Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) measurement system for measuring a reflection coefficient an RF device under test (DUT) incorporates a reflection mode electro-absorption modulator (REAM) assembly coupled to the RF DUT. Also included in the measurement system, is a first optical fiber coupled to the REAM assembly, the first optical fiber configured to propagate a first optical signal into the REAM assembly and propagate a first reflected optical signal out of the REAM assembly. Furthermore, a second optical fiber is also coupled to the REAM assembly, the second optical fiber configured to propagate a second optical signal into the REAM assembly and propagate a second reflected optical signal out of the REAM assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing vapor to at least one liquid dispensing nozzle to prevent liquid at the nozzle tip from drying out between uses. The apparatus comprises a water source, a reservoir, a vapor generating source for generating vapor from water, a chamber for maintaining the vapor, and an opening defined through a chamber wall for exposing the at least one nozzle to the vapor when the at least one nozzle is in a storage position between uses.

Abstract: A closer for pressing a lid onto a container includes a presser foot mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of force applying engagement with the lid; an actuator moveable between retracted and extended positions; and a force multiplying assembly disposed in operative relationship intermediate the presser foot and the actuator for multiplying an input force from the actuator to a predetermined maximum lid pressing force at the extended position.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a slider assembly and a controller that directs current to the slider assembly to dynamically adjust the head-to-disk spacing. In one embodiment, the slider assembly includes a write element having a first end, a second end and an intermediate section, a conductor that is connected to the intermediate section. In this embodiment, the controller directs electrical current through the conductor to heat the write element without writing data to a storage disk. The electrical current can be directed through the conductor at any time prior to data transfer or during data transfer. Heating the write element causes a deformation of the slider assembly to decrease the head-to-disk spacing. In another embodiment, the slider assembly includes a separate slider deformer. Electrical current is selectively directed to the slider deformer to cause a deformation of the slider assembly to obtain a desired head-to-disk spacing.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for recording, maintaining, and reporting tips and gratuities, optionally including details such as employee, task performed, and shift. In one aspect, inter-employee tip and gratuity transactions are tracked and verified. In another aspect, taxing authority forms and/or returns are automatically generated with substantially decreased administration time and cost, thereby facilitating a user's participation in voluntary taxing authority programs. Additionally, the training required by such programs is automatically monitored. In yet another aspect, tips and/or gratuities may be paid as wages. In another aspect of the present invention, employees are provided an opportunity to increase declared tips if the originally declared tips place employee in jeopardy of an audit. In another aspect, interfaces to third-party systems such as POS systems, payroll systems, and the like are provided to further minimize system administration time and data accuracy.

Abstract: A closer for pressing a lid onto a container includes a presser foot mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of force applying engagement with the lid; an actuator moveable between retracted and extended positions; and a force multiplying assembly disposed in operative relationship intermediate the presser foot and the actuator for multiplying an input force from the actuator to a predetermined maximum lid pressing force at the extended position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to HVAC units with condensate drainage systems, for use in motorized vehicles. The present invention provides for at least two or dual condensate drain paths with no extra parts required pre-distribution of the treated air from the HVAC unit, the drainage means or channel situated to allow condensate to ‘fall back’ or, to run upstream back from the evaporator in the opposite direction to the air in the main airflow or stream which continues to run downstream from the drainage area to be conditioned by the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arrangement of devices, and, in particular doors, in the architecture of HVAC units. Where space is a consideration, having doors that are common and/or that can be used or nestled in a common operative space, reduce the need of inventory of different parts, and allow for use of smaller interior HVAC space volumes in HVAC units.

Abstract: The present invention, in various aspects, provides for a HVAC unit having at least one door and at least one part of an HVAC housing, such that the housing and door can approach one another and form a seal. Preferred embodiments of the present invention use a magnetically assisted (or resistant) door sealing mechanism to form a seal, or preferably, a tight seal, upon closure at a sealing area having a door sealing surface and a corresponding HVAC housing or other such surface, which blocks or restricts air flow in that area of the HVAC unit. By using a magnetically assisted door sealing mechanism, and, especially a mechanism at a sealing surface and a corresponding surface, a seal, and even an almost air tight seal that is resistant to opening inappropriately when air flow or pressure increases or when influenced by gravity, and can be formed while still allowing for the door to be opened, with a minimum of effort, when necessary.

