increased reliability with a fail-safe mode. The actuator and sensor assembly includes a rotary actuator that has a driving shaft. A sensor rotor has the driving shaft mounted in a bore. A contactor is mounted to an outer edge of the rotor. The contactor is engaged with a resistor film as the rotor rotates. A driven shaft is mounted to the rotor in another bore. The rotor couples the driving shaft and the driven shaft together.

Abstract: One method operates a printer-controller application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) by applying a predetermined voltage to an analog input pin which identifies a desired operating mode (such as, but not limited to, one of at least several test modes) of the ASIC. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts the voltage to a digital output which is used to configure the ASIC to operate in the desired operating mode. Another method operates a printer by applying a predetermined voltage to an analog input pin of an ADC which identifies the printer (such as, without limitation, the particular make or the particular make and model of the printer). The digital output of the ADC is used to configure a printer-controller ASIC to operate with the identified printer (such as, but not limited to, setting the maintenance cycle timing and/or setting the default printing mode required by the identified printer).

Abstract: A method directed to improving the stability of a motor vehicle having front and rear steering capabilities includes determining a coefficient of friction of the road surface with which the motor vehicle is engaged and adjusting a phase gain function of a rear steering mechanism to compensate for the steerability of the motor vehicle over the road surface. A system for improving the stability of a motor vehicle having front and rear steering capabilities includes a control unit, a front steering mechanism in informational communication with the control unit, and a rear steering mechanism in informational communication with the control unit. The rear steering mechanism is responsive through the control unit to road conditions of the road surface.

Abstract: A method of producing a water-fuel emulsion is disclosed. The method includes the steps of recovering a contaminated water component, the water component comprising water contaminated with one or more selected from the group consisting of a contaminant fuel, oil or glycol, and mixing one or more fuel components and the contaminated water component to produce a water-fuel emulsion. Typical contaminant fuels include aviation fuels, gasolines, diesel fuels, distillates and fuel oils. Water-fuel emulsion compositions are also disclosed. Typical fuel components include middle distillates and fuel oils.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for aligning a position sensor in a vehicle with steerable wheels comprising obtaining an absolute position value responsive to a position signal from a handwheel position sensor, obtaining a relative position value responsive to an encoder signal count from a position encoder, and obtaining an index position value responsive to an index position signal. The method further includes receiving an alignment enable signal and determining a correction factor responsive to the relative position value and the index position value. The method for aligning a position sensor is responsive to at least one of the absolute position value, the relative position value, and the index position value under conditions determined from the status of the alignment enable signal.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system coupled to a steerable wheel, comprising a steering rack linked to said steerable wheel, an electric motor having an output shaft engaged with the steering rack for controlling the steerable wheel. The system also includes a position sensor configured to measure an actual steerable wheel angle of the steering rack and thereby the steerable wheel, a return spring, where the return spring is biased so as to provide a returning force to the steering rack. Finally, the system includes a controller that provides a command to the electric motor resulting in a torque, the command is responsive to the actual steerable wheel angle, a desired steerable wheel angle, and a command direction.

Abstract: A method of swing out compensation in a vehicle with rear wheel steering, comprising: obtaining a zero speed status signal representative of when a vehicle is at zero speed; establishing a rear wheel angle threshold; obtaining a calculated rear wheel angle; and generating a commanded rear wheel angle responsive to the rear wheel angle threshold and the calculated rear wheel angle, whichever is of smaller magnitude. A swing out compensation system for a vehicle with rear wheel steering, the system comprising: a controller; and a rear steering mechanism in communication with and responsive to the controller; wherein the controller generates a commanded rear wheel angle responsive to one of a rear wheel angle threshold and a calculated rear wheel angle, whichever is of smaller magnitude.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the operational condition of a relay configured for selective short-circuiting of the windings of a motor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a current source connected to a first node in common with a first contact in the relay, and a second node in common with a second contact in the relay. A microprocessor provides an input signal to the current source. The input signal, when applied to the current source, causes the current source to apply a first voltage to the first node and a second voltage to the second node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for processing errors during building of a program. A set of tools needed to build the program is identified. Each tool within the set of tools is called. Responsive to a tool within the set of tools generating output, a determination is then made as to whether an error is present in an output generated by the tool. Responsive to determining a presence of the error, a notification is automatically generated.

Abstract: A method directed to improving the stability of a motor vehicle having front and rear steering capabilities includes determining a coefficient of friction of the road surface with which the motor vehicle is engaged and adjusting a phase gain function of a rear steering mechanism to compensate for the steerability of the motor vehicle over the road surface. A system for improving the stability of a motor vehicle having front and rear steering capabilities includes a control unit, a front steering mechanism in informational communication with the control unit, and a rear steering mechanism in informational communication with the control unit. The rear steering mechanism is responsive through the control unit to road conditions of the road surface.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a discontinuous-fiber, ceramic matrix green-state composite component. The method includes preparation of a mixture of discontinuous fibers, in a quantity equal to about 100% of a desired end-product fiber quantity thereof, and a polymer-derived ceramic precursor resin in an excess quantity greater than about 150% of a desired end-product resin quantity thereof. The mixture so prepared then is introduced into a cavity of a molding tool and a vacuum is applied to the cavity through a vacuum aperture leading from the cavity. The mixture is drawn toward the vacuum aperture and consequently compacts a quantity of fibers within the cavity at the aperture site such that the fibers function as a filter to efficiently retain within the cavity fibers within the original mixture while removing under vacuum the excess resin that provided an effective vehicle for carrying and dispersing the discontinuous fibers.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system coupled to a steerable wheel, comprising a steering rack linked to said steerable wheel, an electric motor having an output shaft engaged with the steering rack for controlling the steerable wheel. The system also includes a position sensor configured to measure an actual steerable wheel angle of the steering rack and thereby the steerable wheel, a return spring, where the return spring is biased so as to provide a returning force to the steering rack. Finally, the system includes a controller that provides a command to the electric motor resulting in a torque, the command is responsive to the actual steerable wheel angle, a desired steerable wheel angle, and a command direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for aligning a position sensor in a vehicle with steerable wheels comprising obtaining an absolute position value responsive to a position signal from a handwheel position sensor, obtaining a relative position value responsive to an encoder signal count from a position encoder, and obtaining an index position value responsive to an index position signal. The method further includes receiving an alignment enable signal and determining a correction factor responsive to the relative position value and the index position value. The method for aligning a position sensor is responsive to at least one of the absolute position value, the relative position value, and the index position value under conditions determined from the status of the alignment enable signal.