Abstract: A means for mine avoidance that enables a battle group commander to rapidly detect, classify, and identify mines, and form a tactical picture of mined areas. The system is enabled by a graphical user interface which generates a display of the minefield and an avoidance path which is calculated by a rapidly-explored random trees algorithm interacting with algorithms defining avoidance object spaces inserted by an operator in two or three dimensions and transit vehicle characteristics. The apparatus enables a method which establishes the parameters of an area representing a minefield. The area is then populated with obstacle spaces whose areas are functions of the probability of the existence of a mine and through which an avoidance route through the minefield may not pass. The start and end points of the avoidance route are entered on a graphic display of the minefield and an avoidance path there between is calculated and presented as an avoidance route.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device including a longitudinal magnetic recording medium. The longitudinal magnetic recording medium includes a magnetically soft underlayer disposed under a longitudinal recording layer. A perpendicular write head is utilized to write data to the longitudinal magnetic recording medium wherein the longitudinal recording layer is disposed within an effective write gap formed by the perpendicular write head and the underlayer. The longitudinal component of the perpendicular write head is sufficient to switch the magnetic grains in the recording layer in the presence of the perpendicular field. The magnetic recording medium can have a high areal density and improved magnetic properties.

Abstract: The management of flows can be simplified by only keeping unique flow information for locally important flows, and aggregating all other flows together. A flow control table of 16 entries, 15 unique and 1 aggregate is usually sufficient, particularly in systems where the traffic flows are relatively static. This greatly reduces the required logic for Xoff/Xon counters and timeout monitors Rather than every packet source checking each packet it sends, the flows needed by each unit are registered in the flow table and the table logic indicates to each unit whether it has any blocked flows.

Abstract: High speed networking systems such as PCI-Express and Serial Rapid I/O are based on the exchange of packets across switched networks of high speed serial links. Information in the headers of these packets indicate the kind of transaction they represent. Queuing all received packets in a single queue will cause interactions between transaction types. Indirection can be used create the effect of multiple independent queues from a shared memory. This provides efficient centralized packet storage, while allowing independent processing of different transactions types.

Abstract: A packet transmission system based on a simple linear linked list of packet descriptors is difficult to implement with modern switch based system because transmission acknowledgments may occur out of order in relation to packet transmission. The problem lies in how packet completion is indicated to the CPU to enable for efficient packet processing. A scoreboard system is scalable to support multiple single-segment messages and multiple multi-segment messages for hundreds of packets. When a message/segment has been sent out, the context information for the packet is remembered and its key is indexed into a CAM. When segment/message response comes back, a simple hardware lookup is performed, and the associated context information is retrieved.

Abstract: This invention enables many interrupt source bits spread among multiple interrupt registers. An interrupt status decode register reduces the number of read cycles required to decode the interrupt source. Each unique interrupt source has a predefined and fixed logical mapping to each bit of the decode register. The logical mapping is flexible per application. The decode register bit is set if the interrupt source is asserted and the interrupt source is mapped to that particular physical interrupt. Since each physical interrupt has an associated decode register, the ability to orthogonally arrange the sources and reduce the number of register reads is even greater.

Abstract: The Rapid I/O Messaging Logical Layer relies on the receiving device to map the incoming messages into specific memory locations. This uses software programmable mapping registers. The settings are compared to the header fields of the incoming Rapid I/O messages to determine if there is a match, in which case, the packet is mapped to a queue. Accessibility to a queue through the mapping register can be limited to discrete MAILBOX/LETTER combinations, or multiple combinations based on the masking bits. Long messages may be processed through a hardware lookup table implemented to break up transactions into Rapid I/O compliant packets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to distribution of conditioned air from automotive HVAC units, in particularly, distribution systems having both front and rear components. In particular, the present invention improves the temperature characteristics of the rear floor area of distribution in the cockpit, cab or passenger compartment, in a variety of temperature modes. By providing for a valving or closing off means on a rear distribution door, regulation and adjustment of the stratification and temperature of air reaching the rear, and especially, the rear floor area of the cockpit, cab or passenger compartment, is achieved by blocking or closing off a channel between the heater core area of the HVAC and the distribution system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to air distribution for vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems having a preferably semi-lateral HVAC architecture configuration. The semi-lateral HVAC system provides for a bend or turn in the housing between the evaporator and heating means of the HVAC unit wherein a rotational device with moveable vanes is located, to provide improved air flow temperature and flow control over traditional lateral HVAC architectures, while employing less space and a lower piece count.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a slider assembly and a controller that directs current to the slider assembly to dynamically adjust the head-to-disk spacing. In one embodiment, the slider assembly includes a write element having a first end, a second end and an intermediate section, a conductor that is connected to the intermediate section. In this embodiment, the controller directs electrical current through the conductor to heat the write element without writing data to a storage disk. The electrical current can be directed through the conductor at any time prior to data transfer or during data transfer. Heating the write element causes a deformation of the slider assembly to decrease the head-to-disk spacing. In another embodiment, the slider assembly includes a separate slider deformer. Electrical current is selectively directed to the slider deformer to cause a deformation of the slider assembly to obtain a desired head-to-disk spacing.

Abstract: Demagnetizing magnetic media for recording data in a data storage device includes placing the magnetic media in a magnetic field at a first strength, and gradually reducing the magnetic field to a second strength to essentially eliminate net magnetization in the magnetic media.